A word from our HDMD Families
HDMD has been a great experience for our son. He continues to grow as a player and a person through challenging, competitive practices and tournaments. It's great that he gets to play with players from other local schools, which strengthens our entire community. Coach Craig brings seemingly unlimited energy and enthusiasm to each practice and game. He truly cares about helping his players improve as individuals and teammates.
~CC (Parent)
"Our family has been so grateful to be part of HDMD Basketball for the past two years. After trying other local AAU programs, we can honestly say HDMD has been the best fit for our son. Craig, the Admin, and the HDMD staff have created a competitive, supportive, and positive environment where players are pushed to grow, work hard, and compete the right way.
Our son, now a 10th grader, has grown so much as both a player and a person. We truly appreciate the communication, commitment, and family feel of this program. We love being part of HDMD and highly recommend it to any family looking for a strong AAU basketball experience."
~MB (Parent)
“Craig is the best coach, I've always said that.”
~JH (Player)
I have been observing coaches and players in organized sports for 35 years, and in that time I have developed a finely tuned ability, through both experience and professional training, to notice the qualities that distinguish an ordinary coach from a true team leader. Craig shows he really cares about his players and exemplifies compassion for the game of basketball. He has a great sense of humor and makes learning the game of basketball fun. Most importantly is his connection to his players. Accessibility and interpersonal ease are strengths that makes the daily grind of practice more enjoyable and helps teammates stay resilient during difficult stretches of the season. These visible habits are the outward sign of deeper character that you want for your child as they move to higher levels of basketball.
~BB (GrandParent)
“HDMD is an amazing competitive basketball program. We were so relieved when we found it! Our son has definitely improved his ball skills working with Coach Craig, but his game intelligence and awareness have also dramatically improved. Practices are rigorous and well structured. The level of play across all of the teammates in HDMD and the teams they play against is impressive. We know our son is getting a high level basketball experience.”
~ET (Parent)
"Both our sons have shown significant improvement in their basketball skills and understanding of the game this season under the guidance of Coach Craig. His dedication, expertise, and ability to connect with the players have truly made a difference in their development. We’re grateful for the positive impact he’s had on our sons, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow with HDMD."
~RI (Parent)
"HDMD was our 3rd AAU program. What really stood out was the one on one coaching with Coach Wooden. Craig would specifically show my son what he needed to work on and spend the time needed to make sure it sunk in. This individual work was evident by improved performance in games. My son was also very complementary about the offensive and defensive plays. They made sense and were easier to follow as compared to other AAU experiences."
~CW (Parent)
“HDMD has been a huge part of my growth as a basketball player and as a person during the season and during the off-season. The season was a blast. I played my first AAU season with HDMD this past 2019 and I had the time of my life! Coach Woo and the rest of the coaching staff do a really great job of making all athletes feel welcome and a part of the family. During the off-season, Coach Wu hosts basketball clinics every Sunday. Going to those has really helped me improve my game this off-season to prepare myself for the High School season and the AAU season. For anyone thinking about becoming part of the HDMD family, I highly recommend it for every reason possible.”
~ RC (Player)
"Our son not only gained many skills during his years with Coach Woo, but also great growth in his character, both as an athlete and an adolescent! The HDMD family is one of the best rewards, being a part of this program! We are grateful to have the opportunity and eager to continue through his last years in high school. We have nothing more than the utmost respect and much gratitude."
~HB (Parent)
"We signed up our son with HDMD two years ago intending to facilitate his love of basketball and have him improve his dribbling. What we didn't realize was the incredible leadership skills and high achievement persona that HDMD was helping him cultivate. We certainly commend Craig, the Admin and the wonderful coaches and families who make this organization a Santa Cruz staple."
~AJE (Parent)
“Our Owen was so shy as a newbie 3rd grade Little, playing ‘up’ but coach Craig ever patient yet strong and with firm guidance took our son under his wing and WOW what a tremendous season they had in the Littles 4th grade year. Such a great group of athletes and families!! So many awesome memories and such a strong foundation of basketball and life skills the kids are learning from one of the best ever surrounding area basketball teams. Owen #11 is pumped and ready for his next HDMD season!"
~KFY (Parent)
“We feel lucky to have found HDMD and Coach Craig! My son had a fantastic experience last year and his skills improved exponentially. Thank you HDMD!”
~CG (Parent)
Coach Craig not only has helped improve our sons' basketball skills, but has also been a great mentor instilling confidence and a sense of family to all the players. Craig's love for the game of basketball is contagious and he finds so much joy in seeing every individual grow especially during our competitive games. Growing up in Santa Cruz, thankful to have a great local basketball community in HDMD! - SK (parent)
~SK (Parent)
"This was our first year joining an AAU team. It was a great experience. Coach Craig is amazing!! He has attention to detail when observing each individual player and helps them grow. The games and competitions are more intense and really pushes the kids to play on another level. My son had a lot of growth this year. Can't wait for the next season to start up!"
~JK (Parent)
"I’m very glad I joined HDMD. The experience was amazing. I learned a lot about basketball. I made friends and fun memories. Coach Craig is an excellent coach. I would recommend HDMD to all my friends."
~AH (Player)
“Craig really helped me turn basketball from a sport into a passion. Craig’s the best coach in Santa Cruz!”
~EG (Player)
“We have been a part of the HDMD family since 2013. Our older boy played for HDMD for 6 years and our younger boy will be starting his 6th season this year.
The coaching staff, and especially Coach Wooden, have been very inspirational. We appreciate the fundamentals that were taught, giving them a solid foundation and knowledge of the game and every aspect of it.
The AAU team has been a huge part of our boys' success in both Junior High and High School Basketball teams."
~L&TT (Parents)
“Our family has been a part of the HDMD family for the better part of 4 years. We have two sons who are now sophomores that have played with Coach Craig (Woo) on 3 teams (7th thru 9th). Marcel and Dante have received excellent coaching, development of skills, and guidance from all the coaches, parents, and administrators in their AAU program. HDMD has always delivered on a wide spectrum of tournaments for the players to develop their game. We have won the West Coast Championship Division in Las Vegas, and numerous other tournament victories. HDMD has various age levels and teams for families to choose from. Coach Craig works with the families to keep the costs down for making the program accessible to all. Craig is known for his “tough love” and genuine concern for the well-being of all his players. I can personally vouch for Craig’s ability to dissect and diagnose a players’ strengths and weaknesses and come up with innovative drills and exercises to help them improve. I would highly recommend HDMD to any family and player searching for an AAU basketball home and family."
~EM (Parent)
"For me, the most striking thing about HDMD is the sense of family that runs through all of the HDMD teams,
including coaches, players, and families. It is just a great community of people enjoying a great ride together!
And the road trips we took for tournaments (like Reno) are something I think my son will remember a long time.
This is all above and beyond the incredible organization and communications from the Administration and
the outstanding basketball coaching from Craig and all of his assistants. They make the effort and take the time to regard each player as an individual, and constantly work to create opportunities for their improvement.
Practices are always focused and challenging, which makes them very rewarding for any kid who loves the game.
Last season we saw this result in amazing progress for the players individually and for the "Littles" team as well.
Really a bit of magic in how over the course of the season the players not only improve tremendously, but have so much fun doing so."
~PY (Parent)