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Our Methododolgy
ABI has developed a modular curriculum grounded in internationally recognized Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) principles, incorporating both FIBA and USA Basketball guidelines. Our approach prioritizes building a complete player foundation before encouraging athletes to develop their own individual style of play.
As athletes progress, we continue to refine skills, expand basketball knowledge, and reinforce good habits for as long as they compete in organized basketball—whether at the school, college, or university level.
Our Goal
Our mission is to elevate basketball in Baldwin and Mobile Counties through intentional player development. We believe an individual player’s success is directly connected to the success of their school team. By prioritizing development, ABI aims to produce players who earn individual recognition while helping their programs compete for local and state championships. Our goal is to positively impact basketball along the Gulf Coast—one player at a time.
Our Mission
The Alabama Basketball Institute’s mission is to develop selfless, position-less, and skilled players by blending American basketball fundamentals with European training principles. Through the structure, discipline, dedication, and teamwork demanded by the game, ABI develops not only better players, but strong leaders.
Founder and Director of Basketball Training
Paul Houlsen
Paul brings a rare combination of international professional coaching experience and local youth development leadership to the Alabama Basketball Institute.
From 2010–2020, Paul coached professional basketball teams in West Africa’s Liberian Basketball Association, leading his teams to three consecutive National Championships and earning Coach of the Year honors each year. His teams competed in FIBA-sanctioned games against clubs from across Africa and the United States, while he also conducted youth basketball camps in Africa and Europe.
After returning to Baldwin County in 2020, Paul earned certifications through AHSAA and NFHS and began coaching locally at Bayside Academy, Spanish Summer JV, and Cottage Hill Middle School.
Through these experiences, Paul noticed a significant difference in the way young players are developed internationally compared to the United States. In response, he founded the Alabama Basketball Institute (ABI) in 2022 with a clear mission: to develop confident, skilled players through a structured, long-term approach.
Paul has since worked with athletes from 12 Baldwin County schools and, in 2023, created a long-term athlete development curriculum beginning in 3rd grade. ABI’s goal is simple but ambitious—to build a strong foundation for young players and positively impact local middle and high school basketball programs for years to come.