Basketball Personal Story by Ryan

Basketball Personal Story by Ryan - May 2022 Scholarship Essay

Although I played various sports throughout my life, I never understood why people were so devoted to them. I decided to give sports another chance and signed up for the freshman basketball team. When I scored my first points, I felt connected to the team as they surrounded me with hugs and cheers. Soon after, I spoke to my friend Jalen who made the varsity team as a freshman and shared with him my desire to play varsity ball. Suddenly he told me I would never play basketball in high school again; it was just too hard to make the team. His words hurt.

I wasn’t discouraged. Sophomore year, I intensified my training efforts. As many days as I could, I ran to the gym to put up shots before running two miles. The competition was fierce for JV tryouts, but I thought I was mentally and physically prepared for this challenge. But despite all my hard work, I was told, “you’re not the right fit.” I knew if I did not make the JV team, it would be almost impossible to make varsity. I refused to give up.

A few months before the varsity tryouts, I began training with Jalen. He guided me on the way to finish on a taller defender by having me wait for him to get out of blocking range so I could spin the ball into the basket at the last second. We continued to play one-on-one for hours every gym session, and my game improved each match. Whenever I beat him, a smile came across his face, and his eyes widened with approval.

Jalen gave me the coach’s number after recognizing how much I improved during our training. I messaged the coach and asked if I could come to the varsity workouts to which he agreed. At the workouts, my development began and I learned what shots were okay to take in-game and what shots were better left for pick-up runs. During pick-up games at the youth center after school, my teammates coached me on how to perform well in our unbeatable, unorthodox defense. They gave me tips to let the offensive player go by me but force him to the side and never let him go through the middle.

By the time tryouts came around, I made strong relationships with the coaching staff and the other players, but I still did not make the team. However, the time I committed to the team with workouts, practices, and film reviews paid off, and the coach offered me the position of team manager. I was given the opportunity to assist the team and see the inner workings of the team’s organization and management, while still being able to take part in the practices and travel with the team.  

I took great pride in supporting the team who by now was my extended family. My teammates learned of my academic abilities and started to seek my help. I tutored them in any subject they needed help with. After almost every practice or game, I drove my teammates home; they all lived in a different town and came from single parent households with no one to drive them. On one of these rides, a teammate confided in me that he was almost homeless and had no food in his fridge. That very night, I contacted my mother’s friend who is a part of a charity group, and she organized a gift of $500 to give to my teammate.

Now that I made the team as a player, looking back at the rigorous path I took to get here changed my outlook on success. From Jalen helping me improve my game to the coach giving me a chance as a team manager to my contributions to my teammates in need, I know now I came looking for basketball but I found my community.