How to Separate Yourself from the Rest

Whether you are trying to make your local high school team, get a scholarship to play in college, or make it as a pro, you have to understand what it takes to get noticed. How to be different, stand out, how to separate yourself from the rest. Basketball, like life, is about being courageous enough to go after all the intangibles, never taking a moment for granted, and being ready for all your opportunities. There is always something to improve on, whether it be shooting, rebounding, defense, or knowledge of the game. As you learn, there should always remain one constant: your effort. Part of becoming a more experienced player is understanding where to give your effort. Basketball is an extremely unique game that requires each player to play offense and defense, full sprinting, misdirections, change of pace, and precision, are just some of the aspects of the game. It requires you to be the best individual you can be, while molding that into a team effort, able to help your team in the best possible way to win as a whole. 

Building a team requires the coach or manager to find players that fit well with one another. There are so many different aspects of recruiting that play a role in who gets what job and why. One important thing to realize is that the world is small, and there is little left for the imagination, as information rules the world. While having potential is a big upside, access to so much information makes recruiting less about hype and more about real information. I know, as a pro, that when a team is interested in me, they have probably seen me play live or I’ve competed against them in previous seasons. They have watched film on me, and they have basketball subscriptions that break me down as a player, analytically. There is also heavy regard for reputation, not just hypothetical, but actual word-o- mouth and background checks. Potential new coaches call my old coaches, teammates, and even people I have been associated with in order to fully assess me as a player. So, why is this all so important? 

Lebron James was the No. 1 high school prospect and shortly after graduation signed a $90 million endorsement deal with Nike, before even setting foot on the court as a pro. This is one way to go, and I highly recommend this way to anyone with his similar skillset and God-given abilities. For the rest of us, it’s not so easy. Being a guard, like me, it’s twice as difficult, as I don’t stand out with a 6’9’’ frame or a long wingspan to impress scouts. There are so many players around the world that are working hard to make it as a basketball player, on so many levels. Be humble in knowing that things won’t be handed to you and that other people are after the same thing you are. Don’t stress, or worry about what you can’t control. Sometimes it’s good to be the underdog. 

For me, the first thing you have to do is enjoy the game. Basketball should always be something that makes you happy, in one form or another. Next, the key to separating yourself from the rest comes with living in the small things, the intangibles. 

First to practice, last to leave. Treat the coach, as well as the last player on the bench, with total respect. Be open to learning, especially when it comes to criticism towards improvement. Humble yourself by knowing that each day there is some way to improve and some way to learn if you’re open to expanding your game and your mind. There are always people with talent, but you can become valuable when you mix talent with character.

Dive on the floor. Want to impress a scout? Dive for a ball and land in their lap. Take a charge. Cheer from the bench when you’re not in the game. Fight for a rebound even if you’re the smallest one on the court. Work on ball handling drills even if your the tallest player on the team. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone, and you’ll be surprised at what you’re capable of. The key is: don’t do it for anyone else, do it for you. Do it for the daily satisfaction of becoming better. Value the work you do each day, by valuing your time, ultimately valuing yourself. 

Be someone that your coach not only wants on the team but needs on the team, in order for the group to be better and stronger. Be infectious with a desire to want more for yourself, ultimately raising the bar for the collective. There are so many athletes to choose from when it comes to being recruited or making it, at any level. You may be lucky enough to get a chance or to even have someone check-in and make a call to find out more about you. When someone calls, what will people say about you? What effect do you have on other people that will make them want to support you, or recommend you? Sometimes your chance is happening behind the scenes, and it’s your daily effort, attitude, and excelling in the small things that will create your opportunities. Your future begins today when you make an impact on everything you put your effort towards. 

While many people have God-given abilities, it is the courage of self-inspired positivity and purposeful action that shows your self-made abilities. This translates to so many parts of life. Your resume might make you someone that businesses “want,” but it’s the intangibles that make you someone businesses “need.”

It’s better to tell stories about your success and the opportunities that you created for yourself, instead of talking about the coach that didn’t like you, the people that don’t understand you, and the opportunities you thought should have been yours. Don’t be the victim to circumstance, and fight each day, just to get that foot in the door. Be yourself, while being flexible and open to new ideas, new cultures, and new people. If you do the intangibles, you’ll be ready for your moment. To capture the day.  

Daily application - What will you do today to stand out? How will you approach the day in order to show your courage, your effort, and your heart for improvement? Give your full effort today.