How did you find yourself coaching basketball?

I was a football guy, so I played football. But when I turned 16, I went to the community centre and said, “Hey, I need a job.” The person at the community centre said, “Okay, come see me tomorrow.” When I came the next day, he made me coach a 12-and-under basketball team. I instantly fell in love with it.

I’ve always played basketball, so it wasn't like I didn't have an idea about the game, but it was motivating to cheer these kids on and help them get wins. The kids responded to me. I was there for them, and we were all on the same page. It felt symbiotic. We just matched. The gratification came instantly, and the love and the passion just stayed with me.

Working with youth, especially teenagers, is not everyone’s cup of tea. What is it about working with kids that invigorates you — that makes you wake up and do it all over again?

I always had someone in my corner growing up. Although I lived in Regent Park, I was lucky to live in a two-parent household. Not a lot of people could say that.

I also had mentors. One of them was Lucky Boothe, who was my youth worker when I was growing up. And no matter what — no matter what you were going through, no matter what he had going on — he was always there for you. And that resonated with me.

I let my kids know they can message me anytime. Same thing with the parents. It takes a village to raise a child, right? So when the child isn't responding in class or is giving parents trouble at home, they can rely on me as well. It becomes taxing at times, but at the end of the day, it's who I am and it's what I do. I can’t go to the mall or a restaurant or a game or anything without someone coming up, yelling, “Coach!” But at least I get to see the impact I have on these guys’ lives.

You’ve coached countless kids throughout the years. How do you navigate this scene, as basketball programs and opportunities for Toronto’s youth grow more privatized, as explored in this month’s Action Journey?

Basketball used to be a cheap sport. All you needed was a pair of shoes and a ball. Now it's become for lack of a better word, sexy — everybody wants a piece.

I just think you gotta ride with what you love, ride with your passion. There are different avenues of the game of basketball. You don't have to be a player. You can be a statistical analyst. Let's say you love math and you love the metrics of the game and breaking it down, you can go get an MBA job breaking down stats. You can be a videographer. You can start by doing clips and highlights for kids — that’s a big business right now. Kids want to get their name out there; they’re willing to pay a videographer to come film their game.

At the end of the day, it’s just about sports. It’s about your dreams and your passion. It’s like that old saying, “You miss every shot you don’t take.” So, it’s up to you to take the shots, and take the shots that mean something to you.