Our coaching staff combines college playing experience and high school coaching to build fundamentally sound players.
HBA is a basketball program for boys and girls built around player development. Our focus is on teaching the fundamentals, skills, footwork, and team concepts necessary for long-term success on the court.
We Offer AAU teams in NJ out of Hunterdon and Hudson counties that play in competitive and highly competitive tournaments
We believe skill development is the foundation of every great player. It’s not about the plays you run or athletic ability alone, without strong fundamentals, players won’t reach their full potential. Ball handling, proper shooting form, footwork, spacing, game control, balance, and a commitment to defense are all essential to succeeding at the high school level and beyond.
Our coaching staff reflects this commitment. All head coaches have either played at the collegiate level, or coached at the high school level.
ABOUT HBA
Coach George Feature Interview -The Ladies Ball & The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Who’s who in women’s Hoops 2024
The series highlights inspirational coaches, players, and leaders within the women's game, teaching resilience and leadership to female athletes both on and off the court. Celeste Gehring former LSU player interviews coach George! Coach George talks about his commitment to teaching fundamentals & team-first style basketball.
HBA COACHES
GEORGE MERCADO – HBA Director & Coach
Coach George is a dedicated leader in youth sports, with over 20 years of coaching experience and more than 1,450 wins across AAU basketball. Coach George helped launch several programs prior to founding HBA, where he accumulated over 700 wins. He has guided teams to championships at every level and is known for his commitment to teaching the fundamentals of the game and promoting a team-first approach. As the founder and director of HBA Basketball, Coach George has created a program rooted in player development, character building, and competitive excellence. Coach George has guided his HBA teams to over 750 wins. A former four-year varsity letter winner and collegiate starter, he brings both playing and coaching experience to his leadership.
MO BENDARY – HBA Coach
Coach Mo is a 2015 graduate of St. Anthony High School. He was coached at St. Anthony by Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley. Coach Mo earned a basketball scholarship to NJIT where he played for 4 years. Coach Mo has coached with HBA since 2018.
• 2017-18 (JR): Named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court
• 2017-18 (JR): Named to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Winter/Spring Academic Honor Roll
• 2017-18 (JR): Nominated for ASUN All-Academic Team
• 2016-17 (SO): Nominated for ASUN All-Academic Team
RAY MONTILUS– HBA Coach
Coach Ray attended Pope John High School where he won a State Championship in 2015. Coach Ray Was a High School McDonald's All-American nominee, named to the All-County First Team. He played college basketball at Pace University
NADIR ALSTON– HBA Coach
Coach Nadir Was a 4 year starter at Bloomfield Tech, he played JUCO collegiately and professionally in Denmark. Coach Nadir also coached youth in Denmark before joining HBA.
TARA WUORINEN – HBA Coach
Coach Tara was a member of the 1998 TOC State Championship Team that finished 32-0. Coach Tara played at Ramapo College where she was a four-year member of the women’s basketball team. During her collegiate career, Tara was selected to the NJAC 1st Team All-Conference, All-Metro Team, and Co-Betty Logan Female Athlete of the Year. Coach Tara was inducted into the Ramapo College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 where she ranks third for women and ninth all-time in scoring for Ramapo.
SHYQUAN GIBBS – HBA Coach
Coach Shy was a 4 year letter winner at St Anthony’s High School playing for hall of fame coach Bob Hurley. Coach Shy, ranked among the top 25 New Jersey players in the Class of 2016 by NJHoops.com, led St. Anthony’s (26-0) to be ranked No.1 Boys High School basketball team in New Jersey and fourth-best in the nation, according to USA Today. …as a junior, he helped the Friars to a 28-2 record and sixth consecutive NJSIAA Non-Public, North B Championship. Coach Shy was also the Valedictorian at St Anthony’s for his class and earned a basketball scholarship to NJIT where he played point guard for 4 years. Coach Shy has coached with HBA since 2018.
JULIUS DAVID SR – HBA Coach
Coach Julius has 20+ years of high school and college basketball coaching experience. Coach Julius was the boys varsity coach at Kearny and Perth Amboy High Schools, as well as an assistant at Immaculate Conception and St. Anthony’s High School where he was the freshman coach under HOF Coach Bob Hurley. Coach Julius coached at the collegiate level as an assistant at Felician University where they won the 2022 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Coach Julius was a 4 year varsity letter winner in high school and 4 year starter in college. Coach Julius has coached for HBA since it’s inception.
MATT WALKER – HBA Coach
Coach Matt is a dedicated basketball coach with extensive experience developing student-athletes at the youth, middle school, and high school levels. He currently serves as the Boys Freshman Head Coach and a Varsity/JV Assistant Coach at Delaware Valley Regional High School.
Coach Matt has coached boys and girls at every level from kindergarten through eighth grade. This broad experience allows him to teach age-appropriate skills, reinforce proper habits, and build a strong foundation that translates to high school competition. His coaching approach prioritizes skill development, defensive effort, team concepts, and understanding the game, while also fostering confidence and leadership in young athletes.
A former collegiate football player at Widener University, Coach Matt brings a disciplined, competitive mindset to the basketball court and values preparation, work ethic, and team culture. Coach Matt believes basketball is about more than wins and losses — it is an opportunity to teach responsibility, resilience, and teamwork with a focus on academics.