Royal Vision Podcast

Episode 5, Season 1 – Unshakable Focus: Elijah Kelly on Mental Toughness, Peak Performance & Turning Setbacks into Success

• Coach Matthew • Season 1 • Episode 5

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In Episode 5 of The Royal Vision Podcast, we sit down with Elijah Kelly to uncover the mindset, discipline, and resilience required to excel at the highest level. Elijah shares his journey of overcoming adversity, staying locked in on his goals, and transforming challenges into fuel for success.

Through this powerful conversation, Elijah breaks down the habits, routines, and mental strategies that allow him to perform under pressure and continuously level up. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or someone striving for personal growth, his insights on focus, adaptability, and self-mastery will inspire you to push past limitations and elevate your game.

Tune in and learn how to sharpen your mindset, embrace challenges, and develop the unshakable focus needed to dominate in life and sport!

Elijah Kelly 

Social Media: @elijahkellyy

Follow on Social Media

@coachmatthewofficial

Go to www.coachmatthewofficial.com for more!


Coach Matthew:

Welcome to the Kingdom Guys. This is episode five of Royal Vision Podcast. Got a very special guest today. He's a basketball player. He is a forward playing for the Miller School of Alber Mare and Charlottesville, Virginia. He just recently committed to Longwood University in Virginia. He's competed at a high level for his entire life. He's born and raised in Radford, Virginia. He's a two time Virginia High School League, first team, Allstate player. He's a district and region player of the year. He's a three time region and district. First team player. He's a two time Virginia Independent school athletic association state champion. And he's attended Radford High School and he is currently at the Miller School in Charlottesville, Virginia. So give it up guys for Elijah Kelly. Appreciate it all. Yeah.

Elijah Kelly:

Alright. So how you doing man? I'm good. I'm good. Excited to here. Appreciate you being on here.

Coach Matthew:

For sure. Walk me through what brought you to basketball?

Elijah Kelly:

So when I was younger I was just taller than everybody. So it's just natural. My grandparents put me in it and I just didn't done ever since. So

Coach Matthew:

now did you play any other sports?

Elijah Kelly:

I played soccer for most of my life as well. I gave that up just to focus on basketball more. But yeah, I enjoyed soccer too.

Coach Matthew:

What ended up. How long have you been playing basketball since you were like four or five? Yeah, four or five. Yeah. Okay. Is walk me through that. Is there like a moment where you were like, you know what, I'm in love with this sport?

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah. Just as soon as I started playing it was just like, I just, it just felt natural to me.

Coach Matthew:

Yeah. Who do you feel has had the biggest influence on you playing basketball?

Elijah Kelly:

Probably my grandparents, they've always just believed in me and pushed me to be the best version of myself, so probably them.

Coach Matthew:

Did. So did your grandfather, did he play basketball when he was going?

Elijah Kelly:

No, he didn't. He didn't. Okay.

Coach Matthew:

So it was you're kinda like the first person in your family to play basketball. Yeah. Yeah. Are you the first person to also like, go to play sports at a collegiate level as well? Yep. Walk me through that feeling. It feels

Elijah Kelly:

good to bring something new to the family. Be able to play division one basketball. It's a blessing. Definitely thankful

Coach Matthew:

for that. And growing up with your grandparents, a little bit different from growing up from your parents, just 'cause there's a larger age gap. Who, which of your grandparents do you feel like influenced you the most? Growing up,

Elijah Kelly:

probably my grandmother. Me and her have always been close ever since I moved in with them. So yeah, she's had a big impact on my life.

Coach Matthew:

How long have you been living with your grandparents?

Elijah Kelly:

Probably four or five around when I started playing basketball.

Coach Matthew:

Okay. So and you're almost 19 now, so almost 15 years. Yep. That's cool. And at what moment did you realize that you could go either go pro or just play basketball at a higher level than just high school?

Elijah Kelly:

When I was younger I was just like when I played rec league, I was ahead of everybody. More advanced. So just took that and kept working at it and it's paid off. So I think that's been good.

Coach Matthew:

Is there so how you play for Team Virginia's team Loaded, how long have you been playing. Travel bar like circuit basketball.

Elijah Kelly:

Third grade I started playing a u basketball. Okay. Explain that experience for me. It was definitely new 'cause my team, I just went to a tryout that we saw an ad for in Blacksburg, Virginia. And we had a kid named Brooklyn Vick and his dad was the coach, and we traveled all around the country playing basketball. So I went from Texas, Florida, New York, all over playing basketball. It was a, it was definitely a new experience, but I think it was good for me to get better competition. So

Coach Matthew:

And out of those places that you went, especially like such a young age, you're in third grade, you're like eight, nine years old, what's probably your favorite place to go?

Elijah Kelly:

I like Florida. It was nice.

Coach Matthew:

What about Florida? Just the weather. It's great weather. Yeah. So you're more like a coastal type of person, like the beach, like to be out and about. Yeah, definitely. Have you ever been to Ocean City or Virginia Beach?

Elijah Kelly:

I've been to Virginia Beach, yeah.

Coach Matthew:

Okay. And then, so like defining, what are some of your defining moments early playing basketball?'cause I'm sure you've had setbacks or just moments where you were like, I don't know if I wanna do this.

Elijah Kelly:

I would say probably middle school. It was I don't know, it was just up. I don't know. It was just a weird period for me. And it was just, I was questioning if I really loved the sport, but I think my teammates and my coaches really brought me back and break down to Earth and just helped me realize that I wanna do this for the rest of my life. So

Coach Matthew:

what kind of what kind of experience

Elijah Kelly:

did you have in middle school? I don't know if it was any specific experience. It was just like, it was just like my love for the game, just it was wavering. I think that's what it was. I don't know what exactly it was, but. Yeah,

Coach Matthew:

I gotcha. Is oh I'm sure you're glad that you fell back in love with the game because now you're gonna play for a Longwood University. That'll be a good experience. Yep. What was one of those, like deciding factors that made you choose Longwood?

Elijah Kelly:

It just felt like a real, like family environment. Great people great teammates and a great fan base. So I think that's mainly what did it for me.

Coach Matthew:

And then. So going too Longwood. I know you mentioned it's like it's a smaller town, not a whole lot to do, but what's your, what are you most excited to or about for going there?

Elijah Kelly:

Basketball. Probably just getting to play basketball at the division one level like I've always dreamed of. So it's really a dream come true.

Coach Matthew:

So you say you always dreamed of, so that this has probably been your dream for. As long as you can remember. As long as I

Elijah Kelly:

can remember. Yeah.

Coach Matthew:

Who do you, who did you model as a kid growing up? Was it a collegiate player? Was it a NBA player?

Elijah Kelly:

KD Hass always been my favorite player, so I've just always watched him.

