Offering FUN Evidence-Based Basketball Group Coaching Sessions. All ages and abilities welcome

Find out more about Jaden

• What age did you start playing sport? Tell us about this time or moment in your life.

  I started playing basketball at the age of 6 at Battersea Youth centre and I fell in love with the game immediately. Playing basketball at a young age helped me to come out of my shell and develop team working/ communication skills. Skills that I wasn't really aware of at that age, but looking back I'm glad I got to develop. As I got older I realised that basketball enabled me to feel free mentally and it helped me to manage stress especially when dealing with exams and school work.

• What are your favourite sports; those that you practice at a high level, a simple hobby, and a sport that you'd still like to discover?

  - My favourite sport is Basketball and to this day I still play it as a hobby and use my experience and knowledge to teach others. However, one sport that I have started to learn is tennis. I have started to get into tennis as there are very similar movements that are used in basketball. Alternatively, tennis also offers different movements as well which would help me in basketball as my body would be exploring new footwork patterns which would help with my coordination and rhythm.

• What gives you the motivation and passion to pursue your sport?

  - Honestly, I love teaching and that's where my passion comes from. I love seeing progress within whoever I'm coaching and without my patience I'm not sure that would be possible. Additionally, I would love to contribute to making basketball a bigger sport in England and one day having my own basketball academy facilities as a full time business. That's the aim! I dedicate my time and effort to the game because it has given so much to me and without it I'm not sure where I'd be mentally and physically.

• Do you have a sporting achievement that you're particularly proud of?

  My biggest achievement would be representing south east England twice. I'd say this one because I actually made it to the final 17 one year but was unfortunately cut from the team. As a kid this is hard to take in but a year later I actually did a bit better as I made the final 12 in which we went to the regional tournament in Leeds to face the rest of the regions. It made me realise that just because you fail once, it doesn't mean you stop working and give up. I always believed I could make the team, I just had to put the necessary work in and the rest will take care of itself.

• How have your achievements and challenges made you a better sportsperson?

  Challenges made me a better sport person as it made me develop a positive mindset/approach to the game. Something I didn't actually realise as a child; I thought everything should be easy. As I've grown up I've loved the thought of being challenged and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I'm a strong believer in the famous quote "the comfort zone is nothing else but a graveyard for your dreams and ideas."

• If you had to go for a jog with a famous athlete, who would you choose? And what questions would you ask them?

  - Even though this person has passed away, I couldn't help but choose Kobe Bryant. His mamba mentality is something that I have embedded in me, not just for basketball but for everyday life. I would ask him about his daily routine and what it takes to be successful. I would ask about his routine as if I have a goal/dream that I have set let's say 6 months down the line, then it's about what I'm doing in my everyday routine that will help me reach those goals. Whether that be meditating or waking up at 5am, I'd love to know!

• How do you help people stay motivated?

  - Encouragement and patience go hand and hand for me. If I'm not encouraging my students to achieve something they haven't before, then I feel I could be contributing(in the long term)to their disinterest in their relevant field. An example of this is sometimes when I teach, I have kids tell me certain teams are "unfair" or it's "impossible". Words like these trigger me and I have to encourage and explain to them that it all starts with the brain and if you already convince yourself that you can't beat a certain team then your body will be automatically disengaged and you probably won't be able to beat that team.

• What makes you a Superprof in sports?

  - Understanding that success is a journey not a destination. Constant focus is the key and actively working on myself to ensure I give myself a better chance of achieving my set goals. Dreaming about my goals is one thing, but attacking them and developing my strength of character along the way is also key.