Jerry, It was pretty incredible! This came from the neighbor who lives directly across from us! I bought Bryce and Brayden a shooting machine the summer they were going into the 8th grade and they spent countless hours on it! What an awesome writing from Chris Martin (neighbor)! Wow!!
That was the message that came from Russell Smoot and the message below is the description from Mr Martin !
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For years, I’d glance out my window and see Bryce Smoot in his driveway, putting up shot after shot, long after the neighborhood lights had flickered on. It didn’t matter if it was the dead of winter or the sweltering heat of summer—Bryce was out there, dribbling, shooting, running imaginary plays against invisible defenders. He didn’t need a crowd. No coaches barking orders, no teammates cheering him on—just the rhythmic bounce of the ball and the occasional swish of the net. To most folks on our street, it was just background noise, but I saw something different. I saw a kid who willed his way to success, who believed in something even when he thought no one was watching.
And then, one Monday night under the bright lights of our high school gym, with the whole town watching. Bryce Smoot, the same kid who had spent countless nights perfecting his craft in an empty driveway, broke the school’s all-time scoring record. The crowd roared, his teammates cheered, and his name echoed through the announcer’s microphone. But I couldn’t help but think back to all those nights when it was just him and the hoop, no fanfare, no glory—just pure dedication. Bryce didn’t become a star under the spotlight; he became one in the quiet moments in the drive way when he thought no one was watching. But, I saw you Bryce. Congratulations!”
Well stated, Mr Martin, Well stated 👏
A.S.P.N on The Hill 