I learned early that somebody else's opinion did not have to become my future.
I spent most of my childhood in rural Oklahoma, in the Liberty Mounds community after my family moved out of Tulsa. My parents worked hard, built businesses, served people, and taught my sister and me about faith, character, perseverance, and responsibility.
There were also people along the way who did not see much potential in me. I was told I would never go to college, never play college basketball, never become a great shooter because of my size, and never coach college basketball. Those words hurt, but over time they became fuel.
I believed there had to be a way forward. I kept working, kept learning, and kept looking for solutions. Basketball became one of the places where I learned that consistent work, good teaching, faith, and persistence can change what seems possible.
I eventually played college basketball, became a high-percentage shooter, earned three college degrees, coached at the NCAA and NAIA levels, served as a college head coach, and continued building camps and teaching players.
