Royal Vision Podcast

Season 1, Episode 8 – From Setback to Standout with Akwasi Opoku-Achampong

• Coach Matthew • Season 1 • Episode 8

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In Season 1, Episode 8 of The Royal Vision Podcast, Coach Matthew welcomes special guest Akwasi Opoku-Achampong for an empowering conversation on turning adversity into fuel for greatness. Akwasi shares powerful moments from his journey—how he navigated personal setbacks, overcame mental hurdles, and transformed pain into purpose.

This episode dives deep into the mindset it takes to rise, the faith it takes to keep going, and the vision required to lead with impact. Whether you’re an athlete, creative, or just someone on the rise, Akwasi’s story will inspire you to stay the course and own your power.

🔥 Don’t miss this soul-stirring conversation. Tap in and elevate your vision! 👑✨

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong

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Coach Matthew:

Welcome to the Kingdom Guys. This is episode eight of Royal Vision Podcast. I'm your host, coach Matthew, and we got another special guest today. He is a basketball player. He is a guard outta Spring Mills High School, and he plays for the Adapt Academy. He's been playing at a high level for almost two years. He's originally from Leesburg, Virginia. He's made both first and second team Allstate in West Virginia. He's made first and second team in all epac. He's a one time state champion. He made the all tournament team this year and he holds the most threes made in a single state tournament game. So without further ado, give it up for a quasi, a poku, a champ pong all one take. What's up bro? What's up? Good. How you doing, man?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I'm doing good. I'm doing good. How about you?

Speaker:

Pretty good. Glad to have you on here. So thanks for

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

having me.

Speaker:

Of course. So like basketball, is that been your only sport?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

When I, so when I was a kid, like around five years old, I played soccer. Okay. And then probably around nine. And all the way through like 13 years old, I played baseball and football. So I played all four at once. Basketball, soccer, football, and baseball.

Speaker:

Okay. So outta soccer, baseball, and football. Which of those three is probably like your second favorite? Football. Football? Yeah. What were you in Football?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I played db. I played running back and wide receiver.

Speaker:

Okay. Yeah. And so when did you stop playing those other sports?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I stopped playing soccer after one year, so probably when I was like six years old. Oh, okay.

Speaker:

And I

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

stopped playing baseball, going into middle school and football going into middle school.

Speaker:

Is there any reason that you stopped

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

just basketball? It was too much.

Speaker:

Okay. I was

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

focused on basketball all year round.

Speaker:

And So you went to Spring Mills Middle school, didn't you? Yeah. Okay.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I've went to Spring Mill since kindergarten,

Speaker:

just like everybody else. Just like Max Kai and all that. Yeah. That's cool though. That's why you guys have such a strong bond.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, exactly.

Speaker:

So is there any reason that, those sports didn't end up working out. Was, what was it about basketball that stuck out the most?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Basketball, I just love basketball. It was the first sport I played. It was definitely my favorite outta all of them. And soccer was just like boring to me. It just got boring. And baseball too.'cause when, like when we're little, we're like, a lot of balls don't come to the outfield. So I, and I played outfield, so like I didn't get a bunch of like action, so like I just stopped playing that. And then football, I just stopped playing football'cause of basketball really.

Speaker:

Okay. Yeah. So how long have you been playing like basketball? Year round?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Middle school.

Speaker:

So you've been playing basketball your own for a long time?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker:

Is so how many travel, have you always played with the same travel team, just different names or has it been different ones?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

My first travel team was in third grade and I played for, it was called Winchester Scrap Winchester team obviously. And I played for Swish before. Okay. Yeah. And yeah, and then Adapt Academy now.

Speaker:

All right. Yeah. Is there, where do you feel like, how do you feel like you've developed from like playing a U?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just like playing a bunch of like different players, like outside of like the EPAC in West Virginia and stuff. Yeah. Just like seeing the different level of competition and stuff like that.

Speaker:

Is there any tournament or place that you've been to that you feel like sticks out the most?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Spooky nook.

Speaker:

That's up in pa, isn't it? Yeah. What about that? I've heard multiple players talk about that tournament. Yeah. What is it about it?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

It's like teams from everywhere. We played a team from, it was England, I think we played a team from Oh, from the uk? Yeah. Okay. So like teams from everywhere, just down there. Like I said, a bunch of different competition we see.

Speaker:

And who hosts that tournament? Is that circuit? Is that? Hoop group. Hoop group hosts that tournament? I think so, yeah. Okay. I'll have to look into that then. That's because I've heard multiple people talk about the tournament. Yeah. And then, so what do you feel like some of your defining moments in your early career that shaped your mindset were?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just me growing up. Just all the challenges I face. I've stayed strong. So I think that's translated to my game too. And just like my life, like I've always been strong mentally. So I just use that to my advantage.

Speaker:

So What about your mindset stands out to you the most?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I have a lot of confidence in myself and I always push myself to work as hard as I can and be the best I can be.

Speaker:

Where does that confidence come from?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Definitely my parents being there helping me, all my friends supporting me.

Speaker:

Is there any, like one moment that. Stands out to you where you feel like this is where I got my confidence from. This is where I started to become confident.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

So probably, I think in the state championship game last year against the Morgantown, they Izzy Everett had a tough layup over Loki. And then we had about eight seconds to get a shot off. We had no time outs left, so I brought the ball up the floor. Caleb was coming, I waved him off 'cause I had Jacob King on me. Yeah. So I took a step back, three deep. I missed it though, but I was like confident in my shot and like after that, like I was comfortable shooting anything.

Speaker:

So you, at that point you were just like, even if it doesn't go in, I can, I know I can make this at some point. Yeah.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah.

Speaker:

And then, so talking about that state tournament game, I know you guys ended up losing Yeah. In a, a buzzer beater, I think, what was it? Was it Sharan Young hit it? Yeah. Yeah. And he's playing an Akron, but, how did you use that moment as motivation for now than this year?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just we got the experience we needed. We definitely came back stronger and hungry 'cause we knew how it felt. We didn't want to feel that yeah, losing feeling again. Just that and us working so hard because of that loss. It just it helped us to do it again this year.

Speaker:

Do you feel like what about this year made it so special? Do you feel like,

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

just like I said, us losing last year definitely. But our group is just so good. The chemistry. The hard work we all put in. It's just amazing.

Speaker:

Is there, so I've been to a couple of y'all's practices. What do you feel like is the best part of your practices?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

The best part of our practice, I think the best part of our practices is when we split up teams evenly. So like the top eight, we will have a bench player hop in jv. Yeah. But like when we split up teams, it makes it way more fun and competitive. Definitely.

