How Smaller Players Can Crush Bigger, Stronger Ones
Back in high school, Sean Espinosa was an OK player but he never played a significant role on his team because he was so short…
Being a 5’5” freshman he was always looked at as the “smaller” guy.
And like lots of undersized players, his lack of size took a big toll on his confidence.
He was constantly thinking to himself…
Don’t mess up.
You’re the shortest guy on the court.
You can’t mess up.
One mistake and you’re getting pulled immediately.
No hesitation from the coach about that.
Growing up just outside of Los Angeles, Sean was always around very high level basketball where the players were bigger, faster and stronger.
And he was constantly comparing himself to them.
How could he not?
Many of them were getting recruited to play Division 1 from a very young age.
But not Sean.
He wasn’t getting any looks.
So naturally, he found himself thinking…
“Man, maybe I’m not as good as them…maybe I should just give up the ball and go stand in the corner and if they kick it, I’ll shoot it…maybe I should just pass them the ball and get out of the way.”
As you can imagine, this negative mindset nearly ended Sean’s basketball career.
But Sean was determined to flip the script.
And as is usually the case for those who persevere in life, he eventually caught his big break…
Knowing he’d have to find a way to gain a mental edge over every other player who had him beat physically, Sean went in search of something a little less conventional.
But he didn’t have to search for long.
His older brother had previously spent a week attending a PGC Basketball Camp and recommended Sean give it a shot, as they taught undersized players how to think the game and outsmart their opponents.
Once Sean learned how to think the game himself, his decision-making sped up, while the game itself began to slow down.
And for the first time in his life…
He felt in control with the ball in his hand.
He finally understood how his own actions would determine his opponent’s next move and like a Grandmaster in chess, he was now one step ahead.
As a result, his confidence skyrocketed to nearly unimaginable levels.
In Sean’s senior year he was the team MVP, first team all conference, first team all-area and led the team to the CIF Southern Section Championship game.
He then went on to play in college at Lake Forest College in Illinois.
Once there, he became the most decorated and accomplished point guard of all time.
He led the Foresters to their first conference tournament championship in school history as just a sophomore and was voted first team all-conference 3 years in a row.
Sean then went on to play professionally in France where he excelled even more averaging 25 ppg.
Talk about flipping the script.
How awesome is that!?
Now, you might be wondering why I’m sharing this story with you?
Simple.
You see, Sean’s story is one of literally tens of thousands of undersized PGC Grads who struggled with their confidence, constantly compared themselves to other bigger, faster, stronger players, and nearly quit the game way too soon as a result.
If you want your child to get really, really inspired to pursue their dreams and aspirations, sending them to PGC this summer might be the best decision you ever make!
Find a basketball camp near you today
For the good of the game,
Mano
My Boys Bring Home Something New Each Time!
“This is our 4th PGC camp and each time my boys bring something new home!”
– Amanda Juarez, PGC Mom | Texas
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About PGC
PGC Basketball provides intense, no-nonsense basketball training for players and coaches. Our basketball camps are designed to teach players of all positions to play smart basketball, be coaches on the court, and be leaders in practices, games and in everyday life.
We combine our unique PGC culture with a variety of teaching methods and learning environments to maximize the learning potential of those that attend our sessions. In addition to spending 6-7 hours on the court each day, lessons will be reinforced through classroom sessions and video analysis.
Our goal at PGC is to empower you with the tools to fulfill your basketball dreams, while also assisting you in experiencing the joy of the journey.
To learn more about PGC Basketball, including additional basketball training tips and videos, visit our YouTube Channel or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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