In honor of Mother's Day, we asked rising stars Natalie Chou, Jillian Hollis and Hunter Sallis -- each of whom was coached by Mom -- to write a letter to the all-stars who drove them to practice ... and to greatness.
Natalie Chou
Chou, a redshirt junior guard for UCLA and a McDonald's High School All American, credits her mom, Quanli Li, for teaching her to play basketball and to love the game. Li, who grew up in China, was sent at age 13 to Beijing's top girls' basketball club, a state-sponsored program. After moving to the United States with her husband, Joseph, Li turned toward the universal language of basketball to help mitigate the language barrier. She became a private basketball skills training coach in Plano, Texas, and brought Chou along to her workouts -- just to watch. But by age 4, Chou was jumping in to join the drills. "Ever since then, she's been my No. 1 skills coach," said Chou, who transferred to UCLA after two seasons at Baylor. "She is my motivation." -- As told to Charlotte Gibson
Dear 妈妈 (Mom in Chinese),
It is hard to put into words how much you mean to me. I know that no matter how I say it, it will never measure up to everything you have done for me and how much I love you. Since I was little, it was always you and me. From my arrival into the world at 8 pounds, 6 ounces, to the 6-foot-1 woman I am today, you have been my lifeline. You are the reason I started playing basketball in the first place -- and a big reason why I continued. I always want to make you proud, in everything I do.
Through the game, you have taught me how to be dedicated and disciplined. When I was 7 years old, I remember us shooting hoops together at the recreation center all night -- until the lights went out and it was officially closing time. At 10, I remember playing with kids three years older than me and on a boys' AAU team. At 13, during those hot Texas summer days, I remember you only allowed me to swim at the community pool after I shot outside my elementary school. At 18, when the rest of my classmates were wondering what they were going to wear to prom, I remember wondering if I was going to be a McDonald's All American. At 20, after a long week of grueling practices and stressful college assignments, I remember driving back to Dallas from Baylor to squeeze a workout in with you and former NBA veteran Jason Terry -- and then driving back to Waco the same day.
You would always tell me, "Nothing comes easy, nothing comes free ... " Everything I have received has been earned through hard work. Nothing in this life will ever be handed to me. The only way I can achieve my goals is to stay focused -- you taught me this.
People on the outside have always been curious about our relationship. Why are they so serious about a rec league game that seems inconsequential? Why is Natalie always practicing? What others may not understand is that you showed your love for me through basketball. You pushed me hard. You set high standards for me. Your style of coaching and parenting was through tough love.
Looking back, I think that maybe this tough love was a result of your cultural background and how you were raised. At the age of 13, you were recruited to play basketball for a prestigious club team in Beijing. This took you away from your parents, away from your siblings, away from everything familiar to you. In Beijing, your coaches were anything but encouraging and lenient. They valued structure and disciplined players. Using that same tough mentality you learned from your coaches -- mixed with motherly love -- you shaped me into the person I am today.
Your tough love has equipped me for so many things in my life. I became one of the first Asian Americans to make Team USA, the McDonald's All American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. It helped me end up where I am today, playing NCAA Division I basketball at a top-10 program. This journey has been anything but easy, for the both of us. But through the peaks and valleys, we have an even stronger bond and understanding of each other. Together, we broke glass ceilings.
During this season of life, you now play the role of a fan -- something that is a bit new for both of us. Now there is no better feeling than seeing you sitting in the stands, cheering me on. This game has brought both of us so many blessings from new opportunities, priceless memories and an indestructible bond. I will be forever grateful.
This will be the first time in four years that I get to spend Mother's Day with you. Under different circumstances, I would be back on campus, doing spring workouts and studying for finals. But like they say, every cloud has a silver lining, and this global pandemic has brought me back home. It is like I am 8 years old again, going to the nearest court and working out with you. So let's go back to the basics, where we focus on my shooting form and footwork. Where we bring out the cones and do two ballhandling drills. Where you instruct me using our own version of "Chinglish." Where we play one-on-one and you make me look like a fool. You know every move I am going to do before I even do them -- because you are the one who taught them to me in the first place. This time, there's no tough love. Just love.
Happy Mother's Day!
仇莉莉
Natalie
Jillian Hollis
Jillian Hollis, a rookie on the LPGA Tour, was a three-time All-American at the University of Georgia. Hollis credits her love of sports to her mother, Sharon Minnich Hollis, who had an outstanding golf career of her own: She was a member of Ohio State's 1988 Big Ten championship team and spent 1988-91 on the Futures Tour, the precursor of the Symetra Tour, before switching careers and raising three children with her husband in Ohio. -- As told to Charlotte Gibson
Dear Mama,
Before I could even walk, you had a golf club in my hands. While you were teaching golf lessons at The Range when I was just a baby, I was strapped to your back. When you would play golf with your dad, I'd be in the golf cart -- just sitting and watching, excited to hit a ball in front of you both. Then, once I could actually play (and I mean really play, not just tinker around on the course), you were my coach. It's fitting that you were my coach from day one. I might have only been in elementary school, but I knew that you had an impressive golf résumé. And I wanted to follow in your footsteps. But you never pushed me. That's what I'll always remember most.
