Midnight Basketball: Luther's Story
Luther is from the Brahms-Sparroways community and has been a part of the Midnight Basketball program presented by adidas for the past three years. As an older youth in the program, he's grown and developed both on and off the court and prides himself on paying what he has learned forward to the next generation of basketball players.
How did your basketball journey begin?
So as a kid, I used to be too little to be playing with grown guys, you know? I always used to see them, watch them, see them go at it, and it really inspired me. I just saw it and I was like, yeah, I want to become a basketball player. And my brother started to teach me as a really young kid. I'll probably say I'm five or six (years old). I wasn't strong enough to shoot but I always wanted to shoot far shots because I'd see NBA stars doing it, you know? So. yeah, that's why I really started as a younger.
So your brother's older than you?
Yeah, he's 29. I have a lot of brothers. I have five brothers. I’m the youngest of six boys plus one sister on my dad’s side.
What's it like being the youngest of six boys growing up?
I mean, it's kind of hard, you know? All big brothers just trying to bully you and stuff, roughing you up. But you get to learn from and become stronger. You get to, experience new things that you otherwise wouldn’t. They teach you so you don't fall in a bad, like, bad crowd or bad path. Yeah. Good mentorship.
You’ve been in the program for multiple years. How has the Midnight Basketball program made an impact on your life?
It made me more serious about basketball. Like when I used to play as a younger, I never really was serious about basketball, but Midnight Basketball made me more serious. I also got to learn stuff off the court, like law over at U of T (University of Toronto). They were teaching about law, business, they helped you make your resume. So other than basketball, the program actually helps you with real life situations like how to get a job. It's also taught me to be more confident and more social and outgoing, you know? For my team, we have more young guys than older guys, so that's when the leadership starts.
So you are the youngest of the boys at home, but on your team, you're older. Do you almost feel like you're in your big brothers shoes when you're on the court in a way?
Yeah, I get to see how they feel now (chuckles). When they're fooling around, I'm like, “yo, you guys actually, like, take this seriously,” because they're teaching you life skills other than basketball. Basketball is just a part of it, but it's mainly about life skills and like, what you're gonna do after this.
In what ways has Midnight Basketball impacted communities like Sparroways and others throughout the city?
Midnight Basketball brings a lot of communities together. Some communities don't like each other because stupid stuff, you know what I mean? But Midnight brings them together to play basketball. I know friends from every team, every neighbourhood, so, it's good to bring neighborhoods together. And for me personally, for my community, I feel like it helps a lot to get the kids out. Sometimes nothing really good goes on in these neighbourhoods, you know? So I wanted to go down the basketball path.
“Midnight Basketball brings a lot of communities together"
Who in your life do you turn to as a role model?
It'll mainly be my big brothers. The oldest one, because he used to play basketball. He taught me. He got me going and he's actually very wise. He sticks to himself, he knows some of the guys in the neighbourhood, but he works, makes money, you know, does his own thing. One of my other brothers is actually in the military right now. So he tells me that I’m good at basketball and to stick to basketball... really work hard and you could make it far. They push me to do what I’m good at.
I feel like confidence is definitely a quality I take from them. I'm very confident because of my brothers. I’m really hard-working because they told me if you put your mind to it, hard work pays off.
Who or what inspires you in life?
The biggest inspiration I have is my mother, to be honest. She's had six kids, you know. She's really hard working. She raised all of us on her own, you know. She’s a really strong woman. So, she really motivates me and inspires me as well.
Why do you think it's important for all youth to have the opportunity to experience playing sports?
I think it's a good opportunity because they could really find out what they like, you know what I mean? If you don't try something, you're not going to know if you like it or not. So, I feel like if you play like every sport, you will find what you're good at naturally, so you can work hard, become better, and naturally, achieve more.. I think it's important because you never know. Like, you could really play start playing a sport late and end up on a a team, get an offer, or overseas, you know? So I feel like everyone should just try something out. If they don't like it, then there's other things they could do in life. But sports, I think it's a really good route to go down. I feel like it's also important to make friends because, see, for me, I was friendly, but I wasn't really the outgoing type.
" I'm very confident because of my brothers. I’m really hard-working because they told me if you put your mind to it, hard work pays off."
What's your favourite basketball memory?
It actually happened (at a tournament) in Pittsburgh. We were in the finals and it was like, six or seven seconds on the clock. I was guarding like their main player and he got the ball inbounded to him. And my coach was like, "Don't reach, don't reach." But I ended up reaching, and I got the steal, and I was going downhill, and I got fouled, and then I hit the game-winning free-throws.
What do you hope for in the future?
I hope for - I just need to make it, man, in basketball. I hope I get a scholarship. I've been working hard. I talked to one college coach actually … he was saying that I should come out to the workouts one day and was interested in me. Basketball is something I love. Like, I don't know what I would do without basketball. I also definitely want a kid. I'm going raise him or her, who knows, on basketball. For a family, (I believe in) loyalty, to stick together, and love each other no matter what.
