Coaches Division

Assistant Coach - Austin Spurs

Jesse Childs was born in Boise, ID, but proudly calls Phoenix, AZ his home.

Currently, he serves as an assistant coach for the G-League's Austin Spurs, bringing two years of valuable coaching experience to the team.

Basketball has been an integral part of Jesse's life, and his passion for the sport shines through his dedication to coaching and mentoring young athletes. With his diverse experience and commitment to player development, Jesse brings a wealth of expertise to the game.

Beyond the Xs and Os of basketball, Jesse Childs provides mentorship and guidance to young players. He helps them navigate the challenges of professional basketball and grow as individuals on and off the court.

Chief of Staff - GCU

Peyton Prudhomme, the esteemed Chief of Staff at Grand Canyon University, brings a remarkable level of experience and commitment to his role as a coach.

In Prudhomme’s 4 years on staff, GCU has captured three WAC Championships and multiple NCAA tournament births during his tenure. Prior to GCU, he served on staff at Baylor for two seasons.

Coach Peyton Prudhomme holds strong recruiting ties throughout the South and along the West Coast.

Director of Player Development - Hawaii

Zerrion Payton is entering his fifth year of coaching and currently is the Director of Player Development for Hawaii University.

He has coached at renowned high school programs: AZ Compass & Prolific Prep along with being a Head Coach on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit.

He has an impressive track record in player development: Coach Zerrion has coached 2 McDonald's All-Americans and over 40+ Division 1 athletes.

Coach Zerrion played basketball at all levels and earned All-Conference honors every step of the way.

Nephew of NBA Legend Gary Payton.

Interim Head Coach - Phoenix Mercury

Nikki Blue is currently the Interim Head Coach of the Phoenix Mercury, a professional women's basketball team in the WNBA.

Before her WNBA career, Nikki Blue had a highly successful stint at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She was a standout player for the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team, earning accolades for her exceptional skills on the court.

As Interim Head Coach of the Phoenix Mercury, Nikki Blue is recognized for her outstanding leadership abilities. She has a remarkable capacity to motivate and inspire her players, fostering a winning team culture.

Nikki Blue serves as a role model for aspiring female basketball players and coaches. Her journey in breaking barriers within the sport is a testament to her determination and passion for advancing women's basketball.

Graduate Assistant - GCU

Trey Miles is currently in his third season with the Grand Canyon University men's basketball program for the 2023-24 season. This season marks his debut as a Graduate Assistant, following two years of dedicated service as a student manager at GCU.

In his new role, Miles is actively engaged in a wide range of responsibilities, including video operations, practice sessions, opponent scouting, and player workouts.

He successfully completed his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration at GCU in August 2023 and is currently working toward his MBA degree.

Basketball Coach

Jason Fraser previously served as a Player Development Assistant Coach for the Phoenix Suns.

Before joining the Suns, he held the position of assistant coach for the Austin Toros, the G-League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs. During his tenure with the Toros, Fraser played a pivotal role in guiding the team to a division championship and semifinal appearances.

Player Development - GCU

Isaac Demosthenes hailing from Illinois, is the head player development manager for Grand Canyon University (GCU).

As a seasoned NBA and Overseas Trainer, Isaac has worked with prominent athletes such as Cam Johnson and Jericho Sims, honing their skills and preparing them forIsaac Demosthenes high-level competition.

A former WAC Champion and an avid basketball fanatic, Isaac's passion for the game is evident in his dedication to developing players and fostering their growth both on and off the court.

Assistant Coach - Arkansas Little Rock

Charles Thomas joins Little Rock after a season at Saint Louis University and over a decade working with Keith Dambrot at Duquesne and Akron, where he helped secure seven postseason appearances, including two NCAA Tournament berths.

Before coaching, Thomas had a 15-year professional playing career, starting with the Detroit Pistons and later playing in the CBA and internationally. A 2000 graduate of Eastern Michigan, Thomas led his team to a MAC championship and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, earning multiple honors, including induction into the Eastern Michigan Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor.

Assistant Coach - Pepperdine University

Joshua Calbert joins Pepperdine with 14+ years of coaching experience across college, high school, and AAU basketball. A Bay Area native, he started at Deer Valley High, helping develop 4 Division I players, including McDonald’s All-American Marcus Lee.

He later coached at Salesian, where his team reached #3 in the nation. Calbert's college coaching career began at NIU, focusing on skill development, followed by a recruiting role at South Dakota, and most recently, contributing to an OVC Championship at Little Rock.

Assistant Coach - Southern Utah University

Tennessee Owens, son of Casey Owens—NBA Assistant, G League, and Overseas HC—is a hard-working, high-level basketball mind with experience at every level of elite basketball. As a player and coach, he has contributed to winning at every stop, including a high school state championship, multiple NCAA tournament appearances at NMSU, and FIBA finals.

Currently serving as the Assistant Coach for Southern Utah Men's Basketball, he has helped install an offense that ranked in the top 150 and played a key role in player development and operations.

Assistant Coach - University of Oregon

Louis Rowe joined the Oregon men's basketball staff before the 2023-24 season. Rowe, a native of St. Petersburg, Fla., spent the last two seasons as an assistant at the University of South Florida after serving as head coach at James Madison from 2016 to 2020. Rowe was the head assistant at Bowling Green from 2015-16, having previously worked at Florida International in 2013-15 and Rider in 2012-13.

Rowe began his career at James Madison, where he worked as an assistant for the 2007-08 season before earning his master's degree as a graduate assistant from 2008-10, returning to the assistant position in 2010-12. Rowe was an assistant coach for the Dukes in 2008-09 and 2010-11, when they won more than 20 games.

As a player, Rowe led JMU to a CAA Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth in 1994, finishing his career with over 1,000 points and impressive averages of 17.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game.