by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
The proficient basketball point guard has many responsibilities. Proficiency is the key that will translate to making others better before the players hit the floor. The proficient point guard prepares others very well by preparing him or herself very well. Proficiency is at a higher standard than efficiency.
Quincy ‘Q’ Wilson is a 6-0, 160 lb., senior proficient point guard on the Bemidji High School (MN) Lumberjacks basketball team. Bemidji HS competes in Class 3A for the past few years after being in the big school division Class 4A prior to.
“I play basketball which has several different elements: leadership, communication, preparation, skills: shooting, dribbling, and vision, and a competitive spirit,” said Quincy.
“I was the starting point guard on our team that went to state last year,” said Quincy. “It was our first time going to state in 34 years. I also played on our high school soccer team that took Second place at the state soccer tournament.”
“My tribe is Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe,” said Quincy. “My dad, Ron Wilson, is also Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. My mom is Hannah Wilson. Our family lives in Bemidji, MN.”
“I strive to live by the seven Grandfather teachings: humility, bravery, honesty, trust, love, respect, and truth. I look at basketball as a gift from our Creator and understand what a blessing it is to play the game. I aim to be humble because my gifts were given to me by the Creator and belong to him,” added Quincy.
Top playing athletes put in the time and effort to improve their skill sets to get to the point where Quincy is now. Leading the BHS Lumberjacks as the starting point guard on a team that went to the Minnesota Class AAA Tournament last season is an accomplishment. He played with several AAU teams and as a junior played on an AAU team that was ranked in the top 10 in Minnesota. He participated in the Top 100 camp in the state and was also invited to other camps and showcases during the summer months of training and competition.
Bemidji HS Head Varsity Boy’s Basketball Coach Travis Peterson said: “’Q’ is an outstanding high school basketball player. Last season, as a junior, he started every game for the Lumberjacks in our 23-6 season that included a section championship. He played point guard as well as shooting guard. Now in his senior season, Q is our floor general, running our offense. He is a crafty ball-handler that is able to get in the paint and make good decisions that lead to scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. On the perimeter, Q is a very good shooter, the result of many extra hours in the gym. His commitment to the sport and his team are exemplary, and has helped further develop the culture of our program.”
“As a senior captain, ‘Q’ leads opening drills daily at practice. He’s a gym junky and a student of the game. On game-day, ‘Q’s’ coaches and teammates trust him, as they know that he’s prepared to play the game he loves,” added Coach Travis.
“As a point guard, my role is to lead my team,” said Quincy. “This role comes with pressure from coaches, parents, teammates and fans. It takes bravery to get through the pressures head on. It also takes bravery to get back up and continue when I fail. Bravery is not being perfect, it’s being willing to put yourself out there and prepare the best you can to represent your team, family, and community.”
“My successes and failures have impacted how I think and feel about myself,” said Quincy. “It is important to be honest with yourself and identify the voices that are trustworthy because people are constantly telling you what you can or cannot do. People have always told me I am too small, but I continue to work hard and use the gifts and talents given to me by the Creator and ignore the negative voices of others.”
“I love the game and I am a student of the game,” said Quincy. “I have a need to learn as much about the game as I can. I strive to keep an open mind and a willingness to learn. I watch game film and critique myself. Then my dad and coaches speak truth to me by breaking down the game. A hard truth is that you will not always win. If you are always winning it is likely you are not being challenged or need to find tougher competition. Understanding the journey involves being pushed and will bring me to my destination of playing college basketball.”
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“Respect is a huge part of the game,” said Quincy. “I choose to respect my teammates, coaches, opponents, and the game. I have been taught to treat others the way I want to be treated.”
“As I prepare for games, the seven teachings are like my basketball shoes and uniform … they go everywhere with me,” said Quincy. “My prayers before every game are rooted in these teachings, I play every game like it could be my last and continue to be thankful every minute I’m able to spend on the court.”
“Travis Voigt, one of my trainers, is one of my biggest influences,” said Quincy. “We relate in many ways. One way that we relate is being undersized guards. He has taught me many tips only another undersized guard could. I have learned to lean on the size of my heart rather than the size of my body. His passion for basketball and life has really connected us.”
Basketball Trainer Travis Voigt said: “When I started working with Quincy I could instantly tell there was something different about him. Most kids at that age are playing for fun, for him it was a lifestyle. Something that motivated him to get out of bed, it was in his blood. Our workouts consisted a lot of him getting frustrated, sometimes even wanting to quit. Not because he’s a quitter, but because he wants to be the best he can be. For a kid that is so passionate about the game, it can be really easy to get your identity wrapped up in it. But he doesn’t! I love the relationship that ‘Q’ & I have built because it’s more than the game. He does a great job of using the game, but not letting the game use him. Which is something that hasn’t come natural, he’s worked on it.”
“Quincy has improved each and every year as a young man, leader, teammate, friend, son, brother, and player. He hasn’t settled for being just a good basketball player, because in order to be great you need to know how to lead. In order to lead others you need to serve others. Quincy has a servant’s heart and knows what it takes to win, which is what separates him from the pack,” said Trainer Travis.
