History & Mission

Welcome to the NEW website of the
Southern California ACES.

Founded and Established in 1999 by Coach Prince Cassell, ACES (Athletes Changing their Environment Successfully) strives to be the finest youth mentoring Program for Southern California, and youths across the U.S. Our goal is to develop and nurture the minds and talents of our youths. We want to prepare them to become future leaders and take an active role in their communities. We believe that every young mind needs a positive environment and a strong support group to guide them in the right direction. We’re using basketball as the vehicle for driving that ultimate goal. We want to teach the discipline of the game of Basketball, and use the struggles to models life toughest challenges. We strive on building future leaders, not just basketball players. We stress the importance of discipline on and off the court.

Our most important component is building the relationship between academics and athletics. Our student-athletes have to understand that success in the classroom leads to success in life. We mandate that they keep a minimum 2.5 GPA and be in satisfactory standings in their school, to be able to participate in games. If at anytime they fall below that minimum requirement they are relegated to tutoring and classroom help.

We are focusing on taking preventive measures, by holding classroom sessions on being organized. We mandate that all students keep a journal and a planner with them at all times. These Planners will be provided to them. We are preparing every student for high school and eventually college. Our high school students have to participate in many classrooms activities such as SAT prep classes .We are also requiring that student-athletes do community service through out the  season and be in touch with the needs of their community. Our ultimate goal is to have well rounded individuals, who will be model citizens in their communities. We take our basketball very seriously, but we take life success even more serious. We do one thing and we do it well, we build Leaders.