Sports News

NBA star Monta Ellis opens basketball academy in North Dallas

Ellis Elite Basketball Academy

A new school for basketball has opened in the Dallas area: Called the Ellis Elite Basketball Academy, it's located in Coppell at 989 W. Sandy Lake Rd., and is from Monta Ellis, who played in the NBA for more than 12 years, and is sharing his skills with everyone from experienced players to schoolchildren in grades K-12.

The academy is the first in Texas for Basketball Training Systems LLC, a Missouri-based company that partners with high-profile figures like Ellis to open facilities providing training for youths seeking to excel in the sport. There are currently locations in Missouri, North Carolina, California, Pennsylvania, and now Texas.

Ellis was a key player for the Dallas Mavericks from 2013-15. His career also included stints with the Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Indiana Pacers.

The Academy affords an opportunity to improve one's basketball skills while having fun and making friends in a positive and encouraging environment. Skills taught include shooting, defense, ball handling, basketball IQ, leadership skills, confidence, and work ethic.

The Skills & Drills classes is for grades K-8, with a focus on the fundamentals of basketball, including ball handling, shooting, footwork, and defense. Coaches also prioritize character skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and sportsmanship.
The Elevate Training Program is for athletes in Grades 6-12 who are looking to take their game to the next level. The hour-long classes are smaller to allow for more personalized attention, fast-paced, intense, and taught by the most experienced staffers. The Elevate program is great for athletes looking to make their school team, AAU team, or improve overall skill, integrating elements of strength and agility training and basketball IQ components. Students are required to pass an evaluation to be eligible for this program.
Shooting Lab is a 30-minute class designed to focus in on shooting technique, open to players of all levels. The class uses state-of-the-art basketball shooting machines that track and analyze shooting form, to see where you need to improve and make the necessary adjustments.

They also offer small group/private training, summer camps.

A monthly membership is $150.

Erik Blais, senior VP of Dallas-based Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services, who represented the landlord H2G Enterprises Inc., says that Ellis Elite was not the only tenant candidate for the turnkey space.

"We had a dozen sports-related proposals for the space, including other basketball operators," Blais says. "Ellis Elite was the perfect fit, given the operator is a well-known sports figure with 12 years in the NBA."

hottest zips

Surprising Dallas neighbor ranks among hottest ZIP codes in U.S.

City of Lavon/Facebook

Movers are loving Lavon for its small-town feel and proximity to the big city.

A recent analysis of American relocation trends has revealed the small city of Lavon outside Dallas was one of the top five hottest ZIP code for movers nationwide in October 2025.

Lavon's 75166 ZIP code ranked No. 5 on MovingPlace's new list ranking the U.S. cities with the highest number of new movers per 1,000 current residents during the month of October.

According to the study's data, 961,650 moves took place across the nation last month. Lavon (population: 13,800) saw 10.8 moves per 1,000 residents in October, the fifth highest moving rate out of all U.S. cities.

Lavon is located 32 miles northeast of Dallas in Collin County. It was praised as a highly sought-after locale for movers who want to live somewhere affordable outside Dallas while still reaping the benefits from a community with a small-town feel.

The report also added that Lavon's 75166 ZIP was the No. 1 hottest ZIP code in September, but relocations dipped 7.7 percent from September to October.

"When looking at the top ZIP codes in each state, it’s clear that less populated ZIP codes often show dramatic month-over-month increases, sometimes exceeding 100 percent," the report said. "Larger cities, by contrast, maintain consistently high move volumes without extreme spikes, because their larger populations dampen the impact of individual moves."

These are the top 10 hottest U.S. ZIP codes based on moves per capita in October:

No. 1 – 78616 in Dale, Texas
No. 2 – 34987 in Port Saint Lucie, Florida
No. 3 – 37228 in Nashville, Tennessee
No. 4 – 80019 in Aurora, Colorado
No. 5 – 75166 in Lavon, Texas
No. 6 – 32461 in Inlet Beach, Florida
No. 7 – 10004 in New York, New York
No. 8 – 43137 in Lockbourne, Ohio
No. 9 – 30346 in Atlanta, Georgia
No. 10 – 78656 in Maxwell, Texas

The hottest U.S. ZIP codes by total move volume
Five Texas ZIPs ranked among MovingPlace's separate analysis of the top 10 hottest U.S. ZIP codes based on total move volume.

McKinney's ever-popular 75071 ZIP code ranked No. 5 on the list after gaining 298 new residents last month, only 72 residents shy from No. 1-ranking Washington, D.C.'s new resident count.

This North Dallas suburb also previously ranked as the No. 8 most popular ZIP for movers during the first five months of 2025.

The report said McKinney's most attractive qualities are its safety, its high-performing schools, and its proximity to outdoor recreational activities. it also helps that the suburb consistently ranks as the No. 1 hottest housing market in America, and it frequently tops lists comparing the best cities for renters or the most affordable cities in the U.S.

The top 10 hottest American ZIP codes in October based on total move volume were:

No. 1 – 20002 in Washington, D.C.
No. 2 – 78130 in New Braunfels, Texas
No. 3 – 78641 in Leander, Texas
No. 4 – 77433 in Cypress, Texas
No. 5 – 75071 in McKinney, Texas
No. 6 –32256 in Jacksonville, Florida
No. 7 –77493 in Katy, Texas
No. 8 – 85142 in Queen Creek, Arizona
No. 9 – 98052 in Redmond, Washington
No. 10 – 28269 in Charlotte, North Carolina

suburb real estate housing market moving mckinney dallas