I answered questions that were pitched to me from Scholarships for Athletes. Please enjoy the below and I look forward to helping you with sports nutrition live or online, yoga live or by Skype, weight room and basketball skill development. Visit www.fitforlivinglife.com and visit my sessions at the Phoenix Sports Fan Expo June 28th.

1) Even after playing at such a high level early in your life (USA basketball) when did it hit you that you could play Division 1 basketball and eventually play professionally?

Answer: Being tall was one thing (6 foot by 6th grade and 6’4″ by Sophmore year) BUT I knew I loved to lift weights, work hard and do whatever it took to practice and earn my right to be on a certain roster. I always ate healthful and studied sports nutrition as well as strategic cross-training. I also never drink alcohol and never have – I had the mindset that I was just determined to make it and was doing all the right things that are conducive to making it. I knew within that this is something I wanted for myself. That is key – you have to want it for yourself.

2) Who was the first college coach to reach out to you? How did that interaction go, and what were your feelings?

Answer: I was contacted by many coaches and it was quite a lot by 8th grade, especially after my AAU Team (North Tartan) won Nationals. My parents are very wise though, as they did not emphasize the letters. They did encourage me to work hard in the classroom and see basketball and working out as a reward for doing well in the classroom. So I was never distracted and had my focus on the present, which ultimately adds up to ones future.

3) You mentioned being so busy with Team USA basketball that you didn’t have much time to look at colleges. What was it about Stanford that stood out to you over other schools in your short recruiting period?

Answer: Combination of academics and athletics was a must for me. I wanted to thrive in both. I also greatly enjoyed the creative and innovative feel that Stanford provided. Stanford and Vanderbilt were the only visits I took as I was playing USA Basketball and only had time for two. I was set on the combination I was seeking as well.

4) You have a passion for nutrition. Did that develop during college? If not, when did it develop? Did you do yoga in college?

Answer: I started studying sports nutrition on my own in 5/6th grade onward. I would read books on sports nutrition, lifting and cross-training after I finished my homework. I knew this was key to my development and I had an innate passion for it, too. Nutrition is essential for all individuals to lead healthier and longer lives. I offer nutrition log analysis, menu planning and more via e-mail, text, phone and Skype along with my Skype yoga programming. www.fitforlivinglife.com

5) What can you take away that you learned from college that helped fuel your passion/helped you prepare for your current career?

Answer: I always enjoyed strategic time management skills and embrace that in my current work. I cook for the entire week on Sundays and plan all my workouts and work obligations months & weeks in advance. Also prioritizing based on planning is key. I thrive with structure and frankly would not be happy without it.

6) At SFA, we talk a lot about building relationships and networking. How important have those life skill been for you with college and your professional life?

Answer: Genuine investment in helping others and being a value to them given your skill sets is key. Connecting with those that see your value is a wonderful process. I greatly enjoy networking, while we all strive to reach common goals. There is no better feeling than connecting others and being connected when common ground and pursuits are present.

7) Your business www.fitforlivinglife.com focuses on helping youth athletes. What all do you like to focus on? Do you specialize plans depending on the sport/goal the athlete has?

Answer: Nutrition, yoga, cross-training and basketball skill development. I work with clients anywhere in the world by e-mail, phone, text and Skype. I focus on strategic macronutrient profiling, meal timing, glycemic index and planning meals for many different demographics. I also emphasize healthful overall lifestyle choices including consistent sleep patterns to stabilize cortisol/endorphin ratios and also promote not drinking alchohol. I help people make gradual changes so they stick with them for life. I list all my CEC’s and pertinent areas of focus on my website www.fitforlivinglife.com

8) You mention that a lot of youth athletes have bad habits from their parents, which are hard to break? How would you recommend for those to be broken?

Answer: If there exists motivation through genuine desire to change, it becomes easier for them to execute. Target ones goals and write them in a place you will see everyday. Speak affirmations out loud pertinent to the means you will take to achieve these goals. Recognize those people who can help guide you and show you have to achieve those goals. Be open to showing your family your goals and what you would like to implement. They should support you in your passions and pursuits.

9) You obviously help others who want it (mothers to be, elderly), but where did you develop the passion to work with student-athletes?

Answer: Being a student-athlete myself and interacting with my athletic older brother was as well, I experienced so many aspects that benefitted my growth and development on and off the court. I understand what it means to work hard in school and to balance this with structured training for your sport. The choices a student-athletes makes sets them apart from the rest of their classmates. If they are serious about the next level, they cannot overlook a single aspect that contributes to this development. I relate to student-athletes emotionally and there is no better feeling than helping student athletes reach their goals. Potential is one thing, but actually getting to the destination they visualize is another. I treat all the student-athletes as if they are my own children. Having my own children to mentor and raise will be a great chapter ahead as well.

10) You teach yoga over Skype. Skeptics might think you can’t successfully teach yoga over Skype, but you’ve succeeded and are doing a great job! How would you convince skeptics to give yoga over Skype a chance?

Answer: Try a session for a group and individual and you will see how well it works. People like the convenience of just needing a mat, wifi, laptop and 1 hour at home to get a great yoga workout session from me. It also holds them accountable to their workouts, as it is tied to the convenience factor. All clients must sign a liability release form prior to participating. This form can be downloaded from my website: www.fitforlivinglife.com. Corrections on movement and biomechanical assessment are facilitated through verbal cues.