“Rest at the end, not in the middle.” ~ Kobe Bryant's English teacher Hey Reader! Your shot may have to get worse before it gets better. Mind did. Much worse. Airballs, bad misses, clanks off the side of the rim. It was ugly until it wasn’t. I spent an hour with Kerry Foderingham, my trainer since 9th grade, filming my next YouTube video to break down how my shot has evolved since we first met. We pulled up footage of 15-year-old me. I was a skinny kid, desperate to be a “shooter,” whose form...
17 days ago • 4 min read
“If your coach isn’t telling you to stop shooting, you aren’t shooting enough.” ~ Johnplarson, Instagram Commentor Hey Reader! “You were really solid out there today!” You might think that’s a compliment, but I would disagree. “Solid” means you did your job. No turnovers, took safe shots, made smart passes, grabbed a few boards. It’s the sports equivalent of having a “good personality.” You may not have screwed up, but you also didn’t make the other team’s coach call a timeout just to figure...
24 days ago • 4 min read
“If you want to look good in front of thousands then you have to outwork thousands in front of nobody.” ~ Damian Lillard Hey Reader! You miss a shot. Your heart is racing. Every eye in the gym is on you. You know that feeling. Reality check: Every eye is not on you. In a couple of seconds, most people won’t even remember you shot the ball, much less missed. This is called the “spotlight effect.” It’s when you think everyone’s locked in on your mistake, but they’re not. Your teammates are...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
“Winning is overcoming obstacles to reach a goal, but the value in winning is only as great as the value of the goal reached.” ~ Timothy Gallwey, The Inner Game of Tennis Hey Reader! Is your mind sabotaging your game? This summer, I read The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey, published in 1974. It made me realize our minds are messy, anxious, and way too critical. (If that’s not you, email me your secret!) I can't believe we're still trying to figure this out after 50 years! If you do...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
“If you want to shoot at the highest level, you better get comfortable hitting shots with a hand in your face.” ~ Steph Curry Hey Reader! Damn, I’d love a do-over. If I could go back and play one high school game with the mindset I have today, I’d take more of those so-called “contested” shots. Back in 2017, if someone started toward me with a hand up, I’d often hesitate, pass, or drive into traffic, anything to avoid putting up a contested shot. Now, playing pro overseas, clean looks are...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
“Meditation doesn't have to be sitting with your legs crossed and your arms like this for 30 minutes thinking about nothing.” ~ Mental Performance Coach and Pro Player, Juan Fernández Hey Reader! What if you could train your brain and your focus for the biggest moments in a game without sitting down in a dark room with your legs crossed, eyes closed, focused on your breath, and trying to “clear your mind”? I tried meditation. I really did. Daily. But my mind would wander to my weekend plans...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
“I know how hard I’ve worked and this isn't something that's going to last. I’m never going to stop shooting.” ~ Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever Hey Reader! Clank. Clank. Clank. Shooting slumps are bad. But imagine being the face of basketball with fans packing arenas just to watch you play. And night after night, the ball just won’t go in. Caitlin Clark is now 2-33 (5.7%!) from deep on the road and her frustration is obvious. And just as the All-Star Game and 3-point contest are set to happen,...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
“I do think it’ll be a fun style for our fans. They’ll enjoy it. It will be up and down. Will it be the fastest in the country? I doubt it, but it certainly will be fun,” Ryan Odom, UVA Head Men's Coach Hey Reader! This summer has been a wild ride, to say the least. I've had the chance to work out at schools from all levels of college basketball: a JUCO (Raritan Valley), a D3 school (Montclair St.), two mid-majors (Colgate, Lafayette), two high-majors (UVA, UNC), and an Ivy League school...
2 months ago • 5 min read
“The greatest strength any human being can have is to recognize his or her own weaknesses.” — Pat Summitt Hey Reader! Most college-bound players are delusional about their skills. Not just a little off. Way off. And that’s not just my opinion. I’ve spent a lot of time talking to college coaches. The one thing they all agree on? Most high school players who are trying to get recruited have no idea how far off they are from what it takes to play at the college level. Coaches use the word...
2 months ago • 4 min read