Speaker:

So instead of just doing five against JV where you put let's say put Ty against you and CT against Kai and all them.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. Like that. Yeah.

Speaker:

I get that. And then so what's more fun to you?'cause I've seen you also like training. Is it the training or is it getting to play the game?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

More fun, definitely the game, but the training is most important. Definitely.

Speaker:

What do you enjoy most about training? About doing the training?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just me developing myself and translating it to the game.

Speaker:

And then what pushes you? Where you get your, drive, your willpower to go as hard as you do when you do train?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just my mindset. My parents always telling me like if I'm gonna do it, if I'm gonna do something, I gotta do hard. Yeah, that, yeah.

Speaker:

Is there like a certain training regimen that you follow? Anything that sticks out to you?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, I try to shoot 2, 250 to 500 shots a day.

Speaker:

Okay. Yeah.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Usually

Speaker:

even outside the season.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah.

Speaker:

So where do you typically go? The courts?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

At the middle school.

Speaker:

Oh, you'll go down to the middle school? Yeah. And they'll let you in? They'll you shoot? No, it's outside. Oh, outdoor court. Oh, the outside? Yeah. Oh, so that's why you're so consistent.'cause if you've been messing with wind, you've been messing with rain. Yeah. Do you ever take days off?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Not really. May, sometimes, some days'cause of church and stuff. Yeah.

Speaker:

Yeah. So in a typical day, how much time do you spend on basketball

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

in a typical day? Probably an hour and a half to two hours probably.

Speaker:

And that's, and then if you have practice, is there like an additional time on top of the practice? Yeah,

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

usually I'll stay like a 30 minutes to a hour after practice and get some shots up play with my teammates and stuff.

Speaker:

So three point shooting is like your main, other than ball handling, three point shooting is like your main thing in your game. Where else do you feel like people overlook your game? What's another aspect of your game you feel like people overlook?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I think my floater game. Oh, your inside finishing game? Yeah. For the

Speaker:

floater. What about that do you feel like people overlook?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I just feel like people don't see me shoot it a lot, so I feel like they might not think I'm gonna be able to make it.

Speaker:

People feel like you're one dimensional, he just shoots three all day and then

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

coming off screens. I hear, I come off so many screens and stuff. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker:

So basketball, that's your sport. What first drew you to that sport initially?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

My, whenever I was young, I had like a. The little hoops? Yeah, the

Speaker:

little Tykes. Yeah. Or for Bryce. Yeah.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. I had one of those and I just, my parents got me it, and ever since that I've just been playing basketball.

Speaker:

For real. Yeah. And so it is just, this just became second nature. You just grew up looking, playing. Yeah, I grew

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

up playing, watching it too.

Speaker:

And so watching it too. Who did you admire growing up?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Growing up, I admired LeBron.

Speaker:

LeBron's Your favorite player? Yeah. Yeah. Even now. Or do you have Now it's

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Kyrie.

Speaker:

Kyrie. What is it about Kyrie

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

his ball handler? I think my game's similar are really similar to his game. His ball handling, his shooting, his passing. On ball defense.

Speaker:

Is there anything about his game that you would like to incorporate into yours over the upcoming year?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

His left hand's. Crazy. Yeah. His finishing inside with his left hand, his floater, I don't know if you saw the game winner he had, I think it was over Yoic with his left hand. Yeah. From the mid-range. Yeah. That's crazy.

Speaker:

Yeah, it is tough. Yeah. Do you practice any of his drills that he does? I know he has like really funky finishing drills though. Yeah.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I practice like whenever I shoot like floaters or something, like I'll try to shoot them off like one leg, be off balance and stuff. So yeah.

Speaker:

And then, so being like a smaller guard, I obviously in the last year and a half you've put on a lot of muscle, you've gotten stronger, but you can tend to be over underestimated. Yeah. So how do you still make such an impact on the court despite. Those challenges, just my mentality.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I've always been under size, so I'm used to it. So I just gotta, I gotta try harder than everyone else and I gotta be smart too.

Speaker:

Where do you feel like you've grown and developed a higher basketball IQ than most players?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

You said where? Yeah,

Speaker:

where and how?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Definitely playing with Spring Mills since my freshman year definitely developed me, coach samples, coach Layton, all of the assistant coaches. They definitely got me to where I am today.

Speaker:

And then one story that samples told me was that like last year, you weren't even starting halfway through the year, you were just coming off the bench from time to time. So what, walk me through the story that you have and then I'll tell you the story that I heard about how you started.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

So it was going into the summer sophomore year. And we lost Keyshawn, so it was actually between. Me or Mark, Mark, right? Yeah. Hunter. Yeah. Sam was just trying to find a point guard. So we was just working out and he gave me a shot and I took advantage of it. So ever since that, yeah.

Speaker:

Okay.'cause what the story he told me was that he was looking for a point guard didn't have one. Everybody was telling him quasi quasi. Yeah. And then, it's God, just, the stars aligned and elevator doors open and you're standing right there. He is like, all right there you go. Yeah. But that's a honorable moment though, right? Yeah. A lot of,

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

and the first time I played like in a game was at West Liberty, at a team camp. So they, we tried a different starting lineup, but we really didn't have a point guard in the starting lineup. We just had a bunch of people that could bring the ball up. And it wasn't like working that good. So he just gave me a shot, he let me start. So and

Speaker:

And as the point guard, what do you feel like. You, what impact do you like to make on the court?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I like to create shots for my teammates. I like my team. I like to run off ball and get open. I like to crash boards. I like to play defense. Just the energy. I like to have the, I like to be an energy guy,

Speaker:

so not a lot of guards like to crash the boards. Yeah. You had a goal this year, didn't you, about rebounding?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. I wanna my goal is usually to have the most offensive rebounds,

Speaker:

rebounding the nail hole, right? Yeah. Typically. Yeah. Yeah. Did you end up hitting that goal?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, I think I had the most offensive rebounds on the team. Did you really? Yeah, I think so. That's

Speaker:

awesome. That's, there's a guy from hedges, I think his name's Jowan Howard. He re he reminds me of you a little bit, like rebounds, the nail hole, like crazy. Yeah. He was a shorter guard, but held his own and he ended up winning a state championship too, oh, really? Yeah. So it ends up working out. So how do you feel like your upbringing and environment influenced your mindset and your approach to your sport?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just everyone complimented my game saying they know I'm small and stuff, but I'm still like a problem on the court. So it just boosts my confidence.

