Meet the Executive Team & Staff
The Scholars Elite Youth Basketball Academy is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides a year-round, comprehensive program for youth participants that focuses not only on basketball, but academic achievement and support, civic and communal engagement, financial literacy, and emotional health programs.
The New Jersey Scholars Elite Basketball Academy has established a strong Board of Directors to provide outstanding governance and stewardship. The board has a diverse set of functional and industry skill sets but all share a passion for youth sports and making a difference in the lives of young people.
Our Management Team of Martin Whitfield, Pervis Ellison, Fran Nicolas and Dajuan Wagner all have distinct, experienced and dynamic grassroots, collegiate and professional backgrounds. Along with our incredible and seasoned Coaching & Player Development Staff, our goal is to create a performance based and unified basketball culture conducive to optimal growth, development and success. Our program is designed to help and assist our athletes to meet their true and desired potential.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
James Runcie
Chairperson
Chief Executive Officer
Education Advancement
New York, NY | Washington, DC
Todd Perry
Board Member
Managing Director
Viewpoint Partners UBS
New York, NY
John Mirenda
Treasurer
President & CEO
Greentree Mortgage Company
LPGibbsboro, NJ
Marc Morial
Board Member
President & CEO
National Urban League
New York, NY
Nicholas Felmlee
Board Member
Chief Technology Officer
International Telcom
Mahwah, NJ
John Martini
Treasurer
Executive Partner
Holland and Knight
Philadelphia, PA
Executive Management
Martin Whitfield
President & CEO
Responsible for the overall management, operations, direction and vision of NJ Scholars. Liaison with Nike, Corporate Sponsors and Partners.
Management
Dajuan Wagner
Player Development & Program Director
Responsible for outreach, player and team development activities. Focused on the Southern Tri-State region. Also responsible for event initiatives. Member of Executive Committee.
Pervis Ellison
Program Director
Responsible for overall basketball and team operations and player-related activities. Liaison with Nike and various external partners. Member of Executive Committee.
Francis Nicolas
Program Director
Responsible for basketball operations, outreach and player-related activities. Focused on the Northern Tri-State region. Liaison with Nike and various external partners. Member of Executive Committee.
Coaches
Kenny Jackson
17U Coach
Coach Jackson began his basketball coaching journey as a Player Development Coach with Friends Central School, a Small Private High School in the Philadelphia area. In his six years there, Jackson developed Ten (10) Division 1 Basketball Players, with two of them making it to the NBA and one of them being the 4th Overall Draft Pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Jackson continued to make his mark in the Philadelphia Area and is highly regarded as one of the Top Trainers. His basketball training reputation has garnered many inquiries for his services, as Jackson was asked by Hall of Famer Joe Dumars to help run his player development program for Future Draft signees, alongside Former NBA Star Player Rasheed Wallace. With his incredible basketball pedigree and experience, we are thrilled to have Coach Jackson as our 16U NJ Scholars Head Coach.
Jason Harrigan
16U Coach
Coach Harrigan is a championship-caliber coach with experience at both the Varsity and AAU levels. During Coach Harrigan's six-year career at Delaware Valley Charter, he developed one of the premier programs in the greater Philadelphia area. In 2016, "Del-Val Charter" won the Public League Championship as well as the City Championship. The following season Coach Harrigan transitioned to Cardinal O'Hara of the Philadelphia Catholic League inheriting a last-place team which he remarkably took to the quarterfinals in just two seasons. Coach Harrigan has also served as both counselor and director for several of the top camps in the tri-state area and has considerable experience as a teacher of the game and developer of young talent. Coach Harringan has received numerous accolades including Philadelphia Inquirer's Coach of the Year, Southeastern Pennsylvania Coach of the Year, and Comcast Network Coach of the Year.
Ashton Gibbs
15U Coach