Meet our Team
Warriors Basketball Club is all about helping young players grow — as athletes and as people. Based in Walnut Creek and the Lamorinda area, we offer teams for boys and girls in grades 2–8, with a strong focus on skill development and teamwork.
Our coaching staff brings high-level experience and a passion for teaching the game the right way.
What really sets us apart is the community we’ve built since 1997. Families stick with us year after year not just for the basketball — but because they feel part of our Warriors family!
Our Founder - Phil Doherty
Phil dedicated his life to youth sports, serving as a coach and athletic director at St. Stephen’s School in San Francisco before opening a sporting goods business in 1972. His career in the sports apparel industry spanned over 40 years.
In 1992, Phil began sponsoring and coaching AAU youth basketball programs, and in 1997 he teamed up with Chris Whirlow to co-found MVP Flight and Flight Elite Basketball. These programs were among the first to offer year-round youth basketball in Northern California — a legacy Phil took great pride in.
Phil also co-founded the Warriors Basketball Club with Ken Nelson and served alongside him as co-athletic director for St. Perpetua CYO. For many years, Phil co-directed and coached with his son helping shape the Warriors community into what it is today.
Meet our Coaching Team
Kenji McCrae
Co-Director / Head Coach
Kenji McCrae
Coach Kenji is the Director and Head Coach of the Warriors Basketball Club and the Co-Director and Founder of the Valkyries Basketball Program. Now in his 15th year coaching boys and girls, and with prior experience at Flight Elite/NorCal Elite, he has helped develop many of the area’s top youth and varsity players.
Kenji’s coaching is driven by his high energy, passion for the game, and commitment to building strong team culture. He places a strong emphasis on skill development, competitive mindset, and the importance of being a great teammate, creating an environment where players grow both as athletes and as people.
Tyler Bergren
Coach
Tyler Bergren
Coach Tyler is a Campolindo High School and MVP Flight Elite alumnus known for his high motor and defensive intensity. As an undersized guard, he made a big impact—earning All-League Honorable Mention honors and helping lead his team to two NCS championships over three varsity seasons. Though sidelined his senior year due to injury, he served as team captain and player-coach. Tyler has continued coaching with Campolindo’s JV program and now brings his energy and experience to the Warriors Basketball Club.
Demariya Williams
Coach
Demariya Williams
Coach Demariya brings over eight years of basketball coaching experience and a strong background as a former college student-athlete. Specializing in fundamental skill development, Demariya focuses on both the physical and mental growth of players. His coaching emphasizes building a solid foundation, helping young athletes improve their technique, confidence, and basketball IQ. Demariya is passionate about mentoring players and preparing them for success on and off the court.
Eli Brent
Coach
Eli Brent
Coach Eli brings three years of AAU coaching experience, along with two years as an assistant coach at College Park High School with the Freshman and JV programs. A former player for Flight Elite, Warriors Basketball Club, and Acalanes High School, he was known for his boundless energy, competitiveness, and team-first mindset. Coach Eli focuses on developing players’ confidence, fundamentals, decision-making, and love for the game to help prepare them for success at the high school level and beyond. He believes in coaching with passion and care, striving not only to be a coach but also a teacher of the game.