Statham Academy Opportunities On and Off the Court

When Taylor Statham was just two years old, his dad put a basketball in his hand and encouraged him to step foot on the court for the first time. Taylor had no idea then, but his love for the game would soon blossom into much more than a fun pastime or weekend hobby – it would lead to countless opportunities to better himself, those around him and, eventually, the very community he grew up in.
Taylor is a professional basketball player and owner of Statham Academy, a local basketball training company. He graduated from our very own Golden Valley High School and, later on, California State University San Bernardino.
As a pro player, Taylor has played in over a dozen countries, but his proudest accomplishment so far has been establishing the academy, which is just one part of his 5-year plan to turn Santa Clarita into a hotbed for basketball.
“Once I went pro, I would always come back in the off-season to mentor players, get all the top players together to host camps for kids, and get on the phone with colleges for local players,” he says. “My mission has always been to grow the culture of basketball within Santa Clarita.”
Since its inception seven years ago, Statham Academy has grown significantly – Taylor has cultivated a culture of inclusion, acceptance and sportsmanship amongst his staff and his players. What started as a desire to share the love of basketball with his hometown has developed into something much more impressive.
“Coaches from all over the country are looking to join what we’ve built,” shares Taylor. “I’ve laid the foundation each and every day – being on the court with the players, spending hours on the phone trying to bridge that gap to college basketball.. it all comes together.”
The journey has had its fair share of trials and tribulations; Taylor has had to struggle through a cancer diagnosis in prep school, the loss of 25+ scholarships, and countless injuries and bad coaches along the way. None of it matters in the long run, though, because Taylor’s always been about looking at the big picture.
“My purpose, my ‘why’ was always bigger than everyone else’s,” he says.
Taylor’s list of personal accomplishments outside of the academy is impressive on its own, too. Just this past summer, he brought his dad along to a private 5-on-5 run, where he was the only non-NBA player invited to play alongside sports stars like Kyrie Irving.
“I use my story as a testament to inspire and show people that no matter what you go through, if you’re willing to work hard, you can achieve your dreams,” he says. “Hard work, discipline, and working with others – if you get these kids in the right environment early on, it makes such a huge difference in the long run.”
You can learn more about Statham Academy and enrollment opportunities online at http://stathamacademy.com, or on social media at @StathamAcademy.

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