“AGAINST ALL ODDS”

As the Fall/Winter Sports Season begins in Buffalo, NY, energy infuses our city. It may be seen on the fields or courts at a nearby park. You see parents huddled close to one another on their chairs, cheering their favs! Or, in the way, folks show up to a basketball court with hoodies & breakaways only to have these sprawled at the edge because the players are warmed up!

When I think of youth making a buzz in the basketball community, I think of Malak Bontzolakes. Malak’s first word may have very well been ‘Ball’! At 13 years young, he has played football and basketball since he was about 7 years old. He not ONLY loves to play, but he loves to watch professional sports. He can carry on heated conversations with the best of adults. He enjoys it so much that he creates short videos highlighting players & game highlights to post to TikTok! 

Last year, he had decided, along with his number one fan, his mom, Jacqueline Bontzolakes, to focus on basketball. She doubles as his coach and triples as his public relations coordinator. They’re often seen practicing at the YMCA as soon as they open. 

One day, Malak decided to stay up and be absorbed in the technology. Mom woke up at 3:30 AM when she heard him still on his phone. She sternly addressed him; took his phone while promising that she’ll wake him up at 5:30 AM for PRACTICE. And THAT she did; she even posted about this as they entered the Y! 

Next year, he would have been entering high school at CSAT. Malak is being homeschooled as the family chose to maintain their core religious beliefs and not vaccinate (NYS decided to remove religious exemptions on June 13, 2019). So being seen playing on a high school team in hopes of being noticed by colleges has faded into non-existence. 

Mom works to instill dedication and resiliency. He trains just as much as he learns if not MORE Than if he was in school. She finds community coaches & teams. When his dedication is NOT valued or recognized – she switches him to a new team. Other children that are in both school and community teams will have opportunities that are close to him. There’s no time to play as he’s aspiring to play professional basketball.  Mom’s figuring it out and opening other opportunities for him! This past summer, his team, THE UNIT, made it to the Championships in South Carolina. Malak took the initiative and sold 30 dinners using his social media skills to help fund the trip. And he just came back from the weekend B-Ball Training Camp in Texas. Just Days after being Nominated AND ADDED to the team that is traveling across the globe with Richie Schueler’s Ph.D. Hoops!

If you follow Buffalo sports and desire to witness the progress of a child striving to put Buffalo, NY, on the map through Basketball in a Most Untraditional Way – follow their social media accounts. Come cheer them on at games throughout the year!