Coach Butch Estes
ACADEMY & CAMP DIRECTOR
Coach George “Butch” Estes is the Director of Rising Stars Basketball Academy, bringing more than four decades of college coaching experience and a reputation as one of the most respected coaches in the country. Over the course of his career, he has compiled nearly 700 college victories and earned numerous Coach of the Year honors. He has served as a head coach at every level of college basketball—NCAA Division I, II, and III, as well as NAIA and junior college—leading programs such as Presbyterian College, Furman University, Guilford College, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach State, Shoreline, and Barry University. Wherever he has coached, his teams have been known for their toughness, discipline, and unselfish play.
A North Carolina graduate, Estes played freshman basketball for the legendary Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina and later worked as a student assistant in the Tar Heels program. That early experience under a Hall of Fame coach shaped his commitment to fundamentals, team play, and character development. Today, as Director of Rising Stars Basketball Academy, Coach Estes dedicates his time to teaching young players the right way to play the game—emphasizing skill development, basketball IQ, work ethic, and respect for teammates, opponents, and the sport itself. Through Rising Stars, he is passing on a lifetime of knowledge and experience to the next generation of players.