I am sure that you have heard of the name Micheal Jordan, labeled one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He is arguably the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) of men’s basketball and he didn’t even make his school’s basketball team. I know right! THE Micheal Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

Basketball tryouts just ended, and the freshman, JV, and varsity teams are all finalized. Some players are returning, and are very excited for this season. However, some players became managers after not making the team. 

“You gotta work out every day,”returning player Nolyn Lee said. “Sometimes a couple of times a day. Gotta get the weights, condition. Results aren’t gonna come today, but over time it’ll get better.”

Here at Reedy, there is a team behind the team. This includes athletic trainers, boosters, coaches, parents, and student managers. Layla Ciepluch, one of the newest additions to the girls basketball “team behind the team”, didn’t make the JV team this year; however, she still supports her former teammates by becoming a student manager.

“I was a little sad [when I didn’t make the team] because I wouldn’t be part of the team anymore,” Ciepluch said. “but since I’m [a] manager it feels the same just without all the running.” 

Durga “Dhanush” Selamseti sadly didn’t make the team this year, either.

“It was a little annoying [not making the team], but I didn’t really care,” Selamseti said.

Last year, families had the opportunity to choose to learn virtually or in-person. As the kids who chose virtual return to campus, the stakes get a little higher for competing for a spot on the basketball team. 

“We had a lot of new freshmen and sophomores trying out again now that COVID isn’t as big of a picture,” Lee said. “A lot of kids want to go prove themselves.”

Bradford Carter didn’t play last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, he bounced back strongly by making the varsity team this year. 

“It’s tough [to make varsity], and not everyone can do it,” Carter said. “You’re going to have to work 10 times harder.”

Micheal Jordan came out of his career with a 30.1 points per game average, and a 49.7 field goal percentage. Will one of these kids become the GOAT of basketball?