Tony's Testimony:
Basketball has always ruled my life. Even with a lot of success through high school, the all time leading scorer, Co-Mr. Basketball in 2000, I still found myself searching for more. I was making bad decisions, trying to fulfill this void in my life. Through the talents that God blessed me with I was able to get a scholarship to play at Clemson University where I made all acc freshman team, continued having much success, but still making bad choices, looking for something, hanging out and drinking, chasing girls... still trying to fulfill something that wasn't there. I decided to transfer to The Ohio State University to be home around my family... having all that success, I felt like I needed to celebrate this with my family, I felt like this is what I was maybe missing.
When I got to Ohio State I continued to have success, I lead my team in scoring my junior year started of my senior year having a great year. My wife now, but my girlfriend at the time, Brittany, we got pregnant with our first son. He was brought into this world earlier than he was suppose to be due to a large cyst on his brain, .... through the stress and the confusion and frustration of all the things that were going on with Tayden, it broke me down. My basketball started to falter, I was struggling to get to practice, class, and to the hospital to visit my son... I was at the point where I was asking "Why me?!".
That's when I realized that I wasn't a living a "God-Honoring Life", I was living a "Me-Honoring Life". Everything I did I was saying "Good Job Tony", I was only worried about myself. Now having my son Tayden it has helped me understand that it isn't about me... there is more than just me. That's when I first realized that God was working in my life. I started to read the bible, ask questions, and started my spiritual growth and still continue to grow. As I get more into my journey, and I understand that God has a plan for everyone, I understand that the thing that I was missing while having all that success was a balance between God, family, and basketball. And now with my faith, my balance, and my strength, even through a still struggle with life challenges I have a peace about me and I know through Christ all things are possible.