Coach Matthew:

I can definitely if you watch your shot, I can see a little bit of KD in you, like that, that, that long, lengthy shot and you can shoot really well too. So what, walk me through what got you to that point of being able to shoot so well.

Elijah Kelly:

So it's actually funny. Before I transferred to my private school that I'm at now I couldn't really shoot at all. So I was just like, I always got downhill. And then when I came there, it was just a repetition repetition, shooting as much as I can. I feel like that really improved my shot when I transferred.

Coach Matthew:

And kind like walk me through your regimen, so I'm sure you said you recently learned how to shoot better. Kind of walk me through what you did. I guess it would be your summer of your, like what, 18-year-old year, going into your 19-year-old year. So what was your training regimen?

Elijah Kelly:

Just repetition really. Like the more you shoot, I feel like the more natural it comes. So I feel like that was the main thing and just getting a better base under me when I shoot all those things form perf, just perfecting every part of it.

Coach Matthew:

Okay. So what was what was off with your shot before that ended up changing to make it better?

Elijah Kelly:

I don't know if it was anything off. I feel like I just didn't shoot enough and I just I didn't pay attention enough to the small things. But yeah.

Coach Matthew:

And then, finishing inside, you're six seven, so it makes it easier, but one thing you're really good at is finishing. I mentioned before that, or we talked about it, this, you got three defenders on you and you're right-handed. You're finishing with your left hand with a floater. Walk me through your mindset with that.

Elijah Kelly:

It's it's just natural. I feel like I've always been able to get downhill better than I could shoot. Now it's evened out, but it's just natural. I've practiced that a lot, getting downhill and finishing over, over, whether it be like a pad or just live reps.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Coach Matthew:

And then with with reps, with repetition, with getting into the gym, you've probably sacrificed a lot. Is there anything like big that you feel like you've sacrificed to get to where you're at tonight? Today?

Elijah Kelly:

A lot of time with family.'cause the school I'm at now, it's a boarding school, so I'm there. All the time. I come home some weekends, holidays, but yeah, a lot of time with family. Yeah, that was the main thing.

Coach Matthew:

How far of a drive is the Miller School from

Elijah Kelly:

It's about two hours. When That's a two hour drive? Yeah. Yeah.

Coach Matthew:

Okay. So that's like college. And how far is Longwood from your home? About two and a half. So it's about the same. So it's good practice? It's good

Elijah Kelly:

preparation, definitely.

Coach Matthew:

For sure. And then. How did you handle, or did you experience any pressure or expectations from the outside, from your family, from your friends?

Elijah Kelly:

So my grandparents didn't put like, too much pressure on me. It was like I always wanted to do it. So it was nothing like where I felt like it was too much pressure or anything. But, and then as far as coaches, they just also they let me like what's the word? Like just do what I had to do. Didn't put too much pressure on me because they knew like I was gonna work hard.

Coach Matthew:

So like early on you were probably like one of the big leaders of your team 'cause you're just the best player out there. Is there like a game that stands out to you in like your starting years that's probably your best game you've played?

Elijah Kelly:

I can't think of one off the top of my head. No.

Coach Matthew:

Do you know how much, like what's the most points you've scored in the game?

Elijah Kelly:

I think it's 32.

Coach Matthew:

32? Yeah. Have you ever had a triple double or anything like that? Yeah, I've had

Elijah Kelly:

a triple double once, one time. A two. How long

Coach Matthew:

ago? The team loaded different? No, it

Elijah Kelly:

was, it was a while ago, like probably my eighth grade freshman year.

Coach Matthew:

So you're eighth grade or freshman year, you're having a triple double. Yeah. How's school? So in a game you've played in your, what, two, three time state champion, right? Because you won two time. Two time. Two time. Okay. That coming into that's a mentally challenging game that's high stakes. So how do you typically prepare for those games?

Elijah Kelly:

I just get, get in a mode where I don't really, I don't really talk to too many people, put my headphones on, just lock in. I'll pray, usually talk to God about it, and just mentally prepare myself and I look at it as like any other game, it's not, don't put too much pressure on yourself, on myself, but yeah,

Coach Matthew:

for sure. And then do you have a pre-game ritual that you normally do?

Elijah Kelly:

No. No. Have you

Coach Matthew:

thought about one that you might do?

Elijah Kelly:

Not really. No.

Coach Matthew:

Okay. So then what is you were talking about you, most athletes, I feel like they. Listen to music. So what's your go-to song or do you have a go-to playlist?

Elijah Kelly:

I have a playlist. Yeah. It kinda has a bunch of different artists and I like calm music. I don't like anything like too, like rowdy to get me hyped up, but Okay. Calm music. So

Coach Matthew:

if you were to listen, so what would be the first song you pick right now?

Elijah Kelly:

Probably some sizzle sza? Yeah. Okay. So what's one Snooze or, yeah, something like that. Okay. So

Coach Matthew:

just something that kind of gets you in, like that zen mode prepares you? Yeah, for sure. And then what about do you or do you have any superstitions? I.

Elijah Kelly:

No, but if I have a good game, I would probably wear the same shoes until I have a bad game. That would probably be my closest thing to a superstition. So how many like shoes do you have?

Coach Matthew:

I probably have 30 plus basketball shoes. 30 plus? Yeah. So you just, so what kind of goes into your preparation

Elijah Kelly:

for picking a pair of shoes? Just what feels better, what I'm feeling for the day, listen to

Coach Matthew:

my gut. And then, so with playing for Team Loaded, they're sponsored by Adidas. Are you more partial to Adidas? Do you like Nike's or,

Elijah Kelly:

So before I started playing with Team Load, I didn't really wear Adidas, but I learned to grow. They grew on me a little bit, but long was Nike, so I'm have to transfer over, get rid of all my Adidas shoes,

Coach Matthew:

Ah, for sure. And they don't let you like. They just gotta wear Nike State. Nike. Yep. Nothing wrong with that. I'm a Nike head too, so I get it. So overall, throughout your career, you've been playing basketball f for 15 years. What do you feel like's the biggest hurdle you've ever had to overcome?

Elijah Kelly:

I think I'm going through right now with my ACL injury. It's definitely been a challenge. I've never been injured before. Yeah. So for this to be my first one, it's pretty, pretty major injury. But it's definitely a process. My bad. You're fine. It's definitely a process, but I've learned to embrace it a little bit, look at it as a positive, rather a negative because I know I'm gonna come back stronger. And then also not being able to play this whole year sitting out has helped me to just see it from a different view. I've always been on the court, so now I'm seeing it from just having to watch all the time and really learn to love. Love every moment.'cause you never know. It can be your, it could be your last game.

