ABOUT HARD2GUARD COLORADO

Mission

HARD2GUARD

To be a top-tier youth basketball club that changes the culture of basketball in Colorado and helps to move players on to the next level. We will take young athletes and help develop them both on and off the court to not only make them better basketball players but teach them the skills necessary to become productive adults in our society.

We will do this by instilling the values of hard work, integrity, teamwork, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence in everything we do.  We will strive for perfection, knowing that the achievement of perfection is impossible, but the fact that we are willing to chase it will put us ahead of where we were yesterday. We will be successful, and we use John Wooden’s definition of success “Success is the peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction unknowing you did your best you are capable of.”

We will not compare ourselves to other people or teams.  We will be solely focused on what it is we do and following the Hard2Guard way. We believe this will get us to our goal of becoming the Elite AAU program in Colorado and prepare our young men and women to move on to the next level, whether that be on or off the court.

 
 
 

The Coaches

  • A basketball player in a Warriors jersey prepares to catch a basketball during a practice session in a gym.

    Anthony Orgodnick

    Hard 2 Guard Co Founder

    Lafayette, Colorado native Coach Ant Ogrodnick brings a wealth of experience as both a player and coach. He played college basketball across multiple levels under respected coaches such as Pooh Richardson, gaining valuable knowledge and insight into the game.

    Known for his hard-nosed, competitive style, Coach Ant has earned big-time wins and success in Club basketball and led his high school team to the Elite Eight at the Denver Coliseum in his first year coaching. A true players’ coach, he emphasizes confidence, accountability, and growth on and off the court.

    Today, Coach Ant serves as Director of Hard 2 Guard Colorado, the 16U Head Coach for Colorado Collective, and as a varsity assistant at Denver East High School, working under the winningest Colorado high school coach of all time, Rudy Carey

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  • Three basketball players sitting on a bench during a game or practice, wearing matching orange and black camouflage jerseys with the word 'Gordo' on them, in an indoor gymnasium.

    RJ Dean

    Hard 2 Guard Co-Founder

    RJ grew up in Chicago Illinois by way of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Coach Dean has been successful in many levels with the game of basketball.

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  • Isaiah Cockrell

    Performance Director

    For Isaiah Cockrell, basketball is more than a game—it’s a platform for developing discipline, leadership, resilience, and character.

    As Performance Director of Hard2Guard Colorado, Isaiah is committed to helping athletes reach their full potential both on and off the court. His approach to player development goes beyond skill training, focusing on the complete athlete: basketball IQ, athletic performance, decision-making, confidence, accountability, and leadership.

    Isaiah’s philosophy is simple: elite habits create elite players. Every workout, practice, and interaction is designed with purpose, helping athletes build the mindset and work ethic required to succeed at the highest levels of competition and in life.

    A graduate of Colorado Mesa University with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management, Isaiah has worked with athletes ranging from youth basketball players to collegiate competitors. His experience spans player development, recruiting, program operations, and athlete mentorship, giving him a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to develop successful student-athletes.

    Known for his passion for learning and innovation, Isaiah continuously studies the game through professional training systems, international development models, and some of basketball’s most respected coaches and performance experts. This commitment allows him to continually evolve the Hard2Guard training experience and provide athletes with a competitive edge.

    At Hard2Guard, Isaiah helps lead a program built on the belief that Colorado athletes deserve access to elite-level development close to home. Through a combination of skill training, athletic performance development, competitive play, film study, and mentorship, athletes are prepared for success at the varsity, collegiate, and beyond.

    While winning is important, Isaiah believes true success is measured by the confidence built, opportunities created, and lives impacted along the way. His mission is to develop athletes who are not only better basketball players, but stronger leaders, teammates, and young men and women prepared for whatever challenges come next.

    Because at Hard2Guard, the goal isn’t simply to be talented—it’s to become the hardest player on the court to guard.scription goes here

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