Hey Hooper,
I know the grind isn’t easy. There will be days when the shots don’t fall, when the losses hurt, and when you feel like people are underestimating you. But here’s what I’ve learned—every challenge is just an opportunity to grow.
Handling Setbacks, Losses, and Being Underestimated.
“When I experience setbacks on the court, like my shots not falling, I remind myself that it’s just challenges that I can work through. When I think I’m being underestimated, I focus on putting in the time working on my game on my own and strengthening my body in the weight room. I work on improving my basketball IQ by working with trainers and watching film. I use journaling every night as a way of handling stress and expectations. I try to remember to have a positive mindset to help me handle a tough practice or after losing a game.”
PG / 5’6′ / 2026 / @gabmittelman30
The Daily Grind Matters
“When it comes to working towards a goal or a specific accolade, instead of focusing on the goal itself, I focus on the journey of putting in the time and work on my game. The time I spend alone in the gym will reflect the results I will receive playing in a competitive game. For me, that means after a 2-hour practice getting up extra shots or going to the weight room when no one else wants to go with me.”
Sacrifices make you stronger
“I believe that life is all about sacrifices. I believe that the sacrifices I have made for the game of basketball, like attending a high school outside of my school district, allowed me to grow as a person and basketball player. This challenge forced me to make new friends and new teammates. While my high school basketball journey started off with a losing record, I embraced the opportunity to compete against the best basketball players in my area. Now, two years later, the team was ranked as high as 14th in the state. I’m focused on the work, and believe that positive results will follow.”
Make every moment count
“It’s common among young athletes, myself included, to get caught up in what happened in the past and expectations about the future. I’ve been working on focusing my mind on the present and making every moment count on and off the court to enjoy my high school basketball journey.”
So, no matter where you are in your journey, embrace it. Keep working, stay locked in, and trust that the time you put in will pay off.
You got this!
Gabriella