Name: Tommy Spaletto

Grade: Sophomore

Position: Power Forward

How long have you been playing basketball?

“I’ve been playing basketball since 4th grade. I started out playing playing recreational, but 7th grade is when I wanted to play competitively by trying out for an AAU team. That’s also when I decided I wanted to play in high school.”

Who has influenced you positively in your athletic career?

“My dad, he’s always there to motivate me before a big game and pick me up when I have a bad game. Even when I don’t play great or my team loses, he always points out the positive and I’m very thankful for that.”

What is your favorite part about playing basketball? Why do you play?

“I love to play basketball for the energy aspect. The passion of a player, whether it be a game or practice, can make or break how the coach looks at that player. If a player doesn’t really try and just goes through the motions every practice, the coach will most likely not start them unless they have an insane amount of talent. That’s why I try to give everything anytime, anywhere.”

Do you play for any AAU teams? If so, where?

“I played for two AAU teams in California. One was called ASA Prime, and that’s where I was really convinced that I needed to commit to basketball and the coaches pushed the players to play at their full potential. The other was called One on One and it was really great to play in a tournament with all my friends one last time before I moved to Michigan. I will play AAU over the spring.”

What is your favorite basketball memory?

“My favorite basketball memory was in our AAU tournament in Reno last May. Our team was down [by] 18 heading into the final quarter, and everyone on our team stepped up to win the game by two and advance to the next round. The best moment of that game was when I hit a free throw to take the lead. I missed the second one, but I got the rebound as time expired and we won the game. I was really proud of our team and how we fought through adversity to get a huge win.”

What, if any, are your future plans with basketball?

“I would love to play varsity basketball for FHC. I would say I want to play in college, but I realize that is extremely rare and it would take a lot of dedication from myself. I am just focused on my sophomore year for now, but when the season ends, I will be working my hardest to fight for a varsity spot next year.”

What is an inspirational quote that you go by?

“Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” – Kevin Durant