Rahmeen Underwood, Owner
Rahmeen Underwood developed into one of Texas’ top prep players and earned a full athletic scholarship to Texas Southern University.
But Rahmeen’s roots are firmly planted in Queens, New York, including Southside Jamaica Queens Baisley Park.
“Life just came so fast in those projects,” Rahmeen recalls. “Frequent gun fights, drug addicts always around, people being murdered in front of me. I learned in fifth grade, ‘This is not what I want.’ ”
Rahmeen made a vow to himself: To never drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes or consume drugs, and to fulfill his dreams through sports.
Rahmeen’s father wasn’t a part of his life early on, and his mother, though she financially struggled, modeled for him and his younger brother Jamaal the importance of resiliency. Meanwhile, Rahmeen’s grandmother showed him how to work hard and help others.
Granny Goose, as he called her, worked two security jobs, leaving early and returning at 11:30 p.m. to help support her family. Rahmeen would rush to meet her in the street when she stepped off the dollar van, oftentimes with a steak sandwich with onions that they shared.
“She’s everything to me,” Rahmeen says. “She’s one of the most influential people in my life.”
Rahmeen applied that work ethic to his own life, dribbling a basketball around their block late at night and taping NBA games and mimicking the stars’ moves on the lone court at PS181, a nearby elementary school. When it snowed, Rahmeen would clear the court with an ice pick then put four pairs of socks over each hand to practicing shooting.
But Granny Goose also generously helped others.
Rahmeen and Granny were in their home when they witnessed a woman being robbed on the street.
“My grandmother jumped out of her chair, ran outside and scared the robber off,” Rahmeen says. “She was always helping people and making an impact.”
An All Southwestern Athletic Conference selection, Rahmeen was invited to training camps and tryouts for a number of NBA teams. But after retirement, Rahmeen continues to work closely with NBA players, helping them with financial and career management. In early 2022, Rahmeen became co-owner of Legacy Hoops with Tom Schuster.
He is grateful to work with Legacy Hoops, where he gets to tap into his vast experience and honor Granny Goose’s legacy of generosity.
I know there’s a purpose for why I’m here — and I firmly believe it’s to help,” Rahmeen says. “Just like my granny.”
Demondi Johnson, General Manager / Girls AAU Director
Demondi Johnson grew up in Niagara Falls, New York, and he was a four-year starter and three-year captain at Niagara Falls High.
- He was an All-State tournament selection as a junior, and his school’s all-time assists leader.
- Demondi earned a scholarship to Gannon University in Pennsylvania, where he was a three-year starter.
- He made his conference’s All-Defensive team, and was a captain at Gannon, where he is in the Top-10 All-Time for assists.
- After graduating with a degree in social work, Demondi moved to Minnesota, working with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jonny Flynn, the team’s sixth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
- Following a return to New York, Demondi started as a paraprofessional at North Junior High in Hopkins, and he also earned a masters degree in school counseling from Adler University.
- In 2014, he joined 43 Hoops as a trainer, and he capitalized on coaching opportunities with the club and at Hopkins High School. He was named a Varsity assistant at Hopkins High in 2016, while also working as a school counselor.
- In 2020, Demondi was named the girls Varsity basketball coach at Prior Lake High School, helping to lead the program to a third-place finish in the conference and the third-best winning percentage at the school in a single season since 1980.
- After serving as club director at 43 Hoops, Demondi now serves as the General Manager of Legacy Hoops. “I’ve been through a lot of different things. I had a heart issue in college. I’ve been through numerous car accidents, which I shouldn’t have survived. So to fast forward to now, and to do something I never planned to do and to still be a part of the game means a lot. It’s a true example of everything I teach to the kids: Resilience, overcoming adversity, not letting circumstances define who you are and who you can become. It’s a true testament, that when you do right by people, good things happen for you.”
- He enjoys bowling, and his high score is 210 out of 300.
Tom Schuster, Consultant
A strong work ethic wasn’t a luxury for Tom Schuster. It was a necessity, growing up on a small dairy farm in north central North Dakota. Tom and his eight siblings rose before 6 a.m. each morning to perform different chores, from feeding calves, to shoveling manure, to handling bale and plowing the fields. In his spare time, Tom played on a patch of dirt with a rickety hoop atop a pole. But his aspiration of playing for his high school team was denied after a silo chopper accident nearly cost him his left hand.
“It was a transformational experience for me,” Tom recalls. “I was fortunate to have a hand when it was over with. A lot of kids who had those injuries have a hook today.”
