Ryder Phillips is a sophomore at Catoosa High School. He’s been playing basketball since he
was only three years old. Ryder got his start with basketball through his grandpa, who
would bring him up to the local YMCA and teach him how to shoot. Playing basketball has
made a big impact on his life. His favorite part about basketball is getting to play it with his
teammates. Ryder has been able to stay active with a sport that he’s grown to love and is
able to make his mom proud. She is his biggest role model. When he’s having a tough time,
Ryder can always count on her to talk to him about whatever is going on in his life; good or
bad.

Ryder’s favorite subject in school is math, “because you need it for everything,” he says. His
favorite coach is Coach Hammons. Ryder says Coach Hammons “makes things easier by
breaking things down in a way that no one has before.” In his free time, Ryder likes to hang
out with his friends. In the future, Ryder hopes to pursue basketball at the collegiate level.
One day, he hopes to be a professional basketball player.

His favorite sports moment of his athletic career so far, was making it to the championship
game in the eighth grade. This was also the highest moment in his career because he was
able to make the game winning point. Sports have taught Ryder that it isn’t just about the
sport; it’s also about the friendships that you make along the way. To be a great athlete,
Ryder says that you have to learn to be a great teammate. To be a great teammate, you have
to “play your role, and bring up your teammates when they’re down,” Ryder says. The
advice that he wants to give his fellow athletes is to have fun.

By Ariel Casida