This year for SAISA Basketball, the boys and I are returning to ASB for our senior season. It really is going to be a full-circle moment for me. I must admit, it’s almost movie-esque, from riding the bench, averaging 5 minutes a game in my first season, to being the starting shooting guard in year 2, averaging around 5 points, to being the starting point guard, an experienced player, and possibly even a co-captain of the team this year.  I can’t lie, I’m extremely nervous about switching my role to point guard. Each season I have to keep adapting and changing my role to what the team needs me to do, it’s annoying, as I can never fully master my skills at one role, but has been improving my overall game. It seems funny to me that back when I started seriously playing the game, in g7, I was a 5″6 scrawny little center, shooting 7/8 from the free-throw line each game.

Praneeth, our coach, talked to the team last year, worried that we have no point guards, teased me for only dribbling once in my entire 2 years of SAISA experience. I wanted to show him I could be what the team needed me to be, so my summer goal was to improve my handles and court sense, which I can safely say, I stepped up my game from what it once was. However, I lost my shooting touch in the process. From hours of 1v1s and 3v3s at Gregorys Road (An embassy compound where me and the boys have been grinding since summer), my game strictly became that of a slasher. My delicate finishing touch, with both hands and ability to get to the basket, drastically improved my confidence in actually playing the game. But led me to shooting less than 100 shots since February.

Our first session is in a week, I’m excited to see what the team is going to look like this season. Losing both Ethan and Antoine, our captains, and offensive engines on the court, definitely is going to be hard to begin without. But it allows for so many new opportunities for our team to become even better. With tons of new faces trying out, me and the boys are excited to see who has the potential to rise to become a SAISA-level athlete. Apparently, Connor is a really great point guard, as well as Seb, a crazy good g9 kid. I’m hoping that either one of them, or both of them are willing to step up the the challenge of being the starting point guard so that I can play more of an offensive-focused 2 guard. As well as Ollie, my little brother, who I want taking my spot in the corner for an easy 3pt shot; and Olau. A new player, who has hops and a huge wing span, and has incredible potential for being lethally defensive. I want us to run either a 5-out or 4-out, similar to the Nuggets playstyle; with Peter being in the middle, acting as our Jokic, where Ben can act as an Aaron Gordon, Adam as an MPJ, and me/Seb/Connor as a Jamal Murray.

This season I want to get nothing less than a podium, beating both TAISM and ASB. I want us to be a fast-paced, defensive-driven, team. Who can get quick reliable points off fast breaks, and running through the other teams. I also want us to chuck up a hell of a lot more 3’s. With Ben and Adam playing outside, being our best 3-point shooters, we will be able to get so many more points off their skillset. Allowing for more opportunities for cuts, and drives, as the paint will be less protected. I am confident, with a little polishing, our team will be incredible, and be able to at least regain the bronze medal we once won, back at ASB 2 years ago.