What's your WHY?

Some journeys are loud. Others are built quietly, rep by rep, season by season. Landen O’Neal Malone’s  path has been defined by discipline, resilience, and a steady commitment to growth, shaped long before the lights ever came on. Raised in Harvest Growing up in Harvest, Alabama , Landen was surrounded by community. The connections, culture, and people he was raised around helped mold not just the player he is today but the person. That foundation mattered, especially early.

Some players are loud with their confidence. Others build it quietly, watching, learning, praying, and working while the world sleeps. Kamden Plummer  is the latter. Built in Huntsville Growing up in Huntsville, Alabama , Kamden was surrounded by sports, competition, and constant comparison. That environment toughened him mentally early. Around athletes and pressure, he learned how to observe first and respond later, never rushing the process. Introduced to the Game Basketbal

Some players grow into the game. Others are born with it in their hands. For DeMarius Williams , basketball has never been something he picked up . It’s something that’s always been a part of him. Rooted in Madison & Monrovia Growing up in Madison/Monrovia, Alabama , DeMarius was surrounded by family, structure, and faith. From the very beginning, his environment reinforced discipline, humility, and belief, values that now define his game and his character. Before he could fu

Some players chase attention. Others chase standards. Blake Bell  is chasing the 1% , the level where discipline, mindset, and faith separate good from great. Built in Huntsville Growing up in Huntsville , Blake was surrounded by elite talent early. Being around some of the best players in the area sharpened his edge and raised his expectations. Basketball entered his life at five years old, almost by chance, when neighbors were getting rid of a hoop. What started as curiosit

Elite players are not born in comfort. They are shaped in places where nothing is given, standards are earned, and preparation is non-negotiable. For Levi Manson , that foundation was built in a small, tight-knit community called Fairton , a place that demanded accountability before it ever offered opportunity. “Nothing was handed to you,” Levi says. “It taught me grit, accountability, and how to stay grounded no matter how big the stage gets.” That grounding has followed him

Some athletes lead with words. Others lead with volume. Ethan Hauser, better known as “Night-Train” , leads with presence . From the way he prepares, to the way he competes, to the energy he brings into every room, Ethan is the type of athlete teammates trust and opponents feel. He plays with confidence, edge, and joy, never separating faith from effort. Energy You Can Feel Ask Ethan’s teammates to describe him, and the response is consistent: a leader, high-energy, fun to be

For J ayden Nesbitt , the journey has never been about shortcuts. Growing up in Huntsville, Alabama , he learned early that nothing is handed to you, you earn where you want to go. “Being here showed me that you have to work to get what you want,” Jayden says. That lesson has become the foundation of how he approaches basketball, life, and every opportunity placed in front of him. Finding the Game Jayden started playing basketball at eight years old , initially because his fr

For Isaiah Cleaves , basketball has never been something he picked up . It ’s something that’s always been with him . From the time he was three years old , Isaiah had a ball in his hands, dribbling, shooting, learning the rhythm of the game while watching his father work out athletes around him. That early exposure planted more than skill. It planted belief. “I’ve had a basketball in my hands ever since,” he says. Built in Madison Growing up in Madison, Alabama , Isaiah bene

Some athletes are driven by the spotlight. Others are driven by purpose. Dillon Nixon  is the type of player who understands that competition isn’t just about winning games, it’s about building character, creating connections, and preparing for life beyond the court. From Lawrenceville, Georgia , Dillon’s basketball journey began early. At just six years old , he found himself watching his older brother play, absorbing the game long before he ever understood what it could bec

For Carmelo Williams , basketball wasn’t something he discovered later in life. It was woven into his upbringing, learned early, felt deeply, and shaped by the environment around him. Growing up in Buford , Carmelo learned quickly how life can accelerate maturity. “The people on my street made me grow up fast,” he says. “That’s where I really fell in love with basketball.” In a place where time moved quickly and expectations came early; the game became both an outlet and a fo