Coach Matthew:

Yeah. Because you tore, is it your left? My left. Your left. ACL meniscus and cartilage damage. So walk me through when that happened. Did you at that moment, did you know what was going on or? So when it happened, it was like,

Elijah Kelly:

I kept playing after I played for a month on it and before I got checked out because I wanted to finish the AAU season. But when I went, yeah, they just told me like it was torn and I looked at it and yeah, it looked pretty bad.

Coach Matthew:

So do you feel like. If you had stopped playing, it wouldn't be where it, it was, or, Yeah that's a thought. That's a thought thing about that. Yeah. But at the end of the day, you're playing with you doing what you love. Did it, was it something that kind of bothered you for the rest of the season or,

Elijah Kelly:

yeah, it was definitely there in the three rest B finals. It was definitely nagging at me, so I knew I had to get it looked out, but I wanted to finish the season

Coach Matthew:

yeah.'cause you guys ended up finishing in the. Final four, right? Yeah. For that season. So that's something pretty cool. So walk me through, you're playing on like one of the highest circuits, it's Adidas circuit and playing against some of the best five star, four star recruits in the nation. Walk me through that experience.

Elijah Kelly:

It was a great experience, that's the level I'm gonna be seeing in college. So I think it is a great preparation. It was good. It was fun playing with the guys. Yeah. During the summer traveling the country. So it was a good experience. And I, this is my first time flying too. I had never flown before. You'd never flown a plane? Yeah.

Coach Matthew:

Where'd you guys end up flying to?

Elijah Kelly:

Our first flight was to Omaha, Nebraska. Then we ended up gonna to Texas too,

Coach Matthew:

okay.

Elijah Kelly:

That's cool. What was like your favorite experience about flying for the first time? I like looking out the window. It was pretty cool. You could just see everything. Everything looks so small. Where'd you get to say, were you in the front or were you by the wing? I was like right behind the wing.

Coach Matthew:

Okay. So that. That was probably a fun experience. Yeah, it was great. Is did like turbulence mess with you a little bit? Did you get any did you feel scared at all when you were flying?

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah. Yeah. On the way up I was like in shock a little bit, but yeah. And how was like, was the landing smooth or? So my first time flying it, they had said like, all my teammates said they had never had a landing that bad. So I thought it was always gonna be like that. Yeah. It was

Coach Matthew:

scary. Now what, what's airline agenda flying? Oh, we went southwest. Oh, that's not a bad one. That's normally, mostly us. I've flown most spirit then United, done Delta. So it all depends on the pilot. Most of the time it's pretty good. At least It wasn't raining. It wasn't raining, was it? No, it wasn't. It wasn't? Okay.'cause I've had experience where it's like raining and it's I hope we make it down how do you feel like self-talk plays a crucial role in, playing your game? Just to myself, like mental talk, like positive talk negative talk, whatever it is. Yeah,

Elijah Kelly:

Just staying positive with yourself, not getting too down on yourself.'cause I used to have a problem with that, like I would get way too down on myself and just think too many negative thoughts, but I've learned to be more positive with yourself and not get too hard on

Coach Matthew:

yourself.

Elijah Kelly:

So

Coach Matthew:

what's so you were talking about how you used to be negative. What did what kind of helped you break out, break outta that cycle? Oh, it was just, I could

Elijah Kelly:

feel it like. It just didn't feel good, yeah. Just telling myself like, oh, you suck, or You're not good enough. Rather you could do it work harder. Yeah. You know what I mean?

Coach Matthew:

So you learned that that it was, you had better results when you were lifting yourself up rather than tearing yourself down. For sure. That's my biggest thing that I preach to people is like you and your prime example, you. React and you respond so much better when you're telling yourself like positive, uplifting things rather than saying oh, you're the worst, you're terrible, you suck. Exactly. All those things. And clearly if it's gotten to you where you are today about to go play for long wind University. And then so what do you feel is one mental skill that sticks out for athletes that they sets them from, sets 'em apart from just being great to, or from being good, to being great.

Elijah Kelly:

I feel like just being able to push yourself when you don't want to. Early mornings, late nights, just being able to kind of work when other people aren't working. And

Coach Matthew:

is that, so walk me through, let's say you're in season, you don't have your injury, or let's say it's off season, you don't have your in injury. Walk me through. Like a training, like a typical day of training for you? So at school

Elijah Kelly:

we usually lift 6:00 AM in the morning before school, and then we'll go through our day of school off season. We, we will usually we'll have a conditioning with our, one of our assistant coaches. After school we'll run a mile or do hill, something like that. And then later after dinner we'll have practice. So that's all still off season. Looks like in season it's more, it's more laid back. We'll still use, we'll lift a few times a week in the morning and then we'll have practice after dinner. But yeah, that's the,

Coach Matthew:

and so walk me through, how's your recovery been, your training been. Shifted or been different now that you have, you have the injury. You're coming on your eighth month of recovery, right? Almost

Elijah Kelly:

so I've been still able to lift like upper body stuff. And then our trainer at our school, he used to be a physical therapist, so he's been helping me with my recovery. I go to him every day. So he's been a real beneficial part of me getting healthy.

Coach Matthew:

And then has there been like a point where, you know, you, when you get injured. Sometimes you can have some negative self-talk. Do you think there's, that's had an influence on confidence or do you feel

Elijah Kelly:

yeah,

Coach Matthew:

definitely. I

Elijah Kelly:

feel like at first I was like, like how am I gonna come back from this? But I feel like I can feel getting stronger and it's given me more confidence to come back. I. And just I'm, I know I'm not gonna be a hundred percent right away, so it's just about time letting it heal and yeah, just trusting the process.

Coach Matthew:

But I can just imagine, you're sitting, your team won the state championship for the school, for their league, but I can just see you sitting out there on the court just like itching to get back in, oh, I just wanna go out there, play. I get it. But how do you feel like you've learned. You were talking about earlier, you've learned a lot just from being able to sit and watch the game. So walk me through that.

Elijah Kelly:

Just seeing it from a different perspective. Seeing what reads people make from not being on the court. Just stuff like that. Just small stuff. And

Coach Matthew:

then

Elijah Kelly:

have you been watching like, films, studying and film too? Yeah, I've definitely been watching our old games from last year, reliving a little bit, so I can't play this year. Yeah. But also seeing what I can improve on too.

Coach Matthew:

I gotcha. So what. What do you feel like you've been able to improve in, in your time in recovery? Probably just I've noticed sometimes, like I don't play as hard as I can, so probably just playing harder. Okay. So do you know, do you have an idea of when you'll be able to go in the court? Is it one day at a time? So I've been able to work out, I just

Elijah Kelly:

can't really do contact stuff yet. Hopefully that's coming in the next couple months.

