Some coach-athlete relationships stop when you walk off the court, but for the varsity basketball team and their coach, David Chana, it’s about more than just shooting basketballs and winning championships. Instead, it’s about making life-long impacts on his players.
“It’s gotten to the point where I speak to him about everything in life, not just basketball,” junior Kyler VanderJagt said. “In a way, he is more of a mentor compared to a basketball coach. [He] teaches me how to be a young man and [how to] focus a lot on the little things that will make a difference in the future.”
According to junior Jalen Charity and their teammate Grant George, their idea of a good coach is one who builds players up and helping them get to the places they want to be.
“He does a good job of having high standards for everyone, and it doesn’t matter how much you play, we are all held accountable for what [we] do,” George said.
Prior to him making the varsity team, Charity admits his focus was on himself as an individual player. After playing for Chana for two seasons, he has learned the importance of teamwork, and how when you work together as a team you make yourself better.
“When I first started being coached by him he was all about the team, Sometimes you can go score by yourself but it’s more about doing it, and scoring with the team,” Charity said.
Among the many lines and sayings Chana uses frequently, “Don’t talk about it, be about it” is one standing quote that has helped many of the players, not just in the game and practices, but with their life.
“You know what you have to do to succeed in the certain thing you want to get done every day, but it’s the fact that you actually have to do it consistently is what really matters,” VanderJagt said.
Even through COVID-19, many of the boys have been working to get their name out there for college recruitment and Chana has been their biggest advocate.
“He’s helped get in contact with other coaches and to send our film out. [He’s] made it easier to know my name is out there,” junior Grant George said.
Even with the postponement of the season and the uncertainty the season has brought, it’s clear that Chana has been the one pushing them to make, not only this season great, but themselves better too.
