For one young athlete, basketball isn’t just a sport—it’s a personal journey of growth, setbacks, and passion. After more than three years on the court, Christian Uchendu still grinding, still improving, and still hungry.

  Like many athletes, the road hasn’t always been smooth. Developing fundamental skills presented challenges early on.

  “Yeah, definitely. One big setback was dribbling with my left hand,” he said. “I used to be really bad at it. It was super frustrating because I just couldn’t get it down at first, but I kept working on it.”

  Physical setbacks also tested his dedication and passion for the game. A serious injury almost changed everything.

  “Yeah, I rolled my ankle once, and I almost tore my ACL while playing,” he said. “It was really scary. That kind of injury could’ve been really bad.”

  Despite these challenges, he finds a way to balance school and practice even if it’s not always easy.

  “I try to, but sometimes homework takes up a lot of my time,” he said. “So I only get to practice a little bit every day.”

  When it’s game time he has a unique way of getting in the zone.

  “I usually just listen to music, mostly rap,” he said. “That’s really it, because I don’t like other music genres.”

  One of his most memorable basketball moments came in a club game where the pressure was on.

  “It was during a club basketball game where I was going crazy, scoring a lot of points,” he said. “I even had the chance to shoot the game-winner. I missed it, but the whole experience was still big for me.”

  Though he’s only been playing officially for a few years, basketball feels like a lifelong part of him.

  “I’ve been playing for about 3 and a half years, but honestly, it feels like my whole life,” he said.

  He isn’t the only hooper in the family, and that keeps him motivated to level up his game.

  “No, my cousins play too, and they’re really good,” he said. “I look up to them and want to get to their level.”

  Over time, he’s built his strengths and continues to refine his skills.

  “My finishing is strong, I box out well, and my shooting is on point now,” he said. “It used to suck, but I’ve worked hard on it and gotten way better.”

  His biggest inspiration on the court is one of the greatest shooters in the game.

  “Steph Curry—I just like everything about him,” he said. “He’s really good, and I especially love his 3-pointers and the way he shoots.”

  When tensions rise within the team, he steps up as a leader to bring the team back together.

  “I kind of crash out, but then I regroup and start organizing my team again to get everybody focused so we can lock in and win,” he said.