How Basketball Taught Me to Have Grit

By Brendan Winters | Former Pro Player, Co-Founder of Pro Skills Basketball

Basketball has the power to teach kids far more than how to shoot a jump shot or run an offense. At Pro Skills Basketball, we believe the court is a classroom for life. Through every drill, win, and loss, youth sports can instill critical character traits—and one of the most important is grit.

We emphasize life lessons through our F.O.C.U.S. acronym, which stands for Fun, Overcome, Concentrate, Unity, and Self-Improvement. In this post, we’re diving into the “O” for Overcome by spotlighting the grit it takes to push through adversity, chase a dream, and never give up.

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What Is Grit?

Grit is passion plus perseverance. Angela Duckworth, author of the bestselling book Grit, defines it as “sustained interest and effort toward long-term goals.” Her research shows grit—not talent—is the #1 predictor of success in life, sports, school, and work.

Grit vs. Talent in Youth Basketball

While talent might get attention early, grit is what keeps players improving over time. It’s the ability to show up, stay committed, and work through plateaus.

Why Passion and Persistence Matter

True development comes from consistent effort. Grit allows players to stay focused even when progress is slow or setbacks hit hard.

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My Personal Basketball Journey with Grit

Growing up, I dreamed of making the NBA like my father, Brian Winters. But it wasn’t until 7th grade that I truly committed to that goal. I realized the first milestone was playing Division I college basketball—and from that point on, I went all in.

Training Harder Than Everyone Else

What followed was years of daily workouts. In middle school, it was 1–2 hours a day. In high school, it jumped to 3–5 hours daily. I trained relentlessly while balancing school and social life.

Talent Isn’t Enough

I wasn’t the most naturally gifted, but I may have been among the hardest-working kids in my age group. Even so, my path was anything but smooth.

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Overcoming Obstacles: The Real Test of Grit

Here’s a glimpse into just some of the setbacks I had to overcome:

• Didn’t make JV as a freshman

• Barely played on varsity as a sophomore

• Didn’t have the stats or role I wanted as a junior or senior

• Graduated high school with zero Division I offers

Choosing the Harder Path

I didn’t quit—I chose to do a post-graduate year across the country, away from family. That year changed my life and finally led to a scholarship offer from Davidson College.

Adversity Didn’t Stop After High School

Even with success at Davidson, I faced rejection again. No NBA draft. No training camp invites. But I kept going, eventually playing professionally in Europe—a chapter that brought personal growth and incredible life experiences.

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Why Grit Matters in Youth Basketball Today

Today’s youth sports landscape is full of quick fixes and instant gratification—highlight videos, rankings, pressure to specialize, and more. But true development—both athletic and personal—comes from grinding through the hard stuff.

Grit Builds Long-Term Confidence

Kids who push through frustration build confidence that lasts. Grit helps young athletes understand that growth takes time and effort.

Grit Keeps Players in the Game

So many players quit too early. Grit keeps them going when things get tough—whether it’s making a team, coming back from injury, or finding their role.

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How We Teach Grit at Pro Skills Basketball

We don’t just preach grit—we build it into our club teams, basketball academies, camps, and clinics.

1. Structured Skill Development Programs

Our practices are intentional. Every rep has purpose. We focus on improvement, not just winning weekend tournaments.

2. Mentorship from Experienced Coaches

Our coaches are more than instructors—they’re mentors who guide players through challenges and hold them accountable.

3. Normalizing Failure as Part of Growth

We show players how to embrace mistakes and use them as fuel. Every missed shot is an opportunity to learn.

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Our Mission: Grit On and Off the Court

Today, my dream isn’t to make the NBA. My passion has shifted to building Pro Skills Basketball into a world-class youth basketball organization that positively impacts the lives of kids in 25+ cities and beyond.

A Vision Bigger Than Basketball

We want to shift the entire culture of youth basketball—toward development, character, and long-term impact.

Setbacks Won’t Stop Us

Like our players, we’ve faced plenty of challenges—facility issues, staffing, expansion hurdles—but we stay focused. We get better. We push forward.

Because that’s what grit is all about.

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Ready to take the next step in your child’s basketball journey?

Pro Skills Basketball offers Club Teams, Camps, Clinics, and Academies in 25+ cities across the U.S.
👉 Find your city and sign up today to join a program focused on real development, experienced coaches, and a culture that puts players first.

📩 Contact us at admin@proskillsbasketball.com
📞 Call us at 866-996-3888