Training to reach full potential

“Everyone is working toward something,” Jay Hernandez, 35, of Oyster Bay, tells me as I lace up my basketball sneakers.

The former Hofstra University guard founded the Pro Hoops basketball training company in 2004 after playing professionally in Puerto Rico. Since then, his Pro Hoops family has grown by leaps and bounds, boasting six other trainers and over 150 clients, most from Long Island.

Hernandez’s name in the world of professional basketball has grown with his company. Each year, he receives and trains more NBA veterans and prospects. This year, four members of the Pro Hoops program went top-25 in the NBA draft, including, Anthony Bennett of UNLV, the No. 1-overall pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers. “It was a completely happy moment for me,” said Hernandez, “seeing that amount of happiness in someone else.”

Mike McVeigh, a rising senior at Lynbrook High School, has been training with Hernandez for almost four years and has watched as Jay’s success has grown, mirroring his own improvement. “He’s just a great guy,” McVeigh said. “It’s not about making money or getting fame. He just wants everyone to get better.” McVeigh said he hopes to play college basketball upon graduating next June.

The premise of the Pro Hoops program is to help players at all levels reach their full potential. Jay and his team of trainers offer one-hour sessions for individual and group training. The company welcomes girls and boys of all positions, providing a knowledgeable and efficient basketball environment. Pro Hoops also runs shooting and skill camps throughout the summer, inviting players to come together, learn, and challenge one another. 

“We stress the importance of being well-rounded on and off the court,” Hernandez said. “Academics, body language...it all matters.” I spoke to Diego Maldonado, a recent graduate of Valley Stream South, who trains with Hernandez and who will bring his basketball skills to Queens College in the fall. “He tells me what to do to get stronger and healthier in every aspect of life, not just with basketball,” Maldonado said. Four months into training with Hernandez, Maldonado has already seen improvements in his game.