~Cassius Fairfax, Class of 2028

Chapter 1: A passion like none other

Once upon a time there was a kid named Cassius Fairfax. He was born around basketball lived and breathed it. He watched it on tv and at games played it on his little tikes standing mini hoop he tried to dunk like lebron james as soon he can stand and walk. He is the third born in his family after Brooklyn and Bryce before Prime and Apollo his beloved siblings. But this story is about Cassius a 10 year old almost 11 by the time you will see this but this story starts when Cassius is playing at his old school Merion elementary. Cassius works very hard. Cassius loves to win and hates to lose. He knows what it takes to win and to lose. But this kid would get down on himself every time something went wrong. Different thing right but this is his story.

Chapter 2 Layup

He was working on his layups.A five year Cassius couldn’t make a left hand layup, so he kept trying and trying but not even 1 layup. But one day Cassius made it then again then again they went home Cassius was proud of himself. The next day Cassius had to make 7 layups in a row on the 7 foot hoop he played on, and he kept on doing it and then he was able to do it. He kept on progressing with his left hand getting better but then all the sudden he remembered that he could shoot. He wasn’t even thinking about shooting, he was just shooting so focused on his left hand he forgot everything else he was doing.

Chapter 3 Strength 

Cassius started his journey on the 10 foot regulation hoop. His fundamentals were there but his strength was absent. This is the start of many problems for Cassius in his shot later in his journey. But that’s not the point as he grew stronger he started to be able to reach the basket at age 6.

Chapter 4 New year, new me

When he was six Cassius accomplished a lot, like being able to make shots on 10 foot hoops. Continuing to use his left hand and going to some summer camps to play and cooking also getting a chance to play up. But he didn’t know what he was gonna do next that is even more impressive 

Chapter 5 Don’t blink or you’re gonna miss me

Cassius had no idea what he would be able to do when he turned seven. When he was seven this is when Cassius really believed he could be the greatest basketball player of all time. So he said what do I have to do, he told himself that if you wanna be the greatest you gotta work like it. He started to be able to do everything on the floor well. He worked hard in his backyard at his newfound basket that the neighbors gave him and his family. He was working toward his next chapter.

Chapter 6 AAU and Doug’s

At eight years old Cassius went to basketball camp 5 and 2. In the summer after he turned eight July 16th 3 days after his birthday one of his counselors told him “your pretty good you should try out for east coat power’s AAU team”. his name was jack he started his basketball career in AAU also the yes from his grandpa din-din helped to. His dad didn’t really want him to play until seventh grade but that didn’t happen. In the start of the fall Cassius started going to Doug’s an all year camp by the NBA player Doug Overton. Cassius was the best player there but like I said earlier Cassius at the time did not say next play and forget about mistakes and missed shots he dwelled on them and his way was crying. He did it pretty much every time which was three days a week personally I couldn’t imagine what that was like do to the fact I don’t remember. But he also dominated but cried almost every time though so take that how you want.

Chapter 7 Big news end of AAU and Doug’s 

When Cassius was turning nine in six months he received bittersweet news he was moving to Massachusetts Concord Academy or CA. That meant his AAU career with east coat power would end with one year together with his team. It also meant he was moving away from home what he still calls home and refuses to call his new destination home instead he calls it the house. The other thing that meant is that he would be leaving Doug’s after 1 year also. Cassius and his family moved on the day of the 2022 NBA draft in June. 

Chapter 9 Access and how to use it and the new addition of the weight room 

This year in the basketball gym was another good one. Fixed his problems learned new things played AAU did well had some up and downs bad losses good wins games he got cheated. But this isn’t about AAU this about the access he gained when he moved to Massachusetts he had a gym he could get in to at any time. A weight room/ fitness center that had resistance bands box hops pull up bars treadmills mats for safety and stationary  bikes for him to use. He had the access he just needed to use it right which he did.

Chapter 10 And now I’m here

Now Cassius plays AAU on the Spartans. He has learned how to use his access that he gained from the move. He continues to get better on the hardwood and fix problems. Learn new things and continue that long slow climb up the mountain to get better. He made the playoffs for Made Hoops and is ready to play in them. But some 44-year-old with great advice said “one step at a time” and that is the 10-year story of Cassius Grant Fairfax.