Speaker:

How do you feel like you've been able to generate your own validation and confidence, even when you feel like the outside is like against you?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just trusting in my work I put in definitely because I don't do it for any reason, so I gotta trust myself.

Speaker:

Where do you feel like you learn trust or develop trust?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

My parents. What about them? Just them always believing in me and telling 'em to trust in my work.'cause I work out a lot. Yeah.

Speaker:

So long term, what do you plan to probably play college basketball. Yeah. Go pro. Yeah. Hopefully. What do you see, where do you see yourself in, two years from now after you graduate high school?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Two years from now, just. Definitely attending college, but hopefully playing college basketball. Depending on if I have any offers or anything. Yeah. But yeah, hopefully the offers will come in if I'm still doing my thing. Yeah.

Speaker:

What do you feel like you're looking for in a school?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

A good education, a good good school, obviously. Good campus, nice coaching staff, nice team, that stuff.

Speaker:

So what's more important to you? Is it the game or is it your academics?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Academics.

Speaker:

What is it about the academics? It's

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

it's, if you don't have good academics, you can't play simple. So yeah, that's always how it's been for me in my home. My parents always tell me to value my education. So

Speaker:

where do you feel like, what is it about, what part of your academics do you feel like you try your hardest in?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Try my hardest in. English,

Speaker:

what is it about English?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I like, I've all my English teachers, but definitely English.'cause math is not my thing. So

Speaker:

I get that. Yeah. Is there anything in English that you've done or like a project that you've created that stands out to you?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

We did something like two weeks ago. We were just writing about like our lives basically, like growing up and stuff. Definitely that, 'cause I just talked about me growing up with my family and me getting into basketball and stuff.

Speaker:

So you talk about your family a lot. They're what very special to you. Yeah. What about your upbringing has had the most impact on you? How do you feel like yours differs from others, other people's?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Because I've been through a lot obviously growing up, and I just think it strengthened me mentally and I think that's why I'm. Like mentally stronger than a lot of people.

Speaker:

Do you mind if I ask? No. Okay. So what have you gone through growing up? What, what challenges? Just my parents

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

always being separated.

Speaker:

So they've been separated since you were born? Yeah, pretty much. Yeah. What's that like growing up like with that?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

It's tough 'cause you go back and forth and stuff. But they got back together and then it just didn't work out again.

Speaker:

Yeah. So it's like a lack, like No, not that you don't have stability, but it's like constantly jumping around.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. Yeah. They still get along and stuff. Yeah. It's just, yeah.

Speaker:

But they've always had your best interest at heart. Oh yeah. Always. Yeah. And then you talk about, God, I know you've gone to a couple church camps, he's a big part of your life.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, definitely. Yeah.

Speaker:

What is it about, God and religion that you'd like to incorporate in your life?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I just love that God, you could always rely on God and, anything you need, you can talk to him and he'll make a pathway for you.

Speaker:

For sure. For sure. That's good. There's not a lot of people that, even if I always say believe in something. Yeah. It doesn't have to be a God. It doesn't have to be just believe in something bigger than you. Yeah. So what are some challenges you feel like athletes commonly face in their early stages of their career?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I would say building their confidence up because like I said, like my confidence wasn't, it wasn't that good last year as much as it is this year. So I feel like if you trust, like I said, if you trust your training, it'll translate to the game and if you have confidence, you'll be fine. But I think building, that's definitely the hardest thing to do.

Speaker:

Is there a moment when you were younger where you like didn't have the confidence at all?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, I would like younger. I would, I was scared. I was scared to play rec at first Rec center basketball. Yeah.'cause like I was like, oh, I don't know if I can run plays or something. Like I just was so scared. I don't know why, but I just was

Speaker:

at the Martinsburg Rec Center or a different one. Yeah, the Martinsburg Rec Center. So when did you end up starting playing Rac?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Third grade is my, was my first season.

Speaker:

Okay. Yeah. Because I think you can start what, when you're in first grade. First or second. Yeah.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

First.

Speaker:

First. This episode of Royal Vision Podcast is sponsored by Trophies Plus here in Martinsburg, West Virginia. If you're looking for sublimated mugs, trophies, awards, or even embroidered hats, go to Trophies Plus in Martinsburg, West Virginia to go cop all those needs. Now did you like take, now you say you've been playing, since you were playing like a little Tykes or a Fisher-Price, did you like just. Take off running? Or was it like a slow start when you first got started? I just

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

went, I just started playing. I first started playing in a church league. It was called, the church was called New Life. Okay. It's, it was, it's within Inwood. Oh yeah. But I started there and then that's when I went to the rec center. And then from there, the middle school and then high school. Now.

Speaker:

Now, was there a moment that stands out to you where you're like, you know what, I could be pretty good at this?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, like I, whenever I first started playing in the wreck, I was like, I thought I was, it was gonna be like harder for me. But I realized it, like I'm not any worse than anyone else on the court and I'm not I'm like undersized still obviously, but I was still doing good. I was handling the ball and stuff. So yeah. I've always had handles'cause yeah, I think I have good handles 'cause like mini hoop balls. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I dribbled a lot of mini hoop balls, like growing up. Yeah. That makes friends and stuff sense. Yeah. So my handle's always been tight 'cause of that.

Speaker:

Because it's funny watching you toy with people at the top of the key. Yeah. They just, they can't take it. Yeah. They can't take it. Even if you get lackadaisical, they still can't take it. Yeah. So that's good though. So how do you feel like, how or how do you feel like personal experiences outside of sports shape the way an athlete competes?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

It gives, it boosts your mental, mentally you, you gotta be strong mentally to play.'cause like I'm sure you heard the saying like the game's 90% mental, 10% physical.

Speaker:

Yeah, I have heard that before.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. So that's definitely a big part.

Speaker:

So what experiences have shaped the way that you compete in, in basketball or compete in your sport?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just like growing up, being too small. Just always pushes me to play harder than everyone else.

Speaker:

How do you feel like being smaller gives you almost an edge over people?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I'm quick, quicker than people. Smart. So I feel like that with being smaller, you have to take advantage of what you have advantage over, like speed and stuff.

Speaker:

So it's like recognizing the value that you have. Yeah. Even though you might not have what everybody else feels like you should have, everyone

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

has a gift, so if you take advantage of it.

