:: A Hoops U. Basketball Review ::

Author: Matt Sayman
Available from: Hoops U. Basketball Store

The Leftovers: Basketball, Betrayal, Baylor and Beyond by Matt Sayman is a must-read! It is a book that should be in your personal library and should be shared with fellow coaches, players, parents, and fans.

If you were paying attention to the sports world back in 2003, you could not have missed the tragic story and scandal that came out of Baylor University. One player on the men’s basketball team shot and killed another. The coaching staff was fired amid scandal and cover-up. Many players transferred to other schools.

For some players, especially those going into their senior season, transferring was not an option. Matt Sayman was one of those players. He was one of “The Leftovers” … left to deal with a broken basketball program.

In The Leftovers, Matt Sayman takes you on an inside journey behind the scenes of one of the biggest scandals and stories to rock college basketball. Having heard plenty about the story from afar, it is interesting to learn from someone who was in the basketball program at the time.

As interesting as it is to learn more about the story, the importance of this book goes far beyond the scandal.

At some point in your playing or coaching career you will have to deal with adversity. The Leftovers is a story of greater adversity than most of us will ever have to deal with. It is an inspirational story of redemption and a devastating story of having your foundation rocked to the core.

In his conversational style, author Matt Sayman shares how he realized his lifelong dream of receiving a DI scholarship through hard work and tenacity. As many of us in basketball can relate to, it becomes our identity. What happens when that identity is ripped from you by no fault of your own? Through all the good and bad, Matt Sayman shares his struggles and how his faith was shaken and subsequently restored.

The Leftovers is an inspiring story that I highly recommend. It is very well written … you won’t put it down until you’re done reading! As a coach, it is a book I would give to and/or read with my players to share the messages of dealing with adversity, persevering through trials, and building a faith that can’t be shaken.

The Leftovers: Basketball, Betrayal, Baylor and Beyond is available for purchase in the Hoops U. Basketball Store in paperback or hardcover.

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