GOOD HOPE, Ala. — In this interview, I talked to Good Hope football and basketball star Tanner Malin, who will be going to Millsaps College to continue his athletic career on the football field and on the hardwood.
Tanner talked about what some of his best sports/high school memories were.
“Some of my best memories would have to be beating Etowah and Northside this past season because of the history we had with both of those teams,” Malin said. “In basketball, it would have to be for sure winning my third county championship because I’m not sure if many people in our county have ever done that or made it four in a row on a varsity team. My all-time favorite would have to be being the first North-South All-Star ever at Good Hope. In high school, some of the best memories would have to be just the weeks of homecoming and doing all the events with my friends and the senior pranks that we did. I’ll never forget bonding with my friends and just having fun one last time before we were official graduates.”
Tanner feels really blessed to have played for a pair of great coaches during his high school career.
“My coaches were like father figures to me,” Malin said. “I could text them anytime and ask them for something and they’d respond right away. They were always there for any of our players, and they always let us know that their faith came first in their life. They made sure everyone felt valued and cared for no matter if they played the whole game or didn’t touch the field or court at all.”
Tanner talked about what all he learned and took away during his time at Good Hope.
“I learned a lot, but my biggest takeaway is you’re never too good to be nice to everyone,” Malin said. “There’s so many different friend groups and different people in high school and not one is better than the other. You never know the impact you could leave on a person. Be nice to them, especially if they’re going through something nobody knows about. Good Hope is one of the best things to happen to me. If I wasn’t from Good Hope, I don’t know where I would be or if I would even be playing college ball. Good Hope is such a special place.”
Tanner will miss a whole lot of things in high school and gave some advice to those students that are preparing to start high school.
“What I’ll miss the most will be the family atmosphere and the community support from everyone in the Good Hope community,” Malin said. “I wouldn’t be the player I am without them and their support. For those students that are fixing to start high school, take everything in. Never be satisfied with the work you’re doing today because you can always work on this and be better at anything in life. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Be outgoing. Be the person that wants to talk first in class and first in everything. Set an example. Be someone others can look up to if you can. God made us all different, but perfect in his eyes. Put your own perfection out there and just give it your all.”
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