I'm A Student Athlete - Paul Burkhard Loudoun Valley
Paul Burkhard
Senior – Loudoun Valley Basketball
GPA - 4.25
I started playing basketball when I was about 4. At first I could never even get the ball up to the net. I’d make like 1 out of 100 maybe, but even then I got such satisfaction with just one successful shot that I was driven to do it all of the time.
I don’t really have a nickname that everyone calls me, although personally I prefer P-Ry which comes from my middle name, Ryan. I like it because it rolls off the tongue.
Becoming the all-time leader in 3 pointers was always a goal of mine. I wanted to put my name up on that record board, and I’ve heard that the former leader Chris Leonard was a heck of a shooter. It really is something special for me because I spent so much time working towards it.
Hands down the 3 point shot is better than the dunk because you play to win the game, and I’ve seen big 3’s get the crowd just as fired up as any dunk can. Unless you’re talking about Vince Carter, dunks aren’t usually even that exciting.
In ten years I hope to have graduated college with some sort of technical degree which will hopefully allow me to get a decent job and bring in some money. Later on I’d like to coach basketball because it’s just something I love.
I’ve never had a coach in anything that I enjoyed playing for as much as Coach Dawson. He’s the only coach I’ve ever had that’s shared my level of intensity and competitiveness when it comes to sports.
Like my teammate Jake Johnson, my favorite show on ESPN is PTI, mainly because I find Tony Kornheiser’s sarcasm and antics hilarious. I like the show too when Stephen A. Smith makes guest appearances.
My favorite player of all time would probably have to be “Pistol” Pete Maravich, because there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do with a basketball. He didn’t have all the natural ability, but made it big by working hard. If there had been a 3 point line when he played they’ve estimated he would’ve averaged over 50 pts per game, which is just insane to think about. Michael Jordan barely topped 30 for his career.
If I wasn’t playing basketball I’d be swimming for sure, since the only reason I didn’t is because of the winter sports conflict. I might be playing soccer too.
I really don’t have a favorite car, I’m not too big on material stuff…I’ll drive whatever gets me to where I need to go.
If people could see my closet they’d definitely figure that I’m obsessed with sports because it’s filled with jerseys and other sports shirts (mostly the Steelers).
What I’ll miss most is the camaraderie that I developed with everyone on my team, and also the tremendous community support system that we have at Valley that I don’t think is as prominent in other schools.
My most embarrassing moment playing basketball came last year against Potomac Falls. My teammate Alex Roth scored and got fouled and I decided to run up to him and give him a high five. He was pretty excited and decided to give me a chest bump with full force and I fell back on the floor. I was just laying there on my back in front of everyone. Since then I make sure that I’m the one that always does the chest bumping.
I’d like to be remembered as the best shooter we’ve ever had here at Loudoun Valley. I’d also like to be remembered as the hardest worker, someone who may not have had all the natural gifts athletically, but worked his butt off to make sure he’d still be successful.
