Shawn Werdt, Founder and Program Director of Uptown Basketball Academy, brings nearly 20 years of coaching experience at both the high school and NCAA levels. As Head Coach at Germantown Friends School, he led the program to its most successful stretch in the past thirty years, finishing as the school’s third-winningest coach. Shawn also served as an assistant coach at Philadelphia University for five seasons under the legendary Herb Magee. Throughout his career, he has trained and coached dozens of international professionals and countless NCAA DI, DII, and DIII athletes, with some going on to attend elite programs including the University of Maryland, Colgate, Lafayette, and Duke. Shawn is committed to helping athletes reach their highest potential both on and off the court.

Allen Rubin is a highly respected basketball evaluator and scout from Southeast Pennsylvania, known for his deep knowledge of the game and significant contributions to the Philadelphia basketball community. Over the years, Rubin has built a stellar reputation for identifying talent and helping thousands of young athletes secure opportunities to play college basketball.

A proud member of the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Rubin has been recognized for his profound impact on basketball in the region. His dedication to the game, coupled with his commitment to supporting young athletes and fostering community connections, has cemented his legacy in the Philadelphia basketball landscape.

Coach Gene Lambert serves as the Director of Uptown’s Select Teams, which compete exclusively in Made Hoops events and have produced numerous college-level players. A veteran coach with over two decades of experience, Lambert has led Octorara High School since 2001, where he has surpassed 300 career wins, captured two Ches-Mont League Championships, two District Championships, and coached ten 1,000-point scorers. His proven ability to develop talent and build winning teams is at the core of Uptown’s Select program.​

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Tim Clement has been an avid follower of high school basketball in Southeastern Pennsylvania for over 20 years.

Tim attended Radnor High School, where he helped the basketball team to PIAA District 1 AAA playoff appearances in 2007 and 2008 and served as a captain his senior year.
He returned to Radnor as a coach in 2012 and spent 2 years assisting the junior varsity and varsity basketball teams. While at Radnor, Tim led scouting efforts, assisted with practice and game plan execution, and spearheaded the program’s offseason development program, developing and leading individual and group workouts and serving as the head coach of the junior varsity and varsity club teams.

While on Radnor’s coaching staff, Tim also served as co-director of the Raider Basketball Club, an area feeder program designed to identify and develop future members of the basketball program

Coach Dom, the current Head Coach at Boys’ Latin in West Philadelphia, brings over a decade of coaching experience across high school and AAU levels. He led Uptown’s 2025 16U team to the Made Hoops Circuit Championship in the program’s inaugural season. Dom has a proven record in individual skill development, training players from youth through NCAA and professional levels. His personalized approach emphasizes skill enhancement, mental toughness, and life lessons that extend beyond the court.

Coach Dom’s passion for teaching the game and commitment to player growth make him an invaluable part of the Uptown basketball family.

After a successful career at Germantown Friends, Peter Gard went on to have a 5 year career at Widener University that was capped off with a conference championship win and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023.

Beyond his vast experience as a player, Peter has multiple years of experience coaching at camps and clinics. Peter is excited to help players become better on and off the court by bringing both his knowledge of the game, and experiences as a recent collegiate basketball player.