Believe It, They're Playing Above the Rim in Rock Hill
Believe Prep Basketball Academy is a post graduate basketball program in Rock Hill, SC, built to give overlooked high school graduates a second shot at college basketball. Its motto, "You become what you believe," sums up the approach: a demanding, disciplined environment where players develop their games, their bodies and their academic readiness while getting in front of college coaches.
The program was founded around 2010 by Tyson Waterman, a four-year point guard at Winthrop University, where his teams won back-to-back Big South titles and his No. 41 jersey was retired. Waterman coached Believe in two stints through 2018 before joining Gregg Marshall's staff at Wichita State, and his former Believe players include Wichita State's Dexter Dennis.
Director of basketball Kevin Jackson brings more than 25 years of coaching to Rock Hill. A well-known figure in New York City basketball, he founded the Aim High AAU program, which produced D1 and NBA players, and he was an assistant at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Globe Institute of Technology and T.C.I.
Head coach Doudmy "Coach Saint" Saint Hilaire, entering his fourth season, is a full-circle story. More than a decade ago he played for Jackson, and that opportunity launched a college career that began at Navarro College (TX) and finished at D2 Rogers State (OK), where the 6'3 guard earned All-Heartland Conference honors. He went on to play professionally in Turkey. Saint Hilaire worked in the Believe program for several years before taking over as head coach in September 2023, and he has gone 57-12 since, sending 25 players on to college basketball. He oversees recruiting, player evaluation, scouting, game preparation and strength training, and he builds Believe's offensive and defensive systems while monitoring his players' academics. A player-development specialist, he founded Get Right with Saint in 2015 and has trained players from middle school to the professional level. He holds a bachelor's degree in sports management and is pursuing a master's degree. Coach Saint Hilaire can be reached at Coachsainthilaire3@gmail.com.
Believe's track record speaks for itself. Jason Preston used his prep year to earn a scholarship to Ohio University, where he became an All-MAC guard before reaching the NBA. Brian Moore Jr. spent a season at Believe after high school in Kingston, NY, then earned junior college All-American honors at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and played at Murray State before a breakout season at Norfolk State, where he was MEAC Tournament MVP and won the Lou Henson Award as the nation's top mid-major player. He now plays at Grand Canyon. Terry Roberts averaged 18 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds at Believe before playing at Florida Southwestern State, Bradley and Georgia and then professionally.
Believe's 2026-27 schedule mixes national prep competition with college JV games. Highlights include the Hargrave Hoop Fest (VA), the Skills Factory Thanksgiving Holiday Invitational, the Fork Union Christmas Tournament (VA), the IMG Sunshine Showcase in Bradenton, FL, a February trip to Oak Hill Academy (VA), and the Big Shots Nationals and Phenom Nationals in the spring.
The team's 2026-27 players are profiled below.
Benji Mina (2027) 6'1 point guard - From Charlotte, NC, Mina is developing as a floor general who handles pressure, controls the tempo, reads defenses and knows when to score and when to get others involved.
Jaeir Hardwell (2027) 6'2 point guard - From Hot Springs, AR, Hardwell is a lead guard with good size who runs the offense, reads the floor and controls the pace, and he is developing into a complete point guard who can score and facilitate.
Zaquan George (2027) 6'5 shooting guard - From the Bronx, NY, George has excellent size for the backcourt, which creates matchup problems for smaller guards. He attacks closeouts, defends the perimeter and has the physical profile to develop into an impactful two-way guard.
Tafari Kennedy (2027) 5'7 point guard - From Brooklyn, NY, Kennedy is a floor leader who handles pressure, makes quick, smart decisions, organizes the offense and keeps his teammates involved.
Amare Desire (2027) 6'2 point guard - From Queens, NY, Desire is a point guard with good size who organizes the offense, reads defensive coverages, attacks when the opening is there and finds teammates in scoring position.
Kamryn Boyd (2027) 6'6 shooting guard - From Yonkers, NY, Boyd is an explosive, high-flying athlete who plays above the rim and finishes with authority, making him a dangerous threat in transition and around the basket. He is more than an athletic finisher, with a quality mid-range game and a reliable three-point shot that let him score at all three levels.
Tahziir Webber (2027) 6'4 shooting guard - From Pageland, SC, Webber has good size on the perimeter and uses his length to compete defensively. Offensively, he moves without the ball, attacks openings and knocks down shots when they come.
Malachai Cooke (2028) 6'6 shooting guard - From Charlotte, NC, Cooke is one of the youngest players on the roster and an exciting prospect to watch. He brings an above-the-rim element to the wing, and his height creates matchup problems for smaller perimeter players. He has plenty of room to grow his perimeter game and two-way impact.
Dalton Jones (2027) 6'1 point guard - From Brooklyn, NY, Jones is a floor leader who handles the ball, controls the tempo and makes decisions under pressure, knowing when to attack and when to get his teammates involved.
Taha Ismaili (2027) 6'7 small forward - From Stamford, CT, Ismaili brings valuable size to the wing, where he creates mismatches on the perimeter, attacks the basket, defends multiple positions and rebounds.
Justiz "Jus" Butler (2027) 6'4 shooting guard - From Nassau, Bahamas, Butler brings good size and offensive confidence to the perimeter. He creates scoring chances, moves well without the ball, attacks openings in the defense and competes against opposing guards on the other end.
Jordan Jones (2027) 6'7 small forward - From Baton Rouge, LA, Jones is an impressive athlete with above-the-rim ability who makes exciting plays in transition and attacks the rim with explosiveness. His combination of size and athleticism makes him an intriguing wing prospect.
Ibrahim Gumaneh (2027) 6'9 center - From the Bronx, NY, Gumaneh gives Believe size and a physical presence in the frontcourt. He rebounds, protects the paint, finishes around the basket and creates second-chance opportunities.
The team's 2026-27 game schedule and results can be found by clicking here