Ever since the age of three I have had one thing in my life beside family stay constant through my growth and development as a human being on this earth, my love for sports and my passion for basketball. I have had many coaches and even more teammates over the years all bringing with them, their own perspective and interpretations on how to play the sport I love. Like anything in life, certain things have their ups and downs and their good and bad; when you love something for so long it's hard to lose that connection. The bond with a son’s mother or a daughter’s father, whatever the circumstances is unbreakable. My bond with the sport that has given me so much at one stage in my life was just the same. I couldn't picture a life where I wasn't on a basketball court with my friends doing what I love.

My love and passion for this game allowed me to get to a point where I was good enough to be noticed by American colleges. I never really knew much about the whole idea until 6 months before my time to go on the journey of a life time came. I got recruited, with the help of coaches I had met over the years, to a school in the beautiful but crazy city of Los Angeles. Now a kid like me growing up could only dream about living in such a place. My excitement and terror was all a bit much for the month before I finally touched down in the big city. Walking out of LAX for the first time was something I will never forget. Not to mention this was only my second time out of the country, with my first experience being 33 days before that on a basketball tour. I was a newly turned 18 year old and had no clue what was waiting for me in this new city, new country and new continent.

My first day was a day that I will never forget, I could explain every detail on what I did during that day. It was July 10th and I touched down at 6:43am. As I got through customs I finally got to meet the first member of the coaching staff. He took me to a little restaurant named Dinah’s where I still remember looking at the menu and thinking “what the heck... Who puts chicken and waffles together?” I ordered a chocolate chip waffle and went on with the day. That was when I first saw the campus that was Loyola Marymount University (LMU). Obviously, being recruited by LMU was something I knew nothing about; the coaches the school and other variables you can think of, I knew nothing. After doing some research on the school and coaches it seemed like a good spot to be but once I got through those gates it was better than I had expected.  It is still one of the prettiest schools I've seen around the world (Australia, Spain, China and USA included).

My first year brought many new and exciting experiences. I got to travel to Spain and Hawaii and all the way up and down the west coast, but the basketball aspect was the most surprising.  All these guys I played with and against were bigger, faster and stronger than anything I was used to back home. Getting to learn how to cope with this new and exciting style was something very different for me. Nothing could ruin my first year of living in America no matter how bad our team performed or how financially difficult it was to enjoy the city to the fullest, my first year was great! The only negative, as many can attest to, is home sickness.

I was very naive to anything going on with me in school or basketball, I just wanted to do whatever I could to make the best impression I could. By the time the year was over it was easy to say that the team had a very less than successful year and a lot of people were unhappy. Many players graduated or left the team after my first season. After a whirlwind 10 months it was time to go home where I enjoyed seven weeks in Townsville which flew by way to quick… it was time to start my sophomore year.

College is quite different to home in terms of the academic side of their education system. Any college you go to there will be the philosophy of educating the whole person. What this means is even though you are a marketing major like me you will be taking health class or acting classes unrelated to your degree. These classes depending on what professor you get aren't too stressful to complete and do well in. My second year I started some of my major courses and this is where it got difficult.

The work load for a division one student athlete can be quite hectic. We would practice in the summer 3 times a day in the morning, afternoon and then come back later that night to shoot. Even with the increase in class work the coach expected similar work schedules for getting in the “gym” or court to get extra shots. Now it might sound daunting but it is very manageable. You learn to take quick naps and work while you are tired which is the best thing I learnt in my time at LMU.

The second year was on its way and the first day was like meeting a whole new team. We had 8 new guys and there was a lot of learning to do! In my freshman year classes were relatively easy to complete. The basketball season started and it was much like the last, a lot of losing a few good wins but overall not the season that you and your teammates have. Everyone wants to win and it's an extremely difficult thing to do! At the division 1 level a bad game is unacceptable because it can lead to a 30 beating by well-established teams like Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s and BYU. The best thing about playing in Division 1 was these teams had gyms better than the pro’s in Australia. Playing in front of 18,000 people at BYU was an incredible experience and one I will never forget. 

After this season I had gained a lot more experience on the court, I had played 15 minutes per contest and started 13 games, but the space in between my 2nd and 3rdyear was rough for me. I had come home for my, at this point typical 7 week holiday and something was off… I would have trouble sleeping and my will to go to the basketball court and work to get better in order to be able to make my mark even bigger on the team for next year, had died. My days were better off staying away from basketball for the most part. After my freshman season I practiced with the Townsville Heat QBL team and enjoyed every second of it. My second summer (or winter time in Australia) I didn't want to go! 

Thinking back to when I was a child I couldn't really imagine my life without basketball... and here I was contemplating if I still wanted to do this thing anymore. The only thing that fueled me was the friends and teammates I had to lean on. If these people weren't as good to me as they were, I may not be where I am now.

Now back in the US for the start of my 3rd year and it was time for me to put my best foot forward and, as bad as my thoughts about basketball at this time was, I was willing to give my best. We played a Chinese team and for the time I was in I played solid basketball. 2/3 from distance, 3/5 from the field and solid defense. That's when everything went downhill for me. We went to the locker room and there was a bit of a disagreement and it lead me to make the decision to leave LMU. Now I could not be more thankful for the opportunity that I was given but it just wasn't for me anymore. I felt like most of my closest friends on the team had graduated or left for multiple of reasons and I needed a change.