Speaker:

Yeah. And are there any past lessons that have helped you succeed, both in sports and in your life?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Past lessons? Probably the advice coach samples gives me a lot. It, he shaped me and it's not just basketball player, like me personally too. It's definitely shaped me into becoming a man.

Speaker:

Who do you feel has been the biggest role model in your basketball career?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Samples. Coach samples.

Speaker:

What about him has, given you the biggest impact?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just him all, first of all, him giving me a shot. Him, him trusting me to be his point, guard him. Always building my confidence, always telling me what I can work on though. Constructive criticism. Yeah. But yeah, just that,

Speaker:

because I know you guys all have a really good bond with him. Yeah. And I know you guys have that famous cheer Mark always is we love you, Sam.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. And then we start cheering. Yeah.

Speaker:

Yeah. He, it's almost like he's like a father, almost like a second father in a way.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Oh yeah, definitely.

Speaker:

So I know you guys have gone through a lot this season. Lot of ups and downs. You got your coach, you don't have your coach. What was it like having such a rollercoaster of a season?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

It's just challenges and it just, we just have to work harder. It was definitely hard for us to watch our coach get taken away from us. But yeah, we already knew that it was gonna, wasn't gonna be easy this season, so it was rough, but we got through it. We finished check.

Speaker:

And being most, even though you guys clearly are number one and you wear the, you have the trophy that proves it too. How was it dealing with those? Hey, they're not very good chance. They're like, oh, they're overrated.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

We just go out and play like we're gonna prove we are the best. People can say what they want, but we believe that we're the best in the state.

Speaker:

And is there anything, were there ever moments of doubt or were you like questioned, Hey are we really this good

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

just us losing our coach? I was a little worried, like where we would start from, just because obviously it wasn't expected. So like we had to make a plan fast.'cause we, it was in the middle of the season, so it's not like it happened in the beginning of the season or anything. So like we just had to adjust.

Speaker:

And so lo like losing your coach and. Having all of these suspensions and all these things that just had nothing to do with you guys personally. How do you overcome those obstacles? How do you see the light and continue to keep moving forward?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just working hard, just focusing on what we are, what our goal is. Win the state championship. We practiced extra sometimes just, yeah.

Speaker:

Now going into the season, you guys were most, you guys were predicted to play Morgantown in the state championship. Yeah. Didn't end up working up that way. Yeah. So when you guys lost at the Greenbriar to Morgantown, was there any oh, crap moment? Or was it,

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

we played so bad that game? Yeah, I knew we were better than Morgantown. I knew we were more skilled than them. We just played bad that day. Definitely.

Speaker:

Is that an off game?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, I knew we'd be fine.

Speaker:

So did just, so from the season. Outside of the state tournament and win the state championship. What do you feel like is the best game or your favorite game that you got to play in this year?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Jefferson.

Speaker:

At home or

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

At home? Because I had 30 points. 10 rebounds. I had a double. Double.

Speaker:

Was that the regional, was that the region game? No, it was a regular season game. Regular season game? Yeah. Okay.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

So we played them three times. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker:

Is now how many threes did you have in that, that Jefferson game?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I think I had eight maybe. So that's, I know it was either eight or four.'cause there was another game where I had some, like around the same stats, but I don't remember

Speaker:

Now you have'cause you're state records a, doesn't it? The state? Yeah. Yeah. So you've hit so it was almost like, it was like whatever, Yeah, it was just guaranteed. Go ahead.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

It's something about eight, like I've never hit nine threes. I've hit a ton of, I've had a ton of games where I've hit eight threes, seven threes, but I don't know.

Speaker:

And how do you feel like people know you can shoot? How do they struggle to just stop you from shooting the ball?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just'cause I'm quick, so I can get to the paint and even if I can't score, I can pass. So it's you gotta pick your poison, honestly, because I my range too, so yeah.

Speaker:

So it doesn't matter if you're, 'cause you're shooting NBA threes, you're shooting like Steph Curry threes. Yeah. It's no different. Have you ever tried to model your, shoot your shooting or taking tips from Steph Curry to shoot?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah I've taken tips from Kyrie more than Curry, but definitely curry with curry definitely like the off balance and just weird shots he takes. Like that. I imitate that a lot.

Speaker:

So how do you feel like athletes develop a strong mental game? And why do you feel like having a strong mental game is so important?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

So important? Because the game's 90% mental, like I said, and developing that, you just gotta push yourself and trust in yourself. And whenever you go on the floor, you just have to believe in your training and stuff.

Speaker:

So when you're on the court, what's going through your mind in those moments? High pressure situations.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just coach gives us the game plan. I'm just execute and just get my teammate shots. Whatever I have to do, I'm gonna do it.

Speaker:

And so in moments where, let's say you've missed your first two shots, which is rare. Yeah. How do you get yourself back into that flow state where you're able to just forget about it and go

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just, I just keep shooting. I just keep shooting. I don't. Like last year, that's like what I would say with my confidence. Like last year I would probably stop shooting. But this year, like the encouragement of my teammates, my coaches, everything just telling me to keep shooting. Yeah.

Speaker:

Is there a game this year where maybe you had an off game and you, I don't wanna say you questioned yourself, but you were like, what did you do to get back the next game or get back the next quarter?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

So usually whenever I'm off, it's just defense. Like I take my energy out on defense and just worry about defense.'cause you can't control if you're off. So I, Yeah.

Speaker:

So on the defense end, what do you like to bring to the table?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

What is it

Speaker:

on the defense end? What do you like to bring to the table?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

My on ball defense, definitely just pressuring the ball, making it hard for them to get a pass off, get a shot off.

Speaker:

And one thing that I've noticed watching you is sometimes. You'll end up guarding one of their bigger guys. So what's your mindset, your mentality going into that? Because you hold your own always.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, just, I just, I obviously I've been dealing with being undersized my whole life. So just taking their knees out, just fighting, giving em my, all in the post and I know my teammates have my back.

Speaker:

So out of all the bigger defenders you've had to guard, if you remember their name, who do you feel like some of your favorite or the most, most enjoyable to guard?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Probably we played someone I really couldn't put my own against was what's his name? He goes to Larga. Cam Ward. Cam Ward. He's huge. Okay. So I think him just, 'cause it gave me a challenge'cause he was huge. I dunno

Speaker:

what, 6 4, 6,

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

5, 6. 7, 250 maybe.

Speaker:

And they put 'em on you or you put, they put you on. See, I got Switch on him sometimes. Switch on. Oh, okay. Now Largo, they have his name's Bryce mc quarter. I don't know if you know him.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Not by name. I don't.

