Kristen's Pilot Presentation

The Story

Eat, breathe, and bleed basketball was the motto- and my friends and I did just did that. From High School to AAU to neighborhood ball, we never stopped playing. My driveway was the 'go to' spot to hoop in my area. There would be bikes lined down the street. Tournaments being played and winning money being exchanged. I would always cheer my boyfriend on when he played and for me, he would do the same. The pure definition of 'High school Sweethearts'. My step dad was known to bring food and gatorade outside for us, so he was called the 'neighborhood dad'. We had a large friend group that started in junior high and we still kick it to this day- all very different people, but what we had in common - was our love for basketball.

• The Vibe

Inspiration

One unreal day, my step dad passed away. The neighborhood had a grey cloud over it for awhile. This is when the love/hate relationship started with my mental health. I used basketball to relieve my grief and it helped. I became a very decorated basketball player in the state and the country. Unfortunately, I eventually lost basketball too. I split my patella in half during practice. My first love was taken away and with nowhere to relieve that misery, I went into depression. The only thing that got me out of depression was - therapy and I realized that an Athlete's Mental Health Matters. This is the best time to share my story because the importance of mental health is finally coming to light worldwide and these stories need to be heard

• Sport x Drama x Romance

In my Pilot, I tell a story of my beautifully perfect life as a basketball playin' power couple - growing up and hoopin along side five of my best friends in a lively, uncomplicated world... until our lives begin to hit ghastly road bumps that we have to dig deep to get over.