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Jordana Klein
One of the most challenging accomplishments in any sport is winning a championship. No matter how talented or confident a team is or how many basketball camps you attend, it’s even harder to do it twice. In 2021, IMG's road to defending the GEICO High School National Championship came to an end following a late-game 14-0 scoring run by Sunrise Christian Academy.
Coach Sean McAloon understands the balancing act required to manage a team like IMG. “When you have seven seniors, there’s a lot of dynamics that go into it—especially when you have seven seniors that are as talented as we have," he said. "It can be a gift and it can be a curse.” While the loss was tough, the team took that moment and turned it into a learning experience.
The road to victory isn’t easy. With a fresh season ahead of them, the team regrouped and took inventory of what needed to be done. “I felt at some points last year we focused on the goal more than we did on the daily,” says McAloon. “What’s their approach going to be every day?”
This mindset is what the team calls “The Long Game”—setting small goals and building on little victories to create a successful future.
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These little victories paid off in the first game of the season against rivals Montverde Academy. As the players stopped focusing on what could have been, they stayed in the moment and forged a new path. Senior Eric Dailey, Jr. has played for IMG since middle school. Now he’s a team leader, and understands what it takes to win. “It doesn't matter how you start," he explains. "It matters how you finish.”
Watch the video to get the full story of IMG’s impressive start to the new season. To sign up for a basketball camp or another youth program, check out the links below.
