the harder path
As I was planning out my week, adding creative blocks, workouts, etc. where I have white space, I noticed that this week officially kicks off Roman’s high school basketball career. Morning workouts begin, and he is officially in the hands of the coaching staff at Fishers High School, and I am absolutely at ease with this.
I’ve written about this before, but Roman had a choice of which high school he went to; he could have gone to the high school we are districted for and have always thought he’d attend with all of his childhood friends, or he could go to the other high school in our district where he would know some people, but for the most part would be a new school experience for him.
Given that both schools are academically strong, Roman’s decision came down to his dream of playing college basketball–picking the school would have him best prepared to continue playing in college and hopefully set him up to travel somewhere in the world to play professionally.
He chose not to attend the school with all his childhood friends, opting instead for the one with one of the best coaching staffs in the country and a stronger program.
In a time when athletes are choosing easier paths to achieve their goals by reclassifying or deciding to attend smaller schools to land on varsity earlier, Roman chose a harder path:
Given the success that his high school has had over the last few years, the demands and expectations of the players are much higher than those of many schools.
The class of players he enters high school with is very strong–especially at his position. He’ll be battling with other talented guards whom he’s played against since third grade. His time on the court and spot on the team will have to be earned because if he doesn’t deliver, there are plenty of other players waiting to be the next man up.
The amount of time he will spend on the court during games over the course of his career will probably be less than if he went to another school—again, the talent he will be surrounded by is some of the top in the state.
And the talent ahead of him, especially at his position, is Division 1, and they won’t be relinquishing their time on the court before they graduate in two years. But, this allows Roman to practice daily against two of the top guards in the state, if not the nation--this is priceless.
I listen to Roman and his friends, and so much of the focus in the basketball world is playing varsity as a freshman, which AAU circuit they play on, and of course, scoring. While these things definitely help and play a part in the direction of an athlete's career, I sit back and listen with a smile because I know there is so much more to the journey and preparation for pursuing basketball at the next level.
And that is why I’m at ease and handing Roman’s career over to his high school coaching staff.
I know they understand what really matters.
I know they know how to prepare kids for the next level—helping them play college ball while being a part of a team and having a balanced attack from the whole team.
I know they know it’s not only the number that matters at the next level–it’s the training, the discipline, the understanding of the game, and other factors that don’t show up on the highlight reels or stat sheets.
While I know Roman sees where some of his peers are and what level they are playing or how many minutes they will get, and might be a little nervous that he’s going to get left behind in the eyes of scouts and the eyes on social media, I know he’s in the right place and isn't going to be left behind.
And I know this because I can look back at my high school and college career.
When I got to college, I came in thinking I was recruited to play on the varsity team as a freshman (at the Division 3 level, most teams have a JV team). It didn’t take me long to realize that I was not one of the top recruits; there were plenty of guys in my class who put up big numbers in high school at smaller schools. My 14 points a game looked like nothing compared to the 30 points some of my teammates had been putting up.
It also didn’t take me long to realize in open gyms that my 14 a game was much more challenging to come by than their 30. They may have had more points, but my high school career was filled with competition against some of the best players in the country–14 a game against guys heading to North Carolina, Arizona, Kentucky, Michigan State, and eventually to the NBA was a lot different than 30 a game against guys who woudln’t play in college or were heading to other Division 3 schools like us.
So my less sexy, by the numbers, career was better preparation for basketball at the next level, and I found my Self as one of two freshmen playing on the varsity team and became a starter in the second game of my freshman season.
I was also the only senior on the team my final year—little ol’ me who averaged 14 points a game my senior year.
I know I could have averaged closer to the 30 that my teammates had if I had gone to a smaller school, and back then, I probably would have believed that was the best path. In hindsight, the challenging environment of playing basketball in Marion County during the late 90’s was better preparation for college basketball than “better” stats.
For me, the harder path was the right path.
And I believe this will be the same for Roman.
He chose his harder path, and it will have him more prepared to continue his Pursuit of basketball, should that still be what is authentic to him when the time comes. It might look like he’s lagging behind his peers the first couple of years, but the truth will show in his senior year and after graduation, which is all that matters.
See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,
JC
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