OTR Circuit: Program in Spotlight - TWU (The Warm Up)

TWU is this week’s OTR Circuit program in the spotlight. Based out of Cumming, Georgia, they put a premium on development on and off the court. Below is a look at a young program that is already rich in wisdom and hard-earned experience.

Program Snapshot

Program: TWU (The Warm Up)
Home Base: Cumming, Georgia
Director: Fineto Lunguana
17U Coach: Fineto Lunguana
Assistant Coach: Darius Harris
Media Director: Joel Lunguana
Motto: It’s just the beginning, brotherhood

TWU Alumni

• Garrett Sutherland — Brevard College (Men’s Basketball); CSC Academic All-District honoree
• Paul Lunguana — Professional experience in Europe (Germany and Poland)
• Avery Huffman — Berry College (Women’s Basketball); 2× All-Region, 2× Teammate of the Year; High-school record: 10 made three-pointers in a game
• Hannah Golden — College of Coastal Georgia (Women’s Basketball); signed and rostered, redshirted 2024–25
• Isaac Bealer — Southeastern University (Men’s Basketball); All-State and All-Region in high school

Featured Players

·       5’9 Jaylen Ivy c/o 2027

·       5’9 Jude Ware c/o 2027

·       6’5 Reece Styles c/o 2027

·       5’11” Connor Webb c/o 2028

·       6’4 Ben Elson c/o 2028

·       6’6 Christian Caldwell c/o 2028

·       6’0 London Callaway c/o 2028

·       6’0 Jahari Simmons c/o 2028

·       6’5 Evan Pritchett c/o 2028

·       5’7 Jayden Mensah c/o 2028

The Work Matters

TWU launched in 2024 with a commitment to development. But the story of the program begins with its founder, Fineto Lunguana, and an abrupt break in his playing career over three years ago. Lunguana, who goes by Neto, had a moment of clarity forced upon him. He explains, “I began training my younger brother and a group of committed players in 2013. In 2022 while playing professionally in Europe, I suffered a ruptured patellar tendon that paused my playing career. Even while I was injured, I continued to train the athletes showing up on crutches because the work still mattered.”

That group of players went on to win a state championship and lettered four years at the varsity level. They earned college scholarships because of their hard work and success.

The training evolved into the formation of a club in 2024. Neto says, “The program was built through adversity, faith, and community. We enter 2026 more aligned, intentional, and committed to development than ever.”

Commitment Shatters Ceilings

Neto knows what it is like to be doubted and overlooked. As a player he says that he did not have trainers nor the hype to guarantee a professional career. He says that all he had was “an unshakeable desire to improve and the discipline to work when no one was watching.”

He now takes that experience of being discounted and shapes how the program operates. TWU is for players who feel overlooked, misunderstood, or underdeveloped. Neto tells us that basketball is a vehicle for success, but “belief, discipline, and consistency are the mission. We teach our players that circumstances don’t define ceilings. Commitment does.”

The Warm Up

TWU stands for The Warm Up. This serves as a continual reminder that every phase of life is a warm-up. A warm-up is not the destination, but the preparation for the next phase in life.

Neto highlights the importance of not looking for shortcuts but instead taking the time to build a foundation that lasts. He says, “This is where the habits are formed and the confidence is built. Every workout, practice, challenge prepares the player for what is next. We are about developing players with a solid foundation which lasts. It is just the beginning. This is The Warm Up for life.”

Court Skills Open Life Doors

Neto’s fingerprints as a professional player are all over the TWU program today. He talks often about what it takes to make winning plays on the court. He highlights the necessity of how to read the game and to play with a purpose. Rather than a loose conglomerate of players who were put together a few days before a tournament, TWU prioritizes the winning principles of the game of basketball.

In Neto’s own words, “Players need to understand spacing, timing, and decision-making. We also emphasize accountability, discipline, leadership, and self-belief.”

There is always a balance that a coach must achieve in the game. There must be an equilibrium between the outcome on the scoreboard and the overall development of the person who exists inside the jersey. Neto maintains, “Our goal is to develop complete players and complete people. Wins matter, but growth matters more. If players leave more confident, prepared, and equipped for life with real opportunities to play at the next level, we’ve done our job.”

Neto’s passion for the players in his program is obvious. One gets the feeling that he is invested in the player as a person and not just a player on the court. He continues, “This program wasn’t built on hype. It was built on faith, adversity, and consistency. Every player who walks through our doors is valued, challenged, and supported. We’re not just developing basketball players, we are building confidence, identity, and belief.”

He understands that sometimes there is magic in a relationship. “Sometimes all it takes is one person believing in a kid and that belief can change everything.”

Impact > Size

TWU is growing in 2026. The size of the program continues to grow, which means an expansion of opportunities. However, Neto keeps the vision clear for TWU.

“I am excited about the continued growth. But I am more excited about the impact we will make. We are expanding exposure opportunities and strengthening recruiting relationships. We will be competing consistently on high-level circuits. Most importantly, we continue to build a culture that players and families trust.”

TWU will return to the OTR Circuit in 2026. Neto says that OTR has been instrumental in the growth of the program. He says, “The OTR Circuit has elevated our program and raised the level of competition that we play against. We have received increased exposure, and it has challenged our athletes to play with pace and physicality.”

Neto is sure to point out that he did not do this alone. He finishes with words of gratitude for those who have helped build TWU with him.

“I want to thank my staff and media director, Joel Lunguana, for the amazing job they do. One of my good friends, Darius Harris, has been with me on this journey and has been key in improving the program. I would also like to thank my wife who has given me help and support while launching this program. Finally, I thank God who made all of this possible.”

Be sure to follow the TWU journey this season as they navigate the OTR Circuit. Follow them on X (@TWUElite) or on Instagram (@TWUElite).

Jonathan Hemingway has been a National Evaluator for On the Radar Hoops since 2013. He has been involved in the basketball community since 1995 as a coach, camp director, and evaluator. You can reach him at CoachHemi@gmail.com and follow him on X @CoachHemi.