Brianna Malcolm-James '20 Recruiting Profile

Growing up I was told that basketball is just a sport and that you also need an education to fall back on just in case you got  injured. I agree with this belief to an extent I believe that basketball is not just a sport but It is a tool and just like any other tool it aides the wielder in carry out a task mine being not only to connect with people through basketball but be by best self. Basketball has always been a big part of my life even though I have to admit I regret not taking advantage of it earlier. When I was younger my dad bought a basketball hoop and I remember being outside for hours trying to get the ball in the hoop but I never imagined that this could possibly be a career choice for me. My earliest memory of playing competitive basketball was at the YMCA in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn. I was the only girl on my team and didn’t get much playing time. Basketball is definitely a male-dominated sport. I experienced this first hand because my father never took the time to put me on a girls team not all being his fault, there weren’t many all girl teams my age in Brooklyn. It wasn’t until we moved out to California my 7th grade year I finally realized that basketball is what i want to do. I was apart Larchmont Charter Schools first middle school basketball team. I can’t remember how much I scored or how many games we won but I do remember the feeling of having this leadership position and being recognized on a team of people that actually utilized my skills. My 11th grade year on the Larchmont Charter High School’s first girls basketball team. Being the captain of this team taught me not only how to be a good leader but how to also have patience and tolerance. Playing with people that haven’t been playing their whole lives and teaching them a new skill can be tough and being honest I did get frustrated and mentally gave up on my team many times throughout the season. Basketball has also taught me how to deal with new people and opportunities. Before the girls high school team I played on the JV Boys team my sophomore year, being on this team taught me that I am good enough to play with the boys no matter how many people have told me that I wasn’t good enough or that I would get hurt. Playing with the boys taught me that people are going to have a preconceived notion about how you can play and that when your job is to prove them wrong. It has also taught me that when the coach doesn’t put you in for many minutes you have to make the most out of what you got. I had to make the coach realize that he can use me and that i had a purpose on the team. Basketball has also been an outlet to connect me to other people. Over the past few summers  instead of joining a travel team which I kind of regret, I would go to the YMCA in Hollywood and play pick up games. This has allowed me to meet new people and even if we don’t actually have anything in common at least we share the love for basketball.