How Basketball Changed My Life

One of the activities that I took part in that I feel has shaped me as a person, was basketball. I joined the Sea Point High basketball team in the tenth grade, in South Africa. Now basketball was not very popular in South African high schools, as such we lost our coach in my junior year. The choices that were given to the team was to either end the program or to continue without a coach. As team captain I rallied my teammates and we persevered through without a coach; we showed up for intensive training and competed against other schools. At the end of my senior year I was presented with the basketball player of the year; however I feel that award did not necessarily celebrate my skill in the sport, but it acknowledged the determination and

I have been playing basketball ever since I can remember. My family has always been very athletic. My siblings played basketball as well as my parents. My grandma told me a story about how I used to shoot a little basketball into a 10 foot hoop and I would make it. I play in the point guard position. I work very hard at what I do so that makes me advance in my skill for the sport. When I really started to realize I had a passion for it was in 6th grade. We had a lot of new people therefore our team didn't blend great. But even with my team being the way it was I still put everything that I had into it. Two things at the end of the season happened to me that made me realized that if I worked at it I could do great things. One parent on the

I began to play organized basketball in 5th grade and have continued all the way through my senior year. Throughout my career I have grown tremendously each year, earning several improvement awards along the way. I had always struggled to assume my role on the team, but throughout my senior high career I learned how I best contributed to my team, earning several hustle awards and assist awards. I have learned through athletics how to be team player, and understand that not every player has the same role, which is also related to everyday life and life in the

The day was October 8th, 2014. I hardly played. One school day, my 5th teacher, Ms. Smit said, “flyers for the basketball team on the table” ordinarily I took one. Kids from 4th, 5th, and 6th grade came to try out for the team. After tryouts, a paper next to the nurse's office was hung up. The paper sheet named those who had made the team. Surprisingly, I made the team, most likely from my height. I felt like I shouldn’t have made the team. At the time, I barely started to play basketball. I went to the practices at school and tried to make myself a little bit better, since a tournament was about to begin in a few weeks.

Basketball has been a huge part of my life since I was really small. I’ve loved the sport since I was introduced to it at the age of four. It has had the best outcome out of all the sports i’ve ever played. When I’m playing basketball i’m in a totally different world. I feel

I was only in first grade when I picked up a basketball for the first time. I had observed my father, my brother, and my cousins all play it before me. Little did I know that the sport would lead me to new opportunities, incredible friends, and numerous championships.

When I was younger, basketball was all I wanted to play, it just looked like so much fun. In fifth grade I had my parents sign me up for CYB, then in sixth grade I tried out for middle school basketball and played all the way up until ninth grade. In middle school when I was in eighth grade I was awarded the captain position and that helped me build leadership and responsibility. All of the players especially the younger ones knew they could always come to me at any time if they needed anything or help with anything. High school basketball was a lot different than middle school. In middle school I was one of the star players so I played a lot but in high school that changed. I sat the bench a lot that taught me patience and understanding even

“Are you interested in this?” , my dad asks multiple times about multiple sports. I as a four year old just learning about sports, and watching them with my family decide that basketball is for me. So I go on to rec league… I learn how to dribble, pass, and shoot. Time passes and by middle school I can shoot left-handed layups, cross-over behind my back and in between my legs. High school is here.. and I become even more advanced not just with fundamentals, but mentally, and even more aggressively, and physical. I have a purpose, I love the game, and I want to play it as long as I can.

I’m from a town in which the basketball program is not known for winning. Growing up going through a program like that nearly killed my love for the game. My main career goal is to become a coach and return back to my hometown. I want to reshape the entire program into a winning program. I want to create a legacy in my hometown. I’ve also seen so many girls who grew up playing the game quit once they went through its current program. Their love of the game was destroyed, and seeing that happen to so many people nearly destroyed me. I want to return and fix the program so the younger generations have something to strive

Basketball has always played an important role in my life, however, one game in particular stands out above the rest. In this game we faced our rivals and the fifth ranked team in the state, Pleasure Ridge Park. No one believed we had a chance at beating this team. We have only beat them once in our school’s 25 year history. Before this game I really did not have the confidence in my abilities. But this game allowed me to believe in myself in knowing I could play among the best.

My basketball career was one to remember, I had a lot of coaches I liked and a handful I didn’t like. But one coach in particular, stuck with me because of one terrible game I had. I remember the day like it was yesterday, we were playing West aka the rich snobs of Billings. I didn’t play much in the first half but when I did play, it wasn’t up to his standards I guess. After making a great read on the defence I ended up turning the ball over. Imagine this, I had the ball at the top of the key, the defence in a 2-3 zone, I had a teammate on each side of me, spread out to perfection, and one man in front of me at the free throw line. I passfaked to my right and the defence jumped at it trying to steal the pass as this was happening, I tried to make a no look pass to the guy at the free throw line

I attended St. John’s Lutheran School from three year old preschool all the way to graduation eighth grade year. Fourth grade was the age at which students were allowed to start playing sports. Even though I cheered and played volleyball, basketball was my favorite. Starting out as a fourth grader playing on the sixth grade basketball team, I learn at a young age how important it is to always give 100% and then a little more if you want to win. Fastwarding several years, I am now a senior in high school realizing basketball has taught me so much more. As I get older I see how basketball has shaped me as a person. It has allowed me to become more confident in myself; growing into the leader I wanted to be. Basketball has also taught me the

I would have never turned into the player I am today if it was not for what my brother, Demetrius, taught me one night in seventh grade. When I was in the sixth grade we adopted Demetrius to our family. He was a friend of my brother, Michael, and we all loved Demetrius so we decided he should join our family. Demetrius was always teaching me new things and always helping me improve my basketball skills. This moment taught me to always do something extra to achieve my goals because it will pay off in the long run.

When watching basketball I lose all sense of time, before I know it my eyes are drooping with tiredness and the sun has already set. The game captivates my very being, the level of skill and work needed to master the sport astonishes me as well as the amount of discipline and knowledge these players have to know what do in certain situations. It’s a challenging activity making it all the more appealing to me. As a matter fact, I’ve been influenced heavily by my brothers and peers as well, growing up around them all I ever heard them talk about was basketball. Whether it was their favorite player or the best team in the league it didn’t matter, it was always basketball. It made me very curious to know what all the fuss was about. Soon I was

Basketball is a game that requires not only skill, but also strategy and hustle. If you cannot handle the pressure, with defenders all up in your face and the fans screaming at the top of their lungs, then it is not a game for you. I love basketball because it benefits me physically, mentally, and socially. From practice to the game itself, to the traveling time, each aspect of being involved on a team is an opportunity to improve and enhance my life. The many benefits that it provides are far-reaching and I believe that they not only affect my present life but will impact my future, as well.