NiNi Davenport is a bit of a renaissance woman – a renaissance woman at the age of 9.
She can play a full set of drums. This fourth grader can do fifth grade math.
And on the basketball court, let’s just say, NiNi Davenport’s got game.
“She likes to win. I won’t kid you about that,” NiNi’s father Larry Davenport said. “She enjoys winning. She enjoys the competition. Even when we were playing during basketball, we had a little garbage can we would use for a basketball hoop, she would just love driving past me and dunking the basket in the little garbage can.
"She loves to win, loves the competition, the one-on-one part of it. The sports just a natural for her.”
Need proof she’s a natural? NiNi’s won five-consecutive free throw competitions that qualified her for the national free throw event in Springfield, MA, the birthplace of basketball.
She plays and trains at the North Brandon Family YMCA. How did she get so good so fast? For NiNi, it’s all about routine.
“I usually put my foot on the lines and I do it behind so I don’t go past the line or it doesn’t count,” NiNi said. “Then I visualize my shot, then I take two dribbles, then spin it and then shoot.”
It’s that simple, yet focused approach that has this nine-year-old on the verge of a national title. Click on the video to see NiNi in action.