Coach Matthew:

But cool. So that'll be good. That'll be a good, maybe you won't dunk to start off, but Yeah, that'll definitely be something good.'cause you do have hops and we'll talk about your dunk later on, but, so share like a moment with me where you felt like you failed or, and you came back stronger.

Elijah Kelly:

So states, my, my sophomore year. Junior year, we lost both of those. So that was hard for me. We lost pretty bad too, to John Marshall. But yeah, I feel like I over that summer I worked hard and then I just feel like I came back a lot better next season. A lot more mentally prepared for this season.

Coach Matthew:

What kind of, what do you feel like was the difference in your mentality for, that sophomore, junior year compared to your senior year?

Elijah Kelly:

Probably just I don't wanna feel that again. I don't wanna, I don't wanna feel that loss again, so

Coach Matthew:

I gotcha you. So it was I don't wanna feel I gotcha. So I don't wanna feel, the pain of losing that game again. I want to be on the other side. I want be hoisting that trophy. I gotcha. Especially with, most schools, state or state. Most states state championships coming to an end. There's a lot of teams, especially the one one A through six A that are going through that experience, whether hoisting the trophy or, runner up. And so how do you feel like you handle criticism?

Elijah Kelly:

You just gotta take it. You can't really let it affect you too much. You know what I mean? Just block it out a little bit but also hear it too.'cause like it's used it as motivation. You don't think I can do that? I'm gonna show you. You know what I mean?

Coach Matthew:

Yeah. Who do you feel like you receive the most criticism from?

Elijah Kelly:

Probably people from my hometown, to be honest.'cause I I moved away. Yeah. So it was like. They just lost hope in me, but it was like I'm still working. You know what I mean? They just don't see it as much as they did

Coach Matthew:

and so how do you feel like you used that criticism as motivation? How do you feel like you transform it into a fuel?

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah, just trying to just let it like ignite in me. Just think about it when I'm working out or whatever. Just use it to. To, as anger. Just kind of motivation

Coach Matthew:

and then playing like on such a, like a large level as you do, playing for team loaded, representing the state. Obviously you're gonna hear multiple comparisons, multiple different angles from people that are probably well respected in the sports. How does it feel to receive input from those people or be criticized by those people?

Elijah Kelly:

That, at least they're, they're saying something about you so you can listen to it. Definitely. Okay.

Coach Matthew:

What do you feel like is probably like some of the best advice you received from somebody playing on that circuit? Playing on that level?

Elijah Kelly:

Probably just trust, trust yourself and trust your work. Just know that I've worked hard and nobody can take that from me.

Coach Matthew:

And then was there like any, like one moment that stood out to you playing against those, four star, five star recruits?'cause I'm sure there's a lot of like trash talking going on.

Elijah Kelly:

Not one moment. It was just always fun competing at a, at the highest level possible. So that was a great feeling.

Coach Matthew:

And who do you feel is like the best player other than yourself, that's you've played against on that level?

Elijah Kelly:

Kobe, Pete, he was good. He played with Compton Magic. Yeah, that's probably one of the best players I've played against.

Coach Matthew:

And he's Is he a forward like you? Yeah. Yeah.

Elijah Kelly:

How tall is he? He's probably 6, 6 6 to six eight, I'm not sure exactly.

Coach Matthew:

Okay. What was it about his game that kind of stood out to you?

Elijah Kelly:

He's just like big, I was guarding the whole game, so it was like, I'm not too big, but I held my own. But it was just like he muscle, he muscled me around a little bit and he just, he played really hard, so talked to his teammates. He was a leader

Coach Matthew:

and then, so playing in. Playing for team. Loaded playing for or for the Adidas team. Did you ever experience like a slump? Were you ever like on for a while and then off?

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah, I got into some shooting slumps. Just keep, bring yourself back and be like,

Coach Matthew:

I, I know what I can do.

Elijah Kelly:

So I was able to get out of that. So

Coach Matthew:

what did you walk me through what you did so you could, escape that slump?

Elijah Kelly:

Just. Get back in the gym and tell yourself that you can do it like you worked hard for this, so just get your mental right. Yeah.

Coach Matthew:

So really just not letting the outside affect you. Just focus on the inside, working to make, get the outside results that you wanted. And it's paid off. Your shooting's drastically. Gotten better. And most of the shots or games that I watch you play you didn't ever miss. Who, being a part of Team Loaded, being a part of the Miller School playing, you've played for what, three different teams in the last what, like three years? So walk me through like the feeling, the different experience on each team.

Elijah Kelly:

So at my public school, Rafford, it was we were a smaller school, so we had a good fan base, but it was small, good tight community though. And those are the people I grew up with, my teammates, so it was like, I've known them forever. So it was hard leaving them. And then when I went to my new school, it was a whole new experience. Private school, I'd never been to one, but I think it was good for me. I had better teammates, but. They pushed me to work harder. And then loaded, that was probably the best teammates I've ever had. That was a great challenge for me, I think just to push myself and know that the people around me have, are experienced what I'm experiencing into.

Coach Matthew:

Because I know at the Miller School, I mean you have a teammate, he just signed a play at what, Virginia Tech, right? We have one

Elijah Kelly:

that

Coach Matthew:

is going to Oklahoma State. Oklahoma State. That's what I'm talking, it was, I knew it was an orange school. Yep. But I'm thinking of the softball player. The softball player. Yeah. She signed a Virginia Tech and then playing for team loaded. So like how many of those guys are gonna play Division one basketball? Go. This episode of Royal Vision Podcast is sponsored by Trophies Plus here in Martinsburg, West Virginia. They got sublimated mugs, embroidered hats, you got service awards and even trophies. So for any award or special ceremony, they're just celebrating, go to Trophies plus here in Martinsburg and go copy yourself those things. Appreciate you guys.

Elijah Kelly:

Pretty much the, we had eight guys. I think all of 'em signed to play D one, so

Coach Matthew:

that's cool. Yeah, that's cool. And then what do you feel is the hardest decision. You've had to make in your career up to this point?

Elijah Kelly:

Probably leaving my hometown to go to a private school. Just 'cause that's where I grew up and those are people who have been supporting me my whole life. So it's definitely a hard decision. Took a lot of thought and talking to a lot of people, but that's probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make.

Coach Matthew:

And walk me through that experience. How did how do you feel like that benefited you?

Elijah Kelly:

It just better prepared me. I played better competition. And then also just like a coach, my coach he's been doing it for a long time, so he knows the ins and outs of getting recruited basketball, just everything.

Coach Matthew:

And do you obviously you don't regret it, do you is there one thing you feel like you've been able to bring back your home with to your hometown? From being able to play for the Miller School, playing at a higher level?

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah, I work out with my friends and stuff and I just bring them different drill and stuff that I learned being at school.

