WHY HURRICANES?

We are deeply committed to giving our players and families an experience they will remember. Here’s what our players and parents have to say about Hurricanes basketball:

"HURRICANES BASKETBALL HAS BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. IT IS A PROGRAM THAT IS COMPETITIVE, BUT IT IS ALSO A VERY COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT TO LEARN AND GROW AS A PLAYER. I’VE ONLY BEEN WITH THE HURRICANES FOR A YEAR, BUT IT’S ALREADY HELPED ME GAIN BOTH SKILL AND CONFIDENCE IN MY ABILITIES."

– Mikayla S., Hurricanes player

"MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN PLAYING BASKETBALL WITH THE HURRICANES FOR FIVE YEARS. SHE STARTED IN THE FOURTH GRADE AND LOVES PLAYING WITH HER TEAM. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, SHE HAS NOT ONLY IMPROVED HER BASKETBALL SKILLS BUT HAS ALSO BECOME MORE SELF-CONFIDENT ON AND OFF THE COURT. I ATTRIBUTE MUCH OF THAT GROWTH TO HER AAU COACHES (LIZ ALTMAIER AND MARK JUBAR).
MY DAUGHTER ALSO LIKES THE CONSISTENCY OF PLAYING FOR THE SAME COACHES EACH YEAR. WE’VE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH THE HURRICANES ORGANIZATION ALL THESE YEARS. I CAN’T SEE MY DAUGHTER PLAYING AAU BASKETBALL FOR ANYONE ELSE."

– Joy T., Hurricanes parent

"MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE HURRICANES HAS TAUGHT ME HOW TO PLAY ANY POSITION ON THE COURT. IT HAS MADE ME VERY VERSATILE AND ALLOWS ME TO FILL IN FOR ANYONE NO MATTER THERE POSITION. THEY DIDN’T JUST FOCUS MAKING US VERSATILE PLAYERS, THEY ALSO FOCUSED ON MAKING US STRONGER IN OUR MOST COMFORTABLE POSITION ON THE COURT AND WORKED WITH OUR NEEDS AND FOCUSED ON IMPROVING OUR MISTAKES. THE HURRICANES HAS BEEN LIKE A SECOND FAMILY FOR ME, WE GROW, SHARE, LOSE, WIN, AND LEARN TOGETHER. OVERALL PLAYING FOR THE THE HURRICANES HAS ALLOWED MY LOVE OF BASKETBALL TO GROW."

– Annika Y., Hurricanes player

"MY DAUGHTER STARTING PLAYING FOR THE HURRICANES LAST YEAR. THE COACHES ARE THE BEST AND WANT EVERY PLAYER TO IMPROVE. THEY PRIORITIZE CREATING A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND THE GIRLS GAIN CONFIDENCE AS A RESULT. THEY TEACH THE THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON THE COURT AND THERE IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT IN THE GIRLS’ ABILITIES FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON TO THE END. BASKETBALL IS MY DAUGHTER’S FAVORITE SPORT BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM AND THE COACHES!"

– Kathie S., Hurricanes parent

"I HAVE BEEN PLAYING WITH THE HURRICANES FOR TWO SEASONS NOW AND IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPROVE MY DRIBBLING, SHOOTING, AND DECISION MAKING SKILLS IMMENSELY WITH HELP FROM THE AMAZING COACHES, ALL WHILE HAVING TONS OF FUN. THE COACHES COACH IN A WAY THAT GETS PLAYERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, EXCITED FOR EVERY GAME AND PRACTICE. THEY KNOW WHAT EVERY PLAYER’S STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ARE AND THEY HELP EVERYONE IMPROVE INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A TEAM. IN ADDITION TO GREAT COACHES, I HAVE MET MANY NEW FRIENDS THROUGH THE HURRICANES WHO ARE AMAZING AND ALWAYS ENCOURAGE ME TO DO MY BEST. THE HURRICANES IS A FANTASTIC PROGRAM AND TRYING OUT WAS THE BEST DECISION I’VE EVER MADE!"

– Ashley S., Hurricanes player

"INITIALLY WE WERE LOOKING FOR A BASKETBALL ORGANIZATION OR TEAM THAT WOULD PROVIDE PLAYING OPPORTUNITIES, THAT WOULD PROVIDE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE, AND WOULD HELP OUR DAUGHTER IMPROVE HER SKILLS. AFTER 4 SEASON WE HAVE FOUND SO MUCH MORE. WITH THE HURRICANES WE HAVE FOUND A BASKETBALL FAMILY. ALL OF THE PLAYERS AND PARENTS HAVE BEEN GREAT. MY DAUGHTER, HER TEAMMATES AND THE TEAMS HAVE IMPROVED EACH AND EVERY SEASON. THE COACHING AND TEACHING HAS BEEN TERRIFIC, AND EACH SEASON YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS. THE COACHING REALLY PREPARES THE PLAYERS FOR HIGH SCHOOL. AS A RESULT OF THE POSITIVE COACHING AND TEACHING, MY DAUGHTER MADE THE HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY TEAM AS A FRESHMAN, AND HAS PLAYED VERY WELL. IN ADDITION, THE GIRLS HAVE FORMED SOME VERY STRONG FRIENDSHIPS THAT HOPEFULLY WILL LAST FOR YEARS."

