At the helm of the Best Level Basketball team is founder J.D. Powell.
Coach Powell, a native of Westminster, South Carolina, earned both his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Clemson University. His story as a basketball player with the Tigers was storybook like as hard work and dedication took him from an unrecruited high school player to a team manager at Clemson and then a scholarship member of the team. During his time with the Tigers from 1998-2000, Clemson appeared in the NIT Championship at Madison Square Garden and he was recognized on the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
He began his career as a college basketball coach at Furman University after one season with the NBA Development League. . Coach Powell’s collegiate coaching career spanned twenty-plus years, including stops at the College of Charleston and the University of Georgia.
With Coach Powell, the College of Charleston experienced enormous success, winning 75 games over a three-year period that included an appearance in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, the 2017 NIT Tournament, three players going on to play in the NBA, and 12 college graduates.
In 2021, Coach Powell joined the Georgia Bulldogs as Director of Recruiting and Basketball Operations.
After years spent working with the industry’s top sports psychologists, leadership and team-building experts, and countless others who specialized in developing top athletes and successful leaders, Coach Powell wants to bring that same high level of training and development to Best Level Basketball.
I want to teach our kids quality basketball fundamentals, how to effectively play together on the court and most importantly, how to be a great teammate. Not all of our children will go on to be collegiate athletes, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t teach them and prepare them like one. I hope that families throughout the Athens area will come to find Best Level Basketball for outstanding development and a staff they can trust.
J.D. Powell
We are open to all within the age range and limited by the number of
participants in each group to allow for individual focus!
Start Your Best Level Journey
Ready to choose a session, or want help finding the best fit for your athlete? Pick the path that works for your family.
1 Ready to enroll
Browse the live Best Level schedule, choose an available class, and begin enrollment through Mindbody.
2 New to Best Level
Tell us about your athlete and our team will recommend the best free first session for their age, experience, and goals.
No app download is required. Families enrolling through the schedule will complete Mindbody secure account setup in their web browser.
