coaches

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Lucas patterson

Lucas Patterson is a former professional basketball player who founded Minnesota Prep Academy in 2018 and currently serves as its head coach. Prior to that, he was the head assistant coach at Brooklyn Center from 2015 to 2018. In 2010, he founded Future Academic Ballers, an organization that has provided basketball training and mentorship to over 600 young participants in the past 13 years.

Patterson has a strong background in basketball, having played with the MN RipKnees ABA pro team and worked out with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2006 to 2009. He was also the leading scorer in the MIAC for Augsburg and ranked 12th in the nation in scoring in 2005. In high school, he graduated from Robbinsdale Cooper as the all-time leading scorer with 1300 points and led the Classic Lake Conference in scoring in 2000.

Head Coach and Founder
A young man with a beard and short curly hair, smiling, wearing a black collared shirt with a logo that says 'Track and Field Prep'.

Deshawn pickford

DeShawn Pickford is a highly skilled basketball coach with a passion for the sport. He started his career as a player, earning recognition for his talent on the court during his time at Brooklyn Center high school from 2015 to 2018. After finishing high school, Pickford received a college scholarship to Minnesota West Community and Technical College, where he played for 2 years and earned All-Conference honors.

Pickford’s dedication and hard work paid off during his time at Minnesota West, where he became the 7th all-time leading scorer in the college’s history. He was also recognized for his outstanding performance by being selected for the All-Tournament team in NJCAA Division 3 championships.

After completing his degree in Sports Management from St. Mary’s in Minnesota, Pickford decided to pursue his passion for coaching.

Throughout his time as an assistant coach, Pickford has demonstrated his exceptional knowledge of the game and his ability to motivate and inspire young athletes. He has worked closely with the head coach to develop game strategies, analyze game footage, and provide guidance and support to the players on the team.

Assistant Coach