THURSTON COUNTY, WASHINGTON

THE GAME
ENDS.
THE IMPACT
LASTS.

Building confident players. Developing strong character. Creating a basketball family.

Explore registration

Youth & high school basketball · Boys & girls

NEW PLAYER ENROLLMENT

Winter Tryouts

October 31, 2026 · 2:00–3:00 PM
Boys & girls · 4th through 8th grade

Komachin Middle School
3650 College St SE, Lacey, WA 98503

DEVELOPMENT FIRSTFAMILY CENTEREDBUILT ON CHARACTER

We focus on
the wins within.

Basketball is the starting point. Who our athletes become is the lasting impact.

At Bigger Than Basketball Academy, we help young athletes build their fundamentals, understand the game, and grow in confidence. Relationships, accountability, and effort matter every time we step into the gym.

Develop the player

Build a foundation of skills and basketball IQ that athletes can carry into every game.

Invest in the person

Practice teamwork, resilience, and respect—habits that reach beyond the court.

BTB Takes on MADE Hoops in 2027

Bigger Than Basketball’s 7th and 8th grade boys teams, along with our high school boys teams, will compete on the MADE Hoops circuit during the spring and summer of 2027!

This exciting step gives our student-athletes opportunities to challenge themselves against strong competition, grow as teammates, and represent BTB on a bigger stage.

We’re proud to bring our commitment to effort, discipline, and development to the circuit. Our athletes are ready to put in the work and make the most of every opportunity.

Bigger dreams. Bigger opportunities. Bigger Than Basketball.

Bigger Than Basketball and Coach West Recruiting: Building pathways to the next level

Helping Our Student-Athletes Reach the Next Level

Bigger Than Basketball is proud to partner with Coach West Recruiting to help our student-athletes pursue their dreams of playing college basketball. Through this collaboration, Coach West Recruiting will support our athletes as they navigate the recruiting process and work toward opportunities to continue their education and compete at the next level.

At BTB, our commitment goes beyond the court. We’re building a program that invests in our athletes’ growth, celebrates their goals, and helps prepare them for their future. This partnership is another step toward giving our student-athletes the guidance and support to turn hard work into opportunity.

INSIDE THE GYM

This is BTB.

Focused reps. Teammates cheering each other on. Coaches meeting athletes where they are.

Athletes working on ball handling in the gym

Youth players practicing dribbling together

Players listening and working through a basketball drill

Coach offering instruction during a ball-handling drill

Young athletes building ball-handling skills

DIRECTOR

Qayi “Coach Q”
Steplight

Built on relationships.
Committed to development.

Coach Q brings college coaching, youth program leadership, and competitive circuit experience to Bigger Than Basketball Academy. From local gyms to national competition, his focus stays the same: helping athletes grow in skill, confidence, and character.

Talk with Coach Q

COACHING RÉSUMÉ

25+ Years of Coaching Experience

Experience that shapes
our approach.

College & high school coaching

River Ridge High SchoolGirls assistant coach
Evergreen State CollegeAssistant coach · NAIA
Mt. Hood Community CollegeAssistant coach
Blue Mountain Community CollegeAssistant coach · 2 years

Youth program leadership

Bigger Than Basketball AcademyDirector
Thurston County EliteOwner & lead trainer · 2009–2021
OLY Basketball AcademyYouth director · 2022–2026 · K–8

Teams & player development

Seattle Rotary13U & 14U
Team Avery Bradley12U, 13U & 15U
Tacoma United9U & 10U
Jr. NBAMaster trainer
EYBL2 years of experience

GIRLS PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

GIRLS DIRECTOR

Joann Nichols

Helping our girls grow,
on and off the court.

Joann Nichols serves as Girls Director for Bigger Than Basketball Academy and coaches in our high school girls program. A standout at River Ridge High School, she was one of the best players in school history and went on to play college basketball at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) and Evergreen State College.

Joann has also coached at the high school level, bringing both playing and coaching experience to BTB. She helps athletes build their skills, confidence, and a team-first mindset while supporting the academy’s focus on character, relationships, and growth beyond the game.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

PROGRAM SKILLS TRAINER

Russell Steplight

Building skills.
Growing confidence.

Russell Steplight serves as Program Skills Trainer for Bigger Than Basketball Academy, supporting player development and coaching in the high school boys program. A standout basketball player at River Ridge High School, he earned Pac-9 All-Conference and All-Area honors.

Russell continued his playing career at Umpqua Community College and Southwestern Oregon Community College, where he earned league honors and established himself as one of the top sophomores on the West Coast. He finished his college playing career at Montana State University.

He brings that playing experience to BTB’s development-first approach, helping athletes strengthen their fundamentals, understand the game, and apply their skills in team play while building confidence, effort, and accountability on and off the court.

OUR TEAM