“Brady Fairbanks worked with me when I was younger,” said Quincy. “He showed me the importance of detail and how to simplify the game. This had a big influence on me because at that time the basketball culture was changing, and everyone always wanted to make every single play a highlight. He helped me see how to simplify the game and to focus on the details always working on the fundamentals.”
“I have known Quincy since he was young and he always had a love for the game of basketball,” said Brady Fairbanks, head men’s basketball coach, Leech Lake Tribal College, Cass Lake, MN. “He always asked questions and wanted to know what he had to do to get better. Then he would go out and work on those things. Our workouts early on, you could see his work ethic and love for the game. He will continue to get better and I’m very excited for his senior season. He is able to play at a high level and colleges should be looking to bring in a solid all around guard.”
“As I look back on my journey with basketball, I was pretty much born with a basketball in my hands,” said Quincy. My parents played small college basketball and have coached at small college level as well. Ever since I can remember I have been traveling with their teams, starting to learn about the game at a very young age. I remember my first little basketball hoop; my parents still talk about how I would dribble through out the house in diapers, and was doing real lay-ups and shooting jumpers non stop.”
Dad Ron Wilson talked about his star basketball player son Quincy: “As a father I couldn’t be more proud of my son Q. The work ethic he displays is that of a true student of the game. Nothing better then when I come home and I can hear that noise of the basketball inside the house as he’s working out on his own. Not making excuses about not being at a gym but making do. I have never had to drag him to the gym, because he’s always ready to get that work in. I’m gonna miss those times in the gym cause we’ve spent so much time there. He is a player who seeks to do whatever the coach needs and will always do what he needs to for his team. It is awesome to see him learn more about himself as he plays the game of basketball. He’s a leader that leads by example off the court to, since he is an academic letter winner as well. I am sad that the high school journey is slowly coming to a close but excited for his college journey up next. I have no doubts he will continue to succeed at basketball, but even more import at life.”
“Quincy is persistent,” said mom Hannah Wilson. “On several occasions I have heard him in the basement pounding the basketball on the concrete floor. When he comes upstairs all sweaty and I ask what he was doing he states, “I was getting so mad, but I finally got this new move down.” Usually it was a move from training or a Youtube video. When I tried to have him learn to play the violin he wanted to quit and eventually I allowed him to quit. But with basketball there is a passion and an insatiable desire that no matter how frustrated he got he would keep at it until he figured it out. He loves to study other players, find their weaknesses and then try out his newly mastered moves on them.”
“I have been most impressed with the development of Quincy’s poise. Let’s be honest, when you are passionate you get frustrated. When ‘Q’ was in fifth grade he was at a basketball camp and he had a melt-down and an older, legitimate baller, Andre’ Wallace came alongside Quincy and said ‘that was me at that age too.’ He has learned to harness the passion. In ninth grade he would grab his jersey with clenched fists. Now you would have to know him very well to see him ‘rattled’ by anything out on the court: referee calls, trash talking, or dirty play on screens/holding. He takes it all in stride. Joel Hoover called him ‘cool as a cucumber’ on the radio when calling the end of a close game last season,” added Hannah.
“None of these things: handling criticism, persistence, calling plays/strategy, poise, love for his coaches and teammates are captured on the scoreboard,” said Hannah. “These are things I value much more than his ‘athletic performance’ that is typically evaluated by his statistics. We have to push him to take shots, because he can score. However, Quincy has been blessed to be on winning teams, where he has not had to score more than 10-12 points for the team to win consistently. One year he was the second leading rebounder, which is not typical given his position. It will be interesting to see how he adapts this year as his high school team started out 0-2. In the game against Little Falls hit several three-point shots to give the team some confidence and a nice lead. They went on to get the first win of the season, so they are now 1-2.”
“This passion continued to grow and flourish as I played and learned more about the game. We watched a lot of college basketball together as a family. My mom would ask me what defense a team was running. She didn’t want me to just watch the game, but to study it,” added Quincy.
“As I continued to go through our Bombers basketball program and middle school my passion for hoops began to burn deep inside of me. I would start to work with my dad in the off-season on my skills, wanting to be the best player that I could. He also brought me to some of his friends who did basketball training, Travis Voigt, Brady Fairbanks and Chauncey Hollingsworth. I would take this a step further and work on skills at home, I remember coming home off the school bus and grabbing a basketball and doing my dribbling workouts in the entryway. I was on a mission, in my mind at a young age I had my sights on playing at the highest level that I could,” added Quincy.
“I have always played point guard,” said Quincy. “I remember my first coach I ever had. His name was Dennis Carlson, and he would help me as a point guard to understand the game even further, and would help me with how to play a very controlled style of basketball. I began to see the game in a strategic way, like a game of chess. He helped me understand how to remain poised, which was not an easy task at a young age, and feeling the pressure of running a team as the point guard. I am very thankful for Dennis and how he helped me see the game different and understanding that being the point guard means there will be a lot of times you have to put your own accomplishments aside and do what’s needed for the team and to get the win. He helped me understand the meaning and the importance of team.”