Speaker:

He he plays the Largo. He was at, he plays for the Puo circuit team. I think Team Bess. I got to meet him over the weekend. Oh really? Yeah. So you've gotten to play in several tournaments. You gotta play in capital hoop. Summer League. Border League. What was the experience like playing in those tournaments?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

It was amazing. Just especially grateful just to be invited. Yeah. Because we're the first West Virginia team to ever be invited there. Like I said earlier, the competition, geez, the competition that we see there, just the best teams in the DMV area, just especially, that made us with a lot better.

Speaker:

Yeah. And so getting opportunities, not to mention, you also played in NC Live. You played in VER Virginia Live. Yeah. Virginia Live. You're playing state runner up state champions of six A schools, five A schools all the time. What was it like getting to play against those schools too? Because you guys didn't really ever have an off game. You played top teams the year round.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, just like all the exposure we get is like crazy and just the level of competition it is and it's like way different than West Virginia. So that's why like us blowing all these teams out. It's definitely from that.

Speaker:

And do you feel like. So that's something that all states should try to incorporate in like bigger com, better competition.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, definitely. Definitely.

Speaker:

What do you think that like West Virginia, what, how would you like to see West Virginia shift to create a more intense, more competitive sports style?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just the rules. Honestly. The rules are crazy.'cause CT got suspended two games for playing in the Capital News All Star game. So it's you're like really handicapped. And sometimes I feel if the rules like changed a little bit like less, like more lenient, I would say. I feel like that would be a lot better for West Virginia basketball.

Speaker:

How do you feel like you, so being an athlete, you have a voice, you got your platform. How do you feel like you would use your platform to try to push for that?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just motivating people just to. Have confidence in the self.'cause I've, I mentioned confidence a lot because confidence was a big struggle for me, like starting to play basketball. Definitely.

Speaker:

So starting off, not as confident, what was rolling through your mind in those moments? That, you're filled with doubt, you're filled with, questioning your worth, how good you are.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just I had a problem with me being small. Like I just felt like I didn't belong. Like I was too small to play, like ever have a chance to play.

Speaker:

And so you've not let that impact you, but there's a lot of players that do let that impact them. That they say, I'm too small. I'm not this, I'm not that. What would you say to those players to get them to like, believe in themselves and keep going?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

You gotta be a dog, you gotta trust in yourself and you gotta have. You gotta have a different mentality than everyone else.'cause you obviously you're undersized. So it's gonna take more out of you to compete with other players.

Speaker:

So walk me through, I don't know if you have a pre-game mental routine, but walk me through a pre-game mental routine that gets you prepared to go be the dog that you are out, out on the court.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just relaxing, listen to music. I get like little ball handling. Routine in before and I shoot a little bit before the game.

Speaker:

Do you have like superstitions or ritual that you do on the court?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

No, not really.

Speaker:

No, not really.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Nah.

Speaker:

Is there so on game day, let's say you're playing at home. Walk me through from before the game till tip off.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

So I'll, we'll obviously have our walkthrough. Yeah. We'll eat and then we'll have probably about two hours of downtime.'cause JV will play. Yeah. And then we'll get ready during their halftime. So usually when JV iss playing, I'll do my ball handling. And after we eat, I'll go in the small gym and shoot around. Just get my shot like right a little bit. Just that.

Speaker:

Is there like a food, is there I know they make meals for you, but let's say they don't make you meals. Is there like a go-to meal that you would eat?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I don't gotta a go-to meal. You don't have a

Speaker:

go-to meal?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

No.

Speaker:

So are you picky about food?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

No, I eat anything, honestly.

Speaker:

So what do they normally make you before the game?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Usually like a pasta.

Speaker:

Okay.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Pasta protein. Yeah.

Speaker:

So where do you see, so speaking of like meal prep, how do you feel like your diet and meal regimen will transform going into college?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I think eating the right stuff is a big factor in building your body health healthy because obviously you gotta. Be a little bit big to play in college. Because all those are grown men, so yeah. Yeah. Just eating the right things. Definitely.

Speaker:

How many pounds do you see yourself or anticipate you're anticipating yourself gaining that first year of, playing college basketball?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Hopefully 20 to 30 pounds.

Speaker:

20 to 30 pounds of muscle. Yeah. Yeah. Do you see yourself getting any taller?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. I, my dad's side of the family, my uncle's six three. Okay. Got another uncle's six four. So I think I'll grow, I think I hit six foot at least.

Speaker:

Hit six foot. Then you start dunking. Yeah. Because you're there, right? Yeah. Like your clothes. I can

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

dunk, I can, nah, I can't.

Speaker:

So what strategies do you feel like athletes use to stay focused and confident under pressure?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

What strategies?

Speaker:

Yeah.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Do I use

Speaker:

it Could be you, it could be you.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just trusting in my game, like I said earlier. Having that mentality.

Speaker:

And so after tough losses and setbacks, how do athletes build resilience?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just if you gotta be hungry, you gotta be hungry to get your, get back. And you gotta work hard too,

Speaker:

so I know a lot of times some athletes after losing or after having a major setback, they tend to give up. So what separates, those athletes that give up from the ones that keep going forward?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just they don't want it. If you really want it, you'd be in the gym the next day after something bad happens. Like losing, like they say championship. I know me and my team, we got back in the gyms or just the next day after just getting shots up, getting better.

Speaker:

Would you say it would be wise, like wise or would fuel you? Yeah. So what are your whys? What fuels you?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Definitely my family. Just trying to build a pathway for them too. My little brother definitely. Building a pathway for him growing up. Just that.

Speaker:

So your little brother, does he play basketball too?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Not yet. He doesn't?

Speaker:

Not yet. Nah. How old is he? He's 10. Do you see him playing basketball or,

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I don't know. He says he doesn't really like it that much, but I don't know. I feel like he might start playing a little bit.

Speaker:

Does now I know everybody has their own path, their own thing. Does it bother you that he doesn't like basketball at all or

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Nah, he, nah, he does his own thing. No.

Speaker:

Does he play any sports though?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

No. Not right now. He doesn't. No.

Speaker:

So how can athletes manage the highs and lows of competition without losing focus?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just wait, what is it?

Speaker:

How can athletes manage the highs and lows of competition without losing focus?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

By working hard all the time and just staying locked in? Staying locked in is a big thing.

