Personal Statement
From Middle School as a 6th grader to Freshman year JV Basketball, before being moved to Varsity; I had only lost a total of 4 games and started every game. At the State Games of America, hosted at Liberty University, our 15U-AAU Team was crowned Champions, though we had smaller tourneys this was a great feeling, again starting every game. During those same years, academically I was winning, the lowest grade was a C in Algebra, and I was attending one of the top rank schools in the State. Life was good! However, it all changed my Sophomore year and this is where my character and leadership skills were being developed in the most challenging times. A routine sprain put me on IR losing my starting position that I earned during the summer, which I came off the bench the rest of the year. The team had many challenges as our record barely got us into the playoffs, losing first-round. In school, at the advice of my Counselor I was taking Advance courses, and it wasn't tough keeping my grades up, more study less training. This impacted me greatly, because my family culture is Volunteerism, helping people and I love serving my community and those less fortunate. Then COVID hits and everything that I love to do was put on pause. No school, No Church, No Basketball, and No Community Outreach!
I was challenged in every area of my life, but my faith in GOD and myself enabled me to stay positive. On the bench, I supported my team as the most vocal. Virtual school, I adjusted my study times and made the All-A honor-roll and was invited to join the National Junior Honor Society and the National English Honor Society. We attended Church on-line and gave back to the community by doing drive-by giveaways. We continued to find-away to stay optimistic and persevered through it all thus far. Though life changed tremendously, and this may be the new normal: I am grateful because I became a better version of me by adjusting.
My collegiate goal is to receive a full scholarship to play Division 1 basketball in the NCAA. I want to be a part of a team where I can contribute out the gate as a floor general and lock down defender. I take pride in being a facilitator to my teammates and making unselfish plays. I believe one of my greatest strengths is my IQ, offensively and defensively. On the defensive side of the ball, I play 94 feet man of man defense, using quick hands to get deflections and steals, sliding my feet, playing aggressive without fouling and making hustle plays by diving for loose balls. Offensively, I can score at all three levels without over dribbling and wasting time. I can see the floor extremely well and start fast breaks for my time. Doing these things, I feel like I could lead a collegiate team to a March Madness tournament. I love getting advice from coaches and other players how I can improve my game and become a better player for what the team needs. I can play a game and be the leader scorer, or another game and have less than 10 points, but assist on most of my teammates points.. What makes me different from other recruits is that I am an above average hard worker and will put in extra time to get better. I love working out and improving my game, I am a gym rat.. Off the court, I am a respectable young man who treats everyone with kindness and respect regardless of who they are. I respect my parents, teachers, coaches, and peers with the same respect I would give myself. I enjoy helping others and being a good in their day and/or life, Academically, I have been on honor roll since my freshman year of high school, and this current school year I have a GPA of 4.3.