Neal Hatten, President
Coach Neal Hatten, is the President of ANBA and the Founder of Carolina Hawks. The Director of Lady Upward Stars. He is married with a son and two daughters.
Coach Hatten is passionate about mentoring and teaching youth between the ages of 8 and 16 years old. His goal is for his youth to become upstanding citizens by teaching them sportsmanship and emphasizing the importance of education.
Coach Hatten has 15 years of AAU Basketball coaching experience and he is quoted as saying “I wouldn't change anything about this journey thus far. I love making a difference in kids lives”.
NTBA Girls Grassroot National Champions:
2019 15u Silver Division
2021 15u Silver Division
2021 16u Gold Division
2023 16U Under Armour National Champions
USBA Boys Grassroot National Champions
2017 15u Gold Division
2017 D1 Regional Champions 8th/9th Girls
2013 AAU D2 Champions Boys
“When you have done everything you can do, that’s when God will step in and do what you can’t do”
2nd Corinthians 12:10
Rakim Gregory “Coach Rock”
Coach Rakim is from North Charleston, SC. He is known as Coach Rock. He got into coaching in 2015 with Low Country Elite AAU organization.
Coach Rakim is the Lady Stars Coach & Assistant Coach at Summerville High School.
Coach Rock also spent some years in the college ranks at USC Salkehatchie (NCAAJ) and Oklahoma Panhandle State University (NAIA). He also c
oached for SC 76ers UAA and Team Lady Wall Adidas as well as Low Country Premier and Charleston Swarm. He has spent two years with Fort Dorchester High School Girls program and a season at Stall High School with the boys program. Many players that he has coached by Coach Rock have went to play college basketball at D1, D2, and. NAIA ranks.
James Ellison
James Ellison, Jr. serves as the Director of FBC Georgia Fever based in Augusta, Georgia. He is a passionate coach who will motivate you and push you hard to reach your potential. Coaching has always been a part of him, since his playing days at South Atlanta High School in Atlanta. Learning and giving back through basketball has been one of the most challenging and fulfilling things I have ever done.
Coach Ellison graduated from Benedict College with a degree in Business Administration Management. He is currently employed with the Boys & Girls Club of America, where he has been working and coaching children for over 12 years.
Milton Parks
Coach Parks has taught for 15 years and coached varsity basketball at Southside High School as Head Coach for 5 years. To his credit, Coach Parks has coached won 2 Region Championships (2019 & 2020). He has also coached 3 All-State Players, 3 All-County, 11 All-Region and has 2 Elite Eight Playoff finishes. Coach Parks was also honored at Region Head Coach of the Year during 3 seasons (2019, 2020, 2021).
Coach Parks philosophy is “Together We Win, Together We Lose, Together We Play, Together We Stay”. He strives to build a family bond on and off of the court.
Ivan Raymond
I Have coached basketball for 6 years. 2 years as a coach with "Upward Stars Lowcountry" in North Charleston South Carolina. I then moved to Easley South Carolina and was an assistant Varsity boys coach at Easley High School.
After 1 year as an assistant I became the Varsity Girls basketball coach at Easley High School. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Masters Degree in Sports Administration. I am married to Jocelyn Raymond. We've been together for 8 years. I love working with young people and I am excited about my first year working with this organization.
Rod Clinkscales
Coach Clinkscales is a native of Anderson, South Carolina. He is a graduate of Westside High School where he played basketball. Coach Clinkscales is a military veteran and owner of Clinkscales Heating and Air. He is married with three children. He has served the community as an AAU basketball coach for the past 5 years. He loves teaching and coaching the game of basketball to young athletes.
