User:Channon Mallard

Channon Mallard was born in Detroit, MI. Despite having both parent and a strong family support system, Channon Mallard still grew up in the inner city where there is a high level of violence, drugs, and crime. Early in his life, Channon Mallard was no stranger to trouble getting arrested on a few different occasions throughout high school and being involved with the wrong crowd. Channon Mallard played AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) basketball with the Franklin All-Stars, which was an AAU team made up of the best players in the Metro Detroit area at the age of 15-16, as well as recreational basketball at local gyms throughout Detroit. After graduating from high school and not having any type of life path, Channon Mallard was convinced by a good friend of his to attend an open gym at a school called Alpena Community College. After attending the open the open gym and showing his skills on the basketball court, he was offered a full ride scholarship despite not playing organized basketball throughout high school. Channon Mallard struggled his first year of college basketball, getting use to the speed of the game as well as the transition from playing basketball on the streets to playing against some of the best talent in the nation at the community college level. Not only did Channon Mallard struggle in his freshman year, but the team as a whole struggled with a years record of 5-23. Going into the 2nd year of his career at Alpena, Channon Mallard worked hard the whole summer proceeding the horrendous first year he had. His sophomore season was a totally different story. He made drastic improvements to his attitude, as well as his game, and ended up being a starter on a much improved Alpena basketball team. The next year, Channon Mallard led his team in 3 point percentage, steals, and free throws attempted. He was also in the top 25 in the country in 3 point field goal percentage. After his 2 years at Alpena and taking huge steps of improvement, Channon Mallard went on to finish up his schooling at a University in Ohio as well as finishing up his basketball eligibility. Even through his troubled past, and despite never having good grades throughout k-12, Channon Mallard managed to make it through college earning his bachelors degree in Business Administration. Channon Mallard's story is a motivational story no matter how you look at it. After overcoming all his life's obstacles to turn out to be an educated African American from the inner city speaks volumes about his character and work ethic.