“To the friends that became family,” no scratch that. That quote is kind of somewhat cliche because unlike family, which is forever, most of the time friendships are not. That is the reason that when I compare a group to family I know that they will forever be around.For me that group is my former teammates. Although I say the word “former” when describing my teammates they still are and forever will be the best friends that I can honestly say I have ever had. These girls are my family and my forever friends...

All sports in general play a big role in athletes lives but for me it was even greater. Basketball is just a game to most people, the people you play with are just your teammates to those people as well. Where I'm from that's not the case.

The friendships I developed in basketball are the greatest ones I've honestly ever developed.

My teammates became the forever friends I knew I could and still can always count on. From the first time I stepped foot into the locker room I knew I would have these friends forever. From the crazy bus rides, to pregame food at either Wendy's or Taco Bell, to spending every Christmas together in a hotel, to always being there for me. Whether we were constantly roasting each other in group texts or complaining about practice at lunch we were always having some kind of conversations.

Here we are eight months after my basketball career ended and there is not a day goes by that I don’t still talk to most of my teammates or hangout with them. I have the absolute best forever friends. My teammates and I, we are all family. We will always be family and for that I am forever grateful.

Even though I hung my jersey up in March and will never wear it again or play another game I know I will always have the friendships that were made while wearing that Panthers jersey. I will forever cherish and be thankful for the game because of the friendships it created for me.