Tom learned a lot during rehab, earning back full functionality of his hand. And though he missed not playing basketball — the sport he loved — Tom was able to utilize his free time to develop in another competitive activity.
Tom took up debate, developing his critical thinking and communication skills. Tom thrived in debate and finished second in the state.
“It developed a lot of confidence in myself I didn’t know I had,” Tom says. “I had never been a confident speaker.”
Tom saw the impact of a caring coach in Dr. Wagner, a college debate champion.
Tom contemplated the priesthood and studied for four years at Cardinal Muench Seminary in Fargo. But he decided becoming a priest wasn’t his path, and he moved to the Twin Cities to attend the University of Minnesota, where he received a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy and a Bachelors of Science in Accounting.
Upon graduation, Tom accepted a job as an accounts receivable clerk at Hirshfield’s, a fourth-generation, family-owned decorating business based in Minnesota. He was promoted to a management position, then controller and, finally, chief financial officer.
Despite the benefits of being an executive at a big business, Tom yearned for something more from his life.
“I wanted to give back, make a difference,” Tom says, “especially in the lives of kids.”
Tom believes in being a steward.
“It’s not about me,” Tom says. “It’s not about the facilities. I want to make sure my staff has what they need to be successful and that we have a personal relationship with every kid we come in contact with.”
Annie Adamczak-Glavan
Location: Hopkins
Annie Adamczak-Glavan grew up in Moose Lake, Minnesota, where she established herself as one of the state’s most successful prep athletes ever.
- She starred in volleyball, softball and basketball, earning All-State honors in each and remarkably going 79-0 her senior year en route to state titles in all three sports.
- She won Basketball, and she’s been named to multiple Hall of Fames in the state, including for basketball and softball.
- When she was in high school, Annie was highlighted in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” section because of her earned run average of 0.005 in softball.
- Fun facts about Annie: She could throw a 65-mile per hour fastball at the age of 12, and her graduating class at Moose Lake High included 72 students.
- Though dominant in all three sports, Annie dreamed of playing in the NBA and following in the footsteps of Larry Bird, a Hall of Fame forward from tiny French Lick, Indiana.
- After high school, Annie headed to the University of Nebraska, where she started three years on the volleyball team and played one season of basketball. Annie was named an All-American in volleyball in 1985.
- In spring 2022, on the 50-year anniversary of Title IX, Annie was among the 11 Title IX Honorees in Minnesota, and she was featured on the Land O’Lakes Title IX Championship Tour bus.
- The founder of Club 43 in Hopkins, Annie has coached many athletes to titles and scholarships.
- Annie and her husband Mike Glavan are the parents of three children.
Aaron Anderson
Location: Hopkins
Aaron Anderson is from Brooklyn Park, and he was a two-year starter at Osseo High.
- Nicknamed “Double A,” Aaron was a two-time All-Conference player on an Osseo team that was a 2009 State Tournament finalist.
- Four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at the University of North Dakota, he was an All-Conference player and finished his career Top-10 in scoring, assists, steals and most games played.
- He played professionally in Australia (2015 to 2019), Serbia/ Kosovo (2018), France (2019 to 2020) and the United Kingdom (2021 to 2022).
- Aaron’s right pinkie is curved and still has two pins in it from an elementary school injury.
- Aaron’s favorite restaurant is Benihana, and he especially loves the Yum Yum sauce.
- Aaron says his family and friends know he has a special gift for math. “If math comes up, I can answer it.”
Jamal Davis
Location: Hopkins
Jamal Davis grew up in Hopkins, and he started playing basketball in fifth grade.
- As a freshman at Hopkins High School, he played on the sophomore team, and he made his Varsity debut later that season.
- Helped his team win one State championship and also earned All-Conference honors.
- Headed to North Dakota State College of Science, where he was a two-time All-Conference player.
- Then he headed to Midwestern State University in Texas, and he returned to the Twin Cities to play at Bethel University.
- He enjoys singing and watching “The Voice.” “It opens me up to all music,” Jamal says. “People think it’s funny when I was into country music.”
Ryan Martin, Hopkins Manager / Trainer
Location: Hopkins
Ryan Martin grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and he earned four Varsity letters in basketball at Schlagle High.
- Ryan’s team advanced to the State tournament final during his freshman year, and he was a finalist one season for the top basketball player in the Kansas City Metro.
- A three-time All-Conference player and one-time captain, Ryan is ranked in the top 10 in his school’s history in points and rebounds. He averaged 19 points per game during his senior season.
- At Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, Ryan was named the 2005 Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division Player of the Year, and he scored more than 1,000 points in his two seasons while shooting better than 50 percent from the field.
