Hard Work Pays Off: The Making of a Leader in Alex Toon

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By: Andrea Aruino

For Alex Toon, UPBasketaball is more than just a training facility, it is the place that taught him how to become a strong minded athlete. When he first arrived at UPB he was just 12 years old and unsure of what his basketball future looked like but certain that he wanted to get better. He soaked in all the knowledge he could working with UPB coaches and playing alongside other athletes who were more seasoned in the game. Those early years shaped his identity as a player. Having trained for so long at UPB and being a part of its community, it gave him the opportunity to start coaching. Toon started off as an Afterschool Helper to now, a Player Development Assistant at UPB.

Taking basketball seriously at 12 years old is something that Toon recalls to be challenging. Although still young, he felt he was behind, having to work harder than other players who had been playing as young as five years old. Going into his freshman year at Homestead High School, he rarely saw playing time which was disheartening to say the least. That same summer, he committed his time to training everyday whether that be with his family in their backyard or at UPB.

His hard work led to him getting to start almost every game his following sophomore season. Unfortunately, Toon suffered a broken leg early into his junior year as well as a broken ankle halfway into the season. After months of rehab he got back to work and decided to leave his AAU team and play for a Puma Circuit team called the South Bay Snipers where he was traveling the country and competing against top competition. This opportunity increased his skills as a passer, scorer, and overall leader.

“It was a step up in competition and I was just getting back from injury but with recruitment season coming up, I knew I had to challenge myself if I wanted to play in college. Luckily, I made the team and it was the best possible outcome when looking at how I developed my game,” Toon said. 

Going into his senior year, Toon and his team had won the League Championship and finished with a 22-5 record. During his breakout senior season, Toon was looking for a job that he’d be able to handle with school, basketball, and recruitment. That was when he took the opportunity to be an Afterschool Helper for UPB. 

Coming up to one year now as a coach, Toon has a whole new perspective on basketball. He now has found himself more on court, helping with group sessions, camps, clinics and rebounding. He finds it to be rewarding when he comes into the gym ready to work with groups of kids who are excited and eager to learn. It pushed him to stay focused and build connections that are bigger than basketball. 

“He's grown into such a great leader where you can trust him…,” said Lead Player Development Coach Hannah Johnson. ”Whether it's being the lead at Afterschool, whether it's rebounding, whether it's leading a station at a camp or a group, he's always there and present and hungry to learn and does a really good job of delivering. He knows the game of basketball.”

Oftentimes he recalls how impactful it was for him to have the UPB mentorship when he first began playing and he wants to be exactly that for the new generation of athletes coming into the facility. As a player and coach, he makes it a goal to never forget that he will always be a student of the game no matter what level he reaches. He has achieved many goals in his basketball career and has learned alongside some of UPB’s most seasoned coaches. 

“There is so much to learn everyday by the coaches I am surrounded by. Being able to take feedback and apply new concepts into my way of coaching has helped me grow as a coach and player. Something that I want to provide for the young kids I work with,” Toon said. 

Toon hopes to play at De Anza College and to continue to grow his skills and mindset as a coach and player. As he continues coaching, he is excited to grow and connect more with students who were in his position not long ago. Being a coach at UPB is a constant reminder that hard work pays off and that any goal can be reached with consistent effort.

“One of the things that I want all the kids to take away from UPB is just having confidence,” Toon said. “I want all the kids to walk out with the right mentality and just know that they can accomplish anything that they want if they work hard for it.”