MeetAntoine Gillespie

Antoine Gillespie is our International Youth Skills Trainer, who brings his impressive experience as a professional player who has developed numerous players from around the world over the years.

A Chicago native, his journey from high school standout to international professional has shaped one of the most respected youth skills trainers working with young basketball players today. With more than 17 years of professional experience across Europe and South America, Antoine now dedicates his expertise to developing the next generation of elite athletes. He trains young players from all over the world and is regularly invited by international federations to support their national programs. The Kenyan Federation named him Player Development Director, and the Japanese Federation selected him to train their U16 3×3 national team. He also works with several youth athletes who represent their countries at international level.

Antoine’s training sessions are innovative, intense, and purpose-driven. His focus is on elite skill development: ball handling, shooting mechanics, footwork, passing, finishing, and game IQ. He has developed his own high-intensity methodology built around precision, repetition, and game-realistic pressure, preparing promising athletes to compete and succeed at the next level.

Antoine Gillespie smiling during personal training practice

Antoine Gillespie - Career Overview

Born and raised in the basketball heartland of Chicago, Antoine Gillespie’s journey in basketball began under the towering influence of the Chicago Bulls’ dominance. He honed his skills at Michael Jordan’s basketball camps and showcased his burgeoning talent at Gordon Tech, where he played in the national high school championships finals before a crowd of over 10,000 fans. His outstanding high school performance led to heavy recruitment by top Division I universities.

Choosing the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), Antoine quickly made a name for himself. In just three years, he surpassed NBA Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway’s record, scoring a total of 1,706 points. His achievements earned him a spot in the Chicago Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022 and a future induction into the UTEP Hall of Fame. After college, Antoine briefly joined the Philadelphia 76’ers as a free agent before embarking on a prolific international career. He played professionally for 17 years in the top championships across Europe and South America, experiencing the cultures of 26 countries and enhancing his focus on diversity.

Post-basketball, Antoine explored entrepreneurship, running a successful bakery in France for 12 years and starting a luxury brand in Italy. These business ventures provided him with invaluable experience, laying the groundwork for his most ambitious project: to provide top level skills training at Ball Academy, the 1st International Athletic Prep School in Europe.