ABOUT US

We’re an AAU basketball program based in Lansing, Michigan. Our mission is simple. It’s to mentor and develop talented youth basketball players. Through a dedicated and experienced coaching staff using fundamental basketball philosophies, we are cultivating the stars of tomorrow.

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AAU BASKETBALLCLUB SERVING
MID-MICHIGAN ATHLETES

The mission of this non-profit organization is to allow student athletes the opportunity to play competitive basketball, enhance their skills, and be prepared for their next grade level of basketball, ultimately making an impact at the high school, college, and beyond levels. We follow the principles of the Amateur Athletic Association Organization (AAU).

Through our pillars we will also teach them to be successful leaders off the court in their communities (service), at home (family), and in the classroom through commitment to academics and other activities/athletics.

We will also share the importance of proper health and fitness, to help them excel at the next level of whatever paths or careers they pursue to be successful and impactful in society.

All of this to develop and support our vision of developing a family like atmosphere and be a well-respected organization within the State.

ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDON IACOBELLIS

Don, a former HS Basketball Player, has been an active youth coach and avid community sports member for the last 20 plus years coaching multiple boys and girls sports (basketball, baseball, soccer, and softball) in the Ann Arbor-Saline, Grand Rapids, and Lansing, Michigan areas. He has a passion for coaching, developing, and motivating kids.

He has coached at many different levels including at the recreational, travel, and AAU levels. In 2009-10, he started the Mid Michigan Excel AAU Basketball Club. He also serves on his local basketball board, where he previously served as President for two years.

As a health care professional, he understands the importance of health and fitness along with developing quality, student athletes. Don has two degrees, one from Michigan State University in Biochemistry and a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the University of Michigan.

He and his wife Nancy have two children, who were active in multiple sports, including one at the NCAA Division 1 Level.

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Inspirational words from players and parents TESTIMONIALS

“Mid-Michigan Excel has been a wonderful experience. Not only do the coaches focus on improving the basketball skills of our athletes they encourage maturity and leadership on and off the court. They focus on the whole athlete, helping them to achieve their very best!!”

-Shauna

“We have had two of our daughters play in the Excel program over the past nine years. Excel exemplifies the values and goals to compete and succeed on and off the court.”

-Tom & Jill

“Mid-Michigan Excel is so much more than an AAU organization, they are a family! A family on and off the court during and even after the AAU season! They focus on growing not just their team for wins, but each player as an individual. They truly want their players to be leaders on and off the court!”

-Allison

“We were fortunate to discover Mid-Michigan Excel four years ago, and we have had two daughters in the program.I feel that one of the main strengths of Mid-Michigan Excel has been to provide our daughters with a lot of practice and playing time on a competitive AAU team. The players in Mid-Michigan Excel come from good basketball programs all around the Mid-Michigan area.

This has given our daughters a chance to make friends from other schools and to support these other girls as some of them have gone on to play for high school state championships and in college. In Mid-Michigan Excel, every player has a pretty equal opportunity to play. And through these basketball experiences, our daughters became better players, better leaders, and better teammates.

More simply put, they became better people. Our youngest daughter now has gotten a couple of offers to play basketball in college. We are excited for that, but we will miss being a part of Mid-Michigan Excel.”

-Paul

“Mid Michigan Excel provided my daughter with the self-confidence and ability to pursue her love of basketball at the next level. The coaching she received turned into support for her both on and off the court. The positive and competitive atmosphere nurtured friendships, life skills, work ethic and memories to last a lifetime. Coach Don’s Excel basketball program resulted in a little girl’s dreams coming true and helped prepare my daughter for life in college and beyond.”

-Sara

“Being a part of the Excel program changed my life forever. When playing with Excel, I knew I had a coach that believed in me and teammates that had my back. It is because of the program that Coach Don built that I am playing at the next level, Adrian College. I will forever be thankful for the support and lifelong skills Excel provided me with.”

-Alexis College Player

NEXT LEVELMEET OUR EXCEL ALUMNI
PLAYING IN COLLEGE

CLASS OF 2020

Kamrin Reed
Holt | Western Michigan University
Hannah Thelen
Pewamo Westphalia | Alma College
Kelsey Finch
Perry | Lansing Community College
Lindsay Crim
Perry | Lansing Community College
Olivia Roe
Portland | Davenport University

CLASS OF 2021

Teona Feldpausch
Olivet | Spring Arbor University
Sydnee Dennis
Haslett | Olivet College
Ta Dajah Solomon
East Lansing | Martin Methodist

CLASS OF 2022

Katy Shannon
Lansing Catholic | Adrian College
Alexis Sillman
St.Johns | Adrian College
Emily Spitzley
Pewamo Westphalia | Grand Valley State
Cameron Ramos
Charlotte | Olivet College

CLASS OF 2023

Laya Hartman
Okemos | Northwestern University
Maddie Petersen
DeWitt | Aquinas College
Maddie Robbins
St. Johns | Alma College

CLASS OF 2024

COMMITS
Ana Mooney
Holt | Signed with Wheaton College
Sara English
Lansing Catholic | Signed with Kalamazoo College
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Mid Michigan Excel Basketball An AAU Basketball Club.
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