They always told me it'll fly by. I never believed them. So to all of the younger hoopers starting off your high school career, each and every day matters. Take care of yourself and make sure you're getting enough rest, but if you aren't out there working everyday, someone is passing you up.
I've had a lot of challenges throughout my high school career. I won't waste time listing them all. But know each and every year has been a battle, and I didn't get to where I am through luck. It's all about the journey.
Senior year. Wow. It was hard. It was never supposed to end like it did, but here I am closing the basketball book. My season was done before the rest of the team, and no matter how much I wanted to come back and play, I didn't really have an option to. A hit to the head so hard it made me cry, not remembering the end of the game, barely being able to walk, being late to school because I didn't remember the correct time it started, constant headaches for a week and a half straight, and every loud noise and bright light bothering me. As much as I wanted to be out there every game, my body said no. As much as I wanted to play another game with my teammates, my brain and health are more important.
With how our year went with so many injuries and just finally getting healthy, of course this was the way I had to go down. We were the team that could've been. We could've been district champs. We could've played in the state tournament. We could've upset so many teams. So much potential and no trophy to show for it.
But want to know what we do have to show for it? Resiliency, respect, a fight like no other. I know every one of us hit a low and had to crawl out by the tips of our fingers. Scraping and fighting for every inch just to get out of the hole.
I was challenged day in and day out. No one knows the mental capacity I had to be able to battle every single day. Through the loud chew outs for mistakes, through getting kicked out and being told to go home during pre-season workouts, through the biggest shooting slump of my career. Some days were harder, and I was close to giving up, but I was fighting for more than myself. Every time I wanted to hand in my jersey and call it quits and get ready for college ball, I saw my teammates. I saw the ones who were battling for me everyday, and I wasn't going to give up on them. I love each and every one of you. Keep raising the standard.
Marli and Taylor. You are the best teammates I've ever had. You play with such passion and drive. It's so much more fun playing with you rather than against, and you kept me going all year long. You were there for me when I couldn't be there for you on the court. You're my dawgs.
Forever a Spartan
#22 out✌