MORE STORIES
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Luther is from the Brahms-Sparroways community and has been a part of the Midnight Basketball program presented by adidas for the past three years. As an older youth in the program, he's grown and developed both on and off the court and prides himself on paying what he has learned forward to the next generation of basketball players.
How did your basketball journey begin?
So as a kid, I used to be too little to be playing with grown guys, you know? I always used to see them, watch them, see them go at it, and it really inspired me. I just saw it and I was like, yeah, I want to become a basketball player. And my brother started to teach me as a really young kid. I'll probably say I'm five or six (years old). I wasn't strong enough to shoot but I always wanted to shoot far shots because I'd see NBA stars doing it, you know? So. yeah, that's why I really started as a younger.
So your brother's older than you?
Yeah, he's 29. I have a lot of brothers. I have five brothers. I’m the youngest of six boys plus one sister on my dad’s side.
What's it like being the youngest of six boys growing up?
I mean, it's kind of hard, you know? All big brothers just trying to bully you and stuff, roughing you up. But you get to learn from and become stronger. You get to, experience new things that you otherwise wouldn’t. They teach you so you don't fall in a bad, like, bad crowd or bad path. Yeah. Good mentorship.
You’ve been in the program for multiple years. How has the Midnight Basketball program made an impact on your life?
It made me more serious about basketball. Like when I used to play as a younger, I never really was serious about basketball, but Midnight Basketball made me more serious. I also got to learn stuff off the court, like law over at U of T (University of Toronto). They were teaching about law, business, they helped you make your resume. So other than basketball, the program actually helps you with real life situations like how to get a job. It's also taught me to be more confident and more social and outgoing, you know? For my team, we have more young guys than older guys, so that's when the leadership starts.
So you are the youngest of the boys at home, but on your team, you're older. Do you almost feel like you're in your big brothers shoes when you're on the court in a way?
Yeah, I get to see how they feel now (chuckles). When they're fooling around, I'm like, “yo, you guys actually, like, take this seriously,” because they're teaching you life skills other than basketball. Basketball is just a part of it, but it's mainly about life skills and like, what you're gonna do after this.
In what ways has Midnight Basketball impacted communities like Sparroways and others throughout the city?
Midnight Basketball brings a lot of communities together. Some communities don't like each other because stupid stuff, you know what I mean? But Midnight brings them together to play basketball. I know friends from every team, every neighbourhood, so, it's good to bring neighborhoods together. And for me personally, for my community, I feel like it helps a lot to get the kids out. Sometimes nothing really good goes on in these neighbourhoods, you know? So I wanted to go down the basketball path.
"Midnight Basketball brings a lot of communities together"
Who in your life do you turn to as a role model?
It'll mainly be my big brothers. The oldest one, because he used to play basketball. He taught me. He got me going and he's actually very wise. He sticks to himself, he knows some of the guys in the neighbourhood, but he works, makes money, you know, does his own thing. One of my other brothers is actually in the military right now. So he tells me that I’m good at basketball and to stick to basketball... really work hard and you could make it far. They push me to do what I’m good at.
I feel like confidence is definitely a quality I take from them. I'm very confident because of my brothers. I’m really hard-working because they told me if you put your mind to it, hard work pays off.
Who or what inspires you in life?
The biggest inspiration I have is my mother, to be honest. She's had six kids, you know. She's really hard working. She raised all of us on her own, you know. She’s a really strong woman. So, she really motivates me and inspires me as well.
Why do you think it's important for all youth to have the opportunity to experience playing sports?
I think it's a good opportunity because they could really find out what they like, you know what I mean? If you don't try something, you're not going to know if you like it or not. So, I feel like if you play like every sport, you will find what you're good at naturally, so you can work hard, become better, and naturally, achieve more.. I think it's important because you never know. Like, you could really play start playing a sport late and end up on a a team, get an offer, or overseas, you know? So I feel like everyone should just try something out. If they don't like it, then there's other things they could do in life. But sports, I think it's a really good route to go down. I feel like it's also important to make friends because, see, for me, I was friendly, but I wasn't really the outgoing type.
" I'm very confident because of my brothers. I’m really hard-working because they told me if you put your mind to it, hard work pays off."
What's your favourite basketball memory?
It actually happened (at a tournament) in Pittsburgh. We were in the finals and it was like, six or seven seconds on the clock. I was guarding like their main player and he got the ball inbounded to him. And my coach was like, "Don't reach, don't reach." But I ended up reaching, and I got the steal, and I was going downhill, and I got fouled, and then I hit the game-winning free-throws.
What do you hope for in the future?
I hope for - I just need to make it, man, in basketball. I hope I get a scholarship. I've been working hard. I talked to one college coach actually … he was saying that I should come out to the workouts one day and was interested in me. Basketball is something I love. Like, I don't know what I would do without basketball. I also definitely want a kid. I'm going raise him or her, who knows, on basketball. For a family, (I believe in) loyalty, to stick together, and love each other no matter what.
