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Stephanie Klein-Davis | The Roanoke Times

Hidden Valley's Tyler Evans (5) trains two mornings a week with other area athletes before returning home to get ready for school.

The library at Hidden Valley High School was slightly crowded one Tuesday morning this fall. People were sitting at the tables with their friends, sluggishly completing homework from the night before.

"I literally got like no sleep last night," said one student.

"Yeah, I can't wait for this weekend," said another.

With so much going on, it's easy for a teen's life to become hectic and stressful. Many students are involved in some kind of extracurricular activity, whether it's a club, a youth group, community service, or a sport. Tyler Evans, a sophomore at Hidden Valley, plays basketball.

Tuesday for Evans means an hour and a half of basketball training before school even starts.

Early to rise

Every Tuesday and Thursday since March, Evans has been training at The Edge Sports Performance Center from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Here, Evans takes part in timed endurance drills, ball handling, defensive drills, and scrimmages with players from other schools across the area.

"Meeting people from other schools brings about a diversity of competition; therefore different aspects of my game can be challenged," she said. "For example, when I play against tall people, I can work on my jump shot, and when I play against shorter people I can work on my footwork, speed and agility.

"The overall atmosphere at The Edge in the mornings is supportive, because everyone in there is trying to get better, and you all share a common goal. There's a really light and happy mood there."

Eric Walker, Evans' trainer at The Edge, described the mood as "electric, tough, sweaty and fun."

This early schedule leaves no time to sit in the library and quietly work on unfinished homework most mornings. Instead, Evans is rushing just to make it to school on time.

"It's a rush to get back and ready for school because I have to catch the bus," Evans said. "I essentially only have about 30 minutes to get ready, which is hard for me."

Walker said improvement comes from the dedication the teens have, getting up at 4 a.m. to train and work on their skills. "This process doesn't happen overnight," he said. "Athletes don't have an off-season; they train year-round."

Dramatic improvements

Since she was 9 years old, Evans has played for various teams, starting with AAU basketball at a young age and continuing it through high school, along with playing for her school team. She started training at The Edge in the spring in order to "get better and push myself to be the best that I can be."

Evans said in the time since beginning training there, she has seen dramatic differences in her abilities.

"Going to The Edge enabled me to have more endurance on the floor. I've gotten leaner, I can definitely jump higher," said Evans, whose vertical jump went from 20 inches to 24 inches in a few months.

"I can see the results so far," she said.

A lot to juggle

The extra practice makes schoolwork more difficult to juggle, but Evans is staying focused.

"My academics haven't been affected by it," she said. "I manage everything because my mom and I actually have a schedule and we set different priorities for me, and, of course, schoolwork always comes first, so I study first and then play basketball after. That's the way it always is."

These efforts have definitely not gone unnoticed, especially by Walker.

"Tyler has worked so hard in all aspects of the game and it shows," he said. "Hidden Valley has something special. Tyler is so determined to be the best ever at Hidden Valley, and her dedication to the gym speaks volumes about her commitment to the game.

"Ask her morning peers and you will get the same response. She gets all the respect. Tyler gives the same hard work and determination on the court and in the classroom."

While training at The Edge is rewarding, Evans agrees that it is hard to sometimes wake up early and have energy to play basketball, while weighed down with schoolwork.

"Honestly, when I hear the alarm clock, there's a lot of stress behind it, but at the same time, it's symbolic for me because I know that alarm clock going off means that I'm working hard and that in the end it's all worth it," she said.

"The actual sound, of course it's loud, and I don't really want to hear it, but when it goes off I tell myself 'Tyler, you're working hard, don't even worry about the alarm clock, you're going to make it and this will all pay off someday.' "

The ultimate goal

Evans' love for the game is the driving force behind her determination to reach her goals, which include continuing to play basketball after high school. She hopes to play for a Division I school.

"It's important for people to wake up early, and put in the extra effort because somebody else in the country is working hard to get your spot too," Evans said. "Somebody else is hungry for that Division I scholarship just like you are. There are hundreds and thousands of girls in the country that play basketball and only a very small percentage make it to Division I.

"I remember seeing a sign one time, and it stuck with me, and it's one of my mottos: 'Hard work ends up beating talent when talent doesn't work hard.' It's essential in life, not even just with sports."

Evans said her family gives her inspiration and motivation -- especially her younger brother, "because he looks up to me."

"Both of my parents have always taught me to never give up, so for me to give up on something that was important to me, like basketball is, would disappoint them," she said. "My dad always told me, 'No matter what, as long as you shoot for the moon you'll still be amongst the stars.' "