Speaker:

So you've only been playing on varsity for the last two years, but in those past times, and you guys haven't lost a lot in the last two years either. Yeah. But let's say you're on a stretch of, let's say three, three losses in a row. Where is your mind at so you can get back on track?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

We just gotta find out what the problem is and we gotta fix it easy.

Speaker:

I know starting off in that first game, it wasn't a terrible game, but it wasn't the best game against Hazelton. What's going through your mind when you're playing against a team that's not great and they're playing, they're still playing in the game.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just, we gotta be better. But that was a tough game.'cause that was the first game we played without samples on the sideline. So just, it was a different like transition, we got through it, but Yeah. It was rough.

Speaker:

So what impact did him not being there have on you guys?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just obviously Layton's a good coach and stuff, but it's just it's not like the same thing. Yeah. Like he doesn't say the same things or just stuff like that.

Speaker:

Because and Laden's a great coach. Yeah. And I think he did a really good job and he helped lead you guys his state championship. Definitely. But samples had been there.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. Like we were more used to samples. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker:

So how did you be end up becoming conditioned to Laden?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just every day just building a bond with him, just even outside of basketball. Like we watch the Super Bowl at his house like that. Just the team. So just outside of basketball building relationship,

Speaker:

How big of an impact do you feel like having relationships both on the court and off the court is and in the sport?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Oh, it's definitely a big thing because it builds chemistry. And chemistry is really important for teams in any sport.

Speaker:

So now playing on a u you're playing against most of these guys year round or sometimes you don't even know who they are. Yeah. And you, they, you show up and they're there. So how do you build that relationship? How do you build that chemistry?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just practice. You gotta work hard can't be arguing and stuff. You just gotta build that bond relationship.

Speaker:

So are there any activities that you guys do or that your club does to incorporate chemistry, building relationships?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just us practicing two days a week. Like we'll do like partner stuff, get with a different partner every time. Get to know each other like that. Yeah.

Speaker:

So what do you feel are some common mental challenges that athletes face throughout their career?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Things like, am I good enough? Confidence, building confidence, just stuff like that.

Speaker:

Where do you feel like the thought of, am I good enough comes from.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just, it's all mental. And if you're mentally not right, like you gotta get there.'cause it's a big part of the game.

Speaker:

And what do you feel like the struggle is? Do you feel like it's, am I good enough to play in general or am I just good enough to do what I want to do?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I think it's just, am I good enough to compete with the other people? That's how it was for me growing up.

Speaker:

So when did you start, when did you feel like you started to really compete or have an edge on all the other people or players?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

This year? Honestly, this year. Definitely just me shooting more shots than I ever shot in my life. Yeah. Like the summer, going into just taking it like way more serious than I ever have. Just definitely showed.

Speaker:

So this year outside of the state championship game and outside of Jefferson, where do you feel like. You made the most impact on the court outside of your three point shooter?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Which game?

Speaker:

Yeah.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I feel like hedges at Hedges. Okay.'cause it wasn't like one of the crazy nights where I was scoring a lot. Yeah. But I had seven steals that game. Okay. Yeah. So my defensive presence, that game definitely helped our team a lot.

Speaker:

So even if you're not there on the offensive end, you still, like you were talking about earlier you always find a way to make an impact then somehow.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. Whether it's defensively or offensive.

Speaker:

And how do you pick up your teammates?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just by telling them like, you're good. Like all the hard work you put in. Don't let yourself like, be down. Like you're good. Everyone makes mistakes.

Speaker:

And so on your team, you each of you guys has your thing, each of you guys have your role. How do you feel like that makes you guys stronger?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

It's just like our rules are like perfect. Like I feel like. We have every role we need on the team. Like we have energy guys, we have defense guys. We have more offensive guys. It's just, our team is like crazy.

Speaker:

Yeah. Plus you guys, I don't think you have, at least I haven't heard it. Anybody who's I should be out there over this person.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I dunno. That's why we're so good.

Speaker:

I don't think there's any, there's no jealousy or envy If there is. It's like minute and doesn't exist. Yeah. But how do you get that on a team?'cause that's hard to find.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I think it's a big thing. It's just us all growing up together.'cause we all went to Springville together, so it's always been like, we've always been around each other and we've always grown up training with each other. So like we all know that we're all gonna play and stuff. We're all going to get our time. So we don't like force it, like we don't force our like shine. Know what I mean?

Speaker:

Do you feel like. Upbringing and outside environment has any role or effect on that?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, just the community always supporting us as a team.

Speaker:

And so talking about the community, external pressures, you got fans, you got coaches, you have you, your other teammates. How do those external, excuse me, those external pressures affect performance, and how do you block those out?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

For me, I know it doesn't affect me just because I'm always locked in on the court. So it doesn't affect me, honestly.

Speaker:

Do you ever hear any external pressures?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker:

Where do you feel like you feel the most external pressure from?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Probably kids just in school. Just

Speaker:

like walking around the halls?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. Just you'll hear people say, oh, how much you drop in a day. It's not always about points though, I feel yeah.

Speaker:

Oh, so they, them saying that kind of is makes you like, do I need to go out there and drop? Yeah. A couple points.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. I know it doesn't for me, but yeah, I like other people. Like I feel like it can affect them.

Speaker:

Oh. Like they have to prove that Hey, I can drop 30 points. Yeah. Or something like that. Yeah. And then, so on the court, I know you said normally you're in the zone, you've got student sections, you got fans, sometimes you got referees. How do you completely neglect that and just keep moving forward?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I just focus on the game. I don't even see the crowd. It's like I don't see them. I play, I played in so many packed out houses. Packed out gyms. So like I just always blocked it out just by focusing on the game.

Speaker:

And that's another thing you guys play in big stadiums, big arenas year round. How do you feel like that has made an impact on your ability to perform under pressure as well?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I think the biggest thing is the summer, just us playing like capital hoops playing at colleges. That definitely helps at the state tournament'cause it's an arena. So like that definitely helps.

Speaker:

So you feel like it conditioned you in a way? Yeah. You just, you're used to it. Yeah. And if you're ready to feel like a king, feel like a queen and wear that crown. Go cop your kingdom merch. We got gym tank tops, t-shirts, got sweatshirts. All that you can personalize and make them about you. You can put your name on it, your initials favorite Bible verse. Something that means something to you so that you can truly wear the crown. I appreciate you guys. Yeah. And then out on the court, has there ever been any like crazy thing that you've heard while playing that was either directed towards you or somebody else?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah definitely stuff I can't say, but oh, so that's not appropriate to say? Nah. Oh

Speaker:

that's a shame. But do you ever, what about social media? How do you feel like social media has an effect on an athlete's game?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Social media is a big thing.'cause like it could either be negative or positive. So you gotta try to keep it positive. You gotta ignore the negative things that you see on the internet.'cause you're always gonna see negative things.

