Like many girls, my goal as a young child was simple — I wanted to be a cheerleader. 

Wave the pom-poms, master the chants, and will my team to victory. 

That was exactly what I wanted to do.

My dad, however, being a former college basketball player, had different plans for me. 

And so, he made me a deal.

Play basketball for two years, and then, and only then, could cheerleading be pursued. 

It was a deal.

Dad knows best

Around the age of 10, I picked up a basketball for the first time to honor the terms of our agreement.

Honestly, I was not much of a fan. 

I was in unfamiliar territory, experiencing a sport that was incredibly unknown to me, and just longed for the day that I could finally give cheerleading a try. 

A deal was a deal, though, and I knew that I needed to give this sport a valiant effort if my dad was ever going to let me try cheerleading in the future. 

Well, as the saying goes, dad always knows best. 

The more I played, the more I enjoyed it.   

In fact, I completely fell in love with the game of basketball. 

I started playing pick-up and organized games at the local YMCA, primarily with boys my age. 

Much to my surprise, I was not only holding my own, but in many aspects, I was outperforming a lot of them.   

I learned to compete with incredible grit, aggression, and mental toughness. For lack of a better term, I grew to be downright mean while competing on the court.

By the time I reached middle school, I felt strongly that this was a sport that could guide my future endeavors. I began pouring my heart and soul into the game.

My dad and I trained together. He pushed me to my limits and coached me harder than I had ever been coached before. 

Despite my teenage attitude at the time, I could not be more grateful for the level of dedication that he showed me. 

He taught me to play this game that I love and in the process, developed an inseparable bond between the two of us that brought us closer than ever before. 

Dad really does know best.

A transformation

With my dad to thank, by my late middle school years, I was ready to take my game to the next level. I began traveling and playing AAU basketball with the West Virginia Thunder.

If I thought I loved the game beforehand, I was now sure of it. 

Taking my game to this level of competition not only helped enhance my fundamental skills, but my understanding of the game increased substantially.

On-the-court decisions became instinctive. I knew when to pass, shoot, or dribble attack. 

Defensively, I could anticipate passes, read the eyes of the offensive player, and place myself in better help-side positions to assist my teammates.

I developed a style of play that was incredibly fast-paced and knew when to push the ball in transition. As a point guard, I began developing as a strong leader of my team, both on and off the court. 

In playing with this incredible organization, I not only enhanced my development as a player but also started to gain a solid amount of exposure. 

In fact, by the end of my eighth-grade year, I received my first official offer to play college basketball. 

It wasn’t until the summer of my junior year of high school that I felt ready to make that commitment, however. 

Of all of the campus visits, conversations with coaches, and trips across the country, there really only ever was one place that felt like home. 

Kent State University.  

A change of pace

While I always knew in my heart that Kent State was the perfect fit for me, that does not mean that this transition to college basketball has been seamless. 

I remember when I stepped onto campus and began practicing with my new team for the very first time. My mind was cluttered with all new plays, schemes, and styles of play. 

Even for a player who has always loved to play the game at a fast pace, the game felt incredibly sped up. I was worried at first that I would not be able to catch up.

A game that always felt so familiar to me was now kind of unfamiliar.

I had to remind myself that this was what I had spent my entire life training for — I played AAU ball with — and against — some of the best players in the country. 

One drill, one practice, and one scrimmage at a time were all that I needed to focus on. Upon making that mental adjustment, the game slowed down immensely for me, and I began to settle into this new role as a point guard at Kent State. 

And now, at the beginning of my second semester of college, I'm incredibly proud of the progress that I have made, both on and off the court. 

I am surrounded by incredible teammates who challenge, mentor, and encourage me in more ways than I could have ever dreamed of.   

I long to continue to build on the foundation that I have created here at Kent State and continue to develop into the best player and leader that I can be for this team. 

While the future is largely unknown to me at this time, I know that one thing is for certain, basketball will most definitely be involved. 

This unexpected journey is far from over, in fact, it is just beginning. 

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