When I played high school basketball, free throws were one of the biggest weaknesses in my game.
During practice, we would shoot 25 free throws, and the coaches charted everyone's results.
My name was usually near the bottom.
Sometimes I made one out of 25. Other times, I didn't make any.
Then everything began to change.
A coach who wasn't part of my high school staff specialized in shooting and taught me proper free throw technique.
He showed me how to position my fingers on the basketball, improve my arm angle, and develop a consistent shooting motion.
I practiced what he taught me, and slowly my confidence grew.
By the time I reached West Virginia State College, free throw shooting had become a strength.
I'll never forget playing on the road against Alderson-Broaddus.
We were trailing 80-78 with one second remaining when I was fouled.
We were in the double bonus, so I had two free throws.
My coach called me over and whispered a few words in my ear.
My teammates were cheering.
The crowd was screaming.
Then I received the basketball.
Everything seemed to go silent.
I went through the same technique I had practiced countless times and knocked down the first free throw.
I stepped away from the line, looked toward my coach and teammates, returned to the stripe, and made the second.
Tie game.
We eventually lost in overtime, but I've never forgotten that moment.
When my team needed me, I made the shots that once seemed impossible.
That's the lesson for student-athletes: weaknesses don't have to remain weaknesses.
Find coaches who can teach you.
Work with shooting coaches and trainers.
Identify the areas where your game needs improvement and attack them relentlessly.
Keep learning.
Keep practicing.
Keep developing.
One day, the skill you struggle with today may become the skill your team depends on tomorrow.