Today we’d like to introduce you to Ridge Shipley.
Ridge, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Played my freshman year on varsity at Plano West, then I transferred to Hebron, where I played varsity my next three years. Senior year we set a school record of 36-3 where I averaged 20ppg and five assists. Went from an unranked majority of my career district player of the year, DFW Vype MVP, and TABC 1st team All-state. I went to Cal poly, where I when to the NCAA tourney my freshman year. Finished All conference and Team MVP my senior year in 2017. Got invited to workouts with South Bay Lakers and Texas Legends, both NBA G-League teams. Turned down offers overseas for G-league draft, where I went undrafted. Then I got invited to training camp with Halifax Hurricanes, NBL Canada team, where I got cut at the end of training camp. After deciding to take my power back as an athlete, I stopped seeking approval of coaches at the professional level and moved forward to creating my own training business. Ridges Rhythm is a unique form of basketball training that focuses primarily on timing and rhythm.
My methods are proven to increase hand speed, ball manipulation and overall flow during the game. All of those qualities significantly increase your ability to score and handle the basketball. My goal is to decrease the robotic movement and increase fluid movement. In order to do that, I challenge my players with difficult drills that require you to be in control of all 3 B’s “ Brain, Body, Ball.” Now that most gyms are closed, I have been able to effectively bring my drills to a virtual world using FaceTime and Zoom to test my methods on players around the world. Not only do I have several players from other states, including California and North Carolina but I’m also working with a few players in India.
Has it been a smooth road?
There has been a lot of struggles throughout my career. I’m typically the smallest player on the court. I’m 5’11” 180lbs. So I’ve got against players bigger and more athletic than me my entire life. One challenge I faced was being stereotyped.
As a white basketball player. Which means I can only shoot the ball, I’m not athletic, you can’t dribble and you can’t play defense. I overcame all of those by constant hard work in the gym with my trainers and coaches. I was not highly recruited or ranked despite playing in one of the best AAU teams in the country, the Texas Titans, where I had teammates that included Julius Randle, Matt Jones, and Damian Jones. I was misled to join a team and actually lost Major high opportunity my junior year summer, where I started getting Ivy League and Mid Major offers. Because I was undersized and did not have much recognition, I was pushed to commit early in fear of not getting more offers after my senior season. I committed to Cal Poly over Rice and Northeastern. Before I arrived to campus, the coach who recruited me left to San Jose State. I was emotionally and physically tested everyday as a PG/Captain and had a toxic relationship with my coach that led me to therapy during and after my career.
We’d love to hear more about Ridges Rhythm Basketball Training.
I go by the Rhythm Guru. I am known for my Ballislife Video and my ball-handling ability. I specialize in player development using out of the box techniques that can dramatically improve your handle and flow state with the basketball. I am proud of the players I have been able to work with at the NBA, WNBA, International, College, High-School, and Middle School levels.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the skyline and all the places to eat. I enjoy taking my two golden retrievers to the dog parks. I do not like the 5 o’clock traffic and construction.
Contact Info:
- Website: Ridgesrhythm.com
- Email: rhythmguru@gmail.com
- Instagram: @rhythm_guru
- Twitter: @rhythm_guru
Image Credit:
Sean Daniel- @1shotsean
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