PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE / TRAINERGOHLKE
JACK
JACK GOHLKE HOOPS
JACK GOHLKE HOOPS
THE MISSION //
“To deliver athletes with a professional level framework that helps them mold their individualized approach to the game of basketball while enhancing skills and mental preparation to develop the most confident and prepared players.”
I highly recommend the Jack Gohlke camps to all parents who have an interest in making their children better players. Jack has a great understanding of the fundamentals of shooting and putting together a great game plan on how to become a shooter from fundamentals, to the mental side. Jack will help your child understand what it takes to play this game. Not only is Jack one of the greatest shooters to ever play college basketball, he’s also one of the greatest young men to come through my program.
Greg Kampe — Oakland University Head Coach
I have always loved basketball, from the moment I picked up a ball I could never get enough of it. I’d play in the driveway, at recess, in gym class, wherever there was a ball and a hoop. Luckily, playing the game has introduced me to so many amazing individuals and taught me what it means to be a true teammate. It’s also given me opportunities to fulfill my childhood dreams and have experiences I could have never imagined. My parents invested countless hours, dollars, and emotional ups and downs simply to support my love of basketball and for that I can never show enough appreciation. As an athlete, I have been fortunate to learn from several coaches whose mentorship went far beyond the Xs and Os. Years later, I still rely on these mentors for guidance and support.
Like every young athlete, I had dreams of playing in the NBA, and began to focus on improving my game in order to reach my goals.
From a young age, I played on school and travel teams, attended dozens of camps, worked out with local trainers, and continued to put what I learned into action outside of organized practices. Over time, my game started to grow thanks to the hours I put into developing myself as an athlete.
Heading into high school, I knew I wanted to earn an opportunity to play in college, but as a freshman I felt behind. I made the JV team and played the role of 6th man, rather than the starting spot I had hoped for. I carried that role with me into my sophomore year on Varsity. With continued effort and improvement, I earned that starting spot my junior year. After a successful summer AAU season, I headed into my senior year with one scholarship offer. While I wanted to play Division I basketball, I understood that accepting the lone offer I received to play at the Division II level allowed me to continue pursuing my passion for basketball. Hillsdale College took a chance on me when no one else would.
Once I got to Hillsdale I was humbled, I stepped onto campus believing I was good enough to play a crucial role on the team and while I had the confidence, it was difficult to accept that I was not yet prepared physically, mentally, or emotionally to play at the college level. Heading into my second year of fall workouts I truly thought I had a chance to be a starter, instead, I only tallied 4.6 minutes per game while shooting 4/27 from three in 16 games. Throughout that season I began to learn what real hard work was, and how to truly give everything I had to the game. The most important change I made was the intentionality of all my workouts. I utilized training methods I had learned from my mentors over the years, and was lucky enough to have a coach who believed in me enough to invest his time outside of practice. While my impact on the court may have been lacking I will always be proud to say I was recognized by my teammates as their best teammate for three of my seasons at Hillsdale. I firmly believe supporting and truly wanting the best for my teammates helped my mental approach to the game stay positive. The more positive energy I gave out, the easier it was to keep moving in the right direction individually, and I want to pass that mindset along to the next generation of athletes. Midway through my redshirt junior year I earned a starting spot and a chance to have a big impact on the court. I brought some momentum to our group and we used it to make a run to the DII Elite 8. Ultimately, Hillsdale Basketball shaped me in more ways than I ever could have imagined; my coaches and teammates taught me many valuable lessons that helped me develop into the player and man I am today.
I was lucky enough to have another year of eligibility due to Covid and took advantage of it thanks to Coach Kampe taking a chance on me as a DII grad transfer at Oakland. I began the year as a starter but got into a real slump towards the middle of the season. While I continued to trust my work, I began to question what I was doing wrong. After one of my worst games, Coach Kampe pulled me aside and told me I was hurting my teammates not with my poor play but with my lack of trust in myself. Going out on the floor but not believing I belonged was a disservice to my teammates, my coaches, and most of all to myself after the countless hours I had invested into this game. I had the next day’s game circled on my calendar since I decided to commit to Oakland, the second game of our Wisconsin road trip against my hometown school UW-Milwaukee. I knew there would be a crowd and I ended up having about 100 family members and friends there supporting me. I trusted in myself and my work enough to turn things around and have a game I’ll never forget, 28 points and the shot to force overtime, the shot to force double overtime, and the go ahead shot in double OT. Up to that point it was my best game of the season and it was in a setting that I had always dreamed of playing. I allowed myself to believe again, to remember why I had gotten to that point and most importantly what I had done to earn my position. My confidence grew from there and we got on a roll as a team winning 12 of our last 15 games. Cutting down the nets after winning the Horizon League Tournament knowing the next stop was the big dance, along with being named to the All-Tournament Team, is a feeling I’ll never forget. Sitting in my locker and reflecting, I felt everything I had committed to the game had been worth it, and I knew I earned all the success alongside my teammates and coaches. For the moment I was satisfied not only with the victory and the conference championship, but with the berth to March Madness, with a chance to play in the tournament where every little kid’s dreams lead.
On the other hand, I knew the NCAA Tournament presented the opportunity of a lifetime, on a stage I had always dreamed of. My personal preparation was dialed in, and I made a point to bring the team together and establish that we weren’t just happy to be there, we were there to beat Kentucky, the premier team in all of college basketball, and make a run. As gameday came around, I had such singular focus for the entire day, I knew heading in that it was going to be a special game. While I missed my first two shots, I knew it was only a matter of time… I hit 7 threes on the way to a small halftime lead in the most important game of my life. Coming out of the locker room in the second half we knew there would be adjustments, but we had an awesome second half as a team and earned the 80-76 win. My confidence heading into it kept me calm, but the flow state I was in was one I’ve only experienced a few other times. Unfortunately the next game didn’t go our way in overtime, but I always pour 100 % of myself into everything knowing that whatever the result I can be satisfied with my work. Reflecting on it all, the experience allowed me to learn how to present myself as a great leader and student of the game but also show my gratitude for all the people who helped me get to where I am today.
The ultimate reward though, was being able to put a smile on young fans faces in exchange for a simple picture, autograph, or conversation, and it’s happened thousands of times since that day. I have been very fortunate to have so many amazing experiences through basketball, and it has allowed me to realize not only how much I love playing the game, but also how much I love teaching young athletes who can see inspiration in my story. Things rarely take a simple straightforward path, there are always twists and turns in basketball and in life. Embracing challenges with the right mindset unlocks the most rewarding successes in life and that’s what I want to give back to the next generation of athletes.