Coach Matthew:

And then, so how do you feel like you balance ambition, especially now with, being a recover, but how do you balance ambition with self-care and recovery?

Elijah Kelly:

You gotta learn how to push yourself but not push yourself too much to where it does, end up with an injury. You gotta make sure you're stretching every day, eating the right stuff, lifting and giving yourself time to recover.

Coach Matthew:

So outside the basketball part, what do you feel is your favorite part of what's, what builds you into an elite athlete? Like the, between, like meals, the weightlifting regimen, the recovery stuff?

Elijah Kelly:

I feel like it all plays a part. It just everything comes together to, to make it what it is. So it's everything really.

Coach Matthew:

Is there one thing that you like more than another? I try to embrace it all. Okay. Is there so you talk about meals. What's probably like your favorite meal to eat? Either pre-game or postgame?

Elijah Kelly:

Pregame, probably just like a sub something. Light. Light on my stomach. After game. I like wings, pizza. I'm not a picky eater, so I'll eat anything. Oh, so

Coach Matthew:

So before game you go to Subway, Jimmy John's one of those. I don't know what they have Jimmy John's down Virginia, don't they? Yeah. Do. And then what? Like bubs or Wingstop? Yeah.

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah. Probably I go Bubs.

Coach Matthew:

Bubs. Okay. I know they had this I think it's Adobo, honey Adobo, something like that just came out. It's pretty good. And then have you ever felt like you com had to completely shift your training approach to competition?

Elijah Kelly:

Not necessarily the competition, but with the injury, I've definitely had to adjust how I've, I can't go as hard as I want to, and I know I just have to, it just takes time.

Coach Matthew:

Do you I don't, I know, I don't know if you know about like Aaron Rogers, when he tore his Achilles, he said it was going to, he was gonna be back in four or five months. He, had a speed of recovery. Has there any been a moment where you're like, can I be like him? Or is, have you just just trusted the process?

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah, just try to trust it.'cause I don't want to come back to you early and then. Tear it again or risk something else happening. So just taking it slow.

Coach Matthew:

And how do you feel like 'cause you're committed to long way, how do you feel like they've helped you through this entire process?

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah, they've been supportive the whole way. They told me, like even with the injury, they still want me to come and see what I could do. So they've been really supportive. I've been talking to their strength coach and trainers and just, they've been really supportive. So it's been good.

Coach Matthew:

I got now, so you just played basketball and you're talking about playing soccer, so what, what drew you to soccer?

Elijah Kelly:

When you

Coach Matthew:

were playing?

Elijah Kelly:

I just liked it was natural to me as well, so it just felt good. It was fun. It's a fun sport.

Coach Matthew:

And then is there a reason that you ended up, 'cause you played soccer in high school, right? Is there a reason that, or do you feel like you could have played like collegiate soccer at some point?

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah, my, my coach wanted me to, but I chose basketball. So what position did you play when you played soccer? I was like a left and right wing.

Coach Matthew:

Is that off

Elijah Kelly:

offense? It's kinda it's kinda like a little bit

Coach Matthew:

of both midfielder. Midfielder, yeah. Okay. And so being six seven playing soccer, does that, did that help you to

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah, it definitely helped me with like headers and stuff and people looked at me funny'cause nobody's really, that's all playing soccer unless you're a goalie. But yeah, it was fun.

Coach Matthew:

Did you ever get push to try and play football or did you never touch like,

Elijah Kelly:

I saw play football when I was younger, like fourth grade maybe I was a receiver, but yeah, I stopped at that. They wanted me to play in high school, but I just, I didn't do it. Yeah.

Coach Matthew:

And then, so with being at a, like a charter school, how do you feel like you find like a balance between your sport and your academics?

Elijah Kelly:

So it just I know, if I wanna be able to play basketball, the then grades come first. And they have always just preset to me. So it's just just knowing that I need it.

Coach Matthew:

And like from an academic standpoint, what's been your favorite part about going to the charter school? I.

Elijah Kelly:

It's, it is a great variety of courses that we could take. Like it is way more than my other school. I'm really interested in photography, so I've took a photography class that's been really fun. So

Coach Matthew:

is that something you'd probably be interested in doing after sports? Yeah,

Elijah Kelly:

definitely. I'll be interested in doing that. Just like sports photography or even like videography, just some with cameras.

Coach Matthew:

So outside of the sport, what do you feel like, what impact do you want to make outside your sport?

Elijah Kelly:

Outside the sport, I just want to have a family one day, be a good father for my children, for able to have them and just live a good life. Happy life.

Coach Matthew:

And so what is it that what kind of drives you, what motivates you to, to want to do more, want to be more, be at the highest level?

Elijah Kelly:

Probably my family. They just always encouraged me and I just want them to make them proud and make them happy.'cause they have always supported me, encouraged me.

Coach Matthew:

Kind of walk me through your relationship with your family members. I know you got your grandmother, you got your grandfather.

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah. So I grew up with them and then my mother, she's in and outta the picture, but now she's coming around more. So it's been good. And then my dad he lives in Richmond, Virginia, so I see him a few times a year. I'm starting to see him more now, so that's good. And we're, we've been able to build our relationship more too. And then I also have a little sister. She has a different dad, but she's great. I love her. Sh yeah, we st we stay in contact, but yeah.

Coach Matthew:

Does she go to Miller school or she stay back up? She goes to Blacksburg. Blacksburg, yeah. Okay. And so how has, rekindling that relationship with your dad starting to see your mom a little bit more. How has that been? It's been great. Just seeing

Elijah Kelly:

everybody be able to get better and just. Just be more of a family

Coach Matthew:

for sure. And then, so how do you feel like they've supported you the most? Just through these last seven, eight months,

Elijah Kelly:

they've been really supportive. They believe in me. I could see that. So it's been good.

Coach Matthew:

And so speaking of belief, how do you feel, like, how do get that belief system? How do you shape that belief system so that you can become the, that pro athlete, become that division one athlete?

Elijah Kelly:

It's just. Knowing that people believe in me, that kind of gives me belief that I can do it too.

Coach Matthew:

Has there ever been like a moment where like you didn't believe in yourself or?

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah, definitely. I. Like I said, I was hard on myself. So it was just like, it's just being able to get over the mental part. That's the biggest part, I think is the mental.

Coach Matthew:

And how do you feel like, so you've overcame that. How do you influence your teammates to help who are going through that same kind of struggle?

Elijah Kelly:

Just give 'em talks. Talk to 'em like, it's, it can't rain forever, so it is gonna get better whether it's now or down the road.

Coach Matthew:

Is there like a specific moment that stands out to you that, where you've picked up one of your teammates?

