Xavier Finney is one of the best players from the Tampa, FL area in the Class of 2023.
The 6-foot, 155-pound Finney, who attends Anclote High School, is a dynamic player that works as a point guard and shooting guard.
No matter the opponent, every game Finney is determined to give it his all.
Finney is going all out.
The motor is always at full throttle whenever Finney steps between the lines.
“My mindset at my position is to be where I need to be on the court and make smart decisions when the ball is in my hands,” Finney said.
Finney has great passion and energy whenever he’s on the hardwood. Finney tells why he enjoys the game of basketball so much.
“The thing I love most about playing is the energy. I like when people try to trash talk and make me mad. It’s my fuel,” Finney said. “When someone says I suck or our team sucks, that’s when I know I’ve got to go 10 times harder.”
Finney has learned many valuable lessons from playing basketball that he applies to his everyday life.
“Playing taught me that not everything is going to be easy,” Finney said. “You can’t just walk on a court and instantly be the best. It has taught me patience, and that hard work pays off.”
Finney shares his favorite memory from playing basketball.
“My favorite memory while playing would have to be going to Tennessee for a national tournament, while being put in Time magazine,” Finney said. “Not that many people get the chance to play in front of that many people and have the opportunity to get put in a magazine with a company that big.”
Finney takes his role as one of the leaders on the team very seriously. Finney makes sure he’s a daily positive influence on his peers.
“I demonstrate being a good teammate in ways such as motivating them by speech, pushing them in practice, making them work hard, and always being there for them, whether it’d be on or off the court,” Finney said. “The best advice I’ve given my teammates would just simply be to play their game and not let anything make them play differently.”
Finney is appreciative of having amazing male role models that are supportive.
“I’ve learned that they want us to be us on the court and do what we’re good at, and off they don’t promote bad behavior such as the use of drugs or fighting,” Finney said. “The best advice my coaches have given me would be to just be yourself on the court. Don’t do anything you don’t do regularly, just play your normal game.”
Finney patterns his mentality after this rising star.
“I look up to Brandon Ingram because he’s somewhat the same body type as me, and has a good amount of height,” Finney said. “He’s a good person for me to look up to because he shows you don’t have to be big or muscular to be able to attack the basket, and he has a smooth shot and a relaxed play style.”
Finney lists science as his favorite subject in school.
“I just enjoy learning about life and how we function, what allows our body to do this, and why things are the way they are,” Finney said.
Finney explains his collegiate aspirations.
“My dream college would have to be Duke, because who doesn’t want to go there?” Finney said. “They’re one of the best basketball teams almost every year, and they have a great education system.”
Finney is striving for greatness in all that he does.
“My goals on and off the court are mainly to be the best person I can be. Along with that on the court, I want to win at least 2 district championships, and make it to the Final Four,” Finney said. “Off the court, my goals would be to get good grades and make it to college.”
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