Speaker:

Yeah. So like next year or not next year, two years from now, you could be playing division one college. You can be playing division two college. They're on ESPN. You get Steven A. Smith doing his thing. Everybody else. Yeah. How do you show up? Maybe see something that you don't agree with, but then still go out there and perform at your highest level?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just people are gonna talk, but as long as you are doing your thing and proving that they're wrong, there's nothing much to say.

Speaker:

And how do you feel like. An athlete's belief system shapes their ability to perform at the highest level.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just believing in yourself is a big, is a, it's going to take you far. If you believe in yourself then you're gonna be good.

Speaker:

What, and I'm not talking about religion, but like what beliefs do you have that drive you to push you to keep going?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

That God always has a plan for you. Just always has a plan. He knows what he's doing.

Speaker:

And so like when thi even when the outside doesn't look to I guess I could say the way you want it to look, how do you keep moving forward?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

The outside, like the community or

Speaker:

so how do you keep moving forward when everything else around you is telling you to stop?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just blocking it out. Ignoring it honestly. Just keep working and keep pushing,

Speaker:

Detaching from it almost. Yeah. So what exactly, so what what's the word? What strategies do you use to detach?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Like on the court, I just locking in the game. Like I'm not focused on the crowd or nothing like that.

Speaker:

So you like, you manage to regulate your emotions Yeah. And what not?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. With me I'm humble, so like I control my emotions on the court. Definitely. That's a big thing.

Speaker:

Where do you feel has been a moment where something almost got to you but you're able to regulate it and keep going forward?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just people like trying to get in my head in the game, like the people guarding me or whatever. Just talking crap. So just me, like blocking it out. Just not paying it. No mind playing the game.

Speaker:

Has there ever been a moment where. Let's say you got some kid chirping your ear and you, I don't, I guess you made him look like a fool or, guess showed him that he was wrong.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. Def Yeah. I think the Morgantown game 21 was talking to me and I was, I had 18 that game. So

Speaker:

21. That's that's Marty, isn't it? Yeah.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah.

Speaker:

Oh, geez. I actually got to meet Marty. He's a pretty cool dude. You ever talk to him?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I saw, yeah, I saw the video, the interview. Yeah.

Speaker:

And so being that guy that, if there's a last second shot and we need somebody to take it, you're probably the guy that we're gonna call.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. I think anyone on our team could take that shot, but Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker:

Having that honor, being that guy, what kind of. Mindset do you feel like you have to have, or what pressure does that put on you and how do you deal with that pressure to be able to still follow through?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

You just gotta have confidence in yourself and you gotta tell yourself, I'm gonna shoot this and I'm gonna make it. And if you don't make it, it is what it is. Like you shot it and that you miss, you make, what is it you miss 0% of the shots. You don't, you take, you miss 0% of the shots you don't take. I couldn't get it out. Miss a hundred

Speaker:

percent of the shots. Yeah. You miss hundred percent of the shots. You missed a hundred percent of the shots you don't

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

take. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker:

Has there ever been, I tell people not to regret things, but has there ever been a moment where you were like, man, I should have done this or I should have done that?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, definitely. I feel like, especially last year, just me watching film, like I'm like, dang, I should have shot that and not passed it up. Just that.

Speaker:

So going back, watching, filming, I know you're one of those people, like you show up in school, you could be listening to the teacher, but now you're watching film. But how do you show compassion for yourself and still. And not beat yourself up despite, seeing mistakes that you made.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just me like saying, oh, I could have done this better, but next time I'm gonna make sure I do it. Yeah.

Speaker:

So with your personal life, I know basketball is your biggest thing, but you're playing basketball year round. How do you balance your identity during, in the game versus outside the game?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just always keeping my composure and my image is very important to me, so just me always being humble on the court outside of basketball, just me being respectful to everyone and stuff like that. Yeah.

Speaker:

And so I don't think you have like a bad boy or like a mean guy personality on the court, people say things, how do you detach from what they say? And remember who you are.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just by proving it. Like I'm not gonna go out and do bad things and then say, oh, I'm a good kid, and stuff like that. Yeah.

Speaker:

So you practice what you preach. Yeah. For the most part.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Exactly.

Speaker:

And so be, so what do you feel like is the difference in your identity on the court versus off the court?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

My difference?

Speaker:

Yeah.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I think on the court I'm like, a little bit crazy. Like I can get a lot, like very like energetic and stuff, obviously. Yeah. But I think I'm like laid back a little. I'm laid back outside of basketball.

Speaker:

Outside of basketball, what are your favorite things to do?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Go to church. Spend time with my family. Spend time with friends. But usually when I spend time with friends, I'm playing basketball. So

Speaker:

Do you ever play the game at all? Yeah. Okay. What game do you typically play?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

2K.

Speaker:

So do you and all the guys, you guys all play 2K together?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Sometimes. Yeah, sometimes.

Speaker:

So what is it? Park you got? Yeah, park parking,

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

TJ Park, my team, my career. That's cool. Yeah.

Speaker:

What about I think somebody told me about ncaa, you guys play that?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I played that a little bit over like this season, staying in the hotels and stuff A little bit. Yeah. But I don't have it.

Speaker:

And outside of your sport, what impact do you want to have?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just I like to make sure that like I like look at the younger kids, like a lot, like making sure they can look up to me, like me doing the right things.'cause I know they're always watching me.

Speaker:

Has there been a moment over the last two years where you've got an opportunity to help out a younger kid?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. Like the camps we do. I take those like very serious.'cause I like to work with kids. It's, I've always liked to work with kids.

Speaker:

Do you ever go down to the middle school at all and help them out?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, we helped the middle school out over summer. I think it was. Okay. Yeah, we did a camp with them too yeah.

Speaker:

So what about working with the younger kids and you being a role model? Is it that, fuels you and stands out to you the most?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just that my parents always tell me that like, all that these young kids are always looking up to you, so always make sure you're doing the right thing. Just that. Yeah.

Speaker:

And so what impact do you have beyond your sport and how do you want to use your platform effectively to, fuel that impact?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just being a good person. Just being a good person. My reputation's important to me. Yeah.

Speaker:

And how do control or not control, but. How do you maintain your sense of self your reputation without letting other people dictate who you are?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just by not letting people like get in my head, try to throw me like off my character.

