Sports

🏀As long as you got your hands on the ball, keep playing 🏀

By Natalie Lint & Na’ziia Swingler 

Oct. 31, 2023

We walked throughout the school asking several basketball players various basketball-related questions.  We asked Keiden Wells, Jamerius  Walker, Casey Breeden, Isaiah Tony, and Nay’shawn Mickens. 

First, we chatted about how they became interested in basketball. Walker, Breeden, and Tony state that they took interest because of friends and family. As per Keiden Wells, he saya he was “born one day, my dad said to get up and get out of the house.” So he “strolled” down the street to the YMCA and started “shooting hoops.”  We then talked about each person's level of experience… Wells and Walker mention that they only have a couple months, Breeden and Mickens presume that they have more than 5 years of involvement in basketball. 

Next, we wanted to know what area they feel as if they have improved the most. Wells, Walker, and Tony declare they have improved on shooting. Breeden says free throws and Mickens announced  passing was his greatest improvement. Then we requested to know what drew them to play basketball over other sports? Wells gives no background information and just says “football”, Walker and Mickens discuss that they simply just like it. Tony mentions because it’s “easy”. And Casey Breeden (mid interview) decided to say he wasn’t playing basketball this year, he just wanted to get interviewed. 

This next one is probably a fan favorite. We then requested that if they could play with any basketball player alive or dead, 1v1, who would they pick?  Wells says Kyire Irving, Walker says Giannis Antetokounmpo, Breeden says Labron James, Mickens says Derrick Rose and, Tony says Kobe Bryant. The next question was lame…we asked if they had any other hobbies outside of sports and they all stated no.

We asked if there was a coach or athlete that they look up to as a role model. All state Coach Spears, except for Breeden…he says family. The last question was what do you look for in a great coach? Wells, Walker and Tony say discipline and respect. Breeden says “someone that pushes you”. And last but not least Mickens says someone who “knows how to run plays”.

This article was written by journalism students at Waynesboro High School.