WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — There are good basketball players and then there are great basketball players. Anyla Parker is on her way to being great.
She started playing with the varsity girls' team when she was only in 3rd grade. We first introduced you to Anyla in February, but so many things have happened in nine months that it was time for an update.
"This is all like some big memories that I really want to remember, so I just put them all on a wall," Anyla said, flashing her proud smile as she showed us her room.
She's just days away from turning 13, but this young basketball phenom has already accomplished more than most.
"I started playing high school varsity in 3rd grade and that definitely advanced me a lot," she said.
During our visit, she listed some of her highlights.
From an MVP award to being "in one of the biggest Nike commercials this year with a lot of legends," she has a lot already under her belt this year.
"I want to be the first woman in the NBA," she said.
She's only in the 7th grade, but she's already catching the eye of colleges.
"Texas A&M offered me a full-ride scholarship," Anyla said.
Her mom and coach, Nadine Serrano, is there for all of it. "She works hard. She works really hard. It's fun to watch because you know it's going to pay off."
But it's not all basketball, all the time. When Anyla's not doing schoolwork, she's also doing affirmations and looking for inspiration.
"When I wake up in the morning I watch my inspiration and inspiration is like motivational videos and motivational speeches and all this stuff that like helps you become a better person," she said.
She also makes it a priority to spend time with family every day.
"I make sure every day that I hang out with my Lola and my little cousins, my whole family every day."
Anyla's grandmother comes into the room and hugs her. "So proud of this girl. Lola's so proud of you, you're my heart."
But when it's time to hit the court, it's all business. Family friend and former NBA player Tyrus Thomas is helping to train her.
"She actually has fun and enjoys playing," he said. "So when you enjoy the process of working out and you enjoy the process of going through the grind, It's going to happen for you."
Anyla broke her thumb a few weeks ago, but that's not stopping her. She's finding opportunity in adversity.
"I see the good in it," she said. "I don't always see the bad, I see the good because now that I've hurt my finger I have the chance to work on my left hand more and I can become better at it."
Important lessons learned on the court are now being used in everyday life. Nadine says it's taken a lot of sacrifice, but Anyla has a good foundation to lean on.
"It is incredible because I know she's worked hard. I know she's traded a lot of her time with friends and TV and social media for basketball, for her vision, for her goals and I love that she's getting to see the rewards of that," Nadine said.
Rewards that will eventually become a part of the memory wall.
Anyla gives us that winning smile, "You just never know what's going to happen so you have to use that time wisely and you have to make it worthy. I love making memories. You have to make beautiful memories because you just never know."