"From the time I stepped on the floor as a freshman I knew this day would come; the day that the final buzzer of my final high school game would sound. As a freshman, I thought I had all the time in the world, but each year I watched as a class would graduate and walk off the floor for the last time, and each year it kept getting more real that it was almost my time, like all of the seniors before me I would walk off the floor for the last time.

Now that I actually have walked off of the floor for the last time, it doesn’t feel real. I’ve already cried; I’ll probably cry a lot more because for four years this has been my life. Basketball has been my escape, no matter what was going on in my life my escape was in the gym on the floor.

Basketball has also been the most consistent thing in my life. I never put as much effort into relationships as I did basketball because “I think the reason I love basketball so much is because the sport won’t wake up one day and decide it doesn’t love you.”

I wrote this on the bus ride home from my last basketball game ever.

Dear High School Athletes,

I can’t go back and change a single thing. All I have are the memories. What I can do is offer advice to you, my underclassmen. DO NOT take a single moment for granted. Whether it’s team bonding or running that extra sprint because not everyone made it in the time limit the first time.

Trust me, once you’re done, you’ll wish you hadn’t complained so much. Also, if you want to continue your basketball career into college, GO FOR IT! I’m not by any means the best player out there, but by the end of my senior year, I have had 10+ schools interested in me. It takes hard work, a lot of dedication and just putting you out there, but in the end, it’s all worth it.

Yeah, putting yourself out there might mean you get rejected, but you should use that as motivation to get even better. Lastly, give 100% every game and every practice because when it’s all over, you’re going to wish you had.

Take the time to thank all of your coaches. Personally, my coaches were like parents towards me. They genuinely cared about me like I was their own kid. I know that I didn't thank them enough for dealing with my attitude, being my biggest cheerleaders, and pushing me to my highest potential.

I promise you that when you are out of high school and you look back, you are going to remember those heart to hearts you had with your coaches no matter what they were about.

Also, I know that some coaches are tough, and as an opinionated teenager, your attitude can get in the way of you reaching your full potential as an athlete. But please remember that your coaches want the best for you, and they are only getting on to you because they see the potential in you that you don't even see.

Thank ALL of your teammates. I know that sometimes there are going to be teammates that you don't get along with. I've been there. Guess what? You're on the same team. Regardless of feelings outside of the gym when you are on the floor, none of that should matter.

Your teammates are going to be some of your best friends. You are going to look back on all of that team bonding, those long bus rides, tournament hotel stays, and even those long hard practices that you got through together, and you are going to miss all of it -- I promise.

Lastly, focus on the game. Savor every minute you spend in the gym. Each time you step on the floor it is a blessing. You never know when you might suffer a career-ending injury, or if you do make it through to your last high school game, it's going to come too soon. Don't let petty stuff tear the team apart; it's never worth it.

You don't want to look back and say you wasted a good season focused on petty drama because when the final buzzer sounds of your last high school game, there is no going back.