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A New Chapter for Fundamental U

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As we continue to grow and elevate the opportunities for our players, we are proud to announce Elevate – the newest branch of the Fundamental U Family, competing on the prestigious Under Armour Association (UAA) circuit. While Fundamental U will continue to represent our program on the UA Rise circuit, Elevate will provide our highest-level players the chance to compete at the highest level of national grassroots basketball.

 

Elevate will not only expand our program but also deepen our commitment to excellence. Players selected for Elevate will practice alongside and with the Fundamental U teams, maintaining the unity and values that define the FU Family. Tryouts for Fundamental U will also serve as tryouts for Elevate, ensuring that all players have a clear pathway within our program.

 

This new chapter is more than just another team; it’s a commitment to fostering the highest standards of competition, development, and community. Through Elevate, we aim to amplify our mission to serve players who are ready to reach new heights and embrace the challenge of playing at the national level.

 

Together, Fundamental U and Elevate will continue to provide comprehensive, top-tier development and support for our athletes, making our program & our players stronger than ever.

Coaching Staff

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Christian Sotos

17u Head Coach

Class of 2026

Entering his 7th year with the Fundamental U program, Coach Sotos has played a pivotal role in the organization’s rapid growth and success. After two seasons as the head coach for our 17u UA Rise teams, Christian took on the roles of Assistant Director and eventually Program Director. Under his leadership, Fundamental U has expanded from 4 to 18 teams, with the top echelon growing from a single 17u team on the UA Rise Circuit to three teams (one at each level) competing on the Rise Circuit & two competing on the esteemed Under Armour Association. Christian has also quickly established himself as a premier and highly sought-after resource for player development in the Chicagoland area. Over the past five years, he has served as a primary trainer and recruiting aid for numerous D1, D2, D3, and high school basketball players, including Nick Martinelli (Northwestern), Jackson Munro (Dartmouth), Cooper Noard (Cornell), Dom Martinelli (St Thomas/UChicago), Jakob Blakley (Le Moyne), Bryce Moore (Niagara/Art U), Jackson Kotecki (Miami OH), Ryan Duncan (Princeton), Daniel Hong (North Dakota/University Mary), Ryan Renfro (Army/Lewis), Nick Taylor (Winona St), Yogi Oliff (WashU), Henry Vetter (Trinity U), and Jimmy Sotos (Bucknell/Ohio St). Additionally, in the last 3-4 years, Christian has been a secondary resource in the gym for numerous NBA, overseas, and high-major athletes.

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Dantea Johnson

16u Head Coach

Class of 2027

Dantea Johnson is a young man willing to serve and helps kids reach their full potential like his coaches did growing up. Johnson attended Evanston Township High school and graduated in 2018. Playing football all four years and competed in wrestling and track and field his freshman year. In 2016 he joined the Evanston boy’s basketball coaching staff and never looked back. In the last 4 years since he's been on staff, they've compiled 116 wins, 4 consecutive conference titles, 4 regional championships, 4 sectional championships, 2 super-sectional championships, and 2 final fours. Through his years at Evanston, he's mentored and worked with Malcolm Townsel (Holy Cross), Lance Jones (Southern Illinois), Louis Lesmond (Harvard), Blake Peters (Princeton). In the summer of 2019, he transferred from West Virginia University to Loyola University Chicago, pursuing a degree in public relations with a double minor in economics and political science. While at Loyola he also works with the men’s basketball team in several different capacities under head-coach Porter Moser. In summation, Dantea Johnson has earned a reputation as a personable, hard-working, driven, engaging, trustworthy individual who strives to excel and stays dedicated to what he is passionate about.

Tournament Schedule

April

4-6

RecruitLook Showcase

  • Southland Center

    • Chicago, IL​

  • Schedule Link Soon...

April

18-20

MADE Hoops Midwest Warmup

  • Wintrust Sports Complex

    • Chicago, IL

  • Schedule Link Soon...

May

2-4

Tournament TBD​​

  • Location TBD

    • Chicago, IL

  • Schedule Link Soon...

May

16-18

UAA Session 2 (LIVE)

  • Spooky Nook

    • Cincinnati, OH

  • Schedule Link Soon...

July

10-13

UAA Session 13 (LIVE)

  • LakePoint Champions Center

    • Atlanta, GA

  • Schedule Link Soon...

April

11-13

UAA Session 1

  • Homefield

    • Kansas City, MO

  • Schedule Link Soon...

April

25-27

NY2LA Spring Extravaganza

  • TBK Bank Sports Complex

    • Bettendorf, IA

  • Schedule Link Soon...​

May

9-11

Chicago Classic Showcase

  • Supreme Courts

    • Aurora, IL

  • Schedule Link Soon...

July

4-6

Chicago Classic Showcase

  • Supreme Courts

    • Aurora, IL

  • Schedule Link Soon...

July

18-20

UAA Finals (LIVE)

  • Wintrust Sports Complex

    • Chicago, IL

  • Schedule Link Soon...

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