Today I am going to tell you a story. A story about what makes “LIFE” so good in so many ways. Today I’m going to explain how hard work, taking risk and being giving can change a life. Today I’m going to tell you about GANDY MALOU-MAMEL of GIL BERNARD and the NJ GEMZ U16 TEAM.
There are dreams that dance in the head of every girl that picks up a basketball. That dream usually invokes hitting the game winning shot, getting a scholarship to college and maybe playing in the WNBA or NBA one day. You see, dreams have no limitations. Gandy Malou Mamel last year was living in Ireland when kids in America were having all there dreams. I doubt her dreams were anything like those of American teenagers. GANDY most likely was just dreaming of a opportunity. A chance to get a education, a chance to play basketball and a chance to come to Anerica. Never could she have imagined or dreamed her life and those around her lives could change so dramatically. That’s because what is happening to GANDY MANU MAMEL doesn’t happen in dreams, it only happens in life.
KERWIN QUINN and his wife JEN are life changers. Kewin is a former professional basketball player. His wife is a former basketball player at Colgate. Kewin changers lives on the basketball court. His passion and love of the game oozes out of his body. His knowledge of the game is rarely seen these days. His wife JEN changes lives off the court. She is a judge. Her decisions changes lives everyday. She is that rare mom, that played coached and understands the mental aspect of the game from a young ladies view point. Together they make for a most interesting pair. Two parents with three kids. There older daughter SIDNEY is a future star D1 basketball player, has been asked to share her family during the most important years of her life. . Their son KERWIN just may be the best 8th grader in the entire country. He is going on a basketball journey I doubt he even understands. There younger daughter just may be the best athlete in the family. She may have not fully grasped all that is going on. The Quinn family are special and when GANDY MANU MAMEL left Ireland to come live with them. Things would never be the same for them or Gandy.
I met Gandy last fall. Kerwin Quinn, told me he was bringing a girl to live with his family and she had great potential. I thought to myself, this is a brave man looking for problems. But Kerwin believed in this young lady. He told me she needed a chance much like he needed as a kid. He talked of her size, length, quickness, talent and most importantly her character. He thought she could one day be one of the best players not only in NEW JERSEY but the country. He said she was raw but hungry and had a great work ethic. When Gandy showed up at NBS that day, 3 things were true. She was raw, talented and a sponge. What I didn’t know was that Grady MANU MAMEL was going to take full advantage of all the things that America and the QUINN family could offer a kid. She trained with trainers daily to work on her foot work, she played one on one with Kerwin Jr and Sidney every night. She lifted weights everyday. Kerwin Sr, emerged her into the game. He exposed her to real coaching and he demanded her attention and that’s exactly what Gandy gladly gave him. She embraced anything that gave her a chance to improve her life. Be it her education to meeting impactful people in all walks of life. The Kerwin family open there doors to Gandy and she has returned there generosity with respect, dedication and a humble gratefulness.
The 2nd time I saw Gandy in the gym last fall I was shocked at her development. I was shocked by her hands and how her movement and IQ had grown in a few weeks. But what shocked me more than anything was the love her peers gave her. When she made a nice up and under move the entire gym exploded with joy and cheered. It was a heart warming moment. That’s because not only has Gandy become a great basketball player, she is a better person. It is impossible not to fall in Love with her or that sneaky smile and beautiful face. Gandy Malou Mamel has not had to suffer from none of the trapping that American kids suffer from. She has no ego, selflessness, attitude, entourage or a AAU mentality. She is just a kid in a far away land taken full advantage of all it has to offer.
Recently Grady received another P5 offer. But this one was from perhaps the greatest programs and coaches in college basketball history men or women. It had to be shocking to Gandy. Here she is, in a country less than a year. Leaving her home, her family, her friends, her way of life, her comfort zone, her safety net and taking a a chance on life. She trusted the Kewin family, and entered a home with other 16 year female in the house. Another great player that now had to share the spotlight. She had little funds and certainly could not know what to expect. But what she found was so much support, patience love and understanding. Now all that has led to GANDY being one of the rare kids. You know the ones COACHES DREAM ABOUT, yes coaches have dreams too! It’s been a wonderful journey for Gandy to this point. Her family back home is filled with tears of joy. Her trainers and coaches are all sharing in her life’s best moments. GANDY MANU MAMEL just may be walking on clouds right now. I personally can’t think of a better story. My quess is that, it’s about to only get better.
Last week I spent a week with Gandy, Sidney and Kerwin. It was shocking to me. The improvement and work ethic of all three is proof good teaching is alive and well. SIDNEY QUINN’S mental toughness blows me away as much as her talent. KEWIN QUINN JR to be honest is a freak of nature. GANDY well it’s hard to recognize her now. Her body now looks like something chiseled out of granite. Her game is evolving it seems daily. I’m not sure I have ever seen anything like it before. But what I do know and 💯 sure about is this below⏬️⏬️⏬️⏬️
THE KEWIN FAMILY ARE ANGELS …AND GANDY MANU MAMEL IS BLESSED💕🌷🙏
God bless the Kewin family and well done to my niece Gandy.