Eastlake program shapes young athletes to thrive beyond basketball court
For many athletes in Sammamish, basketball becomes a large part of their lives. But years of playing can make it easy to forget that for most athletes, their basketball careers come to an end due to a lack of opportunity beyond high school, or even injury. Without guidance, athletes can lose direction and their connection to the community.
Nick Crossan, the Eastlake boys basketball coach, wants to change that with his Life After Basketball (LAB) program, tying in his own personal experience with his basketball career ending earlier than he anticipated. The program has been growing since 2024, when Crossan first started coaching at Eastlake. He hopes to one day expand the program beyond Eastlake.
Looking back on his own high school years, Crossan said his only motivation was basketball. Academics was not a drive for him, but he eventually realized he needed a backup plan. Crossan’s own career was cut short by hip dysplasia in college, a condition that made even walking difficult. This forced him to accept that his time on the court was limited. Because of this experience, he wanted to help today’s athletes plan for their own futures.
Crossan said the current digital environment also inspired him to start the program because of the pressure social media puts on students.
“It is important to teach life lessons that have nothing to do with the game of basketball,” Crossan said.
LAB consists of weekly 45-minute sessions held every Wednesday during the basketball season. These sessions cover life skills such as communication, leadership, and emotional intelligence, as well as professional skills such as personal finance and job interview preparation. Crossan hopes his athletes become better leaders by talking to professionals around the community.
Eastlake senior Rutul Tarambale is one of the many young athletes who has benefited from these mentorship opportunities. Even though he balances basketball with other activities, Tarambale said the program helped him grow off the court.
“Seeing someone go through so much but still lead and support others really made me think about the kind of person I want to be off the court,” Tarambale said.
During one of these LAB sessions, the athletes met Anthony Fletcher, a gang education and prevention officer with the Everett Police Department. Fletcher shared his story of growing up in Los Angeles, an area where gang activity was rampant, and talked about his rough childhood. He shared that he was kicked out of school 43 times. Fletcher eventually realized his path was not sustainable and decided to become the first member of his family to attend college and become a police officer. As a result, he even influenced his mother to get sober.
During the session, Eastlake senior Payton Goldie asked how Fletcher deals with jerks in the community. Fletcher responded that it was all a matter of defining who you wanted to be for your community. Fletcher also told the athletes that you cannot always see the pain everyone is carrying, which is why it is important to uplift people on your team and in your community.
Such LAB sessions have inspired the Eastlake players to foster greater team spirit and value every person’s contribution. During the senior night game against Interlake on Jan. 23, the Eastlake team invited their team manager, Quang Doan, who had been cut from the team four years in a row, to start the game. Crossan announced this through an Instagram post, stating that the team lit up with joy when Doan was offered a jersey, and repeatedly chanted his name in the video to celebrate.
Crossan said moments like that show why the program matters. He encourages young athletes to use what they learn in school and work to create a stronger community, rather than chase their own personal accolades.
“I want young athletes to see that success is not just about scoring points or winning games,” Crossan said. “It is about building character, taking responsibility, and giving back to the community.”
