Galen Harkness • December 7, 2025
🏀 Hard Work Pays Off: What Athletes Can Learn from Quinn Meinerz
When you show up and do the work… success follows.
Why This Matters
Players want results.
But results come from:
• Training with purpose
• Improving when nobody is watching
• Being consistent long after others quit
It isn’t about hype or ranking.
It’s about habits.
His Story — Short + Powerful
Quinn didn’t play at a powerhouse high school.
He wasn’t a D1 recruit.
He barely played as a college freshman.
His response?
Work harder.
He:
• Transformed his body
• Trained with creativity (chopping wood, flipping tires)
• Filmed and coached his own reps
• Studied and taught himself a new position
• Attacked every offseason like it mattered
And when the right people were watching — the Senior Bowl —
he dominated the best players in college football.
Now?
• Denver Broncos starting right guard
• One of the best run-blockers in the NFL
• Earned an $80M contract
All because he lived one message:
“Hard work pays off… when you actually live by it.” — Quinn Meinerz
What Players Can Learn
Players who rise:
• Master the fundamentals
• Create their own reps
• Choose effort over excuses
• Improve every season
• Control the things they can control
Being overlooked today
can become your superpower tomorrow.
How EYG Helps Players Live This
Every athlete has two choices:
👀 Wait for opportunity
or
💪 Train until opportunity can’t ignore them
At EYG, players:
• Build confidence through reps that look like the game
• Train with clear purpose and guidance
• Develop habits that show up when it matters most
Here’s how to take the next step:
🔥 In-Season Shooting & Finishing Workouts
Improve confidence and scoring in the paint
3rd–5th Grade ➜
https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events/175603-in-season-shooting-and-finishing-workouts-3rd-to-5th-grade
6th–8th Grade ➜
https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events/175604-in-season-shooting-and-finishing-workouts-6th-to-8th-grade
🎄 Holiday Shooting & Skills Camp
Turn your break into improvement
https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events/169392-eyg-holiday-shooting-and-skills-camp
🎯 Holiday Shooting & Scoring Academy
Gain scoring confidence during the season
https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events/169393-eyg-shooting-and-scoring-academy
🚀 Shooter Transformation Programs — Spring 2026
Take your scoring to the next level
9th–10th Boys ➜
https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events/178467-eyg-early-off-season-shooter-transformation-program-9th-10th-grade-boys
9th–10th Girls ➜
https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events/178468-eyg-early-off-season-shooter-transformation-program-9th-10th-grade-girls
6th–8th Boys ➜
https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events/178469-eyg-early-off-season-shooter-transformation-program-6th-8th-grade-boys
6th–8th Girls ➜
https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events/178470-eyg-early-off-season-shooter-transformation-program-6th-8th-grade-girls
Learn how Payton Pritchard creates space, handles pressure, and finishes against bigger defenders. Five game-ready scoring lessons players can use right away.
I spent the weekend learning to do something new. It was awkward. Unfamiliar. Kinda scary. But something clicked: This is exactly how basketball players feel when we ask them to try something new. When a player works on weak-hand finishes… Tries a new shooting footwork pattern… Or plays in a higher-level game… They don’t always look smooth. But that discomfort? That’s the signal they’re growing. If you want to score more in games or gain confidence with the ball, you’ve got to spend time in those “stretch zones.” This is where real improvement happens—where you challenge old habits and build new ones. At EYG, we help 3rd–11th grade players grow through structured training programs that build skill, IQ, and confidence. Our clinics, workouts, and transformation programs create: Game-ready footwork Reliable shooting mechanics Real-time scoring reps A mindset that embraces growth 👉 Want to take your next step? Join our next camp, clinic, or training block https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events
Middle school basketball is where players separate through habits, buy-in, effort, and mindset. This blog gives players a blueprint for rising this season.