This started a new and first time experience of the recruiting process which is awesome, all these teams want you and tell you all these great things and feed you delicious meals by Hermosa and Manhattan Beach. I was recruited by 3 teams and decided to go with California State University San Marcos, a growing university in a northern county of San Diego, California. I chose this school for the location and the fact that I had a good relationship with a former LMU assistant who decided to coach elsewhere.

There's a huge difference between division 1 and division 2 basketball, for starters, the work load is nowhere near the same. Work hours per week consist of 8 in the off season and 20 hours during the season. It makes you more dependent on your work ethic to become the best player you can. In Division 1, the coach has a lot to do with how much you work out and D2 it's all on you. My first season at the new school is coming to an end and it has been a great change for me. I am shooting well, my defense and rebounding has improved and my confidence has been restored. And I'm finally looking forward to being on a basketball court everyday unlike days in the past. So if you're not happy with a situation there are plenty of schools and it's just about finding one that fits you.

I have rediscovered the passion to work hard again and my coach has been really good for me in giving me freedom on the court to let me develop my whole game, rather than just be strictly a shooter at the D1 level. I thought it was awesome to play division 1 basketball but it doesn't always live up to the hype if you aren't the top player on the team.

“We’re building a culture of accountability, trust, and togetherness. Entitlement will not be tolerated” – Brad Stevens

By Josh Spiers, Former Cannons junior and A Grade player.

 

MY COLLEGE STORY SO FAR

with Georgia Williams 

I began my collegiate career at California State University Los Angeles, a school right in the middle of LA. This seemed like an absolute perfect situation being in California and playing basketball in America. I’ve wanted to play college basketball since I was about 13 years old, especially since my cousin, Tegan Foord, went and played a year in California also. I absolutely loved everything about my life my freshman year, except for the basketball side of things. My coaches didn’t put academics at the same level of priority as basketball and as a female basketball player I have to make realistic decisions of where my life would take me. I love school just as much as basketball and I didn’t want to sacrifice that. It took me a couple of months to transition into the American style of play, but I eventually got there and really enjoyed being involved in a team where every single person worked so hard and loved the game as much as I do. Transferring was one of the hardest life decisions I’ve had to make but looking back now, I’m so glad I did.

I now play at Valley City State University in North Dakota. I chose this school because I believed the head coach and I had similar philosophies. It’s very different to the lifestyle I had in LA and Townsville, as it hits -30 degrees over winter time. Valley City is a little country town, but everyone is one big family.I am a pretty independent person, but I also miss my family a lot. My family is always so supportive of all my aspirations and I’m very lucky to have been given so many opportunities. Time has helped me adjust to homesickness, and facetime has also been a lifesaver!

Training – which is called “practice” in America, is by far the hardest I’ve ever had to work. Preseason is grueling. At VCSU we do what the coach calls “challenges” twice a week as well as general conditioning and lifting. These challenges consist of all sorts of physical activities, a lot of endurance cardio mostly. My coach believes if you’re not ready to puke, you’re not working hard enough. She gives you each a time that she expects you to make, and if you don’t make the time then you failed. She also has a rule we can’t put our hands on our knees to catch our breath as it shows the opposition weakness, and if we do crouch over, we just run more.

In season when we play games, we practice approximately 2-3 hours per day, 6 days a week with a couple hours of film sessions added somewhere. We also lift lighter weights up to three times a week, depending when games are scheduled. Obviously when we have games we don’t practice that day, and my coach is usually good about giving us the day off after a game. Season is quite a tough system to manage with your body so that you stay away from injuries, but we’re lucky enough to have trainers on hand at all times of the day whenever we need some type of treatment. Post season mainly just consists of weight lifting with scrimmages every couple of days. This is the time of the year where we try to build our muscle back up and strengthen injured body parts.

Every person’s experience playing college basketball is so different and the thing about moving your life over here is that you never really know exactly how it’s going to go. For those kids who want to come over and play, don’t be disheartened if your freshman year is a little less than perfect and you aren’t one of the best players like you were in your teams back home. Every year after your first gets that little bit easier and by the time you’re a senior, you feel like you have all the confidence in the world. I am now in my senior year and I’ve never felt more comfortable in a basketball team. I am trusted to make a significant amount of calls on the court and that alone has helped me grow so much as a player. It also requires me to hold myself to a standard, each and every game.

For me, going to college instead of staying home and playing QBL was never really a question as playing basketball in America was always my dream. I also love school so to have an academic scholarship added to that deal, along with travel and countless life experiences was more than I could ask for. If I stayed in Townsville, I was told I would be a candidate for a Fire Development position which would also be an awesome achievement, however I had already made my mind up that California was where I wanted to go. I think that college has been a great place to develop my game and my confidence, as I don’t think I would’ve had the exposure I have received over here if I had stayed in Townsville. I never really got a lot of court time playing QBL and now that I have proven what I can do over here, I have received multiple offers with clubs around Australia that believe I could help their team. So, I am very happy with how my life is progressing and would recommend anyone that is thinking of going to college, to just go for it! 

By Georgia Williams, former Cannons Junior and A Grade Player