Courtesy of Kimaya Grover

Grover gets some shots up at a local gym.

The first question I asked freshman Kimaya Grover when I met her was: What are you most passionate about? It’s an unexpected question to start a conversation with, and that can make it daunting to answer, but she’s quick to say: “basketball.”

As a basketball player myself, I understand her passion for the sport, and it was an exciting thing to share common ground with someone new. From there, the conversation flowed easily.

Grover first picked up a basketball in sixth grade when she joined the team at Redwood Middle School, and since then, she has played both in her school teams and outside of school in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) programs, which is where the bulk of SHS hoopsters play outside of school. 

As fall turns into winter and her first basketball season as a Falcon player approaches, Grover is ready to find more improvements in her game. She already knows varsity girls’ basketball coach Manny Steffen — who teaches media arts at Redwood — from her middle school days and calls him an “amazing coach.” 

While being a high school athlete can be an exciting experience, Grover keeps her eyes on the prize. 

“I just want to get in some good skills development,” she said.

Grover currently plays as a guard for Bueno Basketball Academy, an AAU program based in San Jose, about a 25-minute drive away from the school. She practices with her team every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 

Even as a freshman, Grover recognizes the time commitment and time management that it takes to be a student athlete. 

“I have to go outside of [official] practice and practice shooting or ball handling on my own,” Grover said. “And then I have three hours of basketball practice [with the team], and then I have to come back and do homework.” 

Any student athlete can sympathize with her schedule, which is typical for a dedicated AAU basketball player. Often, players will have to practice on weekdays and play games on weekends, adding even more layers to their challenging schedule.

“But it’s fun,” Grover made sure to note, always keeping her excitement for basketball at the forefront of her responses. 

Smiling, I told her jokingly: It’s for the love of the game.

“Yes, exactly,” Grover replied. The way she said it, I could tell she was serious.