La’Keisha Sutton is a hooper, a serious basketball player who shares her skills, training methods, mindset and approach. A Mercer County native, Sutton was Gatorade Player of the Year while playing for Trenton Catholic Academy. She was the first recruit chosen by now-legendary coach Dawn Staley at the University of South Carolina.
After playing basketball overseas for teams in Finland, Ecuador, Germany and Bulgaria, Sutton played in the U.S. for the Harlem Globetrotters. The eternal point guard now directs area youth in basketball and more at the Fan Favorite Club on Whitehead Road in Hamilton.
Using her college nickname, “Fan Favorite,” Sutton opened the training facility in 2019. Developing great people, not just great players, has always been her goal.
What is the Fan Favorite Club’s main focus?
Fan Favorite Club is a safe space for youth in Mercer County that is designed and committed to providing affordable access to an indoor basketball court for development and a supportive place for young people to make new friends and learn leadership skills.
Playing basketball helps youth of all ages think creatively, set goals and work hard to achieve them. My biggest dream was to build confidence and communication skills in the youth who come to our club while improving their self-esteem and physical and emotional health.
Fan Favorite Club allows more young people to experience the benefits of playing basketball while learning life skills such as communication, time management, decision-making and teamwork. I love seeing kids from different backgrounds connect with and support one another through the Fan Favorite Club.
What programs are offered other than basketball training?
Most recently, we created our nonprofit organization, Operation Safe, to provide programs besides basketball. In partnership with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Outreach Team, we were able to provide six free weeks of enrichment classes. The classes included hip-hop dancing, creative arts and graphic design, fitness, public speaking, home economics and cooking.
Our mission through the nonprofit is to provide young people with opportunities to participate in programs involving sports, arts, financial literacy and educational initiatives to supplement their learning outside of school.
Who were your sports inspirations growing up, and what did you admire about them?
Growing up, I did not have a lot of sports inspirations. I played basketball because it was fun for me, and I loved to compete. My basketball coaches, Khaliq Lewis, Melvin Weldon and Thomas Brown, helped me love the game because we had the opportunity to play and practice every single day.
As a player, I’m a big fan of A’ja Wilson, Rajon Rondo and Kyrie Irving. I believe it’s important for young players to be exposed to college games and the WNBA and NBA so they can know and believe what’s possible.
How does coaching at George School allow you to prepare athletes for college and beyond?
Coaching at George School allows me to prepare athletes for college and beyond because I can work with them year-round. I run my high school program similarly to a college program, including practices five to six times a week, film study, individual workouts, yoga, performance training and competition on a national schedule.
What challenges do you face while coaching, mentoring and educating young people today?
One struggle I have with coaching and mentoring young people today is the pressure they feel from social media and parental expectations. We strive to meet kids where they are and prepare them for where they want to go. Another issue is that many parents struggle with transportation to the Fan Favorite Club.
Who inspires you today outside sports?
I’m inspired by my nieces and nephews. I want to continue to put myself in a position where I can provide a better childhood for them and give them opportunities that will change their perspective on life and offer them a real chance to do what they love.
I’m also inspired by my coach, Khaliq Lewis, who died in 2022. He was so happy when I opened the Fan Favorite Club because he knew kids and families in Mercer County needed an affordable and accessible place like it.
He challenged me to keep it open despite how hard it may be financially. He believed someone with a passion for youth and basketball would potentially invest and become a partner with me so we could continue saving lives by teaching young people life skills.
How did traveling to play basketball in Europe and with the Harlem Globetrotters affect your outlook and expectations locally?
Traveling the world as a professional athlete in Europe and with the Harlem Globetrotters confirmed what I already believed: There is a need for the Fan Favorite Club because we consistently provide learning, leadership and impact. We are just missing some key partnerships to help sustain our efforts and mission.
The most successful people in life have early access and opportunities to do things they love. Fan Favorite was modeled after a youth space I visited in New Zealand. The difference is that the Palmerston North club is funded by the local government.
The club features live instruments, a stage, board games, a basketball court, a commercial kitchen where young people can learn how to cook, video games, STEM activities and a recording studio.
Essentially, it’s a youth activity hub for people ages 13 to 19, and it provides free health and social services for those ages 10 to 24. With the right support locally, I expect Fan Favorite Club can expand its services and help more families.
How does Nike involve you in its programs?
Because of my efforts at the Fan Favorite Club, Nike has involved me in many of its grassroots programs. Currently, I coach the 17U girls team for Philly Rise, an Elite Youth Basketball League program that features some of the most talented players from the tri-state area.
Most recently, I was invited to coach at the Nike Academy in Los Angeles alongside other elite coaches, player development coaches and NBA and WNBA scouts. The Nike Academy brings together the top male and female high school and college athletes for a week of competition and instruction about what it takes to become a professional.
I am also proud to say that I was selected as a Mamba Invitational head coach in memory of Kobe Bryant’s legacy. My hope is to bring my relationship with Nike and other brands to Mercer County and partner with local organizations to create a greater impact through youth-related events.
What do you think about the current state and popularity of the WNBA?
I love the popularity of the WNBA, along with its increased visibility, viewership and media coverage. The increased pay is long overdue. I credit the players for using social media to tell their stories and engage with their fans year-round.
Because of the WNBA’s current popularity, my hope is that more people in leadership positions, including athletic directors and recreation directors, will invest in quality programming for girls who play basketball.
Girls need their own 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 leagues and basketball camps so they can build their confidence and develop their skills and basketball IQ year-round.
If Fan Favorite Club were larger, I would definitely host more girls-only basketball programming.
In basketball and life, what do you preach is more important: talent or work ethic?
I believe work ethic is more important than talent. Hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard. Everyone is born with some type of talent, but they must nurture that talent and practice. Individuals who are intrinsically motivated or raised in an environment of hard workers usually go further in life.
What do you want your students to take away besides basketball skills and knowledge of the game?
Besides basketball skills and an understanding of the game, I want students at the Fan Favorite Club to leave with more confidence and kindness. Kindness is free, and students deal with a lot of bullying and peer pressure at school and in other environments.
I hope the leadership and communication skills students learn here carry over into other parts of their lives. I also hope they adopt some of the Fan Favorite mindset, which focuses on faith, avoiding distractions, maintaining awareness, having a vision for their lives and taking some risks.
Is basketball still fun for you and your Fan Favorite Club team?
Playing basketball and teaching the game are still fun for my team at the Fan Favorite Club. We’ve helped several student-athletes earn full scholarships to attend college. The impact is real, and our process delivers results time and time again.
As we approach the deadline to either close the club or renew our lease, we are desperately hoping to find a new partner in Mercer County who can help us keep our doors open for many more years.
Every time we mention possibly closing or relocating, parents rally and tell us that we can’t because the club means so much to their children. It is their happy place.
Small businesses need support, whether that means providing funding or simply allowing us to hang flyers in businesses, churches or schools.
What’s next for you?
I am looking forward to holding basketball tryouts for my AAU team, Fan Favorite, for girls in grades 5 through 8. My goal is to keep the team together year-round to develop the chemistry, connectedness and skills needed to place the players on a path to success in high school and beyond.
For more information, see fanfavoriteclub.com
