THE DREAM TEAM

            The 1992 Olympic Men's Basketball Team was one of the greatest teams ever assembled in sports. Their impact on and off the court was outstanding. "The Dream Team" beat every opponent by an average of 44 points. Their total dominance was the complete opposite of the last Olympic team. Because of international basketball guidelines, this was the first year that NBA players were able to participate in the games. Because of this change, more fans attended basketball games and other teams were star struck by the caliber of players that they were able to compete against. This team was very impactful in many ways. They opened the door for more professionals to be included in the Olympics and also fueled more international players to want to be a part of the NBA.

I think what made this team so significant was that although in previous years other professionals from other countries were able to compete in the Olympics, NBA players were banned. NBA players saw this to be very unfair. Once they were able to showcase to the world their abilities they held nothing back. Establishing dominance was just as important as winning because of the embarrassing bronze medal that the United States took home in the previous Olympic Games.

While assembling this team full of all stars, the players did not yet realize the impact they would have on the world. During that time they saw this as an opportunity to come together with future hall of famers and represent their country. As the dream team was coming into its own, it was a little tough assembling everyone’s egos because all of the players were so dominate on their individual teams. However, Coach Daly was known for being able to manage stars with egos. He did an elite job of getting everyone to come together as a unit. The main thing that everyone thought would be an issue was MJ and Coach Daly’s relationship. Because Daly coached the Bulls arch rival, the Detroit Pistons who were also known as the “bad boys” no one knew if they would be able to get along. As it turned out, Coach Daly and Jordan bonded throughout the experience. They golfed together just about every day. Michael even said Coach Daly scheduled their practices around their golfing time. Jordan says the times spent with Coach Daly are some of his most cherished moments of the 1992 Olympics.

When the dream team arrived in Barcelona, a lot of people assumed the dream team chose not to stay in the Olympic village because they were "big shots.” However, they were receiving death threats. To ensure the safety of the athletes they stayed in a luxury hotel. Fans would line up outside of the hotel every night to be closer to some of the world’s greatest athletes. And even though the team was in Barcelona to take care of business and win gold, they made sure they enjoyed themselves. Many of the players got hardly any sleep because they were up so late partying and enjoying Barcelona. To be able to perform at such a high level while staying out all night made their success even more memorable. Coach Daly says he did not incorporate a curfew because he would have had to follow it. He was out as well enjoying the night life of Barcelona.

The United States was so dominant because of their ability to share the basketball and come together as a team. Not to mention the physical freaks of nature they were. The smallest person on the team was John Stockton who stood at 6’1 and 175 lbs. The largest was David Robinson at 7’1 and 235 lbs. This USA team was simply stronger, faster, and more athletic than any team that stepped on the floor with them. The members of the dream team often credit a lot of their success to the fact that they were able to create such good chemistry between one another. They were able to enjoy each other off the court and create tighter bonds and lasting friendships. Many described watching the dream team was like a performance. They were so in sync with one another that it seemed as if they had all been teammates for years. What they were able to pull together and do over the little time they had was remarkable.

Most say the most memorable face of this 92’ dream team was their leading scorer Charles Barkley. Charles averaged 18 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assist per game. Barkley was also well known for his attitude and his flamboyant tactics with the media. There was a questionable elbow by Barkley against an Angola player. Barkley claims he was being elbowed and hit first. The other members of the team had to let him know that they did not want the name of being “the ugly Americans” so he had to control his emotions. Other than this incident Barkley steered clear of negative attention from the media during this time. In fact, although people advised the players not to roam in the city alone for safety reasons; Barkley was one of the only members who decided to do so anyway. Barkley became a man of the people while walking through the streets of Barcelona. The fans loved him for this. He described his experience of roaming through the streets of Barcelona as incredible and that the people were fantastic. Everyone wanted pictures and autographs and the feeling was very surreal. Charles even went over to the Olympic Village and hung out with players from other teams. Charles was described as America’s best ambassador during this Olympic time. Charles realized that this Olympic experience was an equivalent to winning an NBA Championship, which he was never able to do, LOL!

The next game for USA would be the huge story. Their opponent was Croatia which was also Toni Kukoc’s team. Toni had recently been picked up by the Chicago Bulls and received a larger contract than Scottie Pippen. This is not something that sat well with Michael and Scottie. They wanted to use this opportunity to show that Toni was not needed for the success of the Bulls. Pippen and Jordan took turns guarding Toni throughout the game. Their goal was to harass Kukoc the entire game. MJ and Pippen certainly got the best out of Kukoc and made the game extremely frustrating for him. Toni finished the game with 4 points and 7 turnovers.

