Valandar Smith; President of Harwood Ballers Basketball 

 

A College Graduate with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a certificate in Human Resources.  Played College Football at Norfolk State University and Northern Michigan University.  Currently employed at Ford Motor Company as a Human Resource Manager at Dearborn Tool & Die Plant.  Resident of Northville since 2008, a married father of three with two daughters, (Alexis and Destinee) both enrolled in college and one son, (Alexander - AJ) soon to be entering High School in the fall of 2018.  A Trustee at Triumph Church.  Actively involved in Northville youth sports since 2008, coached Youth Flag Football for 3 years, served 1 year as the Health and Safety Coach for the Northville Stallions Youth Football Team, 5 years as Head Coach for Northville Youth Recreation Boys Basketball, 3 years as Head Coach for Northville Youth Travel (C-Team) and served 2 years as a board member for Northville Basketball Association.

Shaft Sanders; Vice President of the Hardwood Ballers Basketball Association 

I have been a resident of Novi Michigan for 12 years and I'm the father of two boys who are currently 11, and 14 in age.  I have been involved in sports my entire life with a true love of basketball.  I have been coaching this game for well over a decade and participated on many teams while growing up in the city of Detroit.  I played recreational ball for Detroit PAL organization and various teams throughout my academic career.  I played on inter-mural teams in college at the great University of Central Michigan.  I continue to play to this day on Wednesday nights with the same bunch of guys that I have known for over 20 years.  I never was great as a player, but I learned so much from the sport itself.  I learned team work, how to be a supportive person, maturity, discipline and accountability just to name a few things.  

We started Hardwood Ballers Basketball Association in 2018 as a way to encourage boys who are young adults to continue the passion for the sport that they love.  We stress fundamentals and all the core values that I learned during my playing and coaching career.  I believe that this sport help mold me into the man I am today.  I believe if you give us the opportunity to help mold your son that they will have the same core values that we stress as an organization.     

Sincerely;
Shaft Sanders 
Vice President of the Hardwood Ballers Basketball Association