By Reece Carlson
March 5th
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pelé
The Hamilton boys basketball team is made up of thirteen players and no player represents Pelé’s quote more than number #24 Jace Mitchell. A two time varsity player, who loves the sport of basketball with every square inch of his heart. Even with all of his hard work and passion for the game he was cut from the JV basketball team his Sophomore year. Yet he didn’t give up and decided to work harder at basketball and school. I wanted to ask him what pushes him and what did push him.
“I remember being upset with myself because I had all the skill and my coach talked to me after tryouts and told me I got cut because my grades weren’t good enough.” From Jace Mitchell
In 2021, Jace had been cut from the JV team because of his academics. Most kids would give up, cry about it, and simply quit the sport of basketball. But then again Jace Mitchell isn’t most kids.
“I stopped basketball for about three weeks and that might sound a little strange but I stopped and focussed on my grades and myself. Kept my head up and once I got my grades up to a passing level I started playing basketball again. Started working hard and playing people that are better than me.” From Jace Mitchell
He would use this strategy many times throughout his highschool career. Anytime his academics would dip, he would just take some time off from basketball and focus on school. He learned to balance his life and commit to school and basketball.
After a whole year of working on both academics and basketball he tried out for the varsity team. He had no guarantee of making the basketball team and all of the pain, sweat, and tears could’ve gone to waste, but his hard work, perseverance, learning, and sacrifice showed out in the end.
Most people would’ve given up facing the adversity that Jace faced through their life, but Jace Mitchell didn’t. Him not giving up gave him the chance to join and be a part of one of the best Hamilton basketball teams in recent history. The team would finish as league champion, district champion, and runner up in the regional final.
I asked him if all the pain and work was worth it at the end of the day. He had this to say about it.
“Yeah absolutely it was worth it because I think it taught me better life skills and basketball skills. I think that if I had the ability to change it I wouldn’t, because it was a lesson learned and it drove me to be a better version of myself both academically and basketball wise. Most people quit right after that because it’s embarrassing, but I don’t get embarrassed easily. Coach Cooper was very nice about it and helped me through it and encouraged me.”
This quote right represents what Jace Mitchell is about. Pushing himself further and further. Willing to do anything the team needs him to do. He is what Pele was talking about in the quote above. All of this for the love of the game.