Coach ,

Cody Toppert has worked with some of the NBA’s best players. Toppert spent 2018-2019 as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. He is also the head coach of the Haitian Men’s National Team and former NBA G-League Head Coach. 

Currently, he is one of the top assistants for the University of Memphis men’s basketball team. Memphis is fresh off an NIT Championship last season.

In Toppert’s first season at Memphis they had two first-round draft picks -- James Wiseman (#1 Overall) & Precious Achiuwa (#20 Overall) 

Toppert prides himself as a player development coach -- finding ways to help turn players into pros. 

To get better, one must have a detailed plan on how to develop the future and enhance the present. 

“Sometimes an artist doesn’t need to be told what to paint… he just needs to be taught how to hold the brush.” - Kobe Bryant

Coach Toppert believes that teaching should be at the forefront of coaching; therefore, teaching holding the brush allows the players to paint their own picture. 

(Click on image to play video)

One of the biggest challenges in player development is breaking poor habits and changing them with the correct habit. Coach Toppert believes there are 4 stages to building habits. 

There is no such thing as microwave success. There has to be an understanding of our weaknesses, then take the actions steps. To change a habit a standard must be set, and have to follow that path to improvement. 

Coach Toppert’s 4 stages of Habit Building:

Unconsciously Unskilled

Consciously Unskilled

Consciously Working

Unconsciously Skilled

Once a plan of development is in place, there must be drills in place to help the players improve. It’s all about results. The game of basketball is result-based. 

Guard Stampede work is one of the many drills that Coach Toppert utilizes to develop his guards. The guard stampede drill allows a team to accomplish many different aspects in one drill. 

The drill starts with a stampede catch → slot drive where you have to make a pass to weakside corner → extra pass then shot → then turns into one on one on the opposite side. 

The drill is also a great defensive drill. It is designed to work on closeouts and making the extra effort. Coach explains it here:

Coach Toppert has the ability to enhance, teach, refine and impact the mindset and abilities of some of the top players in the world. These clips were taken from his amazing breakdown of player development in the clinic everyone was buzzing about last summer Complete Player Development Master Class: Turn Your Players into Pros

Never get out-coached!

-The Coaches Clinic Community of Coaches Helping Coaches