About your basketball coach

Hello Hoopers! My name is Marisa Kelson, and I’m excited to be working with all of you. I come from a basketball family. My grandfather coached at Waynesburg University for over 30 years and ran one of the longest-running basketball camps in Pennsylvania. I played three years of varsity basketball at Peters Township High School and continued playing on the club team at Penn State University. Basketball has always been a big part of my life. My sister, Makenna Marisa, is currently playing professionally overseas after spending five incredible years at Penn State, where she became one of the program’s all-time greats. Like her, I have a deep passion for the game, especially when it comes to training and player development. I recently completed two years as a Graduate Assistant Coach at Penn State. During that time, I was involved in every aspect of our program. I helped create detailed scouting reports, broke down opponents’ strategies, and helped build our own game plans. I led the practice team to simulate opposing offenses and defenses to prepare our players for each game. I also worked on high-quality video breakdowns, focusing on concepts like pick-and-roll offense, half-court sets, defensive schemes, and game film to help players learn from mistakes and grow their understanding of the game. Throughout my coaching and training experience, I’ve worked with and alongside some incredibly talented players. These include Makenna Marisa (Overseas), Ashley Owusu (Overseas), Shay Ciezki (Indiana), Jayla Oden (Overseas), Gracie Merkle (Penn State), Grace Hall (SMU), and Natisha Hiedeman (WNBA). I’ve also had the opportunity to learn from some of the best skill trainers and coaches in the game. I welcome players of all ages and focus on developing core fundamentals like ball handling, finishing, and shooting. I also love incorporating college-level terminology and basketball IQ concepts to help prepare athletes for the next level. I look forward to working with you and helping you take your game to the next level!