On Campus with...

On Campus with..
Gage Shelmidine.

OC Magic is very proud to present a quick view with Gage.

Coach,

I’m loving it at Pacific University! This is my first time living somewhere where leaves actually change colors and fall off of the trees. It’s absolutely beautiful! While I do miss being close to the ocean, I keep plenty busy out here between classes, basketball, and working full time. Season is just around the corner, and I am very excited! This is the best shape I’ve ever been in. We run A LOT here haha. We have to be in great shape because of the fast paced style of basketball we play. This is going to be a very fun and exciting season for sure!!

www.ocmagic.org

Pursue Your Passion with Coach John Saintignon

Take a look at the video series designed to help you in your Pursuit of Your Passion.


You Must Decide!

OC Magic Basketball

Questions with Conner Dunn

Who are your sports heroes and what do you admire about them?

1.      Kobe Bryant is my sports hero. Kobe is the person who  never gives up. Whether down by 20 or up by 20 he gives 100% on the court. He is the person that will show up to the gym two hours before you even if you showed up an hour early. Kobe’s passion for the game is like no other.  He is mentally tough and his game IQ is unequalled.

2.    What do all good coaches have in common?

All Good Coaches can get their players to play together like one and work together as a team.  Good coaches are good communicators.  They know how to motivate players when the team is struggling. Good coaches can make all players better and the best they can be.my favorite coach would be you. No matter how good I have ever gotten you push me to the next level. You show me how good I could really become, and it makes me thankful.

Have you had any serious injuries to overcome?

The only injury that has really set me back is my right ankle When I went to the doctor he said that my muscles in my ankles have been completely stretched out. They have always been bad and has contributed to serious knee pain as well. The only way I can overcome it is just working through the pain when I have it.

How difficult is it to balance school work and athletics?

1.      Sometimes it can be hard but its only going to get harder. If I just stay on top of my school stuff and get my homework done every night I’m usually pretty good. I need to be a little more organized so I don’t miss practices.

How much time is spent training and practicing?

1.      Right now, I have basketball during my 7^th period class every day. And then after school I either do weight training or basketball practice every day except Sunday. And then games on the weekend. This averages out to 10 hours per week not including games. 

What have you learned about teamwork from being on this team? How does the team make you a better player? 
   I have always been a person that likes teamwork, I try hard to be a team player and look for good passes and situations to score. The 2- man drills that we run really help in the games when you need to score. I know my team will always have my back and I will cover theirs.  The team I am on now plays at a level that pushes me to be a better player. 
OC Magic Basketball

Questions with Aiden O'Neill of OC Magic

Who are your sports heroes and what do you admire about them?

My sports heroes are Landon Collins, Eli Manning, and Allen Iverson. These are some of my favorite players and I try to idolize my work ethic and performances these guy put on

What do all good coaches have in common?

All good coaches have the fact that they can get the best out of all their players. 

Who is your favorite coach and why?

My favorite coach is Tom Lewis. He got the best out of me and gave me advice on how to become the best you can be 

Have you had any serious injuries to overcome?

I have had planters fasciitis

How difficult is it to balance school work and athletics?

It is easy for me to balance school and athletics 

How much time is spent training and practicing?

I spend at least one hour every day and usually more 

What have you learned about teamwork from being on this team? How does the team make you a better player?

This team makes me better because I can work on my moves and become the leader I need to be.

OC MAGIC

Questions with Will Kenner

Getting to know Will Kenner, young man with talent and skill and ready for a break through season having already been named MVP of the first tournament for OC Magic U16 in which they were victorious going 4 and 0.

Who are your sports heroes and what do you admire about them?

 1- Some sports heroes that I admire are Antonio Brown (Pittsburgh Steelers) and James Harden (Houston Rockets). Both of these athletes work insanely hard to perfect their craft despite already being the best at their jobs. They are definitely role models because of their constant drive to always improve their skill. 

What do all good coaches have in common?

2- All good coaches always have a good relationship with their players, and make important decisions in order to win. What separates a good coach from a decent coach are the little things such as how they interact with their players or what they say after games to rejuvenate them.

Who is your favorite coach and why?