Elijah Kelly:

Just one of my teammates having a bad game. I'll just talk to him at halftime, be like, we still got what 16, 24 minutes to play. So just keep going.

Coach Matthew:

Do you have a teammate either now or from all the various teams that you've played in or played for, that you have like a unexplainable bond with one that stands out to you the most? I feel like I make

Elijah Kelly:

pretty good bonds with all my teammates. I don't have one that's like. Like closer than anybody else, but,

Coach Matthew:

but getting to your experience with different teams, what is something that like you guys like do together that's good team bonding exercises or So, so

Elijah Kelly:

the school I go to now, it's a boarding school, so we live there. We're together all the time. Like my roommate is my teammate, so it's like. I just feel like that's been able to help us build a better connection just being around each other 24 7.

Coach Matthew:

And so like outside of basketball, what do you guys like normally do together? Do you play the game? Yeah, we,

Elijah Kelly:

We got a game system done there and then we'll just hang out in each other's rooms. Just talk. We have a couple of guys on our team. We call ourselves a squad every night. We'll come in, we'll just talk about how our day was. We usually pray, do stuff like that. So it's been good having a other guys who know what I'm going through and relate to me.

Coach Matthew:

And so talking about playing the game what's your favorite game to play? Or what console?

Elijah Kelly:

I like 2K. And I used to play Xbox More with PS five guy, all though Smart. Actually, I just sold my PS five.

Coach Matthew:

Yeah. So what is it about obviously you're a basketball player, but what is it about 2K that kind of stands out to you over other games?

Elijah Kelly:

Just love basketball. Just I've watched those players my whole life.

Coach Matthew:

And you were talking about kd, so do you normally play the Suns or,

Elijah Kelly:

yeah, I like the Suns. Yeah. And the Celtics.

Coach Matthew:

So like. When you're playing those games, who do you feel like wins the most? Me for? For sure. Yeah. For real. Yeah. What level do you play on?

Elijah Kelly:

Oh, we play on, we usually play on Allstar. Allstar?

Coach Matthew:

Yeah. So walk me through like a typical game when you play, or do you like. Is, do you like circling on KD or do you play throughout the

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah, I usually just shoot with KD every time.

Coach Matthew:

So he'd be averaging like what, like 50, 60 points a game? Yeah. And then talk a little bit of crap. Yeah. To my teammate. So if you're new to the Kingdom and you wanna support the Kingdom, go out there to coach matthew.com. A copy yourself, some Kingdom merch. We got Gym tank tops, t-shirts, sweatshirts. The whole load. So you can go out there, you can be a king, you can be a queen yourself and represent some royalty. So go cop some kingdom merch. Appreciate you guys. What do you feel is like the most enjoyable part about having that relationship with your guys? Or, you can step away, talk to 'em, play with them or on, on the game, whatever it is. I

Elijah Kelly:

feel like it's really good just to, to be able to separate yourself a little bit so it's not too much over overwhelming. You know what I'm saying? Just be able to just think about other stuff and talk about other stuff.

Coach Matthew:

And how do you feel like you separate your identity during, in basketball from your identity outside of basketball?

Elijah Kelly:

I feel like it's just trying to be a good person, try to get to other hobbies like I told you about photography. Yeah, I do that. And then just my connection with God also. I've been trying to work on that too. So it's just other stuff to get your mind off of a little bit.

Coach Matthew:

So like with photography do you take do you charge people for photos now or do you go out and do your own thing? Yeah,

Elijah Kelly:

so over the summer I was doing it, like before I went to school our football team, I took some pictures for them and they paid me. So it was nice.

Coach Matthew:

What's what is

Elijah Kelly:

it about photography that kind of draws you to it? I don't know. It's just, I just like, like seeing the outcome and then also people like, who doesn't like pictures? You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So it's just a good feeling. Now do

Coach Matthew:

you do your own editing too? Yeah. Yeah. What how do you feel like you put like your own spin into photography?

Elijah Kelly:

Just getting different angles and use, use people for inspiration, like other photographers, but also just see what looks good to you. Because just original, just try to be original.

Coach Matthew:

And do you so do you ever go out and just, are you ever just like out in at your boarding school and you you got your camera and you're just like walking out?

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah. It's it's a beautiful campus, so it's always something to take a picture of, whether it's the buildings, the nature. So yeah, I'll do that sometimes.

Coach Matthew:

That's cool. Do you take a photography class at your school too? Yeah, I do. I'm in it right now. So kinda walk me through that. How is, how's that experience?

Elijah Kelly:

It's good. So I talked to my teacher. He's I told him that like I was interested and he's gave me some freedom to do my own stuff. Whereas the class, they have like specific stuff. He gave me some freedom to just do my own thing. So it's been nice.

Coach Matthew:

And do you have a portfolio too? Yeah. What do you feel like is like the best photo in your portfolio?

Elijah Kelly:

So I took some pictures from my friends playing at the park one day, and they were pretty nice. They came out nice.

Coach Matthew:

Were the basketball players. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Did what do you feel like the best picture was that you tagged, that you took that day?

Elijah Kelly:

It's, it is a picture of my friend. He's just it's just kinda like a headshot. It's, it is a nice shot. So

Coach Matthew:

That's cool. Do you have any other hobbies that you take

Elijah Kelly:

part in? Just, I just play the game. Not really too much laid back. Watch YouTube, stuff like that.

Coach Matthew:

What's your favorite thing to watch on YouTube?

Elijah Kelly:

I like watching podcasts.

Coach Matthew:

For real? Yeah. Oh, this is fitting then. Yeah, that's fitting. That's cool. What, so walk me through what were your thoughts when you, when I invited you on the podcast?

Elijah Kelly:

I was like, Hey, that should be a good experience, like training, like for the next level. Media training and also just coming on here and supporting you. You're chasing your dreams. So it's, I feel like it's a win-win for both of us.

Coach Matthew:

And then have you ever considered or thought about starting your own podcast or,

Elijah Kelly:

I haven't, but I would always be open to it.

Coach Matthew:

So going, you were talking about media. What is what are you looking forward the most to playing? At the division one level as far as like media broadcasting,

Elijah Kelly:

Getting to apply ESPN. That's amazing. I've always dreamed of that and my friends and family can watch me play on tv. That's crazy. That's crazy

Coach Matthew:

fun. That's cool.'cause you're playing in the big South and I know Longwood made the NCAA tournament last year, when you're a hundred percent, how do you want to make like an impact going into Longwood?

Elijah Kelly:

I definitely wanna help bring them back to the tournament and just just play my role however, the team needs me. So

Coach Matthew:

is there like something that stands out to you the most? Or is there like a mission that you wanna accomplish while you're at Longwood? Probably just have a great college career. No, nothing specific, but, and then, so like after college, you wanna go pro, like how do you envision that experience? Like what do you see going pro looking like?

