By Ebony Carrington of Oowee Sports Nation
Team: Cougar Basketball Team
Position(s): Point Guard
Team #: 4
School: Bryan Adams High School
Age: 16
Grade: Sophomore
“Basketball is not for the weak, it’s for the strong, so if you made it this far keep pushing” is the motto that Bryan Adams High School point guard, Keiontay Marsh tells himself each day when he hits the court.
The sophomore standout (who’s played since third grade) says the biggest misconception about basketball is that people think it’s easy. He wants to set the record straight — it’s his dedication for the game that makes it look that way.
Marsh says an easy game for him looks like 20 points, 8 assists, 4 steals and about 5 rebounds, which is only possible because of the seven days a week practice he puts in. 
“It’s all about the amount of work that you have to put in to be good,” he said. “And when you put in hard work, you feel good about the respect you earn from all your hardwork and dedication.”
In addition to basketball, Marsh also runs track in the off season to stay conditioned. This helps him to improve his stamina and accelerate his speed on the court. His hard work over the years paid off when (as a freshman) he was able to secure a spot on his high school varsity team.
“It takes a lot of grinding and a lot of extra work [to make the varsity team as a freshman],” he said. “Your eighth grade summer is your most important summer.”
Summer is when many athletes leave behind the pressures of being a student and can solely focus on improving a skill set in a sport. Marsh says he works hard to dominate in creating his own buckets — being able to score at any time from wherever he’s positioned.
Aside from having what he refers to as a “God-given talent,” Marsh said having a positive attitude and mindset is also important — positivity and leadership is what he feels he brings to the team.
“One of my biggest goals is being able to lead my team to the playoffs next year,” he said. “We work hard as a team, and we’re brought closer because of the sport. We hold each other accountable, making sure everyone is committed.”
The Bryan Adams Boys Varsity Team’s current record is 13-22, and where there’s room for growth, Marsh says their ability to grind will take them farther. For him, going farther means attending one of his top pick universities (Texas A&M, University of Texas-Austin or Texas Tech), then making it all the way to play professionally in the NBA or overseas.
You can follow Keiontay Marsh’s athletic achievements on Oowee Sports Nation as he continues to strive to conquer the game and achieve success in sports.