Meet Norfolk Collegiate basketball player Kelvin Anderson Jr.
NORFOLK, Va. — Kelvin Anderson Jr. 鈥�27 doesn鈥檛 hold back on the court. In fact, this soon-to-be star has dreams of being in the NBA and it鈥檚 clear that he lives, sleeps, and bleeds basketball.
From the moment he steps onto the court, he鈥檚 making his way to the hoop, ball in hand and ready to dunk. And when he does, Norfolk Collegiate鈥檚 Treehouse goes nuts. This eighth grader is currently playing for Collegiate鈥檚 varsity and junior varsity basketball teams and plays AAU for Team Thrill out of Baltimore.
He may be the youngest player on Collegiate鈥檚 team, but he鈥檚 quickly emerging as a team leader, thanks to the support of his teammates and coaches who treat him like family.
鈥淭hey treat me like I am a little brother, but it’s a lot of fun,鈥� said Kelvin 鈥�27. 鈥淭hey always want me to get better, so, during practices, they play defense on me as hard as they can. They allow me to lead like a point guard, and if I mess up, they hold me accountable, but both teams love and respect me.鈥�
As a result, 鈥淚 have gotten stronger and wiser from playing athletes older than me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e gotten wiser with decision-making and end-game situations.鈥�
He also has gotten physically stronger by participating in strength and conditioning training with the varsity team under the tutelage of Coach Brandon Trustry.
Kelvin鈥檚 love for the sport began at a young age and can be credited to the time he spent with his dad at the gym.
鈥淢y dad went to the gym to play pickup and would let me go to the other end of the gym and shoot,鈥� said Kelvin. 鈥淗e also was in leagues and played a lot of games, so I was able to sit on the bench. I was always in the gym.鈥�
His motto is never to give up and instead, 鈥渢ap into your inner self-perseverance.鈥�
His dad instilled in him that 鈥渉ard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. When I was younger, my dad always said this, and he still does,鈥� said Kelvin, who鈥檚 the oldest of three children. 鈥淚t’s such a staple that I have the words on the wall in my bathroom.鈥�
Balancing a rigorous academic schedule, AAU basketball, and school basketball isn鈥檛 easy, but the secret to his success is to 鈥渟tay focused and ask for help when I need it and don鈥檛 procrastinate.鈥�
While Kelvin is hardworking on the court, he also is goofy, kind, passionate, and outgoing in the hallways, and he鈥檚 also dedicated his life to the game.
鈥淚鈥檝e put a lot of hours into the game,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 know how hard I work and that鈥檚 my motivation to push through.鈥� That and the Gushers he has been enjoying as long as he can remember.
As for his pre-game rituals, 鈥淚 pray before every game and I listen to R&B because the vibes are unmatched,鈥� he said.
What does the future look like for Kelvin?
鈥淚 want to have a state ring for my school and make it to the NBA,鈥� he said.
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