- 2022 Spotlight
Personal Statement
Like many athletes, I started playing basketball for recreational centers when I was five. As a military dependent, I was forced to restart on different teams, but this helped me become a coachable player and pick up techniques that a single coach may not have been able to provide. Over the last seven years I have been able to keep basketball constant while my family transitioned from the United States to Europe, and then to Asia. Fortunately, individualized training was found to accommodate my physical growth and need to move seamlessly through positions on the court. This selective training was provided by professional player from Basketball Bundesliga and retired player/current coach of a Japanese B.League team. Positional training has provided me the foundations to use my height and increase my court vision effectively.
My global basketball career includes competing in Luxembourg, Brussels, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Guam, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and both mainland Japan and Okinawa, Japan. Specifically for high school basketball, I played varsity for 2 of my 3 years at Kadena High School, in Okinawa, Japan. Due to COVID-19 and host nation constraints, no sports were permitted during my junior season, 2020-2021. Even without a basketball season, I still continue to train.
Although I am still growing as a leader, I have been presented with leadership opportunities in the last few years. I was selected as the team captain for three travel teams and currently participate in Teen Leadership conferences held quarterly through the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Within the military community, I volunteer with the Beach Clean-ups and clean Karing Kennels, a pet boarding facility. Prior to COVID-19, I volunteered as a junior coach with Kadena Youth Sports. To extend community outreach to the host nation, I am a monthly volunteer with Food Bank Second Harvest.
Even though I have shined ‘globally’ with basketball, I have to work extra hard to be seen for collegiate opportunities due to the international opportunities afforded to my military family.
I am a versatile player with good court vision, high IQ, can play anywhere on the court, and have sincere dedication to the game. I've been playing basketball since I was four and in the recent seven years have been competing in Luxembourg, Brussels, Guam, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, and both Mainland Japan and Okinawa Japan. While in Germany I received training from semi pro players, played on an International team that ranked third in the Austria World Games. While in Okinawa Japan I have played the past two seasons (not three due to COVID) on the KDHS Varsity team and played other Military installations but also semi-pro men's teams. I am currently receiving personal training from a Ryuku Kings Skills Coach.
I have excellent leadership skills from being captain in three travel teams and participating in Boys to Men Okinawa, Leaders of America, and USNA STEM leadership program. I do community outreach with Second Harvest Japan, Second Harvest USA, Adopt a Highway, Beach Cleanups, and Karing Kennels.
