2.  When I was three, I got a mini basketball
hoop for my birthday. It had the names
and logos of all the teams in the NBA on
the backboard and a mini basketball.

3. I remember playing
in the driveway with
my dad when we
lived in Grand
Rapids. I could
barely even dribble
then but even then, I
loved basketball.

4.  In third grade, I did Bear Basketball
which taught fundamentals and skills of
basketball. I did it all the way through
sixth grade.

5.  After the Bear Basketball
fundamentals, we
played games every
Saturday. That was the
first time I had actually
played games and I
improved a lot because
of it.

6.  In the summer, I went to a basketball
camp sponsored by the NBA Pistons.
One of the Pistons coaches was there
and I was thrilled.

7.  After that, I loved
watching the Pistons-
especially Richard,
“Rip,” Hamilton. I
wanted to be as
good as him
someday.

8.  Later that summer, I
went to a very fun
basketball camp, T-
Hyde. There were some
really good players there
and they helped me get
a lot better.

9. In seventh grade, I tried out and made the
„A‟ team for school and I was ecstatic. I
thought going to other schools to play
was interesting and fun.

10. Then, in eighth
grade, I made
the „A‟ team
again. That
year was even
more fun
because we
beat every
single team we
played.

11.  I played again this year which was
incredibly fun because I became good
friends with the rest of the team. This is
why I love basketball.