On the Right Path: Book Five

"The On the Right Path book series is one that should be read in every household. The life lessons shared through entertaining stories of basketball and faith are invaluable to young minds." - Joel Osteen, Pastor of Lakewood ChurchJayden has just completed his fifth day of basketball camp with his siblings, Jordan and Jasmine, and his friend Shai. Along with new basketball skills, the kids are learning life-lessons such as the importance of showing respect. Just like the other On the Right Path books, this is sure to become a beloved story for parents and children alike.Former NBA Coach Brett Gunning and award-winning author Stacy Padula have teamed up to create the On the Right Path (OTRP) book series. OTRP is also a non-profit organization created by Brett Gunning to guide youth basketball players on the right path to achieving their maximum potential through education, mentorship, and skill development. The core principles of OTRP are guidance, inspiration, and creativity. The book series focuses on six life-skill pillars: Loving Others, Being Unselfish, Staying Healthy & Strong, Showing Forgiveness, Showing Respect, and Having Fun.

Brett Gunning has spent 26 years coaching in college and in the NBA. He began his career in 1994 as an assistant coach for Jay Wright at Hofstra University. Over the next seven seasons, he was a part of a staff that turned Hofstra into an American East powerhouse, posting a 72-22 (.766) record from 1998-2001. He was very instrumental in the development of the Pride players, and he assisted with recruiting, scouting and film analysis. He then went on to spend seven seasons (2001-08) as a member of the coaching staff at Villanova University, again working under the leadership of Head Coach Jay Wright. During his time with the Wildcats, Gunning played a vital role in recruiting and developing a unit that secured four straight NCAA Tournament berths and made three trips to the Sweet 16. He was named associate coach in 2005 and was recognized following the 2007-08 season as one of the top 25 assistants in the nation by Rivals.com. Gunning's responsibilities with Villanova included on-court teaching, recruiting and scouting. Gunning's NBA career began when he joined the Houston Rockets in 2008 as the team's director of player development. In that role, he was responsible for improving player performance through on-court, one-on-one skill development and the use of video analysis. He was later named an assistant coach for the Rockets prior to the 2011-2012 season before leaving to serve in that same role with the Orlando Magic for 3 seasons from 2012-2013 through 2014-2015. He then returned to the Rockets as an assistant coach in 2015, and from 2016-2020, he assisted Head Coach Mike D'Antoni coordinate the Rockets offensive scheme. During the 2017-2018 season, the Rockets won a franchise record 65 games and advanced to the Western Conference Finals.

Stacy Padula has spent the last fifteen years working daily with teenagers as a college counselor, mentor, and life coach. She is the founder and president of South Shore College Consulting & Tutoring and Briley & Baxter Publications, LLC. She is also a co-founder of BLE Pictures and the author of fifteen books, which include the Gripped book series, the Montgomery Lake High book series, and the On the Right Path book series. Her Gripped book series is currently being adapted for TV by Emmy-Award winning producer Mark Blutman. She was named "Top Inspirational Author of the Year" for 2022 and "Top Global Impact Author of the Year" for 2023 by the International Association of Top Professionals (New York, NY). Many of her books have won Readers' Choice Book Awards, including Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told (Gold, 2022), Gripped Part 5: Taylor's Story (Silver, 2022), When Darkness Tries to Hide (Gold, 2023), and The Aftermath (Bronze, 2024). Her other accolades include being named "Woman of the Year" by The CIO Times, being named to her region's "40 Under 40," and being named a "Social Impact Hero" by Authority Magazine. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband Tim and their three miniature dachshunds, Briley, Baxter, and Tony.

Sylvia Madison (Maddy) Moore is a recent graduate from the University of Pennsylvania who completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Archaeology and Fine Arts. Moore grew up in a family of international coaches and has consequently lived and worked in various corners of the world including Singapore, New Zealand, and throughout Europe. She began her career as an artist at fifteen, where she would complete commission-based illustrations for clients around her school commitments. In recent years, Moore has worked full-time as a freelance artist with authors and designers from around the art world to bring their projects into fruition, including but not limited to comic book illustrations, character designs, cards and flyers, logos, and her personal work on the indie webcomic, The Cloud Maker. Moore currently resides in Delaware Country, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia.