BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — Warren Marshall, 16, is a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court.  Marshall, a sophomore at Brother Rice High School has been shooting hoops for 10 years.  Along with playing on the Varsity Basketball team at Brother Rice, Marshall is also a member of the Defy The Odds (DTO) Elite AAU Summer Travel League.  I had the opportunity to interview this rockstar basketball player and learn about his passion for the game.

What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?

Warren Marshall: My personal goals are for my team to win a state championship and Catholic League high school championship before I graduate! I also would like to play college basketball on a full scholarship. Playing overseas is also a passion of mine. I like the idea of coming back to the US during the off season and working with young people and having camps with those dreaming of playing ball professionally because I’ve always appreciated those players who contributed to my skills training when I was younger.

What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?

Marshall: My biggest challenge is the mental perspective of basketball. I’ve always been a mental player and have struggled a lot of times overcoming this battle but the biggest part is having the confidence on the court and believing in my skills. To manage this before a big game I usually put on a pre-game meditation to relax and calm myself down before the game starts. It has definitely helped me during big games and I plan on continuing to do it.

What was the best advice you were ever given?

Marshall: The best advice given to me so far has probably been show up for yourself off the court like you would want on the court and show up for others. This means showing up for yourself and others when you might not feel like it or when you thinks it’s not required or when you don’t necessarily want to in things that you don’t enjoy. That advice is helping me become a better person off the court and player on the court.

What do you love about your sport?

Marshall: What I love about basketball is seeing improvement in my game over time! I also like working on my skills and enjoy just being in the gym, alone or with teammates. I also like watching basketball seeing the flow of the game and how it’s played. That’s definitely one of my favorite things – being a student of the game and not just a player.

Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?

Marshall: I usually like to take a pre-game nap for 30 minutes alone and away from people when possible. Depending on the game I usually put on some calm music and/or meditation to stay calm before the game starts. Another thing is if I can find an open hoop I like to get in a 25 minute warm up in to start the game off on a good note!

What do you like to do outside of your sport?

Marshall: I like staying on the move! Basketball games with multiple weekly practices and trainings are usually year round for me at this point, but during the summer on the days I don’t have practice I like riding my bike, swimming, and working out.

What has being a member of a team taught you?

Marshall: The biggest thing being a member on a team has taught me Is the importance of being a leader on and off the court. Also, I appreciate having the opportunity to mentor the teammates who are younger than me so they’re in good hands when I graduate. Learning my teammates and their backgrounds and having a reasonable understanding of who they are and what they want to accomplish personally helps us all play better as a team. Mastering my role and what my coach and my team need from me most is also another perspective I have learned more about myself this year.

What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach or mentor?

Marshall: The best performance advice I’ve learned is from my dad which is start the game in attack mode and get your teammates going, whether it’s making a big play or talking to them during the game. I’m grateful he started sharing it years ago (even before I fully believed him!) and I think it has helped me a lot.

Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.

Marshall: I was having a really bad game in my opinion and couldn’t get into a rhythm and was struggling offensively and I knew I could make an impact defensively and other ways the team needed to be successful. I adjusted and began to stop worrying about what I could do to help the team scoring wise. I chose to help the team in other ways we were struggling and I think by me helping my team in our weaknesses it helped me realize that it makes a big difference to fall back on a plan B (in your sport) when plan A isn’t going your way!

Lastly, Warren would like to add, “sports is a powerful way to practice responsibility and independence even as a young person. My parents say it’s helped me keep my focus and avoid a lot of distractions. For me, I’m grateful they continue to support my dreams as things would be a lot harder for me otherwise. Having big goals is one way to minimize the craziness being a teenager can create so I’m glad for that. I would encourage any young person (or anyone of any age!) to find something active they like doing and practice getting better at it for your mental and physical health.”

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