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Owen L. Johnson: Clutch shooter

Owen is becoming somewhat of an athletic phenom. I honestly don't know where he gets it. When I was growing up we had a basketball hoop that my dad installed in our driveway. However, during the summers I'd spend my days playing with Legos in my room while the neighborhood kids would play 4-on-4 outside my window. They'd knock on the door, ask my dad if they could play, and see if I'd like to come join them. I always declined and I'm sure a little piece of my father's hopes would die each time :)

Owen on the other hand begs me to play "down-set-hike" every day in the yard. If it's not running post routes in the front yard, he wants to shoot hoops in the back yard with the volleyball and recycling bin. Every Saturday he plays soccer, and the coach gazes on with tears in his eyes as Owen out-sprints the other kids, slide tackles with abandon, and "sells out" for every loose ball.

Our latest bonding activity is going to the Caltech gym and shooting hoops on the "real basketball hoop." I use a regulation ball and Owen uses a volleyball. He can make about 1 out of every 3 shots these days. Here's a video of his second day on the court. His first day out, he was barely able to shoot the ball half way to the hoop. About an hour in he was reliably hitting the bottom of the net. By the time we left, he had sunk 8 shots in 30 minutes.

What's especially amazing to me about Owen is his persistence. His dedication to practice is something I didn't learn until I was in college. But he'll practice shooting hoops for an hour and a half, stopping only to catch his breath and grab some water from the fountain. Who's kid is this?!

Comments

Amy P said…
He's got more b-ball skills than Auntie Amy does!!
Anonymous said…
Fantastic!! :) I love how he runs up and gives the ball a bounce before launching it into the air.
Anonymous said…
Awesome! Take that kid down to the Y and sign him up for youth basketball! :)

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