Coaches Corner: "Faith, Family, and the Foundation of SEBA: The William LoPresti Story"

When you talk about coaches who do more than win games, you talk about men like William LoPresti, a Christ follower, a devoted husband to his wife Natalie, and a proud father of six who has built one of the Southeast’s most respected developmental platforms. As the founder and Director of Southeast Basketball Academy (SEBA), LoPresti has used the game not as a destination, but as a bridge, a powerful tool to develop character, discipline, and faith in young athletes.

His love for basketball began in middle school, where a ball and a dream quickly became his world. Playing for legendary coach Neal Goldman at Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida, he grew into a student of the game before becoming a four-year starting point guard at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta under Jack Berkshire and Jim Owen. LoPresti’s basketball journey was built on grit and intelligence, traits that would later define his coaching philosophy. After college, he chased opportunities to play professionally overseas, but unexpected health issues and surgeries closed that door. Yet, in that setback, God opened another opportunity. Coaching found him when he least expected it, and from that moment, his purpose shifted from playing to pouring into others.

In 2002, LoPresti founded SEBA with a mission to give talented but overlooked players in Metro Atlanta a platform to be seen by college coaches. What started as a small circle of local kids grew into a full-scale movement of mentorship and opportunity. Now more than two decades later, SEBA has produced countless college athletes and professionals across all levels, from major DI to NAIA and JUCO, each carrying the same foundation of faith, courage, and integrity that the program was built on. LoPresti and his staff, including Mike McManamey, Mark Edwards, LV Barnes, Travis Moore, Bo Mason, and Bradley Grayson, have built SEBA into more than a basketball academy. It’s a brotherhood.

The mission has always been to use basketball as a vehicle to shape better men, future husbands, fathers, and leaders. LoPresti’s impact reaches far beyond the scoreboard. His players know that when they wear SEBA across their chest, they are part of something much bigger than basketball. They receive high-level training and exposure, but more importantly, they’re taught lessons that carry eternal value. For LoPresti, the true victory comes years later, in the form of wedding invitations, phone calls, and letters from former players sharing how SEBA changed their lives.

His faith remains the heartbeat of his purpose. “God is our strength and at the very center of all we do at SEBA,” LoPresti says. “Basketball is an amazing sport, but the ball eventually stops bouncing. What we do through it lasts forever.” This perspective has guided every decision, from the camps he hosts to the values instilled in each player who walks through SEBA’s doors.

Still, the game continues to evolve, and so does LoPresti’s role as a mentor. With the rise of the transfer portal and NIL, he knows the recruiting landscape is more difficult for high school athletes than ever. Yet his message to them is simple and powerful: do not be discouraged. Stay proactive, keep faith, and never let rejection define you. “It only takes one coach to believe in you,” he says. His other piece of wisdom hits deeper: run your own race. “Comparison is the thief of joy. God’s plan is perfect. Work as hard as you can, trust Him, and everything else will fall into place.”

For more than 23 years, William LoPresti has been more than a coach. He’s been a builder of men, a steady light for countless families, and a living reminder that the game of basketball, when rooted in faith and purpose, can change lives forever.

William LoPresti has set a gold standard for faith-based player development in grassroots basketball. His leadership through SEBA proves that success on the court and spiritual growth can thrive together. His vision, humility, and devotion to guiding athletes make him one of the most impactful mentors in the region. Coaches and parents can expect a program that develops not just players, but men of conviction, discipline, and a strong moral foundation.

Looking ahead, LoPresti’s influence will only continue to expand as SEBA enters its next chapter. His unwavering commitment to faith, family, and player growth ensures that the next generation of athletes under his guidance will be molded into leaders both on and off the floor. The seeds he planted over two decades ago are still bearing fruit, and the legacy of his purpose-driven mission is far from finished.

@Coach LoPresti10

@SEBARoundball