Youth Basketball: Wilmington, NC      Learn to Play the Game the RIGHT way!

The Wilmington School of Basketball carries on the legacy and teachings of the original "Shot Doctor" Ernie Hobbie.


Ernie Hobbie is regarded as one of the greatest shooting coaches of all-time. Starting as a high school coach in Cranfield, NJ alongside the likes of future hall-of-famers Rollie Massimino and Hubie Brown, Ernie began his infamous career. He traveled the country working with former NBA stars like Grant Hill, Derrick Coleman, Kelly Tripuka, Al Harrington, Buck Williams, Glenn Robinson, and many more. He was so renowned for his ability to teach the art of shooting, the New Jersey Nets hired him as their shooting coach. Coach Hobbie has also been featured in Sports Illustrated, click here to view the article.

Although her husband's true expertise was shooting, the school of basketball encompasses all facets of the game. Shooting, ball handling, passing, defense, team-play, agility, conditioning, as well as the finer points such as coachability, mental focus, discipline, goal setting, and much more.


Sadly, year by year the fundamentals of the game deteriorate as the focus of many programs relies solely on game play. It's tough to be successful and enjoy playing the game of basketball when the skill set required is not taught and perfected by the players. This leads to frustration and a lack of success that ultimately ends in players abandoning the sport they once truly loved. All their dreams fall by the wayside simply because they were never given a chance to succeed. If you or your son or daughter has a passion for the game, The Shot Doctor School of basketball will provide you with the tools necessary to one day turn those dreams into a reality.

After decades of coaching and teaching players from youngsters to NBA stars, he "retired" with his wife JoAnn to Wilmington, NC in 1995. Of course he didn't truly retire, he continued to mentor and train players of all ages in the Wilmington area at no cost because that was his passion, his true calling. He had such a profound impact on so many lives in the local area both on and off the court. There are dozens of his former students who are now living their dreams as successful high school and college players and coaches.


Upon his passing, his wife recognized the continuing need for true basketball instruction. She decided to continue her husband's legacy through the creation of the The Shot Doctor School of Basketball right here in Wilmington. She has assembled a group of coaches and mentors who share her belief in teaching the game of basketball the RIGHT way.