Quincy reflected on summer basketball days: “I remember summer ball and being invited to play with the young guns who were coached by Darrick Brown. I was a younger player on the team, but Darrick always had this confidence and belief in my game that would help me play at a higher level. This confidence helped me have some big moments with the team. His style was very up-tempo, and at first it took a little bit to adjust, because I was used to a slowed down type of game that we played with Coach Dennis. One of my favorite players to play ball with was Coach Darrick’s son, Ethan Brown. He helped me adjust to this fast paced style and always took me under his wing and looked out for me especially when bigger players would try to push me around or play dirty. I am forever thankful for these opportunities to play and help me be able to have a healthy balance of fast paced but controlled basketball. Coach Darrick and Ethan will always have a special part in my journey with basketball.”
“Quincy might not of been the biggest kid but it would be hard to find any one that would outwork him,” said former summer basketball coach Darrick Brown. “Fundamentally sound. I always enjoyed watching him play. He played in a lot of tournaments for me and one game that sticks out was a tournament in Fargo, ND and in the championship we played Dakota Heat, a traveling AAU from that area. Before the game as I walked through the stands I overheard some fans talking about how the Heat were going to walk through us. Back and forth was the game and with a minute remaining score was tied and I remember seeing ‘Q’ standing outside the 3 point line and my son Ethan dished it out to him and without any hesitation he shot the 3 and drained it. That moment still sticks in my mind and always will.”
“When we were younger playing with the young guns, I kind of set an example to Quincy and I pushed him to be better than I was,” said Ethan Brown, former star at Cass Lake-Bena HS, MN. “I knew Quincy would be something special in basketball and I love to see how much he has grown and took from me.”
“As I continued to train and excel at basketball, I had this idea that things would be easy and always go my way,” said Quincy. “I found out quickly that this was not always the case. Even in my training sessions when I could not grasp things right away or could not do the drill perfect right away, I would get so angry at myself that it made things worse. The positive is that it has helped me learn how to be persistent and push through even when things were hard and did not come easy. I learned that we are not growing if things are always easy, I needed to struggle to grow.”
“I remember a couple times in my career that I lost it mentally because I was so competitive and always wanted to win, and when things did not go my way, I did not know how to handle it in my earlier age. As tough as these moments were, I feel like they were necessary for me to learn to deal with this frustration and understand I will not always win. I think at times it is easy to try and equate winning and losing with our value as a player or person. Something that always rings true and was hard to understand at the time, was my mom always telling me that basketball is not who I am and not my identity. It is just a part of what I do and enjoy,” added Quincy.
“Through high school I continued to train with my dad and work out on my own, and the passion for basketball would continue to burn,” said Quincy. “I am now learning and understand how to breakdown game film, and look at my game from a constructive view. I am learning to take advantage of these tools that are available to help me better prepare myself for games. My journey up to this point has helped me overcome my frustration in dealing with losing and understanding and winning or losing a basketball game does not affect my value as a person. It has helped me learn how to remain poised in adversity and know that growth comes from struggle. I cannot place my value in a win or a loss. Life is bigger than basketball.”
“The team of guys I played with from the beginning are still here in high school and we are like a band of brothers,” said Quincy. “We have accomplished a lot together from freshman year going undefeated and winning MN Pacesetter, and continuing on to make it to state for the first time in 34 years and being juniors. These are my brothers and I am forever thankful for them. My Bemidji coaches have all played a big role in my development and growth as a player and a person. I am very excited for my senior year and to give them my best.”
Quincy addressed his position-specific work as a point guard and connections to who he is: “Being a point guard has taught me a lot about life and about myself. A point guard is not only a leader vocally but also by the way he lives and leads by example. He is not only a leader on the court, but in the classroom, and in everyday life. A point guard is more concerned with those around him and how we can succeed together, and how to facilitate that. As hard as it can be at times, being a point guard is putting your own accomplishments aside for the betterment of the team. It might mean people don’t recognize you or there’s no accolades because you don’t have the most points. Everybody can learn to score points, but not everyone can do the things that a point guard does.”
“There are so many little aspects to a game that the average basketball fan does not see that a point guard does. For example, being the glue that holds the team together, the poise in big moments, the directing of traffic and flow, the extension of the coach on the court, being willing to take criticism, and doing whatever it takes to get the job done. My journey has not always been the easiest or been perfect, but I can look back with no regrets. I know that I have put in all the work behind the scenes, and have earned every bit of it. There has never been a red carpet rolled out. This has taught me that life is not always fair, but that shouldn’t stop us from putting the work in, if we really want it,” added Quincy.
“Basketball accolades are great and feel good when you get them, but just as quick as they come they will fade into the distance. It is the things behind the scenes that really count that people do not see and how we impact this world and help those around us. I have learned the Creator has a plan for my life and a higher purpose than just basketball.
Basketball has truly been a blessing in my life and I plan to continue to play college basketball. It is the process along the way that has impacted my life and helped me with my development as a person and seeing my value beyond the sport.”
“My athletic accomplishments have never been freely given and they have only been earned,” said Quincy. “I have always had to learn how to make a name for myself and fight for my spot.”
Photo Credits: Denise Warweg and Baltimore Medina
