The Foundation and Winning Tradition

The roots of the Christian Life Center Academy (Humble, TX) basketball program can be traced to Heritage Christian Academy (Cleveland, TX) in the early 1990’s. The program was founded by current Baylor University assistant Jerome Tang and Blinn College assistant Torrance Hicks. After the closing of the HCA, the program in its entirety moved to CLCA prior to the 2006-2007 school year. The ambitious pair laid the foundation for what is now considered one of the premier programs in the nation. Their run included four straight TAPPS titles from 1998-2001 and a T-CAL title in 2002. They also Produced the program’s first NBA player, Florida State University’s Von Wafer. He was a McDonald’s All-American and was selected by Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 2005 N.B.A. draft. Leaving the program in exceptional shape for his successors. Jerome Tang accepted an offer to join Head Coach Scott Drew’s staff at Baylor University prior to the 2003-2004 season.

CLCA is the only national program in the state of Texas and is considered one of the nation’s best. Coach Wilson compiled a four year total of 153 victories. The program has enjoyed tremendous exposure on the national circuit through television, Internet and publications. The Cougars have traveled around the country and abroad playing in premier showcase events such as the Alaska Airlines Classic (Anchorage, AK), Bishop Gorman Classic (Las Vegas, NV), Great Southern Showcase (Jackson, MS), National Prep School Invitational (Kingston, RI) and the National Post Graduate Athletic Association open invitational tournament at IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL). Each of these events hosted some of the nations’ most highly regarded programs and attracted countless college coaches and talent scouts.

Coach Carlos Wilson, took over as head coach of the CLC program and did not miss a beat along the way over his five years on the job. Coach Wilson took an already successful program and made it a nationally recognized power house in the prep school arena. Programs across the country feared playing the Wilson led Cougars who were deep in talent, hard working and well coached.

Coach Wilson’s accomplishments as head coach includes capturing back to back national titles and finishing the 2010 campaign as the #1 prep school in America by NPGAA after finishing with a 44-6 record. These feats have not only made Coach Wilson highly respected amongst his colleagues but also catapulted CLCA into becoming one of the nations’ top high school and prep basketball programs.

Coach Wilson is a native of Palestine, Texas and attended Palestine High School where he was an all-district performer in both football and basketball. He originally signed a scholarship to play football at Cisco Junior College in Cisco, Texas and later attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

Coach Wilson cut his coaching teeth on the AAU circuit as the head coach and founder of the East Texas Warriors in the late 1990s. He went on to become assistant at the nationally recognized Heritage Christian Academy for three seasons in which his primary responsibilities included recruiting premier athletes from around the country and abroad. When HCA closed its doors after the 2005-2006 school year, the program moved to Christian Life Center Academy in 2006-2007 where he assumed the reigns of the program.

Coach Wilson’s players feed off his fiery, intense, and extremely demanding style thus creating a team that competes on the highest of levels in practice and games. In his short time as a head coach at CLCA, he has had 18 players earn Division I scholarships, which is second only to Oak Hill Academy (VA).

Alumni include two professional basketball players DeAndre Jordan, the 2008 second round draft pick of the L.A. Clippers and Latavious Wiliams, a 2009 first round draft pick of the Tulsa 66ers of the NBDL. Latavious will try to make history in June by becoming the first high school basketball player to forgo college, be selected to the D-League and then drafted to the NBA.

The Numbers

  • 28 players signed to Division I scholarships s a head coach and assistant coach.
  • 153 wins and 26 losses for a .855 winning percentage.
  • 41 game winning streak at home (undefeated as a head coach).
  • 4 consecutive 30+ win seasons.
  • 2009 NACA National Champion (35-2).
  • 2010 #1 ranked prep tam by NPGAA (24-1).
  • Featured in articles by ESPN Rise, RCS Sports The Magazine, Hype, and High Points publications.
  • Has coached players from 14 different states and 10 countries abroad.

Record As Head Coach

Season Record % Results
06-07 42-8 .840 NACA Semifinalist
07-08 32-10 .761 NACA Quarterfinal
08-09 35-2 .946 NACA Champion’s
09-10 44-6 .880 NPGAA Champion’s

* Total: 153-26 .855

“We Will Practice Harder And Smarter Than Anyone. We Will Get Better Every Day. We Will Prepare To Win, Leaving No Stone Unturned. We Will Give No One An Edge On Us. This Is Our Way, The Cougar Way.”