5 years later: Kobe Bryant’s Mamba students share their advice

More than five years have passed since Kobe Bryant’s fatal accident with his 13 -year -old daughter, Gianna. But his precious coach tips live through his students in Mamba Sports Academy – six of which are now playing college teams.

“Coach Bryant” told her left Annika Jiwani, who plays for Dartmouth, to record her left hand behind her, even to remove her hand skills, 6 meters before said The Associated Press. She said that Bryant often remained after practice to work long after her duties were over.

Zoie Lamkin stayed close to home – Mamba Sports Academy was in thousands of oaks outside to – to play for the Orange Coast College. Struggles with her left The hand, so her famous coach instructed her to strengthen her by doing all her trivial tasks, including brushing her teeth and using the TV, with her less coordinated hand.

“He was that” if you fight something … continue to practice on it, “said the 5-meter-7 guard. The advice must have worked – the young player has an average of 13.3 points this season.

Among Kat Righeimer, former teammates of Jiwani and Lamkin, who obtained a scholarship to play for Northwestern; Emily Eadie, who plays for Princeton; Annabelle Spots, who just ended the Rookie season at the University of Chicago; and Mackenly Randolph, a player from Louisville. Women still keep in touch.

Eadie’s favorite tips helped her gain the power to improve her arrangements-but she can also be applied to her non-sports life. “As for the end of the arrangements, because that was just something easy,” she said, “he was so,” you can’t leave them on the table. You can’t leave your eggs and bacon on the table. … I always got to finish your breakfast. “”

Righeimer explains why he keeps his advice so dear.

“I look at her as a gift from heaven,” she said.

Young women now say that they can fully appreciate the moments they had with the sports icon, but then it was never a “celebrity”.

“When we go to these tournaments and all these people would raise and crowd our yard, when they felt real,” Edie said.

“I could not appreciate it and fully understand it at such an early age,” Spits confirmed.

Bryant, Gigi and six family friends died in the accident of the helicopter on January 26, 2020. The group was directed to a basketball game at the Mamba Academy. They are survived by Bryant’s wife, Vanessa and Gia’s two sisters, Natalia, 22, Bianka, 8 years and Capri, 5.