Caveman Philosophy

 

Caveman Basketball, LLC is focused on developing players by improving their overall basketball skills and fundamentals.  Throughout the AAU season, players will participate in highly effective basketball drills used by high school, college, and NBA programs.  Each team will utilize the “Dribble-Drive Offense”, which is one the best offenses to promote individual offensive development and create team opportunities at the offensive end of the court.  All teams will play “Man-to-Man” defense to develop the necessary skills to compete at the defensive end of the court.  The primary focus to Caveman Basketball, LLC is player development in all aspects of the game.

 

Caveman Leadership

 

Caveman Basketball, LLC is under the leadership of Dave DeGregorio, Director of Coaching & Development, and Michael Lindenbaum, Director of Operations. The former Director of Operations, Douglas Kepreos, still has a profound impact on the leadership of the program and philosophy maintained by the coaching staff.

 

Coach DeGregorio began his coaching career under the legendary coach Charles Grice “Lefty” Driesell.  His resume is filled with numerous section championships in western Pennsylvania and his teams are always competing for WPIAL and PIAA championships. Most recently, Coach DeGregorio secured a WPIAL title in 2020 with North Catholic. His efforts and expertise garnered him a Pennsylvania “Coach of the Year” award and a reputation as one of the best high school basketball coaches in the state of Pennsylvania.

 

Coach Lindenbaum began coaching at the age of 18, following graduating from Mars Area High School. Lindenbaum spent 5 years at the University of Pittsburgh where he served as the head student manager for the Men's Basketball team under head coach Jamie Dixon. During his tenure at Pitt, the program secured 3 NCAA tournament bids including a #1 seed in 2010, won a Big East regular season title, and transitioned to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Coach Lindenbaum continues to network and learn from college coaches today and passes along his passion and knowledge of the game to his players that was acquired from his tenure at Pitt.

 

Coach Kepreos, Director of Operations, experienced a very successful collegiate career at Wheeling Jesuit University.  During his career, he was elected a two-year captain, established the single season assist record, and earned an Academic All-American award while playing on the winningest team in the school’s history.  Doug continues to work with NBA, NCAA, and high school coaches to identify drills that enhance skill and fundamental development for players.

 

In Memory of Howie Ruppert
(October 12, 1943 – December 11, 2008)

 

The Caveman AAU Basketball Program was created by one of the finest coaches in the history of western Pennsylvania.  Howard K. Ruppert founded the organization and greatly improved the lives of many basketball players.  Howie coached at both the high school and collegiate levels where he gained a tremendous amount of experience and an ability to pass this expertise onto his players.  Howie exemplified toughness.  On numerous occasions, Howie received chemotherapy treatments in the morning to battle against leukemia and then coached at practices and games that same evening.  Sadly, on December 11, 2008 Howie passed away from a heart attack at the age of 65.  Howie is deeply missed each and every day.  His legacy will continue with the Caveman and his presence will always be with us on the sidelines.