Any athlete who has a love for the game knows it’s not just a sport; it’s a lifestyle. Most learn at an early age that they are meant to play a certain sport.

For me, it was basketball.

Since I was small I’ve loved the game of basketball. I remember going to summer camps and spending hours of my day outside on the black top shooting until the darkness took the day away. That didn’t even stop me sometimes. I’d even run up and down the driveway by myself to stay in shape. Even then I knew it was more than a game.

Then came high school and that’s when I realized just how much I loved it. I learned that not only was it a sport, but it was an escape from reality. The gym was the one place I could go and forget about everything else. On game days, most of the time I was always the first one on the court shooting and the last one off. I’d just put my earphones on, zone out the rest of the world, and shoot for as long as I could. Not only was it an escape, basketball became my second family. As a team, you develop a bond like no other. The team wasn’t just there as teammates either. If you had a problem, the team had your back and would help you through it. We brought out the best and worst in each other on and off the court that helped us in the long run. It taught us to work for what we wanted. There were only five starting positions, so you had to earn your spot. This type of competition could drive a team apart, but for us it made us stronger. We pushed each other to be the very best each one of us could be. At the end of the day, I always knew my teammates would be there for me. I never understood how some people wouldn’t want to be a part of something so special.

I think one of the main things I miss about it is the game-day atmosphere. There’s nothing like it. The long bus rides or weekly rituals in the locker room when you have a home game. The sound of numerous basketballs bouncing as each team warms up. The way the net makes that swish noise when you make a shot that goes perfectly in. This is what I lived for. I was always pretty shy, but I loved running out of that locker room, between the cheerleaders, onto the court in front of all the cheering fans. It gave me a rush like no other. It felt good to know that I was good at something and all these people were here to watch us play the game we loved.

For years, I couldn’t imagine my life without it. I never valued it in high school as much as I should have. People always told me my senior year to enjoy each game like it was my last because once it’s over there’s no going back, and this is the truth. I don’t miss high school, but if I could go back and play one last game I would in a heartbeat. Now that I’m in college, basketball isn’t the priority of my life anymore. Sure, I still play in the Ward three co-ed league, intramurals, and pick-up games, but that’s no comparison to the real thing. The competition isn’t like high school: there are no coaches, there are no hours of practice, there are no more suicides, there is no weight room, and there is no conditioning. Now you just show up the day of your game and play.

To the day I die, I’ll always have a love for the game. Nothing could ever change that. Now as a former player I just have to improvise with the opportunities I have. So to those of you who are still playing high school or college ball, make it count. There will be a day when ball is no longer life for you, and when this day comes you want to make sure you have no regrets. Love the game you play. Wake up each day and be thankful for it. One day all you’ll have are the memories. The blood, sweat, and tears will fade away, but you’ll be okay with that. You lived, you played the sport you loved, and you cherished every moment of it.