Coaches
Octavius Parker
OWNER & FOUNDER
Parker is the owner of Optimum Performance, where he currently trains male and female athletes from first through fifth grades, junior high, high school, college, and professionals in group training, clinics. And camps all year round.
Mike Skinner
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Coach Skinner joins OP with an impressive track record for coaching boys and girls of all ages. He was previously with Joy of the Game and is the only coach at JG to coach both their girls’ and boys’ high school teams. Coach Skinner played at Sullivan H.S. in Chicago, IL from ’85-’89, spent three years as a varsity player and was all-conference in addition to being voted All-City third team and the city-suburban game roster in ’89. Skinner was all-area at Kennedy-King JC in ’91-’92, and completed his collegiate career at High Point University in NC, where he was All-Conference (Big South) and Pre-Season All-American in ’92-’94 and played professionally in Mexico, France, and in the IBA (Dakota Wizards).
Coach Skinner was the assistant varsity coach and head freshman coach at Evanston HS from ’96-’99 and the sophomore coach at Mundelein HS from 2005-2006, before landing his first head coaching position at Antioch HS from 2006-20011. Coach Skinner is also a certified personal trainer at Optimum Performance helping players improve on their individual and team basketball skills.
Brian Davis
Brian has over 20 years of experience in the youth sports industry as President of Joy of The Game – Rising Stars Basketball Club in Deerfield, IL. He coached and trained players on travel teams from Pre-K to college basketball players.
Garrett Jones
Garrett Jones, from Evanston, IL. He coached in the Evanston feeder program at all age groups for boys (2016-2019). Jones also coached for Hoops Avenues at the 11u, 12u, 13u age groups (2016-2018). Jones currently coaches at Niles West High School for the JV girls’ team and teach Physical Education. He’s been involved in personal training for basketball, and while helping facilitate numerous basketball camps (2012-present).
Prior to his coaching career, Jones played four years of varsity basketball at Evanston Township High School (2008-2011). Here, was a three-year starter, three year All Conference player, one year All Area (2010), and a McDonald All-American Nominee (2011). He went on to play two years at the University of New Hampshire, D1 (2011-2013), transferred and finished his collegiate career at Hillsdale College, D2 (2012-2015) in Michigan.