Every player who joins The 96 starts with a belief in who they can become. Not belief in talent — belief in effort, character, and the standard they choose to live by. You’re not here because you’re perfect. You’re here because you show up with purpose, trust your work, and carry yourself with pride and humility. When a kid connects to that standard, everything changes — the way they carry themself, the way they grow, the way he or she competes.

Respect starts with how you see yourself. If you don’t respect your own effort, your work, and your standard, nothing else matters. Respect is confidence without arrogance and humility without weakness. It’s how you carry yourself, how you treat people, how you honor the game, and how you represent your team. Respect is the foundation of how we act, speak, compete, and show up.

Discipline is not punishment — it’s a mindset. It’s the internal standard that makes you take the extra rep, get up early, stay late, and do the work when nobody is watching. Discipline is structure, routine, and consistency. It’s how you show the world who you are. Respect is something we give to others. Discipline is something we build within ourselves.

Hustle is purposeful effort. It’s speed with intention — moving fast because it matters. Hustle eliminates wasted reps, wasted steps, and wasted time. It’s urgency, energy, and meaning in every action. Hustle is the outward expression of your discipline — proving your standard without saying a word.

Grit is the thing that stops you from stopping. It’s the force that keeps you in the fight when everything else tells you to quit. Grit is a choice, not a feeling. It’s the look in the eye that says you’re not done. It’s focus when others lose theirs. Grit is the refusal to back down, slow down, or give in — the fire that rises when the moment gets hard.