In this episode of Making the Team, we sit down with Joel Gardner, senior point guard for Skyridge Falcons, to talk about the real experience of being a high school varsity basketball player.

Joel shares what people don’t always see—early mornings, pressure to perform, balancing school with basketball, leadership expectations, and the mental grind that comes with playing at a high level. We dive into what it’s like running the offense as a senior point guard, earning trust from coaches and teammates, and navigating the ups and downs of a competitive high school basketball season.

This conversation is a must-watch for high school basketball players, parents, and coaches who want an honest look at varsity basketball beyond highlights and box scores. Whether you’re trying to make the team, earn minutes, or understand the demands of high school hoops, this episode delivers real perspective from someone living it.

Topics Covered:

• Life as a varsity high school basketball player

• Leadership as a senior point guard

• Handling pressure, expectations, and adversity

• Balancing academics, training, and competition

• What it really takes to compete at a high level

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:16 Joel's love for basketball

0:40 Behind the Scenes of Varsity basketball

2:50 Father/Son and Coach/Player Relationship

4:35 Preparing for Games

5:28 Joel's Tenacity

6:21 What it takes to win

6:52 What Pressure feels like

7:35 Favorite Play

8:26 Bantam vs AAU ball

9:16 Holding team accountable

9:54 Coachisms

10:35 Game Day Traditions

11:30 Conditioning

12:52 Favorite Basketball Shoe

13:30 Life Outside Basketball

14:35 Ideal Future

15:09 Questions from Instagram

19:26 Play calls vs free play

20:22 Senior Realizations

#basketball #joelgardner #skyridge