– Erik Y., Hurricanes parent

"IT WAS BY FAR THE BEST BASKETBALL EXPERIENCE I’D EVER HAD. I’VE BEEN PLAYING SINCE I WAS IN 4TH GRADE AND AM NOW A HIGH SCHOOLER. I’VE PLAYED FOR DIFFERENT CLUBS BEFORE THE HURRICANES, BUT IN MY OPINION THE YEARS I PLAYED WITH THE HURRICANES WAS THE BEST. THE COACHING WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE, AND THE TEAM EXPERIENCE WAS THE BEST. IT NOT ONLY HELPED ME IMPROVE INDIVIDUALLY AS A PLAYER, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTED SOME OF MY BEST MEMORIES. I CHOSE THE TEAM THOUGH SPECIFICALLY FOR THE COACHING, MY COACH REALLY CARED ABOUT OUR INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT AS PLAYERS, AND IT WAS SOMETHING I GREATLY APPRECIATED AND LEARNED FROM."

– Sydney W., Hurricanes player

"FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE. LIZ AND MARK ARE INCREDIBLE COACHES WHOSE DEDICATION TO THE GIRLS IS UNMATCHED TO ANYTHING WE HAVE SEEN IN ALL FOUR OF OUR DAUGHTERS’ ATHLETIC EXPERIENCES. THEY CARE DEEPLY ABOUT EACH OF THEIR PLAYERS AND ARE WILLING TO TAKE A LARGE PORTION OF THEIR LIMITED FREE TIME TO MAKE THEM BETTER BASKETBALL PLAYERS AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, BETTER HUMAN BEINGS. I KNOW MY CAROLINE WOULD NEVER CONSIDER PLAYING FOR ANYONE ELSE. OUR HEARTFELT THANKS FOR EVERYTHING LIZ AND MARK DO."

– Doug and Chrissie L., Hurricanes parents

"WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN 6TH GRADE, OUR COACHES FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TEAM. OVER TIME THE TEAM SHIFTED TO BECOME A COMPETITIVE TEAM. THE SKILLS I LEARNED FROM MY HURRICANES’ COACHES ARE THE SKILLS I NEEDED TO INCREASE THE INTENSITY OF MY GAME AND BECOME A MORE COMPETITIVE PLAYER."

– Rachael S., Hurricanes player

"IN 5TH GRADE, MY DAUGHTER WAS LOOKING TO IMPROVE HER BASKETBALL SKILLS AND WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BECOME A PRACTICE PLAYER ON THE HURRICANES B TEAM THAT SPRING. WITH EACH FOLLOWING SEASON ON THE HURRICANES, SHE BECAME MORE CONFIDENT AND STRONGER (BOTH AS A BASKETBALL PLAYER AND YOUNG PERSON). AND AFTER THREE YEARS WITH THE PROGRAM, HER GAME DEVELOPED TO A LEVEL THAT ALLOWED HER TO MAKE THE VARSITY TEAM AS A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL. SHE LOOKS BACK ON HER YEARS WITH THE ‘CANES AS SOME OF HER FONDEST SPORTS MEMORIES, WHERE SHE MADE GREAT FRIENDS AND HAD FUN PLAYING FOR EXCELLENT COACHES."

– Justin M., Hurricanes parent

"IT HAS OVER ALL BROADENED MY KNOWLEDGE OF BASKETBALL. FROM REVERSE LAYUPS TO TAKING THE BASELINE FOR A FLOATER, HURRICANES HAS NOT ONLY HELPED ME DEVELOP MY SKILLS, BUT IT HAS ALSO TAUGHT ME THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK AND SISTERHOOD. THE COACHES ARE SO PATIENT AND ENCOURAGING, THEY INCREASED MY CONFIDENCE ON THE COURT. THIS PAST YEAR OF HURRICANES WAS DEFINITELY THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE, AND I’M SO GLAD I DID IT."

– Caroline C., Hurricanes player

"DEAR HURRICANES, WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE THAT CAROLINE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY FOR THE HURRICANES. THE HURRICANE ORGANIZATION IS INVOLVED AND CLEARLY COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE KIDS. COACH LIZ AND COACH MARK ARE EXTREMELY TALENTED AND GIFTED. THEY CREATE A COMMITTED, COMPETITIVE, AND SUCCESSFUL TEAM ENVIRONMENT THAT’S POSITIVE AND HEALTHY. WE FEEL FORTUNATE TO HAVE OUR DAUGHTER ON THE TEAM AND PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION."

– Casey C., Hurricanes parent

"MY EXPERIENCE ON VIRGINIA HURRICANES HAS BEEN ONE HUNDRED PERCENT POSITIVE. EACH SEASON I DEVELOP SO MUCH AS A PLAYER AND LEARN THINGS THAT IMPROVE MY GAME IMMENSELY. HURRICANES IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER TEAMS BECAUSE MY COACHES TRULY CARE THAT I IMPROVE IN MY AREAS OF WEAKNESS, AS OPPOSED TO OTHER TEAMS WHO FOCUS SOLELY ON WINNING GAMES. I HAVE MADE GREAT FRIENDS AND THE ATMOSPHERE IS SO SUPPORTIVE AND POSITIVE. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO HURRICANES FOR AS LONG AS I CAN BECAUSE I SEE HOW MUCH IT HELPS ME AND IT IS A BLAST TO PLAY WITH THEM!"

– Caroline L., Hurricanes player

"NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE PROGRAM. LIZ AND MARK HAVE BEEN A JOY TO WORK WITH. THE MESSAGE IS POSITIVE. THEY TEACH THE GIRLS TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES AND IT SHOWS IN THEIR DECISION MAKING AND DEVELOPMENT. TRULY APPRECIATE THEM DONATING THEIR TIME, ENERGY, AND EXPERTISE TO MAKE THIS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR OUR DAUGHTER."

– Jim and Lillian W., Hurricanes parents