“I learned to pivot today,” said Samiyah Branch. “I learned to be a triple threat.”
The ability to shift directions — and protect the ball to create scoring opportunities— really is the secret to success.
Although Branch was talking about basketball, she was unknowingly telling the story of the Mavs Academy and how they ended up here this July morning.
By here, I mean Uplift Academy in southwest Dallas, nestled along I-20 in an area where many children have never attended organized basketball events. The parents are so thrilled they have come along, too, piling in the stands to mark the special occasion.