- Ryan then headed to Wichita State University to play basketball, making the Valley All-Bench team and helping the Shockers advance to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Tournament in 2006.
- Ryan says his most impactful coach is Jay Herkelman, the highly-decorated head men’s basketball coach at Coffeyville Community College since 1995. “He taught me the value of hard work and made me earn everything I got for two years,” Ryan says. “He would call me into his office every Monday and ask, ‘Is this the week you’re going to give up your starting spot?’ That made me want to be better every week.”
- Fun fact about Ryan: He has a metal rod in his left leg, from his knee to his his ankle.
- His favorite restaurant is Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, especially since there isn’t one in Minnesota.
Lavar McCullough
Location: Hopkins
Lavar McCullough grew up in Minneapolis, and he graduated from Robbinsdale Cooper High, where he played three basketball seasons.
- Lavar played with Rashad Vaughn, who eventually would star at UNLV and get selected 15th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. One season, their team reached the semifinal of the State basketball tournament.
- After high school, Lavar headed to Rochester Community and Technical College in Minnesota, where he was an All-Conference selection and awarded Defensive Player of the Year. His team finished third at Nationals.
- Lavar then played two seasons at the University of St. Mary’s in Kansas, where he helped his team win a conference title. His playing career ended after he tore his ACL and MCL in his right knee.
- Lavar was so intense when he was younger that he would often cry after losses.
- His dream vacation would be to visit Rome, especially since he once had a roommate from Italy.
- Lavar says he enjoys helping develop young players. “I feel that’s my calling,” he says.
Lawrence McKenzie, Trainer
Location: Hopkins
Lawrence McKenzie is from Minneapolis, and he was a four-time state champion at Patrick Henry High in Minneapolis.
- Nicknamed “L Mac,” Lawrence had one of the best prep careers in Minnesota history, as a two-time All-State and All-Metro selection. He was a runner-up for Mr. Basketball.
- Shined in college at the University of Oklahoma and University of Minnesota, scoring over 1,400 career points and helping the Sooners win a Big 12 title.
- Played for the Los Angeles Defenders of the D-League (now G League) for 1 1/2 seasons, and also played in Macedonia’s top pro league.
- On his passion for music: “I’m able to be creative and make something out of nothing.”
- Son of Minnesota basketball coaching legend Larry McKenzie, who has been recognized locally and nationally, including from the NCAA. “Everyone knows what he’s done,” Lawrence says, “but I had that all the time!”
- His dream vacation spot is Santorini in Greece.
Chloe Vezies, Office Administrator
Location: Hopkins
Chloe Vezies was a multi-sport standout at St. Anthony Village High, where she captained both the softball and basketball teams.
- She was a four-year letterwinner in softball, being named an All-Conference infielder once, and she earned three Varsity letters in basketball.
- She played at Anoka-Ramsey Community College and was a teammate of another Legacy Hoops staffer, Shawna Yackel. After two years at Anoka-Ramsey, Chloe transferred to St. Mary’s University.
- Chloe majored in Studio Arts, with a focus on Maximalism, a style of painting that use lots of bold colors, patterns, textures, layers, repetition, detailed intricacies, serif fonts and luxury materials.
- Fun fact about Chloe: Her parents own a French crepes concession at the Minnesota State Fair. “I have been working there forever!”
- Chloe says her friends say she’s good at Cornhole.
- Her favorite place to eat is Cane’s.
Jaylen Blakley
Location: Woodbury
- Born in Gary, Indiana
- Played 4 years of Varsity basketball at Minneapolis South High School
- All conference team 3 years of HS
- Committed to Rainy River Community College to play basketball, then transferred to Grand Canyon university
DJ Johnson
Location: Woodbury
- Played High school basketball at Eden prairie high school
- Has coached and developed athletes during AAU and winter basketball seasons
Kimari Suggs-Morgan
Location: Woodbury
Kimari Suggs-Morgan is from St. Paul, and attended North St. Paul High, playing on the Varsity basketball team for 2 1/2 years.
- Former Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Academy Coach and Director
- Coaching since 2018
- Legacy Hoops trainer since 2022
Alexis Webb, Trainer/Office Administrator
Location: Woodbury
Alexis Webb grew up in Woodbury but learned basketball during summer visits with her uncle in Virginia.
- Played HS Varsity basketball at New Life Academy
- Started coaching at 18 at the YMCA in Woodbury, MN and Hudson, WI
- Became a Sports Coordinator at age 21 at the YMCA
- Worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Academy at age 22
- Legacy Hoops AAU coach since 2021
- Legacy Hoops trainer since 2021