The gym is louder, the players are older, and the pace is faster. And for two Skyline freshmen, that’s how their high school sports careers are beginning.
Freshman Bryce Wall (‘29) and Raymond McBride (‘29) earned spots on the varsity basketball team at Skyline High School, stepping onto the court for a strong 2025-2026 season.
When playing on a varsity-level sports team as a freshman, it requires quick adjustments to things like speed, physicality, expectations, and competition against upperclassmen with years of varsity experience. “The biggest adjustment,” says Head Coach Jon-Lamar Hamilton, “is usually the physicality, pace, and consistency. Varsity basketball is faster, stronger, and more mentally demanding.”
Varsity basketball also requires a higher level of consistency and determination. “Younger players also have to learn how to respond when things don’t go their way,” Hamilton says. “Handling mistakes, pressure, and expectations without letting it affect their effort.”
Support from the whole community can greatly help with the adjustment on and off the court, especially when it’s from teammates and coaches. When asked who has supported them most through this transition, McBride says “probably my coaches like Coach Hamilton, Coach Tim, and Coach Bond. Also, some of the players [who have been on varsity before], especially Bryce.”
Even though varsity sports are challenging, the 9th graders are adjusting well, both getting playing time and sometimes even starting. But it’s not without challenges. “It’s hard to learn while we’re playing with people that have played varsity and played high school basketball,” says Wall (’29).
These two athletes have their pre-game routine to help them focus, think, and prepare for the game ahead of them. “I like to, not exactly meditate, but I listen to music,” Wall (‘29) says. “Usually Drake, it really helps me focus before games.”
Playing basketball throughout childhood builds experience. Both freshmen played for many prior years, this could have helped them with this jump to varsity-level. Along with giving credit to his experience from AAU teams and Forsythe Middle School. “I started playing when I was five or four,” says McBride(‘29).
As the season continues, McBride and Wall will continue learning and improving along with Coach Hamilton and the full team. As well as highlighting the positive connections formed on and off the court. “It’s given me a lot of people to look up to right when I came in,” says Wall (‘29). “I had some friends already built in.”