MORE STORIES
Luther is from the Brahms-Sparroways community and has been a part of the Midnight Basketball program presented by adidas for the past three years. As an older youth in the program, he's grown and developed both on and off the court and prides himself on paying what he has learned forward to the next generation of basketball players.
How did your basketball journey begin?
So as a kid, I used to be too little to be playing with grown guys, you know? I always used to see them, watch them, see them go at it, and it really inspired me. I just saw it and I was like, yeah, I want to become a basketball player. And my brother started to teach me as a really young kid. I'll probably say I'm five or six (years old). I wasn't strong enough to shoot but I always wanted to shoot far shots because I'd see NBA stars doing it, you know? So. yeah, that's why I really started as a younger.
So your brother's older than you?
Yeah, he's 29. I have a lot of brothers. I have five brothers. I’m the youngest of six boys plus one sister on my dad’s side.
What's it like being the youngest of six boys growing up?
I mean, it's kind of hard, you know? All big brothers just trying to bully you and stuff, roughing you up. But you get to learn from and become stronger. You get to, experience new things that you otherwise wouldn’t. They teach you so you don't fall in a bad, like, bad crowd or bad path. Yeah. Good mentorship.
You’ve been in the program for multiple years. How has the Midnight Basketball program made an impact on your life?
It made me more serious about basketball. Like when I used to play as a younger, I never really was serious about basketball, but Midnight Basketball made me more serious. I also got to learn stuff off the court, like law over at U of T (University of Toronto). They were teaching about law, business, they helped you make your resume. So other than basketball, the program actually helps you with real life situations like how to get a job. It's also taught me to be more confident and more social and outgoing, you know? For my team, we have more young guys than older guys, so that's when the leadership starts.
So you are the youngest of the boys at home, but on your team, you're older. Do you almost feel like you're in your big brothers shoes when you're on the court in a way?
Yeah, I get to see how they feel now (chuckles). When they're fooling around, I'm like, “yo, you guys actually, like, take this seriously,” because they're teaching you life skills other than basketball. Basketball is just a part of it, but it's mainly about life skills and like, what you're gonna do after this.
In what ways has Midnight Basketball impacted communities like Sparroways and others throughout the city?
Midnight Basketball brings a lot of communities together. Some communities don't like each other because stupid stuff, you know what I mean? But Midnight brings them together to play basketball. I know friends from every team, every neighbourhood, so, it's good to bring neighborhoods together. And for me personally, for my community, I feel like it helps a lot to get the kids out. Sometimes nothing really good goes on in these neighbourhoods, you know? So I wanted to go down the basketball path.
Who in your life do you turn to as a role model?
It'll mainly be my big brothers. The oldest one, because he used to play basketball. He taught me. He got me going and he's actually very wise. He sticks to himself, he knows some of the guys in the neighbourhood, but he works, makes money, you know, does his own thing. One of my other brothers is actually in the military right now. So he tells me that I’m good at basketball and to stick to basketball... really work hard and you could make it far. They push me to do what I’m good at.
I feel like confidence is definitely a quality I take from them. I'm very confident because of my brothers. I’m really hard-working because they told me if you put your mind to it, hard work pays off.
Who or what inspires you in life?
The biggest inspiration I have is my mother, to be honest. She's had six kids, you know. She's really hard working. She raised all of us on her own, you know. She’s a really strong woman. So, she really motivates me and inspires me as well.
Why do you think it's important for all youth to have the opportunity to experience playing sports?
I think it's a good opportunity because they could really find out what they like, you know what I mean? If you don't try something, you're not going to know if you like it or not. So, I feel like if you play like every sport, you will find what you're good at naturally, so you can work hard, become better, and naturally, achieve more.. I think it's important because you never know. Like, you could really play start playing a sport late and end up on a a team, get an offer, or overseas, you know? So I feel like everyone should just try something out. If they don't like it, then there's other things they could do in life. But sports, I think it's a really good route to go down. I feel like it's also important to make friends because, see, for me, I was friendly, but I wasn't really the outgoing type.
What's your favourite basketball memory?
It actually happened (at a tournament) in Pittsburgh. We were in the finals and it was like, six or seven seconds on the clock. I was guarding like their main player and he got the ball inbounded to him. And my coach was like, "Don't reach, don't reach." But I ended up reaching, and I got the steal, and I was going downhill, and I got fouled, and then I hit the game-winning free-throws.
What do you hope for in the future?
I hope for - I just need to make it, man, in basketball. I hope I get a scholarship. I've been working hard. I talked to one college coach actually … he was saying that I should come out to the workouts one day and was interested in me. Basketball is something I love. Like, I don't know what I would do without basketball. I also definitely want a kid. I'm going raise him or her, who knows, on basketball. For a family, (I believe in) loyalty, to stick together, and love each other no matter what.
