Gil Basketball Academy Player Profile Nick Duque

When Nick Duque was 6 years old, his family moved to Salinas. Immediately he was the new kid, in a new school, with no one to talk to.

Salinas, CA, June 14, 2020 - “I had problems interacting with other kids and was bullied a lot,” he said.

Starting in the fourth grade, Nick would bring his own basketball to school and shoot hoop during recess and lunch — by himself.

Eventually he joined a team … and everything changed.

“Making friends and interacting with other kids my age became easier and the bullying stopped,” he said. “Going through this kind of stuff helped me become a better person and leader.”

Currently in 8th grade at La Paz Middle School in Salinas, the 5-foot-9 point guard is a scoring sensation, averaging 20 points per game last season. He was selected to the Reggie Stephens Foundation Monterey County All Star Team, and has been named scholar athlete the past two years.

His goal next year as a freshman is to make the JV or varsity team at Alisal High School.

“My immediate plan is to take advantage of this off season and improve my skills,” he said. “I feel that since there is a shelter-in-place order in our area, a lot of players my age are not working that hard to get better.”

Nick joined Gil Basketball Academy in the fifth grade, and credits GBA with instilling in him a work ethic. “GBA has taught me to keep working hard to achieve your goals not only in basketball but everyday life,” he said.

To achieve his basketball goals, Nick takes at least 500 shots a day, works on his ball handling drills, runs 3 miles per day wearing an elevation mask, and works out in his family’s home gym.

“Another goal of mine is to be a good big brother and to support my younger brother with anything he needs,” he said.

Nick’s 2-year-old brother was recently diagnosed with autism. “I hope I can make a difference no matter how big or how small,” he said.

Nick believes that playing basketball and being part of a team has helped him become a better person.

“With basketball you learn early on how to interact and work together with others,” he said. “It also gives me the incentive to get good grades.”

Nick’s goal is to attend a four-year university and play basketball. “My ultimate goal is to become a doctor,” he said.

He hopes the sport continues to open up doors for him.

“Without basketball I'm not sure what I would be doing,” he said. “I have met a lot of people and obtained the discipline to stay away from anyone that may be a bad influence.”

Nick credits GBA with instilling in him certain traits — among them, leadership, respect, courage and selflessness.

“Being part of the GBA family has taught me to keep working hard to achieve my goals, not only in basketball but everyday life,” he said.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://gilbasketballacademy.com/

Gil Basketball Academy Player Profile Eduardo Rodriguez

Eduardo Rodriguez is only 17, but has already learned one of life’s great lessons.

Salinas, CA, June 04, 2020 - Eduardo Rodriguez is only 17, but has already learned one of life’s great lessons.

“I don’t see failure as failure, but as lessons that will help me improve and grow,” he said.

He learned that by playing basketball, and by being accountable as a teammate. Any loss, or setback, became a learning experience, an opportunity to practice techniques and perfect performance.

“Without basketball I wouldn't be the person I am today,” said Eduardo, a senior at Alisal High School and 10-year member of Gil Basketball Academy.

One such setback occurred during his sophomore year when he tore a ligament in his left elbow during a football game. Fear and uncertainty followed.

“The anxiety increased when I learned that my tear required surgery,” he said.

Although the surgery was successful, he had to undergo physical therapy for 10-12 months in order to get his full range of motion back. “My will was tested when it came to healing,” he said. “I was in constant pain. I wore a cast, making it difficult to feel comfortable when learning or doing homework. School was also a challenge because it was difficult to open my locker and get my books, typing on my computer with only one arm.”

He also lost out on a season of sports.

“I fell into a depression because I felt that I had lost a part of my identity,” he said.

Surrounded by his family, his friends and his teammates, Eduardo learned about unconditional support.

“Because of this, I was able to succeed academically and athletically, resulting in a speedy recovery,” he said. “I learned to appreciate the simple tasks in life and I learned to develop mental toughness and grit. And I became a stronger athlete and an even better student.”

During his senior year, the 5-foot, 8-inch shooting guard was especially good behind the 3-point line. Eduardo started playing at age 5, winning numerous awards along the way, including earning a place in the Central Coast All-Star game and earning all-star status at Michael Jordan’s basketball camp in Santa Barbara.

Beyond all those achievements, Eduardo has built so many memories away from the court. Through GBA he’s traveled to far-flung places, from Las Vegas to New Zealand to Italy and more.

“Basketball has taught me many life lessons,” he said. “It has taught me how to work with people and have good communication, since you play with a team not just by yourself.”

GBA also stressed the importance of an education (it helped that Eduardo’s parents serve on the GBA board).

“My parents have always told me about the importance of an education because it’s what changed their lives for the better,” he said. “They have shown me that with a college degree I can achieve a better life with better job opportunities.”