3-  There are many different coaches that have helped over the years, and I can't say that I have a favorite. Each coach does something special and I have a great amount of respect for all of them. 

Have you had any serious injuries to overcome?

4- I have never had any serious injuries to overcome, and have never broken a bone in my body. Although there are many times that I am bruised up and a little sore from games, I have never had anything serious to deal with.

How difficult is it to balance school work and athletics?

5- Balancing school work and sports can be stressful at times, but I have immensely improved since freshman year. I have started using my free blocks and tutorials to  study and get ahead on homework. This makes it much easier to go to practices without having to cram in homework/studying late at night. 

How much time is spent training and practicing?

6- OC magic practices on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday and occasionally on Saturday mornings. On the days that we don't practice, I lift and spend some time training with the football team. I also spend a lot of time shooting and dribbling at my house to make sure i don't get rusty. As I have gotten older, I have gotten better at balancing all my sports.

What have you learned about teamwork from being on this team? How does the team make you a better player?

7- Since I have joined this team, I feel like I have improved as a human and a player. I have learned to be leader at practice for the younger/middle school players. I have also learned the importance of communication on and off the court and how it influences teamwork. 

OC MAGIC BASKETBALL

Questions with Ludovica Albanelli

After losing a game I think of mistakes made, engaging more intensively in the practice and in the next games do not make the same mistakes and give it all.

When play basketball for me it exists only him, so crowd pressure does not feel it. 

We're all human, we're all wrong. I usually do not mind and go on my way. 

I do not think about anything, I play and I do everything to help win my team. 

I don’t have any rituals before a game because I just play ; I want to do my best every time, I want to be successful.

The most important game for me was the first one in U.S. with St. Paul High School because it’s from that game that I realized that i was opening a new life; I realized I was in the place I always dreamed about, I was living my dream and I still am.

I want my team mates to remember me for who I really am, on the court and outside.

I do not want to do any other sport because basketball is my life, my happiness. but if I have to choose to make soccer. 

OC MAGIC

Questions with Anthony Mendoza

Anthony Mendoza

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSsp26ziGnw&feature=em-share_video_user

How do you deal with the pressure of having to perform in front of the crowd?        

• The pressure of my mom watching me play is a lot worse than the general crowd but I just think " what's the worst that can happen " because at the end of the day it's just a game and I'm a kid 

How did you stay motivated after a tough loss? 

• After a loss I imagine what I could have done better to win and usually the answer is be a better shooter or play better defense so to fix that I automatically get in the gym to get better. Basketball is a game of adjustments where you have to keep getting better at your craft. And when I get tired I just remember the pain from losing is worse than the pain of working out. 

How do you channel your frustration when the referee’s decision doesn’t go your way?

• I believe and was taught that I work hard enough and am skilled enough that if a referee makes a bad call or a mistake on a call I have the power to still win or make the points back therefore, I don't get too frustrated. 

What are you thinking when you get benched in a game?

• Of course I am not happy but I know I am being benched for a reason, either I wasn't playing well or I am tired. Therefore, if I want to stay in the game longer I need to limit mistakes or try to get my second wind during a dead ball or a foul shot rather than needing to be sat down. 

Do you have any rituals that you must perform before a game and why?

• The week before a big game I work on my shot and handles a lot, mostly repetition. The morning before I get shots up but not so many shots, I work more on my form and touch. Then pregame I pray to God and ask that he would help preform.  

What was the most important game you played? Why?

• The most important game I've ever played in would have to be the CIF Championship that we would end up winning because this is the game that gave me a lot of exposure and an unexplainable feeling that I will strive for until my last time playing basketball. This is a feeling of pure joy that came from hard work which makes it so much sweeter. 

How do you want your team mates to remember you?

• I want them to remember as a good person. At the end of the day I want them to remember having fun with me and I want to have a bond in which we both pushed each other to get better. 

If you didn’t play basketball what sport would you like to play? why?     

• If I didn't play basketball I think I would put all of my time into school and also get more hours at work to save up for college and to possibly buy a house. I would do this because the way to be successful the fastest is to be the first of your peers to do something. If I could get a house first I would financially be ahead of my peers. 

www.ocmagic.org