Elijah Kelly:

Probably I'm gonna have to definitely have a good college career. I. And then having the right people around me to support me and probably get an agent or something. And try to just see what best the best option is going forward.

Coach Matthew:

And then do you have a preference of playing in the league or

Elijah Kelly:

playing overseas? Obviously the league would be nice. Yeah. Make the most money and just a dream come true. But if that's not possible, overseas it's still a great experience. I've never been outta the country, so that'd be a crazy feeling too.

Coach Matthew:

And then so what is, what's something that you feel like most people don't know about you?

Elijah Kelly:

Probably just how, laid back I am. I feel like I'm a pretty chill guy on, I don't do too much like I.

Coach Matthew:

Just go with the flow. Yeah. Like your thing is basketball, you're really serious about that. But outside of that, it's just like a cool guy.

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah. Try not to, try to stay not too high, not too low. Just like even kill so

Coach Matthew:

and like, how do you maintain like humility for, despite being like a really good basketball player?

Elijah Kelly:

Just staying humble, it's just, it is just basketball. Like it's not, it doesn't define who I am, it's just nothing bigger than life,

Coach Matthew:

yeah, it, but I guess one thing that, how do you balance that basketball life from your personal life? Because I know playing sports, you have a bad game that can sometimes funnel over into your other life. So how do you keep that balance?

Elijah Kelly:

Just just once I get home or back to my room, just trying to just separate myself from a little bit, think about it, but not let it over overwhelm my life. You know what I mean?

Coach Matthew:

Yeah. And then, so having accomplished so much, how do you feel like you keep, what motivates you to keep going? What motivates you to keep not stop, despite having achieved a lot up to this point?

Elijah Kelly:

Just, it's always more, it's always more that you can go after, so it's never get satisfied. Or complacent. Just know that you can always do more.

Coach Matthew:

And what do you feel like your whys are? Like why is it that you do what you do? What's your driving force?

Elijah Kelly:

I just, I love playing basketball, it's always been my passion, so I. And then also my family, just being able to make them proud too. So

Coach Matthew:

is there anything like you want to do for your family, just like that drives you?

Elijah Kelly:

They've put so much money and time into the, into me, so just being able to repay them for that.

Coach Matthew:

Yeah. And like one thing that stands out to me is how like athletes, they always buy their mom a car, buy their, their mama house. One of those things that would be a dream come true if I

Elijah Kelly:

could do that.

Coach Matthew:

For sure. For sure. And then. So we talk about, life after sports. So how do you want to be remembered throughout sports?

Elijah Kelly:

Probably just someone who always plays hard and a great leader. And

Coach Matthew:

then how do

Elijah Kelly:

you wanna be remembered outside of sports? Outside of sports? Probably just a good guy like Al always was able to like. It, put a smile on your face if you're feeling down, it

Coach Matthew:

just uplift you. And then have you had, I don't know if they do this in the Miller school or not, but have you had any experiences where you're like going out in the community, making a difference, making an impact?

Elijah Kelly:

Not at the Miller School, but at my old school we would go, we'd go to like churches and stuff and just or like the elementary school, we go to elementary school and talk to the kids and just let 'em see our faces.'cause they look up to us.

Coach Matthew:

And what was like your favorite experience about that?

Elijah Kelly:

Just being able to like, see put smile on kids' faces and I'll dunk it. They'll go crazy. Yeah. They just loved it.

Coach Matthew:

And then you probably signed a couple autographs in your life too. Yeah. Walk me through that, being like 18, 19-year-old and signing autographs, like Yes.

Elijah Kelly:

That's a crazy feeling.'cause one day, one time I was asking people for autographs, so it is like really? Yeah. A surreal moment.

Coach Matthew:

What's have you ever gotten an autograph

Elijah Kelly:

from somebody?

Coach Matthew:

Yeah. Yeah. So who did you get an autograph from?

Elijah Kelly:

I would go to the Rafford University men's games. Okay. I had a jersey and I had 'em all sign it. Yeah.

Coach Matthew:

What do you feel like is like the coolest thing you've gotten to sign up to this point?

Elijah Kelly:

I've gotten to sign. Yeah. Probably like somebody's shirt. Just like a shirt. Yeah.

Coach Matthew:

That's like a surreal experience, just like sitting there, just getting assigned people's things and Yeah. Going into play like division one, now you get to experience the NIL, walk me through your feeling going into NIL getting to experience that.

Elijah Kelly:

It is crazy'cause, a couple years ago they didn't get to experience that. So I'm definitely thankful for that and I'm excited about it just to, I. See how it goes. And set, make the path, pave the way for the future NIL deals.

Coach Matthew:

Is there is there any kind of like impact that you wanna make regarding NIL? Probably just, no, not really, to be honest. Not nothing that comes to mind.

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah. Nothing that I can think of off the top of my head. Okay.

Coach Matthew:

And then so what do you feel is one piece of advice you'd wanna offer those athletes? The ones that you signed jerseys for is the ones that come out to your game, support you all the time. One piece of advice. Yeah.

Elijah Kelly:

Probably just keep going after your dreams and doing what you love. If you're doing something you love, you can't replace that.

Coach Matthew:

That's true. That's true. I feel like it's always about finding you really gotta be passionate about something to keep going. And then you gotta you gotta find your, whys that, that drive you? Because I don't think, excuse me, I think passion is enough, but I feel like you need whys behind it. I feel like you have to be passionate about your whys, that to keep going. And so one thing that I wanted to bring up was just your overall like gameplay and a couple plays that stood out to me the most. So I. I know we've been talking about it a little bit. So like that poster that you had on that player from the Minnesota team. Kind of walk me through like that motion through what happened and then all

Elijah Kelly:

Oh, so yeah. I saw somebody get the rebound. I just took off and then. Troy passed me the ball. It was just like I let let instincts take over and just, yeah. I took two steps and dunked on him.

Coach Matthew:

So and so after that experience, do you feel like it do you feel like it impacted you in a way? Do you feel like you had like more to give or.

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah, it was gave me and the team a boost'cause it was a tight game. I feel like that kind of broke it away a little bit. Just gave us some energy.

Coach Matthew:

And then do you remember because you stepped over him, so you pulled I think Shaq did that. There's a couple players that did that. Kobe. Kobe. Yeah. Kobe. Yeah. What kind of drove you to do that?

Elijah Kelly:

It just saw cameras, a crowd just doing something for them. And he was just right there. So I was like, might as well.