For Ethan Okhari Whorton , basketball began not with trophies or expectations, but with family and a challenge he refused to back down from. Growing up in Triana, Alabama , Ethan’s earliest basketball memories weren’t about winning. They were about competing in the driveway and gym with his Paw Paw Fred , who made sure to never take it easy on him. “He would always beat me,” Ethan says. “That pushed me. I wanted to get better so one day I could beat him.” That competitive spa

Some athletes grow up rooted in one place. Others are shaped by movement, transition, and learning how to adapt before they ever step onto a court. For Sloan Williams , that early exposure to change became one of her greatest strengths. From a young age, Sloan learned how to adjust, how to observe, and how to stay grounded when life felt unfamiliar. Those experiences didn’t just shape her perspective, they shaped her discipline, her poise, and the way she approaches both comp

Some athletes are driven by attention. Others are driven by something much deeper. For J axston Brown , football is more than a game—it’s a responsibility, a tribute, and a daily commitment to growth. Growing up in Florida , Jaxston was immersed in one of the most competitive football environments in the country. That atmosphere didn’t intimidate him, it sharpened him. From an early age, he fell in love with competition, learning quickly that toughness isn’t given; it’s earne

Some athletes are driven by talent. Others are driven by intention. Harrison Lockett  is the type of player who understands that growth doesn’t happen by accident—it happens through consistency, faith, and an unwavering commitment to getting better every single day. Growing up in Huntsville, Alabama , Harrison was shaped not just by the basketball culture around him, but by his faith and the people he chose to surround himself with. Huntsville helped ground him spiritually an

Some athletes grow up chasing attention. Others grow up learning that if you don’t outwork everyone around you, you get left behind. Jacob Parks  was raised in the latter environment, and it shows in every part of his game. From Huntsville, Alabama , Jacob learned early that effort isn’t optional. “Huntsville is full of hardworking people,” he says. “You either outwork everyone around you, or you get left behind quickly. There is not a in between.” That mindset has shaped not

Some athletes grow up with a ball in their hand from the time they can walk. Others find the game later, discovering their purpose along the journey. For Peachtree Ridge safety Sojourn Parker , football didn’t start as a lifelong plan. It started as curiosity, then passion, then a calling. Growing up in an area where athletics are woven into the culture, Sojourn was always surrounded by competition. Whether it was basketball, soccer, or football, sports were a natural part o

Norfolk State University Commit | Full Athletic Scholarship Some athletes chase opportunity. Others prepare themselves so thoroughly that opportunity has no choice but to find them. Elise McClain  is firmly in the second category. From Huntsville, Alabama , Elise’s journey has been shaped by discipline, resilience, and a deep-rooted pride in where she comes from. The city taught her how to work, how to stay humble, and how to remain coachable, values that now travel with her

“I Beat the Odds” BTO Li Ja represents Auburn, Alabama, but his story stretches far beyond city limits. Raised between Auburn and Tuskegee, Alabama, Li Ja grew up in housing authority projects surrounded by environments designed to break, not build. Pain, struggle, and instability were part of everyday life but so was resilience. Those early trials didn’t just shape his story; they shaped the man he would become. “I’ve struggled just about all my life,” he says. “And I would

Some athletes fall into their sport. Others are shaped by it from the very beginning. For Corban Johnson , basketball has been part of his life for as long as he can remember and it all started with a mini hoop, Kobe Bryant highlights, and a belief planted early that hard work would always matter. Raised between Eufaula, Alabama, and Columbus, Georgia , Corban grew up learning the value of family and effort. Those environments taught him to stay connected to the people close

Some athletes are born into opportunity. Others grow up learning how to value every inch of progress because nothing was handed to them. Paul “PJ” Cooper  is firmly rooted in the second group. Born in Youngstown, Ohio , PJ’s early life was shaped by sacrifice, humility, and resilience. Living with his cousins, uncle, mother, and sister, resources were limited—but perspective was rich. “We didn’t grow up with a lot,” PJ says, “and it made me appreciate the small things and whe