Coaches

Coach Dylan started his High School career at Long Island Lutheran (LuHi) where he was a 2-year Varsity player. He played a significant role his senior year for a team ranked inside the top 10 in the country. He went on to win the Arby’s three-point contest at the Arby’s Classic and the team’s coaches award. After high school, Dylan started his college basketball career at D3 SUNY Maritime. Last year he went to D2 Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina where his team won their conference tournament and made it all the way to the NCAA Elite 8. This upcoming year he will be attending D2 Franklin Pierce University.

Coach Zinnia Street developed a passion for basketball while playing at Nazareth Regional High School in Brooklyn. While attending the University of Central Florida to pursue a college degree, Coach Zinnia began coaching and training youth athletes, working with players ranging from age 5 years old through high school. With years of experience in coaching and player development, Coach Zinnia is dedicated to helping young athletes build their skills, confidence, and love for the game. Emphasizing fundamentals, discipline, and a competitive yet supportive environment. Coach Zinnia strives to develop well-rounded players both on and off the court.

Coach Kenny Rodriguez played high school basketball at East Islip where he was a 3-year Varsity starter and an All-League player his Junior and Senior Year. After High School, he is currently attending St. Joseph’s University of Long Island where he just finished his Junior season where he was selected as 1st Team All-Conference.

Coach Jabari Nurse started his high school basketball career at Wayland High where he played varsity as a sophomore and was Dual County All League. He then transferred to Lexington Christian Academy where he was EIL All League and All NEPSAC Class C. Following that he went to Prep School at the New Hampton School where he was All NEPSAC AAA team. Upon graduation he now attends D2 Pace University where going into his senior year he will be a 4-year starter and 2-year captain. His achievements there included being named to the NE10 All-Defensive Team along with a wealth of winning experience.

Aside from his basketball achievements he has devoted 3 years to personal training where he finds great joy in the development process of the future generation of athletes. Whether on or off the basketball court his goal is to inspire and empower young athletes to reach their full potential. He is excited about the opportunity to contribute to the growth of aspiring players with Level Up.

Coach Alex Longworth started his basketball career at St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset where he played Varsity basketball for 2 years. After High School, he went to Nassau Community College where he played 2 years on the Varsity team. At NCC he got his associates in Psychology. The past 3 years he has been training and mentoring players on and off the basketball court.

Coach Jakkie Tomlinson started her High School career at Sacred Heart Academy where she was a 3-year Varsity player with All-League recognition. She went on to play at Division 3 Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio for 4 years. At Kenyon, she was the starting shooting guard, and named to the NCAC All Academic Team and NCAC Academic Honor Roll. Coach Jakkie graduated from Kenyon College in 2022, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work at Fordham University.

The next coach we welcome to the Level Up LI family is Myles Mills. Coach Myles started his High School career at Copiague, where he achieved notable success, scoring 849 points and earning recognition as a Section XI All-League player. After High School, he played college basketball at D3 John Jay College. He then began his coaching journey working as a clinician for the Long Island Nets, sharing his expertise and passion for the game with others.

Coach Jerrel “Tex” Harris grew up in Texas where he started his basketball career at Pinkston High School where he was one of the top scorers in the state. He helped lead the team to one of the best records in school history. From there he went to prep school at Bridgeton Academy where he won a championship. After that he went to the University of Tampa where he helped the team to the best start in school history at 17-0. The next year he transferred to Dowling College where he helped lead the team to the #1 seed in the conference. After College Jerrell has worked at and ran camps around the country including the Big 3 camp with former NBA player Kenyon Martin. He has also worked with NBA players Raymond Felton and Yogi Ferrell. Tex is currently one of the Head Skills Coaches for High School National Powerhouse LuHi.

Coach Volkan Levent started his basketball career as a 3 year player Schreiber High School Varsity basketball team in Port Washington. After High School, we went to Nassau Community College where he played 2 years on the Varsity team. At NCC, he got his associates degree in Business Administration. The past 5 years he has been building up his training clientele working with some of the next crop of basketball players in and around his hometown.

Coach Michael Santarelli began his basketball career at Wheatley High School where he was a 2-year Varsity starter who earned All-State honors during his senior season, led Long Island in 3-pointers made, and was named Conference Player of the Year, averaging just under 20 points per game.

Michael brings energy, knowledge, and a passion for player development. As a proud Level Up alumni, Michael played 4 years with the program and helped his 16U team earn 5th place at the D2 AAU National Championships in Florida, scoring an impressive 27 points in the final game to secure the finish. During his time at Level Up, Michael played under Coaches Jesse Winter, Trevor Stark, and Carson Niehoff, and was coached in high school by Nassau County Hall of Fame coach Rich Slater. He has trained extensively with top-level coaches, sharpening his skills and understanding of the game.

Michael’s experience and success on the court translate into a coaching style that emphasizes fundamentals, confidence, and teamwork. He is committed to giving back to Level Up and mentoring the next generation of players, helping them grow both on and off the court, just as he did.