Eduardo will attend UC Davis straight out of high school. He plans to study Cinema and Digital Media, with an eye toward a creative career in video editing and production.

When he leaves, he will feel good about helping others in his hometown of Salinas.

“Another opportunity that GBA gave me was being able to be a mentor to the youth of GBA by being a coach,” he said. “Helping these young kids has taught me how to be more patient. Through GBA I learned the importance of giving back to your community in order to make it a better place.”

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://gilbasketballacademy.com/

Gil Basketball Academy Player Profile Jordan Montero

Playing basketball has taught Jordan Montero many life lessons, but the one that really resonates involves character

Salinas, CA, May 28, 2020 - Playing basketball has taught Jordan Montero many life lessons, but the one that really resonates involves character: “Anyone can be good at sports, but not everyone is a good sport.”

The 5-foot, 3-inch power forward/shooting guard plays for Everett Alvarez High School and on a select team for Gil Basketball Academy. She has participated in tournaments all over the Bay Area and as far away as Las Vegas.

“Basketball is one of the greatest things that has happened to me,” said Montero, 16. “Basketball, and especially being part of GBA, has really shaped who I am. It’s not only about basketball drills, they also teach character.”

Just being a member of a team has shown Jordan the values of listening, discipline and compromise.

“Volunteering with GBA at camps and on Monday night Academy Nights have really pushed the lesson of giving back,” she said. “I could share the knowledge they so readily gave me with the future generations of kids. Without GBA, I couldn’t imagine where I’d be, but let alone what kind of person I’d be. I don’t think I’d be nearly as thoughtful or considerate of others without basketball to begin with.”

The 10th grader lives in Salinas, the oldest of six kids.

“Life is never boring or dull,” she said. “My immediate future plans are simple, all I want to do is go to a good college.”

GBA has also taught Jordan the importance of education.

“It has extreme value to me,” she said. “I dream of the day I get to go off to college knowing that everything will be OK.”

Jordan will be the first person in her family to attend college, a fact that has really motivated her.

“I plan on working really hard in high school right now so I can go to the best college possible for me,” she said.

Montero credits GBA with opening a variety of doors in her life.

“I never knew some were possible for me,” she said, “from free basketball camps at Stanford, to more educational opportunities like a STEM program for women in science. GBA has introduced me to people willing to help me in basketball and with education. And for that I am truly grateful.”

Jordan also credits basketball with helping her overcome serious issues such as anxiety and low self-esteem.

“It took so long to even make progress to be where I am today,” she said. “And I’m still working on it, but things always get better. And they’re getting better one day at a time.”

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://gilbasketballacademy.com/

Gil Basketball Academy Player Profile Isabella Gonzalez

In many ways Isabella Gonzalez has two families.

Salinas, CA, May 16, 2020 - The 13-year-old lives with her two loving parents, two older brothers and her nana in North Salinas. Away from home Isabella experiences another close-knit environment as a member of Gil Basketball Academy.

“Because of GBA, I have another family,” she said. “It has helped me become a team player, and taught me to always work hard and to never give up. I love playing basketball and I think, without it, I wouldn’t be as motivated in life.”

The 5-foot, 1-inch shooting guard started playing basketball at the Rec Center at age 6, and joined the GBA Select Team two years later. This past season she averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.

But it’s what happened off the court that affected her so profoundly. Sports have a way of creating a sense of uni­ty, and that showed when Isabella’s mother Susie was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I was in kindergarten, and as a 5 year old I was frightened that I was going to lose my mom,” she said. “It was so difficult to see her after her treatment and especially seeing her in the hospital. I would cry myself to sleep every night and also used to cry at school.”

Even now, every time her mom leaves to see her doctor at Stanford for a checkup, Isabella feels anxious and afraid that the cancer will return.

“It’s making me a strong person like my mom,” she said.

During her mom’s treatments, when she was really sick, “my GBA family made me feel like there was hope,” she said. “Some of the parents used to give me and my brothers rides to Stanford Hospital so we can see our mom. They would even bring food and let us stay at their houses, or took us places so my mom could rest.”

GBA also allowed Isabella to experience other cultures in different parts of the world.

“I’ve been to all the world tours that GBA has gone to,” she said. “I’ve been to New Zealand, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Italy and Mexico.”

In many of those countries, Isabella interacted with kids experiencing profound, daily life challenges, and that provided her a life lesson.

“Being in a foreign country, I have seen kids that aren’t as fortunate as I am, so my GBA family and I decided to give out some of our shoes and other things to them.”

The seventh grader attends Bolsa Knolls Middle School, and one day plans to attend a 4-year university to study in a medical field — and hopefully continue to play basketball.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://gilbasketballacademy.com/