From the ConKrete to the Kids' Favorite: The Story of Geno "Mr. Phonebook" Williams
In this heartfelt feature, ConKrete Playground dives into the powerful journey of Geno “Mr. Phonebook” Williams — a coach, mentor, and motivator whose path from prison walls to building one of the most inspiring girls’ basketball programs in the DMV is nothing short of remarkable. Through pain, passion, and purpose, Geno found redemption not just in the game, but in the lives of the kids he now devotes himself to. This is more than a basketball story — it’s about brotherhood, belief, and the courage to bet on someone when the world says don’t.
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Prime
5/21/20256 min read
Before the world came to know Geno “Mr. Phonebook” Williams as the heart and soul behind The Louis Brooks Princess Warriors (Louis Brooks, Geno described as his Angel on earth. R.I.P.). I got the chance to meet the man behind the mission. Our relationship started like many do these days, through social media. He was looking for a program that could support his girls, and when we spoke for the first time, I didn’t just hear passion, I felt it. Something in my gut told me this connection was meant to be. So I welcomed him with open arms.
When I made the announcement that he was joining the Prime family, my inbox blew up. The messages came fast and heavy, warnings, doubts, people telling me, "Don't do it. He’ll destroy everything you’ve worked so hard to build." But by then, it was too late. I had already felt the bond. I didn’t know Geno from Adam or Eve, but I knew he was my brother.
Did he come with a past? Sure. Baggage that could’ve made others walk away? Definitely. But I had to ask myself, if not me, then who? Who would be his village? Who would stand beside him when so many had turned their backs? This was never just about my brand or protecting an image. This was about a man searching for a second chance to give back, not just to help the kids, but to let the kids help him heal too. That’s the man I met. That’s the story you’re about to read.
If you’ve been anywhere near the DMV basketball scene in the last two decades, chances are you’ve heard the name Geno, but on social media, they just call him “Mr. Phonebook.” I call him "The Youth Whisperer'" because of how he motivates and always get's a positive and loving response form the youth. But to the kids, to the families, and to the game, he’s simply Geno, the one who never gave up, the one who gave it all back.
Now in his 22nd year of coaching and training, Geno’s journey began where so many hoop dreams do: on the concrete. “My first time playing ball was at recess on the concrete court out back of John E. Howard Community Center,” Geno recalls. “I was in 2nd grade in Ms. Richmond’s class. My only friend at the time, Jermey Baker, picked me to be on his team. I haven’t stopped hooping since.”
What started as a recess run turned into a life’s calling, one rooted in service, discipline, and love. From coaching boys for 12 years to now reaching the 10 year mark coaching girls, Geno’s evolution as a coach and mentor reflects a deep emotional commitment. “There’s nothing better on the planet than helping a kid reach their dreams and goals,” he says. “I first started coaching at John E. Howard (Capitol Heights, MD), and now I run my own program, The Princess Warriors.”
The Princess Warriors aren't just a team, they’re a movement. They’re the result of two decades of hard, earned wisdom, late nights, gym lights, heartbreak, and healing. But Geno didn’t build this alone. He was molded by mentors who not only taught the game but embodied the kind of men he wanted to become.
“My two biggest male influences are Mr. Kenneth Parnell and Mr. Lonnie Harrell,” he says. “Two men with hearts of gold and a ton of basketball knowledge. But more importantly, they’re upstanding men who stand on their word. I replicate them as much as I can.” On the women’s side, his greatest influence is someone who’s been around since she was a young child: Jezelle “GG” Banks. “I’ve known her since 2nd grade,” Geno shares. “The way she’s so hungry to get better and show love to others, she truly set me on a path I never imagined walking down.”
But perhaps the most heartfelt piece of Geno’s story comes from a place far darker than the hardwood. A turning point, a prison cell, a prayer, and a promise. “Sitting in a cell talking to four walls, begging Jehovah to give me another chance at life, that was my turning point,” he says, his voice thick with meaning. “You never understand how precious and valuable life is until your freedom is stripped from you. I make it my point to not allow kids to travel down the same road I did. I stress the importance of getting a college degree daily.”
Geno’s redemption arc isn’t a secret, it’s a testimony. He speaks to the young ones with the authority of someone who’s lived the consequences and chosen the climb. His heart belongs to his son who's a high school basketball player, other players, his community, and his kids, the biological and the adopted. “My kids, Air Rozee, Air Future, and Air Maverick, are my best side hustle,” he jokes. “They own a special place in my heart, and I’m 5eva grateful to be their dad.” Now with his eyes on the college game, Geno sees a future that looks different, bigger, brighter, broadcasted. “I used to wanna coach high school, but being around it these past few years showed me that the college level is where I wanna be. I want my homies who are never coming home to see me on ESPN and use that as motivation to never give up. I also wanna see my son make the NBA, and be the best man he can be.”
From a concrete court in Capitol Heights to the sidelines of packed gymnasiums, Geno Williams has lived a life that reads like a novel, raw, redemptive, and real. He’s proof that your worst chapter doesn't have to be your last, and that when you give your heart to the game and to the kids, they give it right back. He was given a chance by Jehovah and his mentors, now he wants to help give every kid he encounters a chance at making the right decisions through basketball.
For Geno “Mr. Phonebook” Williams, the journey from the ConKrete to the kids’ favorite, isn’t just a success story, it’s a love story with an open phonebook.
And it’s far from over. 💙🤞🏾
At ConKrete Playground, we build moments that live forever. From the court to the crowd, we tell raw stories, celebrate the grind, and connect culture through the heartbeat of those who grew the game.
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Southeast’s Finest Makes Her Mark 💫Liatu King has officially signed a hardship deal with the Los Angeles Sparks, becoming the latest hooper from Southeast D.C. to touch the league! 🙌🏽 Born and raised in the heart of the city, a proud product of Johnson Jr. Middle School, Liatu is the first girl I ever coached—and now she’s a pro.
From tough courts in Congress Heights to this WNBA moment, her journey is everything Conkrete Playground stands for: grit, growth, and greatness. 💪🏽 She joins UCONN Assistant Coach Jamelle Elliott as another legend from our same neighborhood and school, proving that Southeast doesn't just produce talent—we produce greatness.