All comics by kdaughty

 

by kdaughty
2-15-15
Sort of. The five of us would practice with the varsity and jv. The four of them suited up varsity, however I was the leading scorer, the best player on the JV team averaging 25pt, 6rb, 3asst.
So if you were so good, why didn’t he let you play varsity if you were the best. What about that work hard speech he gave you?
Summer camps, in the gym all the time, grades were good. I just knew I earned some scholarship money the coming year. Honestly, I was better than half the guys on scholarship.
Then at the beginning of my sophomore year, the coach pulled me in and said he was going to red-shirt me. When I asked why, he said he wanted me to develop my game more.
What!?

 

by kdaughty
2-15-15
That spiral that I had went through in high school (frustration, anger, despair), it started all over again.
That doesn’t make sense. Why would he bench one of his better players?
I didn’t understand the politics of it all as a 19 year old kid. There were times during our JV games were the head varsity coach would look at the JV coach and motion to take me out.
Why?
Your pawpaw said I made the four guys on scholarship, the coaches and the JUCO players they were recruiting look bad when I dominated the court. So they would freeze me, shut me down.
So how did the redshirt year go?

 

by kdaughty
2-22-15
I practiced everyday my sophomore year with a fire I’ve never played with before. Knowing that you are better than the guys that weren't red-shirted... It was high school all over again.
That must have been bad.
Here’s what I’ve learned through it all. One way to overcome the feelings of frustration when there is a setback is to do something you know you can succeed at.
what did you do?
I spent hours in the gym before and after practice by myself, sometime with that All-Americans, working on my game. This fed my confidence and kept me positive.
So, if you did all of that, why did you end up leaving?

 

by kdaughty
2-22-15
After the season, during spring workouts my red-shirt sophomore year, the coach met with me and said he didn’t see me fitting in on this team. I was beyond angry. I had the feeling as if someone di
Wait, so what did you do? Were your grades bad? Did you have an attitude? You must have done something.
Not one time did the coach or any assistant pull me to the side during the year to share what I could have done better. I was out playing most of the guys in practice. Lead on the scout team.
I don't get it
Neither did I . When I asked the coach what I could do better, he didn’t have an answer. When I asked why I didn’t fit on the team, he could not give a reason other than “It just didn’t work o
So after two years in the program, paying your own way, he just kicked you off the team?

 

by kdaughty
2-22-15
And that was one of the states more expensive universities. Just paid those loans off a few years back.
Nana and Pawpaw didn't pay for your college?
I told them they couldn't. I'm the one who wanted to go to that school and I felt bad having them pay after all of that happened.
Are you going to pay for our college education?
No. You're going to get an academic and basketball scholarship somewhere!
But what if what happened to you happens to me?

 

by kdaughty
2-22-15
It won't. That's why I'm sharing this with you. There's more to this story.
So what happened next?
That was the lowest I’ve ever felt at that point in my life. To feel like you’re not wanted, without any explanation. For the first time in my life, I gave up. I quit.
You QUIT!? Quit basketball or quit college?
Both. I didn't want to play basketball or finish school. I started living like I wasn’t raised right. The original prodigal son .
What were these politics you speak of?

 

by kdaughty
3-01-15
I found out later during my red-shirt year that many players had parents who, let’s just say, were friends of the program.
But aren’t you supposed to play the best talent, not who has money?
One friend’s dad owned tons of important business in the state and donated thousands upon thousands to the school. I was better than these kids, but they played, I was red-shirted.
So, you think they got the scholarship because of politics and not because they could play?
Son, I was more athletic, coachable, more developed, leading scorer, could jump out of the building, good grades, heart. That’s how it was then.
So how did you end up at LU?

 

by kdaughty
3-01-15
Six months after dropping out of school, sitting around doing nothing, being a prodigal son, something got a hold of me. Your dad was out there.
Do tell.
I’ll share details of my prodigal son days another day. The short version for now - I got serious about the Father and Son, understood my purpose and decided to give college basketball one more try.
prodical son!?
It was my senior year in high school all over again, but three years later. I was calling coaches requesting a try out. I tried out at several schools here in the state and surrounding states.
I want to hear about the prodigal son?!

 

by kdaughty
3-01-15
I found a school, coach and teammates that believed in me and knew I could play. The coach remembered me from high school and heard about my play on that college JV team.
So just like that, it ended up working out for you?
Yes! Here’s the lesson for us as you continue to play . When you surrender everything to the Father and Son, it all works for your good.
So, all the stuff you went through in high school and your first college was supposed to happen?
I said it all worked out for my good. Meaning, it was designed to build character and make me the person I am today. I will admit it was difficult then, but I wouldn’t change the script at all.
This is encouraging! I just have to hold on and trust the Father and Son.

 

by kdaughty
3-08-15
Did you ever meet up with any of the players or coaches from your first university?
My first year at LU, we played my old school. My new coach knew this was a huge game for me. Ended up being one of my worst games ever.
Ever?
Ever! I played with so much anger that it impacted my focus on the game. I had like four fouls by the beginning of the 2nd half.
What happened?
Although I had moved on to a new school, I never let go of those old frustrations. Later on in life, I actually reached out to the first coach and made it all right.

 

by kdaughty
3-08-15
What did he say?
He said he understood my frustration and that those were different times. We both apologized and that was that.
Did you feel any better?
Yes, in the sense that I was able to truly forgive him and not look at the past as a "what if" thing but as part of the plan to shape me into who I am today.
Daddy, it’s 3am! It doesn’t even seem like it’s this late.
I could go on, but let’s pray and get you in the bed.

 

by kdaughty
3-08-15
Bed? I might as well stay up since I have to get up in three hours.
You need your rest. Three hours is better than nothing at all.
I feel like there's so much more we need to talk about. I'm hungry for more stories as weird as it sounds.
lol...
But what about all that other stuff you said you wanted to tell me later like, who THEY are, slang, you in your prodigal son years and sex?
Tell you what, we can talk again later this week during one of the games. I love you son! Good night!

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