Centerville鈥檚 twin basketball sensations Eli and Ethan Greenberg score big scholarships
DAYTON, Ohio — Centerville High School (CHS) seniors Eli and Ethan Greenberg share many things. Perhaps most obviously, the twins share a genetic makeup. They share a love of basketball. The 6’4″ guards on CHS鈥� varsity boys鈥� basketball team also share the rare distinction of both earning Division 1 basketball scholarships.
鈥淭his is highly unusual,鈥� said Brook Cupps, head coach of CHS varsity boys鈥� basketball. 鈥淣othing beats being a part of that experience. I鈥檓 grateful that we are so fortunate to work with such great kids and families at Centerville.鈥�
Eli and Ethan recently answered some questions about their experiences.
What are your personal goals or athletic dreams within your sport?
Eli Greenberg (#2): To make it to the NBA or overseas
Ethan Greenberg (#21): To become a D1 basketball player
What is your biggest basketball challenge, and what do you do to manage it?
Eli: There are millions of kids who want to play at the next level. I just hoop; that鈥檚 how I manage it.
Ethan: My biggest challenge is underperforming and handling the pressure of performing. I manage this challenge through trusting the work I put into the game and understanding that one bad performance doesn鈥檛 take away from all the effort I鈥檝e put into the sport.
What is your biggest sports accomplishment?
Eli: Committing to a D1 school for basketball
Ethan: Getting the opportunity and committing to the United States Air Force Academy
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Eli: 鈥淛ust be you.鈥�
Ethan: The best advice I was ever given was to 鈥渄etach from man鈥檚 approval.鈥�
What do you love about basketball?
Eli: There are so many different ways to contribute, and the feeling of making a shot never gets old.
Ethan: I love the competition that basketball brings and how competitive it is against your peers.
Do you have a pregame ritual that you follow?
Eli: No
Ethan: I do not.
What do you like to do outside of basketball?
Eli: Play video games and hang with friends
Ethan: I like to watch TV and read.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Eli: Individual roles matter, no matter whether they鈥檙e major or minor.
Ethan: Being a member of a team has taught me to be competitive with people, but also happy for their success鈥攖o say, 鈥淕ood game,鈥� even if I鈥檓 not playing amazingly.
What is the best piece of advice you have received from a coach or mentor?
Eli: 鈥淐hop wood.鈥� Coach Cupps tells us that 鈥渢he process of chopping down a tree is central to the mentality of our program. It will never come down in one swing. It鈥檚 the faithful, consistent swings that, when added up, result in the tree鈥檚 falling.鈥�
Ethan: 鈥淒etach from man鈥檚 approval.鈥� This comes from Coach Cupps. It basically means to detach yourself from expectation, outside pressure and affirmations from people outside yourself that could affect you.
Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
Eli: Not having fun with it. I overcame it by realizing that if I don鈥檛 like it, why should I do it?
Ethan: Putting too much pressure on myself to perform and be successful. I still struggle with this, but I make sure to remind myself of the work I鈥檝e put in to get to the point I鈥檓 at and trust that. This helps me break out of those expectations of myself.
What are your non-sports goals in life?
Eli: To be a millionaire!
Ethan: To have a job, preferably in the realm of sports, that takes me places and allows travel
Where will you attend college?
Eli: I鈥檓 going to Le Moyne College (DeWitt, New York) on basketball scholarship.
Ethan: I plan on playing basketball at the United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, Colorado).
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