In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Hernando Planells shares lessons from Hollywood sets and global coaching.

With over two decades of experience spanning professional and collegiate basketball, as well as film and TV, Hernando Planells is a dynamic coach, film and tv sports coordinator, and leadership consultant. As the Technical Director of the NBA Basketball School in Dubai, he combines his passion for basketball with a mission to inspire the next generation of athletes across the UAE.

Hernando's coaching career includes:

• Duke University (Associate Head Women’s Basketball Coach): Led the team to an ACC Championship, two Elite Eights, and six NCAA Tournament appearances. Recruited, coached and developed 11 future WNBA players, including Las Vegas Aces and Team USA guard Chelsea Gray, while maintaining a 100% graduation rate.
• Maine Red Claws (NBA G-League): Worked with the Boston Celtics affiliate alongside current Celtics Assistant GM Austin Ainge, developing players such as 12-year NBA veteran Avery Bradley and Mario West.
• International Coaching: Served as the Head Coach for the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Japan and the University of the East in the Philippines, as well as the head coach for the New Zealand Junior National Team.
• William Jessup University (Head Women’s Basketball Coach): Guided the team to their first GSAC championship, earning Coach of the Year honors and an NAIA national tournament appearance.
• University of Illinois and UNLV: Gained valuable experience under former NBA Assistant Coach Bill Bayno.

Beyond coaching, Hernando has made significant contributions to film and TV as a part owner and sports coordinator/choreographer for Game Changing Films on major projects like 'Coach Carter,' 'The Longest Yard,' 'Swagger’, 'The Crossover,' and the newly released “Running Point’ starring Kate Hudson on Netflix. ”bringing authentic basketball action to the screen. He is also the founder of Be Contagious Leadership a consulting company dedicated to empowering teams and organizations through courage, communication, and connection.

A proud father, Hernando’s son Preston Planells, who is in his first year as the assistant women's basketball coach at New Mexico State, and Gabrielle Planells, is a senior theatre student at Chico State University. Driven by a passion for storytelling, leadership, and basketball, Hernando’s goal is to empower athletes both on and off the court.

Exploring the real impact of Basketball Immersion on elite youth coaching with a coach who has completely transformed his approach to the game.

 Klein Collins High School head coach Scott Harmatuk discusses his journey since joining Basketball Immersion—how shifting away from traditional drills and embracing game-based learning has reshaped his coaching philosophy. Learn how these changes have elevated his players’ enjoyment of practice and games, while also improving their decision-making, skill development, and overall basketball IQ, leading to noticeable growth in both individual and team performance.

Beyond Scott’s personal evolution, this episode is packed with insights for all youth coaches looking to modernize their approach. What are the biggest challenges when making the shift? What are the most impactful takeaways that any coach—regardless of level—can apply? And ultimately, what does it take to develop players who truly understand the game?

Coach Harmatuk, born and raised in Spring, TX, played basketball at Fordham University from 1996-2000. He went on to play professionally for the Brooklyn Kings (USBL) and REYNOSA UAT (Mexico-LNBP). After retiring, he began his coaching career at Spring Woods HS, followed by Nimitz HS with mentor Randy Gilmer. In 2008, he became the head coach at Klein Collins HS, where he remains today.

Since joining Basketball Immersion in 2020, Coach Harmatuk has led his team to 3 district titles and earned Coach of the Year honors 3 times. Known as a "player's coach," he builds strong relationships with his players through respect and honesty.

If you’re a coach who wants to maximize your players' potential while making practices more engaging, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Let’s get started!

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Harvard-Westlake head coach David Rebibo joins the Basketball Podcast to share Harvard-Westlake's championship formula.

David Rebibo has transformed Harvard-Westlake into a national powerhouse and established himself as one of the premier coaches in California basketball.

Under Coach Rebibo's guidance, Harvard-Westlake has become synonymous with excellence, capturing multiple CIF championships, including three state titles (2016, 2023, 2024) and sectional championships (2012, 2017, 2023). His program's dominance in the highly competitive Mission League - winning 7 titles in the last decade - speaks to the sustainable culture of success he's built.

Beyond his 400+ career wins, Rebibo's impact on the game extends nationally through his work with USA Basketball, where he's helped develop some of America's top young talent. His coaching acumen has been widely recognized, earning CIF Coach of the Year honors multiple times (2016, 2017, 2024) and being named State Coach of the Year in 2020.

Before Harvard-Westlake, Rebibo served as an Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at the University of San Francisco, where he helped guide the program to its best WCC finish in 20 years and an NIT berth. His head coaching journey began at El Camino Real High School (2007-13), where he built a powerhouse program that consistently competed for City Section championships.

Rebibo's success at multiple levels - from rebuilding El Camino Real to his collegiate experience at USF to creating a national power at Harvard-Westlake - demonstrates his ability to develop talent and build sustainable winning programs at every stop in his career.