You have always heard how hard it is to get to the top, how difficult it is to leapfrog your competition. “They” are wrong! It is EASY. Why? I’ll tell you in one second. But first, a few things to get you up to date on.
*Congrats to the High Point 7th-8th grade team for winning the BT Basketball Summer League Championship! We had a great summer of competition capped by a thrilling final game. Well deserved boys! 
Front row: Broc Sisco, Jason Maikis, Tommy Gilmore, Jack DeGroot Second row: Coach Marc Posey, Luke Steinman, Nick Guerra, Braedon Steinman, Ryan Scymanski, Andrew Martinez, Assistant Betty Scymanski Missing from Photo: Brandon LaBar
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*August End of Summer Clinics
BT Basketball presents TWO skill specific clinics to round out your Summer training.
1. 1 on 1 Offensive Moves
Saturday August 17th
-5th-8th grade boys and girls 9:30-11am
-High School boys and girls 11-12:30
2. Finishing at the Rim
Sunday August 25th
-5th-8th grade boys and girls 9:30-11am
-High School boys and girls 11-12:30
All sessions at the Sparta PAL
Cost: Attend BOTH sessions and it’s only $45
Attend ONE session and it’s $25
*Session one will be wrapped around learning the proper way to create space, as well as the crossover, between the legs dribble, inside out, stutter step, behind the back, and combination moves.
*Session two will focus on finishing at the rim with the strong hand and the weak in traffic as well as how to properly use pump fakes, floaters and jump stops.
Ok let’s talk. Yes, it is EASY earn that starting spot. It is EASY to become better than that kid at the other school. Why is it easy? Because all you have to do is work HARDER than them. And why is THAT easy? Because most players aren’t working that hard! It’s a simple equation…
You—>>> work hard every day
Them—>>> work hard here and there
You—>>> destroy them
Most players today have so many different things going on. Other sports committments, hanging out with friends, vacations, video games, laziness, and on and on. There are a very select few who are willing to give a full out effort day in and day out to maximize their potential.
Quick story… When I was in high school, I routinely missed family vacations during the summertime. Why? Because for whatever reason, they always seemed to fall during weeks that I was heading away to important basketball camps. Come to think of it, maybe they did it on purpose so I COULDN’T make it (just kidding Mom). Sure, when they left I thought the beach sounded pretty awesome, but I was focused on taking my game to a place that nobody thought it could go. Windows and doors of opportunity are limited in size and scope. When they are open, don’t walk, BURST through those doors to take advantage.
I’m not telling you to skip your family vacation. I’m telling you to figure out what you want.
You see, most players don’t understand what it takes to realize what they are truly capable of. The select few do. For example, I’ve been working with a small group of very talented HS and college players over the last month and I am tremendously proud of each of them. We have had some GREAT workouts. Why? Simple. They are willing to do anything that I ask of them. These guys include Hunter Guard (Hopatcong HS/Moravian), Nate Sammans (Newton HS/Moravian), Chris McIlvaine (Sparta HS/Ithaca), Zach Frick (Sparta HS/William Paterson) and the recent addition Bryan Langan (Jefferson HS). There is something to be said to being a blank canvas, one that is willing to trust and absorb and straight up WORK to get better.
Everyone is always looking for the shortcut. The shortcut is simple. It’s HARD WORK because most players are not!
One more story… there are things along the way that you will do, that to you, will seem normal. But to others, they will seem crazy. It’s when you realize these things, that you know you are on the right path. The summer after my sophomore year, I would go down to the local courts daily (Ungerman) and get my workouts in, solo. We had a typical NJ stretch of oppresively hot weather in the upper 90’s. I know that because back then (now I sound old) the bank across the street had a temperature gauge on it. Was it hot? Heck yea it was. Did I care? Not so much. I had goals that I wanted to accomplish and I didn’t have time to waste (I also didn’t have access to an indoor court, so did what I had to!).
Loaded with plenty of water, got to the courts to get my game up. Didn’t really think much of it, just getting the job done the best I knew how. A few days later, I ran into a player that I looked up to from one of the local schools. He had just graduated and was a pretty good player, but not a great one. He came up to me and said, hey were you at Ungerman the other day working out when it was crazy hot? I said yea that was me. He said, and I remember it today, “Dude, you’re crazy!”
I thought to myself, “I am? SWEET!!!!”
That was one of the first times I realized that most players just weren’t willing to work all that hard. And if I committed to doing what the other players thought was crazy then maybe, just maybe, I could overcome my lack of physical talent (hello 5’9 white guy here) and excel. But what if you DO have the physical talent. Imagine what you can accomplish!!
Is hard work easy? Duh, no. BUT, since most players aren’t truly working hard, your hard work will make it EASY to get better than them!
You follow? Then let’s get after it!
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