How One Basketball Player Became a Better Student-Athlete—Milton Hershey School

Before I came here, I only played basketball for two years. They just haven't been given the experiences that many of the other kids, they started in third grade, you know, whereas they're not starting until ninth grade. This past summer when I stayed on campus to play basketball, I feel like I got to make up for the years that I missed. Taking some of the girls with AU. I got looks from a bunch of colleges. The kids loved it. And I got to spend time with my coaches. I've seen such a major growth in Molly. I can't even begin to tell you. Coming from West Virginia, she's grown leaps and bounds. From a kid who couldn't even catch the basketball to now having the confidence to do it and score all in the process is amazing. She's not only grown as a basketball player, she's really grown as a person. So much more confident, so much happier. I enjoy having her because she's always there for me outside of basketball, too. She was definitely what I needed to push me to get better. And I can't ask for a better situation because I think I'm very proud of that. Like, they make you happy. You want to come here every day. Yeah, the facilities are great. They have everything. But the kids are greater. And I can't explain the relationships you form with them, how they appreciate what you do for them and look up to you. I feel like at Milton Hershey, winning is a big thing for us. I love to win. I'm going to tell you, I hate to lose. My players will tell you I hate to lose. But winning's not just on the scoreboard. Winning's in so many different ways of just being a good teammate, just being a good student. Winning with having a coach that would push you and make sure you do what you need to do. And then, you know, you can say, I did it.