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were the only two players who retired after the Olympics. This was their last opportunity to be able to play in front of the world as well as their fans. Magic and Larry had become really great friends after being drafted into the league the same year. Their chemistry stood out on the court. This time was so special to Magic because he had just recently announced that he was living with HIV and doctors had just cleared him to participate in the Olympic Games. During the late 80s and early 90s there was not much knowledge about this disease, so there were a lot of people against the idea of Johnson participating in the games. But for Magic this was indeed a special time and going home with the gold medal would complete his career. Larry was starting to battle with the injury bug so he knew that after the Olympic Games this was it for him. He also cherished these last moments of playing the game he loved. Larry and Magic described this experience as some of the greatest times of their career.

Michael Jordan, who is of course known as the best player in the history of basketball had a strong influence on pulling this team together. Michael was reluctant to participate at first and even wanted find a gracious way to decline. Jordan did not understand why it was so important for him to be a part of the games until he was actually there. After a talk with NBA executive Rod Thorn he warmed up to the idea. Michael said he would commit to playing if the league’s other top players planned to participate. MJ had the largest single-handed impact on fans around the world. The other members of the dream team had never seen any celebrity have such a huge effect on fans the way Michael Jordan did. His popularity globally was impeccable. The reactions and emotions he pulls out of people when they saw him was mind blowing. Jordan was by far the team’s largest superstar.

Other players from around the world were so amazed by the play of these athletes that during games they would take pictures and shake the hands of these players. Even after being beaten by 40 or more points they would ask for autographs and pictures. However, the dominating performance by the U.S. impacted the role of international players in the game today. As predicted by a famous international player, Drazen Petrovic, the USA team was defeated 20 years later in the World Championships. And as we see today international teams have a much more significant role in the NBA. The San Antonio Spurs who just won the NBA championship is full of international players. Because of the dream team, players of other nations are starting to take the game by force.

Overall, the dream team is a historic moment that will probably never be replicated. This team set the standard for USA basketball; they changed the play of international players, inspired fans all over the world, and made the 1992 Olympics so magical for the United States. As Magic Johnson said, “If this is how it’s going to end, this is how I wanted to go out.” Their impact lifted basketball, and made the game so much more global today. This was a moment in Olympic history that can never be forgotten.

-EBHoops

Players Declare Early for WNBA Draft

If any of you actually dedicate any time to women's basketball you'd know that seeing collegiate players leave college early and declare for the WNBA draft is somewhat unheard of. Well for the past few years we seem to be developing a new trend. Players have declared early for the draft in hopes of jump starting their professional careers. Now as you all may know, the money is simply not the same as what NBA players make where it is quite common to see guys leave early and declare for the draft. In fact, the top 4 picks in the WNBA draft make a little over $50,000 and they sign non-negotiable, 3-year deals. Now for most, a college degree and the experience that in entails is way more valuable than choosing to skip out early. I think the WNBA understands that because the money isn't the same in the women's game and that is why in order to leave early you must reach the age of 22 during the calendar year of the draft. Most players also spend the off season playing in another country where there is opportunity to often make more money.

Notre Dame standout Jewell Loyd and Minnesota star, Amanda Zahui B. sparked the conversation by choosing to leave college early in 2015 and turn pro. Jewell has often been asked about her decision and she states that she has no regrets in her decision and that it was the right choice for her. Some notable standouts who had the opportunity to leave early and enter this year's draft but chose to stay are Diamond DeShields (Tennessee), Kelsey Mitchell (Ohio State) and Mercedes Russell (Tennessee). They would have all probably been 1st round picks if they had not chosen to play their final seasons. Kelsey Mitchell explained that she was not in a rush and her education is important to her. She wants to finish what she started and leave Ohio State saying she accomplished something more.

Personally, I think the value of education is unmatched especially because you never know when the ball can stop bouncing. But as everyone's situation is different I guess there really isnt a right or wrong answer, people just have to make the best decision for themselves and their family. Either way, I think its healthy to even have this a conversation for the women's game. It's good to have the WNBA talked about on a scale that can be related to the men's league. It will be interesting to see where this goes in the future.


