Editor’s note: Originally published December 2014. Lightly edited for clarity; the advice has aged perfectly.
Every basketball season starts with the same questions, and every serious player has to answer them honestly.
Are you truly working hard enough?
Is your anger for not playing enough minutes warranted?
Are you in shape to even play valuable minutes?
Are you in shape to play when it matters most in the 3rd and 4th quarters of a game?
Do you really LOVE basketball and want it to better your life, OR are you just saying it to make yourself feel good?
Do you TRULY realize HOW HARD IT IS to get a scholarship?
Are you staying after it in the classroom just as much as on the court?
I ask those questions because most players DON’T GET IT and just WISH/HOPE basketball will be their way out. I hate to break it to players, but wishing, hoping, and talking do NOT get you to the next level.
The amount of sacrifice on and off the court just to have a chance at a college scholarship is enormous. Players have to stop listening to noise from people who have never lived that life.
The whole concept of “If Aunt Karen says I’m good and will get a scholarship, I know I will” needs to stop. Aunt Karen works at a bank and never played basketball outside JV in high school. How will she TRULY know what it takes or how good you are?
The amount of people you should trust for sound basketball advice should be VERY SMALL, because having your best interest and telling you the TRUTH are two VERY different things.
AUNT KAREN — You are the best and I know you will get a college scholarship. Just keep working on that jump shot and you will 110% be a Division 1 player. I just know it and all the other parents see it too!
TRUTHFUL PERSON — You are good, but if you want college basketball you need to change 5-10 things in your game. You need 15 more hours a week in the gym. You need to lose 10-15 pounds to get quicker and lighter. You need to commit in the classroom or grades will be the first thing keeping you from a scholarship. You are out of shape, and that is a YOU problem. College coaches are picking your game apart looking for reasons NOT to offer you, so your strengths better be HIGH and your weaknesses better not be obvious.
Take a step back and reflect. Put the phone, Xbox, and TV down for a few minutes and see if your goals are actually lining up with your daily actions. Basketball, like life, is all about adjustments. Players who can adjust workouts, schedules, and mindset are on the right path.
If your season started great, keep going. If it did not, here are a few things to attack right now:
ARE YOU EATING RIGHT? Fuel your body with a strong breakfast, lunch, and dinner as often as possible. Chips, cookies, fast food, or skipping meals WILL catch up to you.
ARE YOU IN BASKETBALL SHAPE? This should not even be a question, but it is a HUGE problem. Stop lying to yourself. Sprint more. Run hard in practice. Stop taking shortcuts.
ARE YOU TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES? If you are open, shoot it. If you have a lane, DRIVE it looking to score and finish through contact.
STOP BEING SCARED OF MAKING MISTAKES!!! The only way to learn in basketball and life is to make mistakes and fail at some level.
STOP MAKING EXCUSES! Get in shape. Do not blame teammates because you do not want the blame.
TIME AND SCORE! If your team is down 15 and you are the best player, it is OK to take over and give your team a chance. I hate seeing players who put in 10x more work defer to teammates who are not ready for that moment. Harsh? Yes. TRUE? Also yes.
If you truly want to make your team better and chase college dreams, YOU MUST NOT BE AFRAID OF SUCCESS.
Yes, do not be afraid of success. It is sad that the majority of people want to be normal and not step on toes. If you want to be the best, you have to be different. Do not be afraid to become something special.