My Story

Basketball didn’t just give me a career; it saved my life, providing a sense of purpose and a family of teammates that defined who I am today. I have been blessed to reach the absolute peaks of this sport; winning two Illinois state championships, competing in a March Madness Final Four, and ultimately realizing my lifelong dream of playing in the NBA. Yet, my path was anything but linear.

After my fourth surgery—my second in just three years—I found myself at a crushing crossroads, feeling all the weight and "failure" that comes when a dream collapses. In that moment, I realized I had spent my entire life holding my joy hostage, only allowing it to surface when I achieved something extraordinary. I knew that way of thinking was no longer sustainable.

I had to make a conscious choice to stop waiting for the next achievement to feel "enough" and instead find fulfillment in everything in between. For me, that was focusing on the small wins. The time spent with loved ones and the chance to pour back into the community that raised me. I discovered that my story isn't only worth sharing because of the highs I experienced. It is equally worth sharing because of the lows I bounced back from and the realization that joy isn’t a destination you reach, but a perspective you choose to carry through every phase of the journey.

That is where Joy in the Journey was born.