-EBHoops

LeBron Shows Respect to Russell

This is one of the many examples of why you have to respect LeBron has a player, teammate, friend and a man. In this video he pays tribute to a fellow NBA member on reaching a milestone in his career and breaking a huge record.

-EBHoops

Heart of a Champion

Isaiah Thomas lost his sister in a fatal car accident right before the 2017 NBA Playoffs began. He still chose to play in the first game of the series. As a fellow athlete, I understand how hard it had to be for him to still go out there to lace up and compete. You see, my freshmen year in college my grandfather passed away and I found out just hours before a huge conference game. You can imagine the amount of pain, shock and disbelief I felt. A part of me felt guilty for wanting to still go out there and play. But I realized that its what my grandfather would have wanted me to do. Anytime we had one on one conversations he would always tell me how proud he was and that it was so cool that basketball has opened up so many doors for me. He always encouraged me to follow my dreams and to play as long as I could. I would imagine that Isaiah knew his sister would probably want him to go out there and compete. Although you know this is what they would want, it doesn't make it any easier to do. The game was very emotional for me but I made sure I dedicated every second of the game to my grandfather. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to Isaiah Thomas and his family. I am routing for him and I know God, his teammates and family will help him get through this time. He just has an even greater purpose for being out there, as his sister Chyna is watching!

RIP Chyna Thomas

-EBHoops

Russell Westbrook, Back with A Vengeance

Check out this article discussing Russell Westbrook's historic moment!

http://www.sbnation.com/2017/4/7/15227904/russell-westbrook-averaging-triple-double-nba-history-thunder

Everything is "Bigger" in Texas

PostGrad life is approaching and its safe to say i'm somewhat in panic mode trying to figure out my next move. I've never really been able to imagine my life without basketball so it's pretty overwhelming at times. I was presented an opportunity during the women's final four to attend a convention hosted by the WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association) called "So You Think You Want to Be A Coach." When I originally heard about this I thought hmm that would be perfect because I knew once my playing days were over that I wanted to possibly stay amongst the game. Plus a free trip to Dallas while being able to enjoy the final four games? There was no way I could pass this up.


There were about 60 participants that were accepted into the program from all across the country and I was fortunate enough to be one of them. & one thing I respected most about the program is that there was so much variety. Amongst these 60 were players from high major D1 teams all the way down to NAIA schools. Everyone was really friendly and I even exchanged a few numbers and caught up with some players I competed against night in and night out within our conference. It's funny how we were all able to separate competition on the court from networking with one another during the convention, cause I know I was one of those players who they probably hated going against because I liked to talk trash lol, plus we were THE CHAMPIONS!...But I received nothing but well wishes and polite conversation. It was also good to compare experiences and see that although we all chose different schools and paths, we all ended up relating in one way or another. I think this ultimately created a bond that we will never forget. 

I was also able to hear from some amazing and successful coaches in the game and understanding what it takes to coach at the college level & how the road to getting there won't always be easy but in the end seemed to be well worth it. Being able to gain knowledge that applies not only to the basketball world but life in general was special. Especially because it was coming from those who have paved the way for me to be where I am. 

Now me being me and always having to keep busy of course I didn't just come out to Dallas for a convention! I also participated in a ProHoops Combine hosted at SMU. You see I recently decided that I would like to continue my career if the opportunity presents itself. I was amongst some of the top athletes in women's college hoops. There were also basketball Hall of Fame members who were working the camp which was another way for me to soak in knowledge on the game. During our Q&A session with them they kept it all the way real about what it's like being a professional on the women's side. Everything about it ain't (yes I know AIN'T isn't a word) pretty but well worth it if you have a passion for what you do!....I guess you could say I have some decisions to make.

Now stay with me here cause this last part is where it really gets good!!! I've often wondered why I cant just live a normal life and why I seem to always end up in crazy or "unique" situations. Lol....But I've learned that average and normal lives are for average and normal people and that just isn't me.....But anyway, so while I was out in Dallas my father came a few days before the combine to support me. He told me he was going to be staying with someone he knew out there named Mike (Oh the irony because my father's name is Mike for those who didn't know that), now if you know my dad you know he always has random friends or people in his life that he never really talks about. So fast forward to the day the convention ended and my dad was picking me up to go and stay with him and this "someone" named Mike. I had never met him before so you could imagine my face as they were picking me up. We went and grabbed some lunch and as we were sitting down talking I find out the guy I'm sitting across from happens to my uncle....YES you heard correctly...MY UNCLE A.K.A. My dad's brother.....Now why I never knew this is just as strange to me as it is to those of you reading this. When I'm hearing this information you can imagine the disbelief on my face. I look at my dad like "WOW!! No way you knew this and didn't ever bother to mention it." Well apparently this information was relatively new for everyone so I guess this made it a little better to be somewhat out of the loop. And of course my pops was full of excuses about why he waited a while to reveal this information to me, but I'm just glad I happened to be in the right place at the right time! What are the odds of me flying out to Dallas for the women's final four and meeting my uncle and ultimately discovering that I have other members of my family that I've never met living right up the street from my home in Charlotte!!! 

