Daily Inspiration: Meet Jason Levy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Levy

Hi Jason, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
From the start, I was the kid who was overlooked, underestimated, and told I couldn’t do it. Through years of dedication, I became the high-level athlete and trainer I am today.

I always excelled at basketball, but my biggest challenge came in high school. As a junior, my coaches promised me the varsity starting point guard spot—only to cut me from both JV and varsity. As I was being cut from the program, I was cornered in the equipment room and was hurled with insults, and was told “leave our school and transfer. You dont belong here”.

I had two choices: give up or bet on myself. I transferred schools, trained relentlessly, and proved my worth. By senior year, I was one of Colorado’s top players, earning First-Team All-League and All-County honors, along with the Colorado Army Award for embodying the U.S. Army’s values.

I played D3 basketball at California Lutheran University, but, like in high school, I wasn’t given many opportunities. After two seasons, COVID hit, and I shifted paths, playing semi-pro in Colorado. Unfortunately, two ACL tears altered my career path, leading me to where I am today.

LVLUP.LA Basketball Training has been in the making for nine years—starting with weekend sessions at the park when I was 15 to now working with high school, college, influencers, and pro athletes. Along the way, I studied what players lacked in training and refined my approach.

I’ve had the privilege of working with top social media influencers and NBA trainers, including Johnny Stephene (@dribble2much), Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnsonhoops/@JusHoop), and Cory Smith (@corysmithhoops), helping develop athletes from youth levels to NBA and WNBA professionals.

I have always been passionate about helping others improve their lives on and off the court. But more than that, I am passionate about instilling confidence in athletes—helping them realize that they can overcome the odds stacked against them through the sport of basketball and, in turn, apply that same resilience to everyday life.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
– Being Overlooked and Underestimated – From a young age, I was doubted and told I couldn’t achieve your goals.

– High School Basketball Cut – After being promised a varsity starting spot, you were cut from both JV and varsity. On top of that, your coaches cornered you, insulted you, and told you to leave the school.

– Transferring and Rebuilding My Career – I had to start over at a new school, prove yourself, and train relentlessly to earn recognition as one of Colorado’s top players.

– Limited Opportunities in College Basketball – Despite playing D3 at California Lutheran University, I faced similar challenges of not getting many chances on the court.

– COVID Disrupting My College Career – The pandemic forced me to reassess your basketball path, leading you to semi-pro opportunities.

– Two ACL Tears – Just as I was advancing in semi-pro and professional basketball, you suffered two major ACL injuries, forcing you to pivot and redefine your career.

– Building My Own Training Business – I started from the bottom, training athletes at a park at 15 years old, and grew LVLUP.LA into a program working with high school, college, influencers, and professional athletes.

– Breaking Into the Basketball Training Industry – I had to learn what top athletes were missing in their development, refine my methods, and prove myself in a competitive industry while gaining recognition from NBA trainers and players.

My journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and self-belief. Each setback became an opportunity for growth and how I used adversity to fuel my success on and off the court.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a basketball trainer, I’m an artist because training is more than drills—it’s about crafting a unique approach for each athlete. I blend fundamentals with advanced techniques, designing creative drills that mimic real-game situations while keeping players engaged.

Beyond the physical, I use creativity to connect with athletes mentally—finding ways to inspire, challenge, and reshape how they see the game. Training is an art form, where I see potential, create a vision, and bring it to life through skill, strategy, and innovation.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My number one quality as a trainer is my ability to build relationships with the person before the athlete. At the end the end of the day we are all human. Basketball is something both my athletes and myself are motivated to improve at in our own ways. Training is much more effective when we have a strong foundation in our relationship that can carry on to more than just the court.

I love supporting all my athletes with anything they do! I enjoy being there for them though their ups and downs during their basketball career but I also enjoy being there for their personal miles stones like birthdays.

Another essential quality is my ability to create, I look at basketball and my training as an art canvas. I get to teach and create anything I want as I am on the court. Im a teacher , Im an artist, Im a consultant. All in one as a trainer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Lvluplabasketball.com
• Instagram: Lvlup.la
• Other: https://Lvlupelitebasketball.com

Image Credits
@_bishopmedia_