Sophomore William Musgraves, or as he is more commonly known, Billy, reflects on his freshman season of basketball: his first year in high school athletics with new coaches and teammates. Billy loved the entire season but one moment sticks out. 

“My favorite moment in playing basketball was during freshman year,” Billy said. “We beat Byron Center in overtime, [which meant we won] conference.”

Throughout his long basketball career, Billy has experienced many wins and losses. He has also been affected by a lot of different people, one of those people being his dad.

Billy is incredibly close to his dad. His dad has taught him life lessons and is a figure Billy can look up to for inspiration and guidance. His dad has helped him set goals, plan his future, and impacted his favorite sport. 

“[A coach that helped me grow as a person and player would be] my dad, because he brought me into [basketball],” Billy said. “And, he also helps me out with many other things like academics and other sports, so I look up to him.”

 Billy has been playing basketball since kindergarten; he is a shooting guard even though his dad is trying to convince him to play the position of a point guard. Billy has pushed himself as well by setting goals and trying to improve. 

Billy does not only look at life through the lens of basketball and sports. He looks toward the people around him and allows them to influence and motivate him. 

“[My goal for basketball is] just to make the varsity team,” Billy said. “I don’t really want to play college basketball or have it as a career. I want to go into business. My dad is in the business field right now. It honestly seems pretty cool and I’m pretty interested in it.” 

Basketball runs in the family as Billy’s dad used to play basketball through high school, and his brother formerly played as well. Billy’s brother has also aided him in his journey with the sport. 

Billy has learned a few shooting tips from his brother, while his dad has helped him learn a more aggressive part of the sport: post moves and in-the-paint finishes. Billy is thankful for the help and support he has received from his older relatives but has also learned a lot from the new coaches he has now.

“When my dad was my coach, he was very laid back, and he let me do whatever I wanted,” Billy said. “But now, I have real coaches. It’s a lot more strict, but I think it’s helping me out a lot. Before coming into high school, I had no clue about  communicating on defense or how to create space on the floor without the ball. [I also learned about] providing shots for your teammates and not just yourself.” 

Billy does not confine his impressions only to his family. He goes and seeks other players and other ways to play basketball. Coaches and teammates have impacted him, and Billy’s favorite college-level player has affected him and the way he plays as well. 

 “I love Caleb Love who was on North Carolina,” Billy said. “The way he plays is super sweet to watch. He knows how to create space super well, which is what I try and use when I play basketball. [I also appreciate] how he picks his teammates back up.”

While Billy has many influences and thoughts off the court, when he is sprinting to stop a fast break, playing defense, or setting a pick, he finds his mind is blank; this allows him to act on his instinctual abilities and not overthink his decisions on the court. 

This may seem like a negative since it could interfere with his ability to make decisions on the court, but instead, it allows him to have a clear mind and act on his ingrained instinctual abilities on the court.

“I have this adrenaline rush [when I am playing],” Billy said. “And it gets me excited and then I really want to play. I don’t really feel stuff [once I start playing]–I don’t think at all.”