I'm a very family oriented person so although this information came as a shock to me, I was excited to develop a new relationship with this new found family member. And how funny is it that both of their names are MIKE?!?! Haha crazy right? Now I'm sure you all have a ton questions about this "family mystery" as I like to call it but I'll spare the details because yall really dont need to know all that, plus I'm still figuring this whole thing out myself. Lol. But needless to say my time in Dallas was well worth it and extremely beneficial. Its funny how God will place you in uncomfortable situations to help grow you and better you. How you might ask?! During the convention I was by myself so I was forced outside of my comfort zone to meet and mingle with complete strangers, I took the next step in my career all on a leap of faith by completing a ProHoops Combine with players who competed at a higher level than I did, & I opened up to a complete stranger (who happens to be my uncle) and even staying in his home which I'm pretty glad I did, he doesn't seem to be half bad. He showed up to my combine to support, his wife was extremely nice, and we were even able to share a couple laughs and talk about things we had in common. I obviously had NO IDEA that all this would happen during my trip. I kind of understand what they mean when they say "expect the unexpected." As I was on the plane headed back to NC, I realized I was coming back with more knowledge, more insight on life but still many unanswered questions. I still don't have it all figured and I can't tell you where I'll be a year from now but I'm trying my best to pray more and worry less. One thing that really stuck with me during my trip and experiences in Dallas is "What is for you, will NOT pass you."

....Oh and honestly, everything really is bigger in Texas!! I'll definitely be back!!!

Thank You Dallas!

-EBHoops #2

March Madness Woes

"8 warning signs that your team is about to suffer a crippling NCAA tournament loss"

Check out the link below that gives you 8 warning signs that an NCAA March Madness upset is on its way!!

http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2017/3/15/14858312/march-madness-2017-ncaa-tournament-loss-warning-signs

Championship Road.....RING ME!

CHAMPIONSHIP ROAD!!!....RING ME! 💍💍💍
My Journey, My Way!

In 2012, after my High School graduation, about 2 days later I was headed off to Birmingham, AL where I attended UAB on a full basketball scholarship. I was 6.5 hours away from my hometown of Charlotte, NC with an hour time difference. WHY? You might ask?...Well I guess you could say in that moment I felt like I was doing the "right thing." UAB offered me my very first scholarship. It was like being in gym class and the person that always picked you to be on their team will always have your loyalty. They saw my potential and recognized my talent before anyone else did. That really meant a lot to me and held a very special place in my heart.

I started to develop a very personal and intimate relationship with the UAB coaching staff. I'm sure they were pretty confident that's where I would spend my college career, and in the back of my mind so was I. But of course soon after my first offer, many other schools began to follow suit. Its still so funny to me that after one person wants you, everyone else seems to hop on the bandwagon, It's like being in a committed relationship and then all of a sudden people want to start recognizing your greatness when its too late. Lol!!...Mike Jones said it best "back then they didn't want me, now I'm hot, they all on me!"

I know some of you are thinking so how did ELON get into the equation?? Well, Elon was actually one of the very last schools to recruit me. I remember back in high school at one of my games, Coach Sylvia Hatchell and Charlotte Smith sat behind our bench (I had other teammates going division 1, they weren't recruiting me lol). Exciting right? Yeah well ya know every kid has that dream school and UNC was definitely mine. I grew up going to Carolina games and admiring a fellow undersized PG, Ivory Latta. I told my parents if she could make it so could I. But back to my point, sometime after this game it was all in the media that assistant UNC Coach Charlotte Smith had accepted a position as the Elon women's basketball Head Coach. Once she took the position she immediately reached out to me in hopes of adding me to her program. I was honored that she even remembered watching me play!

