- 2019 Highlights
Personal Statement
Adversity
This word means so much to me as a athlete and as a person. Adversity- difficulties, misfortune. I have dealt with adversity throughout my life and throughout my playing career. A quote that I love and that I’ve had to live by is “It’s not about how hard you can hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and get back up”. Well here's how hard I can get hit and get back up.
I started really getting into basketball when I was about four years old. I remember going to my Dad’s practices and watching the older players, just wishing that someday I could be as good as them. I remember handing out water bottles and towels to the players at practice, dribbling around the court and throwing up an occasional prayer. We had a smaller goal (about 8ft) at the house that I would shoot on every chance I got. I loved shooting the ball and dribbling. My Dad started teaching me the correct way to shoot and how to dribble between my legs and behind my back. I was getting pretty good, by the time I was five I was shooting the ball the correct way on a 10ft goal. But, then I had my first setback, my first encounter with this adversity figure. I remember the story so vividly.
I went over to my friends house to play with his action figures. I swear he had the best collection I’ve ever seen. So anyways, we got bored and decided to go ride bikes. It was his house so he got the bike that had air in the tires and I got the one with absolutely no air. Then we thought it would be a good idea to ramp off a homemade ramp. So I went first and next thing I know, I’ve got a cast on my right arm. That whole year of learning how to shoot, gone. But that cast wasn’t about to stop me. I asked my Dad if I could shoot with my other hand. He didn’t see a problem with that so I learned to shoot with my left hand and it’s stuck ever since. First meeting with adversity was overcome.
Next challenge of adversity: My Dad, being the coach he is, was always looking for a challenge and never let you get comfortable. So we would move schools every 2-3 years. Some kids might have been worried about making friends or being liked. The way I saw it, I’m getting to play against different people everywhere I go. So as we moved, I played everyone I could. I was a hooper in pee wee ball. Destroying everyone that came in my path.
The third and maybe biggest adverse situation I believe I’ve ever faced and ever will face in my life: Playing for my Dad. It was my 8th grade year at Dermott and I was terrified. Not just because I was scared of him but I wanted to make him proud. We had a lot of scorers on that team so I was more of a passer and defender. This was also a new role for me. I was used to being the guy but I trusted my Dad and did what I was told. I ended up being named defensive player of the team my 8th and 9th grade year even with a different coach as my Dad. He became the principal. Things were looking up.
But remember how I said my Dad would never let you get comfortable? Yeah, that’s right we moved again. To Coal Hill Arkansas. This was going to be a big change. Dermott was a predominantly black school and Coal Hill was about as country as it gets. The year before we got there, they won two games. We were in for a big fight with adversity. I went from being the 3rd scoring option my 9th grade year to being the guy my 10th grade year. I had some shaky movements but ended up averaging 11 points and about 8 rebounds a game and was named All-Conference.
My Junior year, I had big plans and big expectations for myself and my team. I had a good feeling that it was going to happen. But, I was about to have another run in with adversity. Not everyone liked my Dad as a coach because he actually made you work. One person that didn’t like him a lot, just so happened to be the new Principal. He did everything he could to get my Dad fired and keep me in trouble. They ended up paying my Dad off for the rest of the year and we were stuck with a decision: Stay at Westside and continue to get picked on and treated unfairly or move schools again and not be able to play. My dad moved me to Paris High School and couldn't play for the rest of the year. By moving I also would not be eligible for All-Conference or All State despite leading my team in every statistical category.
Some people would have quit by now but I’m not most people. I couldn’t play but I practiced with the team and tried to help make them better and worked on my own games as well. I was not going to let anyone kill my dreams. Adversity is everywhere but I’m not afraid to face it.
I believe the adversities I have faced will only help me when you take a chance on me to play for your program. When things aren’t going right, I will know how to face adversity head on. I’m always going to get back up and keep fighting.