When I was 9, we decided to kick things up a notch, and I started playing in tournaments. Whether you were driving me all the way to Pinehurst, giving me swing tips or just cheering me up, you were always right there by my side. Again, you never pushed me. But when I turned 12, things started to change. I decided I didn't want to play golf anymore. When I told you that I wanted to stop playing, you didn't get mad. You didn't get sad. You just looked me in the eyes and said, "OK, that's your decision. Why don't you just take this summer to swim and play with your brother, sister and friends and have a good time?" I know it was probably hard for you to do, because you saw my potential on the golf course, but you and Dad wanted me to be happy more than anything.
I legitimately thought I was done with golf. But of course, you knew best. Moms always know best. After that summer away from golf, you signed me up for a few boys' tournaments in the fall. Little tours in northern Ohio, nothing serious. But you knew I'd have fun and you wanted me to fall in love with the sport on my own (even if there was some behind-the-scenes planning on your part). You also knew that I'd love beating the boys. Yes, I did -- and I still love it today!
That's the thing about our relationship: You never pushed me, and you wanted me to enjoy the game in my own way. And that's why I love golf so much. During your own career, you saw what happened when people were pushed too hard by their parents and burned out before they reached their ultimate golf goals. You didn't want that for me. You might've been praying that I would fall in love with the game, but you never forced it.
By the time I got to high school, I started to take golf more seriously. You'd enter me in tournaments, drive me thousands of miles for college visits. You and Dad did whatever you needed to do to help me reach my goals. The most valuable lesson you taught me was to always stay positive in the face of adversity, to never let my emotions get the best of me -- even if I hit seven golf balls into the water during a round. You taught me that God has given me so many blessings and that life is too short to not be thankful every second of the day. I've been able to take all the advice you've given me on the golf course and apply it to the rest of my life with love and enthusiasm.
When I decided to leave Ohio and go play at Georgia, you supported my decision. In fact, you helped find me a swing coach and short-game coach in Georgia.
Now I've finally reached my ultimate goal: playing in the LPGA. And while we may not live in the same state anymore or travel to every tournament together, you're still always by my side -- even if it's virtually sometimes. Every time I get ready to tee off on the first hole of a tournament, I am flooded with nerves. But as soon as I get that text message from you, I feel relaxed and fired up to play. Sometimes you'll send Bible verses. Sometimes it'll be an inspirational quote. Sometimes it'll just be a funny meme or video. But you always know what to send and when to send it.
This year has already been full of ups and downs. I never expected to be playing my rookie season during a global pandemic, but I'm blessed to even be here in the first place. You always say that Goompa [Grandpa] is my golfing angel, looking down on me. I know he's probably looking down and thinking, "Wow, Sharon and Jillian walk the same on the course." I am honored to follow in your footsteps.
Happy Mother's Day! Thank you for the gifts of positivity, encouragement and the belief in myself to never give up on my dreams.
I love you to the moon and back,
Jillian
Hunter Sallis
He might be a distant relative of James Harden and Chauncey Billups, but the most important lineage for prep basketball star Hunter Sallis runs through his mom. Sallis is a shooting guard from Millard North (Omaha) who is ranked No. 21 in the ESPN 60 and is the biggest basketball recruit ever to come out of the state of Nebraska. His mom, Jessica Jackson, was a pretty big deal in her day too. Jackson, who went by Jessica Haynes in the '80s, led her Omaha Central High basketball team to a 50-0 record over two seasons and played in two U.S. Olympic basketball festivals. Sallis used to hear stories about how good his mom was, but he didn't really believe it until he saw some old videos recently. "She told me she was able to dunk back then," Sallis said. "I just wanted to see proof of it." -- As told to Liz Merrill
Dear Mom,
I remember going to the Y when I was around 7. We would get up some shots and you would rebound for me, and after that we would play one-on-one. You would always beat me. I knew I was getting better when I finally started beating you. I started liking that feeling; I knew I was improving, so I just kept going harder and harder. I took those games very serious. Very serious. You were the first one who really introduced me to basketball. You taught me all the fundamentals, the ins and outs. You really set the foundation for my game.
You taught me to stay humble and keep God involved. Nobody has you like God has you. You taught me to keep my circle small, that you've got to surround yourself with people who have the best interest for you.
I really admire how independent you are. When we grew up, Dad was always close, but you two weren't together. Just seeing you being able to take care of me and not needing somebody in the house was really good. I also admire how wise you are.
Happy Mother's Day!
Hunter