Speaker:

And what's your biggest strategy to blocking out those, that noise, that, that negativity, the false things.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just doing me. Just I'm not worried about it. I'm not worried about it

Speaker:

just being un unapologetically you. Yeah. Do you feel like you're an unapologetically you person?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker:

So obviously you're not gonna be done with sports anytime soon, but where do you see your life after sports?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I think I could be either doing something like an athletic trainer or like physical therapy, something like that. Okay. Yeah.

Speaker:

Have you considered coaching or media?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I have, but I don't know. I just, I don't know. I've considered it, but it's not been like my number one like thing. Definitely.

Speaker:

So what challenges do you anticipate or predict will come with that transition to life ever? Sports words?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just life itself. Just becoming like a man and not under like my parents' roof and stuff like that. That's gonna be a big challenge in my future, I feel like.

Speaker:

What are you looking for forward to the most about playing college basketball or getting to play at the collegiate level? Just

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

meeting new teammates. Like just a new, like a whole new environment. Like being around different coaches, being around different teammates. It's just, yeah.

Speaker:

Is there, I know you've visited a couple schools. Is there like any school that stood out to you the most? So far? I don't know if you can disclose that or not, but

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, I liked, I went on a camp to Fairmont and I liked them. I liked their coach and stuff like that. I've been to West Liberty Camp. Yeah. I liked them too. Those schools, I like them. Do

Speaker:

you have a preference of staying in state or going outta state or,

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I don't really have a preference. No. I would do either.

Speaker:

Just somewhere where you're valued. Yeah, exactly. You feel like you can develop the most. Yeah. So where, how do you wanna develop your game over into those four or five years of playing collegiate ball?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just like I'm gonna look up to obviously the vets in that. And let them guide me. Just being humble, like knowing I'm not gonna go in there and run the show. Like I'm the point guard here and I'm not gonna be like that. I gotta accept that. Play my role.

Speaker:

And so in sports, when you're one of the guys or the guy and then you go to college and then you're multiple the guys. Yeah. How do you continue on an upward path? To get the results that you want, despite having people that

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

are like the same as you. Yeah. Just you just gotta accept it and you can't be selfish. I feel like it's selfish. If you think if you're going into college and you think you're the guy, they've been there, they have the connection, the bonds of you're not just gonna come in there and just be the guy.

Speaker:

But even though there are, you guys are all multiple guys and you have similar traits, how do you recognize that what you offer is unique and so apply that to your sport?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just play my role because there's, like you said, there's gonna be other people that can do what I do, maybe even better. But I just have to develop myself and keep working hard.

Speaker:

So for you, what does long-term success look like outside of just winning championships?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Like with life or just

Speaker:

it could be life, it could be sports. What does success look like for you in your eyes?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just like when I'm older, like having a nice family and stuff like that, a nice job and taking care of my parents and stuff like that. That's definitely fortunate to me and successful.

Speaker:

So being able to, provide, take care and just yeah, make sure that, I'm a rock for the people that I care about. Yeah,

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I just worried about like myself.

Speaker:

Do you feel like your selfless, do you feel like you care more about what you're doing for others or for yourself?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

What I do for others like I was saying, my image, like I like to have a good reputation and stuff. So definitely how I like to be a role model for others.

Speaker:

And how do you balance that, that athlete and personal life aspect? Like how do you not get too sucked into being that athlete?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just like I know. Obviously I have a life outside of basketball and I have to set aside time for that, spending time with my family and building a bond and stuff like that.

Speaker:

What's your favorite thing to do with your family?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Probably go to church.

Speaker:

Go to church? Yeah. Is that where you feel like you, is that like the time that you get to be with them the most?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker:

So walk me through a typical church day I guess Sunday, right?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah. I go to church Wednesday and Sunday. Okay. Yeah. So usually on Wednesday, obviously come home from school, come home from practice clean up and stuff. And then we'll go to church from seven 30 to nine on Wednesday. Okay. And then Sunday, so we have, it's called Watchtower. Okay. So we study for it, and then we'll get ready for church and stuff from one to two 40. And basically the watchtower is just like where you you answer questions and it's like a dig deeper type of thing.

Speaker:

Like a reflective type of, yeah. Okay. Yeah. Do you reflect often? Yeah. Where do you feel like you find yourself reflecting the most?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Like off the Bible, definitely.

Speaker:

Okay.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah.

Speaker:

What's more important to you reflecting or criticism?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Criticism.'cause I feel like you gotta be you don't gotta be too hard on yourself, but you have to like, you have to tell yourself like, oh, I gotta log in like that.

Speaker:

And how do you incorporate reflection into your criticism?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just doing better. Just if I make a mistake, try not to make that mistake again.

Speaker:

So lately, let's just say within the last month, where have you reflected and you changed and created a different result?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

A different result? For what?

Speaker:

For anything.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just like. Last year, like reflecting on how I could have been better for my team being a better version of myself, being a better player in my role. Just doing, yeah, just that.

Speaker:

So how do an athlete or you, how do you wanna define your legacy and what do you personally wanna be remembered for?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

I wanna be remembered for my reputation I have, not just how good I am at basketball. But just me always trying to be the best version of myself I can be.

Speaker:

Do you feel like you show up as the best ver version of yourself every day? Or do you feel No. No.

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, I'm not, nah, I'm not gonna lie. No. Okay. I feel like I could do better sometimes, but most of the time. Yeah.

Speaker:

Do you think it's possible to be the best version of yourself now and them not be so far out in the future?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Yeah, definitely. You need to start. Going into high school, that's when you really need to start like taking things serious and thinking about becoming a man and stuff like that.

Speaker:

So for the next generation of athletes, what advice would you give to them that are striving for greatness?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Just you gotta have the confidence in yourself and don't let one mistake define who you are. Keep, like we lost the state championship. None of us gave up and quit. We got in the gym just the next day. So I think just keep pushing, not giving up. Perseverance is a big thing.

Speaker:

For sure. So guys, this has been episode eight of Royal Vision Podcast. Quai, do you wanna say anything to the kingdom before we po sign off?

Akwasi Opoku-Achampong:

Thank you for listening to everything I've had to say. Peace out.

Speaker:

So if you guys wanna go check out Quai, he plays for. Adapt. It's a U team. They're playing in Pittsburgh this weekend, so go check them out. He's also got multiple other tournaments over the course of the summer, so it's been Coach Matthew Quasi peace out. Love you guys.