When an athlete’s career at any level is over, the last time they walk off the court or field, their thoughts are all over the place. They may be on the game momentarily, but as time goes by, what really starts to matter and what they remember before the wins and losses, is the time. The time spent in practice, in the locker room, and with coaches and teammates, is what really comes to mind.
Time is as precious of a commodity as the natural ability of an athlete. Regardless of whether it’s a full-time starter, sixth man, or role player, there are only four eight-minute quarters in a basketball game. Few people outside of those that are immediately impacted by it know how many hours must be spent in the gym to be physically and mentally prepared to be able to play thirty-two minutes of competitive basketball.
Wayne County senior center Mike Swint fully understands that physical and mental preparation.
Swint knows the intense heat that shoots into the heels of your shoes after endless sprints like the first time your feet hit the hot, Georgia beach sand in July. No time to even think about the pain because the free throw line beckons. It’s time to knock down those shots when you are tired, not just to save your teammates a little extra running, but because at some point, you are going to get that opportunity.
Swint knows that it takes a good combination of mental and physical toughness to compete on the court. Or in his words, “grinding,” is that time where he works hardest in the gym to find his game and take it to its highest level.
“Grind in my term for when nobody is watching, you are putting in the work in silence, and when everyone else doubting you,” Swint said. “I have been grinding in this program for four years. My game excelled this year, but since Coach Lemetrice Ray took over, we have been working hard on and off the court. He had us hitting the floor running since May. This summer we gelled together as a team, we worked hard with the football players, we lifted weights, we went outside and ran, then we even practiced after or went to tournaments after working hard. But my grind never stopped, even after our summer program. The real grind started in July when me and a few other players started to workout at 6 AM from the month of July until practice officially started in late October.”
The summer workouts have also made Swint understand that he has a role to play and that he accepts that role.
“I have been more aggressive and been sticking to my role on the team, and my game has been coming to me. I’m committed to this program and my teammates and for my senior year,” Swint said.
The game of basketball started early for Swint, who knew when he executed his first crossover in rec league at age five that he was hooked. He continued to play the game, moving up through the ranks, making the most of his playing time. However, he knew he could be better, but as he found out this past summer, it may a take different coach that pulls it out of you.
During Swint’s junior year playing in what he considered a big game, Swint came out and hit the first seven points of the game but didn’t keep that pace, and Swint wanted to fix that.
“What I realized is when I played in a big game and I scored the first seven points of the game, I knew I had it in me, I just didn’t put enough effort to show it, and I realized that I didn’t work hard enough to excel. Therefore, after the last game of my junior season, I knew then that I had a lot of work to do,” Swint said.
It was that motivation that spurred Swint during the spring and summer leading into his senior year. There can be tremendous pressure on seniors because many coaches will go with underclassman unless a senior is a starter or sixth man. Swint was never deterred and grinded even harder when he had to, but Coach Ray was also right there challenging and encouraging him.
“It’s very important because every minute could be your last, and the most important aspect is preparation,” Swint said. “Coach Ray says that to us every game: ‘prepare yourself so the minute you get in, you are locked in and ready to play.’”
While basketball is his first love, Swint also played baseball and thought about continuing to play the game at Wayne County High School, but his travel coach died and he left the diamond.
He still remembers his coach though, wearing #22, always saying a prayer, and pointing up to the sky before every basketball game.
“Away from the court I like playing video games and hanging out with teammates. Honestly, I also really enjoy going to open gym and talking to Coach Ray about upcoming games,” Swint said.
As a preacher’s kid, he has been very appreciative of his parents, brother, and his church family during his basketball career. Swint hopes to have the possibility playing basketball at the college level, but if not, he plans on majoring in computer science.
“Our senior crew of Deshawn, Willie, Ajay, Royal, Shaquan, and Tafari has been very important, but I want to give a special shout out to Coach Ray,” Swint said. “He made all of this possible. He believed in me and he trusted me, and none of this would have happened without him. Also, thanks to Coach Mosley and Coach Cooper for helping me correct and polish my game. I want to thank all of my brothers (my team); we still haveplenty work to do.”
Most Improved/Southeast Georgia/January 2017
Making the Most of His Time and Opportunity
Written by: John Wood
Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson
