INSPIRATIONAL "TRUE" STORY

On a late Friday night in June, around 9 PM, I (Coach Jason) found myself brimming with energy and decided to head to my local community center for a round of hoops. Upon reaching the court, I noticed only one other person there, both of us engaged in shooting on the net. Eager for some exercise, I proposed a 1 vs. 1 basketball game. He agreed, and we decided to play. At that point, I was 44 years old, with hints of grey hair beginning to show. The player I faced was an athletic high school student entering the 9th grade. So, when I won the first game 15-3, he was quite surprised by the outcome!

After the game, I revealed that I was a basketball coach. Recognizing his potential, I offered to provide him with some pointers to enhance his skills. The impromptu lesson extended into a 35-minute shooting session. I suggested a rematch, and this time, he showed improvement, with me winning 15-6. After the second game, he mentioned he was entering the 9th grade and was born in 2008. Coincidentally, I happened to be coaching a team starting in the fall. I shared our team's information, encouraging him to try out in September.

As September rolled around, Nathan attended the tryouts. However, lacking REP experience, he struggled to keep up with players entering their fifth year of REP basketball. Acknowledging his athleticism and willingness to learn, I made Nathan an offer post-tryout. I proposed he practice with the team for the season, affording him the opportunity to learn and potentially catch up to the team's skill level. He agreed to this arrangement.

Early in the season, injuries left us short-handed at some games, prompting us to invite Nathan to suit up as an extra player. Fortunately, this occurred quite often, and he attended games regularly. There were instances, especially in games where we held a substantial lead, where he played limited minutes, typically 1-2 per game. Despite not playing extensively, Nathan never missed a practice and never complained. His father supported him before games, rebounding for him while he practiced shooting, and Nathan continued to work hard.

However, in the REP level, playing time is earned, irrespective of other factors. The 1-2 minutes he received often didn't justify keeping him in any longer, sometimes being pulled out earlier than expected due to turnovers. A low point was when he inadvertently scored on his own basket. Despite setbacks, he maintained almost 100% attendance at practice, was consistently punctual, and demonstrated unwavering focus. Towards the season's end, Nathan transformed into a defensive and rebounding asset. Consequently, I could afford to put him in games, instructing him to focus on defense, grab rebounds, and avoid turnovers, allowing him 5-6 minutes in games where we held a significant lead.

The season concluded, and while Nathan was a great kid and a hard worker, from a basketball perspective, he hadn't made a significant impact on the court. Approximately 45 days after the season ended, we received a call from an AAU team looking for a scrimmage. Despite our team not having practiced for almost two months, we agreed to play against a strong and talented all-star type team. The game started, and it quickly became evident that we were in trouble. The opposing team was in peak shape and extremely talented, while we were out of shape and outmatched. Trailing 45-18, having exhausted all strategies and options, I glanced at the end of the bench and saw Nathan sitting there. I thought, why not give him a chance? "Nathan, get in there, give us some defense and rebounds!" Nathan entered the game, and in the first play, he stole the ball and ran it down the court for a lay-up, with two massive 6'4 players trailing. Minutes later, he scored again, and then again. The entire team started chanting "NATHAN, NATHAN!" We were in shock. He wasn't just scoring; he was scoring against the highest level of competition we had ever faced, single-handedly carrying our entire team. He concluded the game with an impressive 20 points. While we ultimately lost, Nathan had significantly narrowed the gap. The entire team was in shock at what we had just witnessed.

As the next season commenced, Nathan continued exactly where he had left off in the last game. Today, he is a regular in the starting lineup, typically playing more than 50% of the game. He features prominently in big games and crucial moments, often playing significant minutes while players who have been on the team for six years either don't play at all or play very little. Through sheer hard work and determination, Nathan has outworked his teammates, earning the playing time that was once theirs.

Today Nathan is a coach at Maple Basketball, teaching and inspiring others!

- Coach Jason