Coach Matthew:

Do you feel like that's like the coolest thing that you've done in a game? Yeah, it's pretty cool. Yeah. And like obviously hopefully get, hopefully you get to see that until you can do that.'cause what was that player? Was he a three star, four star recruit or is he just Oh,

Elijah Kelly:

I'm not sure. Yeah, I don't really know him. If he was, he probably isn't anymore,

Coach Matthew:

but, that's cool though. Is there like a, is there a moment in a u that kind of stood out to you playing for team loaded?

Elijah Kelly:

Probably just the whole experience, making new teammates that I'll probably have those friendships for life. So just the whole experience overall a good experience.

Coach Matthew:

And then are any of those players, you said they're all playing division one, are any of them also playing in the big South?

Elijah Kelly:

I don't think so. We got one going to Auburn, oh, he's gonna Auburn. Yeah. That's cool. And then one unsigned, Fordham, which is a 10. Yeah. Minnesota. So just, yeah, just all over the country representing, so

Coach Matthew:

That's awesome. Now is team loaded? One of the, is that like the best, the highs. Or is it just,

Elijah Kelly:

we were ranked one of the

Coach Matthew:

highest teams in the country

Elijah Kelly:

this summer, so

Coach Matthew:

Okay. But then you're also playing on, so there's other, I get it now. So there's other Adidas teams with also players that are just yeah. As good as you, but there's different schools. Yeah. Is there, so there multiple high level teams in Virginia? Or is it just, are you guys the highest?

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah, there's a few others in Virginia and then. DC has some too. And then the Nike circuit too is the EYBL. There's a lot of good teams in there too,

Coach Matthew:

so did you get a chance to play well? I guess if you're only, so have you ever gotten a chance to play against EYBL teams or play in the EYBL?

Elijah Kelly:

No, I didn't play the EYB, but we didn't play any EYBL teams this summer. I don't think so.

Coach Matthew:

Okay. Is that something that you feel like you, you would've enjoyed doing? Getting to play against the Nike Circuit team? Yeah, I feel like that would've been fun. And how does that kind of compare, how does, like the Nike is there, there's an Under Armour circuit too, right? Under Nike, under Armour and Adidas. How do you feel like that kind of compares overall? I.

Elijah Kelly:

I don't want to like, put any other under anything, but yeah, I feel like EYBO is pretty much consistent. Consistent, like the top organ or whatever it's called org. But and then under that is probably Adidas and then everything else probably falls under that,

Coach Matthew:

okay. But as far as, I'm talking about as far as like intensity, play level, do you feel like. One is do you feel like you played the same caliber of players in the Adidas as you do in the Nike, or, I feel like Nike's probably the best of the

Elijah Kelly:

best.

Coach Matthew:

And so walk me through that process. Like how do you get to be a part of Team load to be a part of that, that Adidas, Nike, under Armour surf. So

Elijah Kelly:

they reached out to me and then I went to a trial. It was probably over a hundred kids there. So it was just just, yeah, it was just a tryout for me, just showing what I could do. But Is it like a

Coach Matthew:

multi-day tryout or is it just one day? Yeah, it was two days. So even if you did bad that first day you would come back, you got a chance to come back the second day. Yeah.

Elijah Kelly:

And then even after that, like the next weekend, they like, they still kept like probably 30, 20 k. So it was ongoing just. Yeah, it's a limit process of elimination. So they

Coach Matthew:

narrow, so it started with a hundred and they narrowed it down to what, 12?

Elijah Kelly:

Yeah. Yeah. All the way down to 10, 12.

Coach Matthew:

So that's gotta be like, that's one heck of a, like an honor to be like notably and named one of the top 12 kids in the state of Virginia. Yeah. Is that so walk me through your experience. Was it like nerve wracking or? A little bit,

Elijah Kelly:

but that's, it's like I knew not being cocky, but I knew like what I could do. So I was ready.

Coach Matthew:

Okay. So walk me through I don't know if you remember each, each day of the tryout, like throughout that like couple weeks span.

Elijah Kelly:

First, first day I was pretty nervous, a little bit intimidated, but it was just like I knew what I was there to do. Had a goal to get on the team. So it was just throughout the weeks I gained more confidence, just seeing. Somebody who was on my team the last week, not there anymore. So it's just like, all right, just keep going with this. And you'll be on the team. So

Coach Matthew:

is there anybody who that you were like, relieved to see at the very end whenever you made it?

Elijah Kelly:

Not off the top of my head. I feel like I, I knew the guys like you could see who was. Who was staying out. So I was pretty confident who was gonna be there at the end.

Coach Matthew:

And who do you, who's like your favorite player that you've been playing with that you got to play with on that team?

Elijah Kelly:

I like all the guys. Nate, that he was a great teammate, good guy. I. Trell, Troy, all of them. Kayden Desmond, all of 'em. Great guys.

Coach Matthew:

And do you do you stay in touch with them? Yeah, I still talk to 'em. Yeah. That's cool. And then, so another thing I noticed is I feel like you have a style on the court. Walk me through your style, walk me through your, what kind of gives you that, that edge on the court?

Elijah Kelly:

Just, I just have confidence. I feel like just knowing what I could do. So it's just like playing with a little bit of swagger,

Coach Matthew:

I gotcha. And then like off the court, how do you feel like you show up with swagger, with style, whether it's in your dress and like the way you present yourself, whatever it is?

Elijah Kelly:

Just, I feel like confidence comes back to confidence too. Just knowing okay. That you, that guy a little bit, so

Coach Matthew:

and I noticed so you got the tattoo, could you want to like, walk through the tattoo, the meaning behind it?

Elijah Kelly:

So this is my grandma's name right here, Vicki. And then in, here's my favorite Bible verse, John 1427. That kind of like a, it talks about peace. So it's like a peace sign inside of the tree of life. So just, and then over here I have my sister's name.

Coach Matthew:

Okay. So what kind of inspired you to get. The tattoo.

Elijah Kelly:

Just so I've been trying to work on my relationship with God. I feel like that was a big step. Just something I can't take back. So

Coach Matthew:

yeah, it's a nice looking tattoo. I've always wanted to get a tattoo, but I've never wanted to like, spend the money to get a tattoo. Yeah. Yeah. But that's cool. So whether, coming to the end of the podcast, what's one thing you wanna leave the viewers with? As inspiration to keep going, whatever it is.

Elijah Kelly:

Just chase your dream and try to always do something you love.'cause money can't buy happiness.

Coach Matthew:

That's true. Yeah. What big, biggest thing is don't give up. Don't give up. Always persist. Persistence builds faith. Persistence is that's the way to make it. Imagine if Elijah, just gave up whenever he, let's say he got benched. If he just gave up at that point, he's never, he wouldn't be where he is at today. He wouldn't be about to play division one basketball. You gotta persist. You gotta keep going. I'm Coach Matthew. This is Elijah Kelly. This has been episode five of the Royal Vision Podcast. I appreciate you guys. Peace out.