Testimonials

Boston Renaissance Charter Public School

Prove Them Wrong has been a great opportunity to have here at The Boston Renaissance. We are a Charter Public School that serves predominantly children of color and to have one of our very own, DeShawn Gibbons, come back to his old stomping grounds and give back to his community, speaks volumes to what Prove Them Wrong is all about. DeShawn and his team at PTW, came to our school with high expectations and held our students to high standards from the beginning of the program. Our students were able to see themselves in their coaches and see that they are capable of anything they put their minds and hearts to. We truly look forward to continuing our partnership with Prove Them Wrong!

Concord Recreation

Prove Them Wrong sets itself apart through its professionalism and deep understanding of basketball. The coaches’ expertise in the game shines through in their effective teaching and training methods for kids. They have a knack for breaking down complex skills and strategies into digestible concepts, ensuring that each child learns and improves at their own pace. With a focus on fundamental development and tactical awareness, Prove Them Wrong provides a nurturing environment where young athletes not only learn the game but also develop a genuine love for it. It’s more than just basketball training; it’s a program that instills valuable life skills and a lifelong passion for the sport. Concord Recreation is looking forward to continuing our partnership with Prove Them Wrong.

Wellesley Youth Basketball Association

Wellesley Youth Basketball partnered with DeShawn and the Prove Them Wrong team to run instructional clinics and skill sessions in lieu of a competitive league in 2020/2021. We were able to secure court space at Babson, and PTW ran clinics for kids from second grade through high school–more than 30 groups across three courts all day Saturday and Sunday. The PTW team also worked with our travel teams on a weekly basis. We all had to operate under strict school COVID protocols, and the PTW team always put the health and safety of the kids first. Logistics were challenging, with so many groups across so many time slots, and PTW was professional and flexible throughout the process. The PTW trainers always came prepared with plans that matched the age and skill level of the participants, and the feedback we received from players and parents was outstanding–the players focus on things that help them get better, but also learn a lot about hard work and character from the PTW team. We look forward to continuing our partnership.

Newton Basketball MetroWest

My son has been working with DeShawn for the past three years and it was clear from the start of his training that DeShawn was going to challenge him not only to grow as an athlete but also as a person. My son is a better conditioned and more disciplined basketball player now and has gone from playing at the second tier level to being competitive with top tier players. He’s also become a more mature and confident student-athlete with better performance not only on the court but in school as well.

In addition to personal training DeShawn has also served as an Assistant Coach and Trainer for the Newton Metrowest program. He has run excellent skills sessions for our team which just won the Division 1 Massachusetts State Championship.

I would highly recommend Deshawn for individual, group and team training. DeShawn carefully organizes and customizes training programs for the individual player, communicates very well with feedback and is an excellent mentor and role model.

Clinics and Private Training

There is no else in the basketball coaching world that compares to DeShawn and his PTW team! DeShawn goes above and beyond to show his dedication to each and every student in his program. He customizes each program to fit your child’s needs. The high level of support on and off the court is truly unmatched. We have used him both for private lessons and group lessons and both have been fantastic! DeShawn came highly recommended and it was the BEST decision we made for our daughter! He has even supported us as parents throughout the time. To see her progress over the past two years has been remarkable and we aren’t stopping here. The best is yet to come with DeShawn and the PTW team!

— Cerissa and Gary

“Our son James trained with DeShawn and PTW from 5th grade until 8th grade. Over the past four years James developed confidence from his workouts with PTW and has been able to apply the skills acquired in workouts to real game situations. His ball handling and finishing around the basket are two of the areas where he has made the most progress, allowing him to make his high school varsity team as a Freshman. Thank you DeShawn and PTW team. Success is a grind and doesn’t happen overnight. You have to put in the work over long periods of time. We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of mentors at PTW to keep pushing!”

— Chris Sullivan

“My son, John, has been training with Coach Gibbons for 3 years now. When we first came to Prove Them Wrong, John’s shooting was weak and his ability to shoot wide variety of shots was low and his dribbling was slow. Now John’s shooting form is fundamentally solid, his dribbling is fast and skilled and he can take shots from anywhere on the court. More importantly Coach Gibbons has taught John to have great confidence and always work hard. Gibbons teaching style is a lot more than just basketball training. He invests time with my son, teaches about teamwork, discipline and following direction. Gibbons is a great motivator and exceptional teacher. Thank you for caring enough about how young people grow and learn to share your experiences with him. Thank you for being encouraging, supportive and always positive. John’s basketball skills have and continue to improve greatly and we attribute this to you.”

– Liz Grimes

“DeShawn Gibbons has been far more than just a basketball trainer to our three children. We hired DeShawn to do just that about eight years ago but he became a close family friend and a mentor to all three of our kids. He never runs out of new and different ways to teach basketball skills and ways to improve their game. He is incredibly intuitive and caters to the different personalities with whom he is working. In addition to sharpening basketball skills and increasing endurance, DeShawn also spends a lot of time communicating with his trainees and their parents about healthy life choices like good nutrition, the importance of sleep, and subtle ways kids can boost their confidence on and off the court. He is encouraging and patient and extremely flexible with his time. Almost everyday, at least one of my kids asks “when am I working with DeShawn again?” They finish their hour with DeShawn feeling motivated and accomplished. Our experience with Deshawn over the many years has been nothing less than perfect and the fact that our kids beg to have sessions with him is a testimony to his effectiveness and positive influence.”

— Barrie Silk

“DeShawn Gibbons has been an amazing mentor, coach and role model to our sons. He is professional, skilled, knowledgeable, responsible and considerate.
Working with DeShawn, our sons have not only improved substantially as basketball players but have also learned important life lessons regarding work ethic, personal care, confidence via preparation, and self-awareness.”

— Dr. Ofer Levy

“The basketball program’s administration is outstanding. They have a well-organized system that evaluates each athlete and finds the best program to suit their needs. This personalized approach ensures that every player receives the appropriate level of training and support. The seamless management and attention to detail have made our experience extremely positive. We highly recommend this organization for its excellent administration and commitment to developing young athletes.”

—PTW Parent

“Our son has been attending semi-private basketball training sessions at PTW for several months now, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with his progress. The coaches at PTW are incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated, providing personalized attention that has significantly improved his skills. From dribbling and shooting to defensive techniques, the comprehensive training program covers all aspects of the game, ensuring a well-rounded development. The supportive and positive environment has boosted his confidence both on and off the court. We are grateful for the passion and expertise that PTW brings to their training sessions. Seeing my son’s growth and enthusiasm for basketball is a testament to the exceptional work being done at PTW. We highly recommend their programs to any young athlete looking to improve their skills and love for the game.”

—PTW Parent

“What I love about PTW’s training that my daughter hasn’t gotten from AAU teams yet is the focus on the whole picture: skills, footwork, basketball IQ, etc. She is learning real offensive moves and strategies that she can use in games as well as honing fundamental skills like dribbling with her right hand where she needs improvement”

—PTW Parent

“I appreciate the positive coaching style balanced with really challenging, pushing these kids to get better. You’re tough when you have to be, but positive / rewarding overall. It’s a really great environment for someone who is committed to getting better, needs a little more self confidence, and thrives with positive reinforcement.”

—PTW Parent