Being a UNC fan I was already fully aware of her legacy and all the things she had accomplished. I will also never forget how personal Coach Smith was during the recruiting process. I have a handwritten letter from her still on my refrigerator at home, its a constant reminder of why I took the time to learn more about Elon... A few weeks before I started my official visits, I attended a camp at Elon and toured the school. My mom absolutely LOVED it!..I was impressed but my mom seemed to be in awe. Especially because it was only about an hour and 30 minutes from home.

Before I left camp I promised Elon I would take an official visit before I committed anywhere (which I soon learned to NEVER make promises you cant keep). My first visit was UAB, and before I left that is where I committed myself to being for the next 4 years. I guess you could say in the back of my mind I felt as if my decision was a little hasty and rash, I was a little unsure of myself but UAB showed so much loyalty it was almost as if I felt liked I owed them something. I learned in this situation that showing loyalty to yourself first is what's important.

After my freshmen year at UAB I transferred to Elon. My situation was a little unique I guess you could say. Most student-athletes transfer because of playing time. Well that wasn't the case at all! I was even fortunate enough to earn a starting spot as a freshmen. I just never really felt like I was where I was supposed to be. I was genuinely unhappy and many nights I cried myself to sleep. My freshmen year was filled with trials and tribulations on and off the court. I felt the guilt of not being close to home and not being able to spend time with my grandfather before he passed away, I wasn't able to comfort my grandma and be there for her while she battled breast cancer, I had just ended a relationship with my high school sweetheart, and I somehow could not stay out of trouble and even found myself being suspended from a few games. I guess you could say I lost myself during this time. I didn't understand why God was putting me through this, but I realize now it was all preparation to set me up for something greater.

 Fast forward to 5 years later, I'm a 2017 CAA Champion and will soon have 2 degrees from an amazing institution. Transferring to Elon had to be one of the greatest decisions of my collegiate career. I've now learned to appreciate the journey and I understand that the road to success is not an easy one and you'll have to go through many obstacles to become GREAT! I had to learn to always trust in God's plan for my life. The amount of opportunities that this institution has provided for me has been amazing! I've traveled across the country, met life long friends, and created memories that will last a lifetime. Not only am I a Champion on the court, but I am a Champion in LIFE!....Yung Ess for the Win!

-EBHoops #2

Who Said Size Matters? HEART over HEIGHT

Below is the link for a blog post about college basketball's leading scoring who is only 5'9.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2017/2/24/14573010/marcus-keene-scoring-central-michigan-records

Italy

This past Summer, the women's basketball team was fortunate enough to be able to study abroad in Italy while also competing in games against pro teams throughout different parts of Italy. This blog post is a reflection of my experiences and some things that i learned while partaking in this trip. 

When I first found out about our opportunity to study abroad in Italy for 10 days, I was filled with an array of emotions. Although this would be my second time traveling out of the country, I felt this trip would be more significant because I am of age to understand the value of such a great opportunity. Being able to learn and share experiences of a different culture from that of my own gave me a different perspective. I know that this opportunity is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. Some of the things I’ve taken away from this experience that will have a long lasting impact are; the importance of having people in your life to care for and look out for you, really understanding what it means to be grateful for the life you live, and the importance of effective communication with other languages.

The JFK airport experience is the event that really made me reflect on the importance of family and looking out and caring for others. Before we even made it to our destination, while waiting for our flight there was an alleged gunman within our terminal. Although it was a false alarm, in the midst of everything happening it was one of the most frightening moments of my life. But in the midst of the madness there was a genuine concern for one another. We are all truly blessed that the situation was not worse than it actually was. But I’m also thankful to go through something like that with that particular group of people. In life I think we often take for granted the importance of family. 

For example, when one of my teammates was away from the group for an extended period of time, imagine if she had been in that situation and had no one to call. It is just essential to surround yourself with people who really care about you and your well-being. Finding out who you can count on is often tested during a time of duress. I think the JFK event made us stronger as a team and created a higher level of trust for one another which will ultimately help us throughout our season. Coming together the next day to discuss what happened in the previous night was really special. Being able to have a safe space where everyone could express their thoughts and feelings was also something that helped us grow together. The sincerity and raw emotions that everyone felt was something no one can ever take away from us and I think we as a group are forever bonded by that. Although it is something I would not want to go through again, I do believe everything happens for a reason and that we were in the right place at the right time.

Growing up, my parents always stressed to me the idea of being grateful and appreciative for the things you have and the life you live. As a kid I don’t think I ever fully understood what they meant by that. As I got older I started to understand them a little better based on experiences in my life. After this study abroad trip I’ve become more aware of what that means, I’ve almost finally understood that statement in its entirety. This trip made me really grateful for the simple things I’m afforded in the US. For example, every gym we played in had no air conditioning. Growing up in America as an athlete that’s just something you kind of expect to have in gyms that you play in. Whereas in Italy, it seemed to be the complete opposite. 

Some of the other things I’ve become more appreciative of are cold water, having easy access to ice, and not having to pay to use the restroom. This was yet another thing that I would not think twice about if I were in the U.S. It is just automatically assumed that something as simple as a public restroom is free. Until you see another side of how others live, you tend to believe that it would be pretty similar to your own life. Once you are able to see another side it makes you cherish every detail of your own life and your own culture. Even down to wearing clean clothes and deodorant, I’ve learned to appreciate having access to those items. But not only did I gain appreciation for my own life and culture but I also gained respect and understanding for another way of living.

The last major impact that this study abroad trip had on me was understanding the depths of effective communication. Going into the trip I knew that the language barrier would be one of the hardest things to deal with while in Italy. I experienced some difficulties ordering food and trying to purchase items while gift shopping. These experiences created frustration from me as well as the people working at the establishments. Another example of communication presenting challenges was at our hotel in Como. About 5 of my teammates got stuck on the elevator and our tour guide Elena was not around at the time. I tried my best to communicate what was going on to the hotel staff but obviously it was extremely difficult because neither side was fluent in the other’s language. The situation escalated quickly and the maintenance guy began to raise his voice and became panicked which also made my teammates panic on the inside of the elevator. Elena finally arrives but there was still some tension as her and the maintenance staff were conversing in loud voices. 

We eventually got them out of the elevator but I do think the situation could’ve been resolved quicker if there was some way to communicate more effectively. This is one area I wish I would have committed myself to a little more during the classes. Although we reviewed phrases and words in Italian, I think if I would’ve made a little more effort to expound on that outside of class it could’ve had a positive effect on my trip. Something that I also think would’ve helped was carrying the booklet that we received with phrases in it into restaurants and stores with me. Needless to say, I think it is important to make an effort to try and understand different languages or at least be familiar with basic phrases. Because I noticed that other countries are often way more familiar with the English language than we are as Americans with other languages.

Overall, I would say this trip was amazing while also creating a broader lens of the world for myself. I had a lot of takeaways that I think will ultimately have a positive impact on me for the rest of my life. I would encourage that everyone experiences a different country from their own at least once in their life. It is something that is unmatched and it just gives you an overall different perspective on life and the world. It’s way bigger than the U.S. and definitely way bigger than myself.

Ciao!

-EbHoops

Dear Candice

Here's a link to a blog post about a controversial topic about comments made from a former WNBA player and her experience while playing professionally.

http://www.imaniboyette.com/dear-candice/

PLAY4VAN: Cancer Sucks

For any of my blog readers that might not know me personally, I'll give you a brief introduction.

My name is Essence Baucom and I am a senior (boy does the time fly!!) at Elon University and I am also a member of the women's basketball team. I started this blog as a class project but to also discuss topics involving something I'm VERY passionate about....BASKETBALL!! I've been playing this game since I was about 5 years old and it has impacted my life in so many ways. 

So for my first post, because we are in the month of February, which in women's college basketball is very significant because its the month where we recognize victims of breast cancer in the "Play4Kay" games. These games are always very special to me because I have a personal connection with a breast cancer survivor who happens to be my grandmother. The Play4Kay games always remind me that the game of basketball is so much bigger than myself. I thank God every day that she still has the opportunity to come & cheer me on. I'll never forget the feeling when I heard she had breast cancer! But because God has his hands on her, she's still here! She is the true definition of strength & with the help of God, she was able to defeat cancer! Basketball is more than just a game & my grandma has always taught me to never take it for granted & I know there is no way possible I could play this game the same way without seeing her smiling face in the stands! She keeps me going & will forever be motivation and a driving force behind everything I do. When these type of situations occur you never really consider the idea that it could effect you or someone you love. As a college basketball player the month of February is very personal for me & I'm proud that this platform is used to continue to raise awareness for this disease as well as raise money in hopes of finding a cure and helping those who are battling with sickness everyday! I'm proud to be able to say that every time I lace up and step foot on the court, I Play4Van. 

-EbHoops