What happens when the game that defined you… suddenly ends?

For many athletes, that moment is terrifying. For Aaron Nettles, it became the start of the most important chapter of his life.

In this episode, Nick sits down with someone who has been part of his world since childhood—Seattle Prep legend, former Division I guard, and now a leader at EBC Training Centers: Aaron Nettles.

Aaron opens up about the pressure of being "the kid with the gym," the reality of growing up biracial in Sammamish, the discipline that shaped him, and the injury that unexpectedly ended his basketball career. But more importantly, he shares how he rebuilt his identity, healed from years of silent struggles, and stepped into his true purpose: developing people, not just players.

This is one of the most honest conversations ever shared on Purpose Over Points—and a must-listen for athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone navigating who they are beyond performance.

In this episode:

• Growing up in Sammamish and navigating what it meant to feel “different” in every room

• The real grind behind a D1 path—early mornings, late nights, pressure, and discipline

• The injury and surgery that cut his career short, and why he now sees it as a pivotal turning point

• Letting go of achievement-based identity and learning who he is outside of basketball

• Stepping into leadership at EBC and pouring into the next generation

• The simple habits that keep his mind, body, and emotions grounded today

• What “Purpose Over Points” truly means to him now

Connect with Aaron:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronnettless/

Connect with us:

Website: https://www.ebconefamily.com

EBC's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebconefamily/

Nick's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachnick_ebc/

When the ball stops bouncing, who are you?

In this powerful episode, Nick sits down with actor, inspirational speaker, mentor, and Bellevue High School Girls Basketball Head Coach Romell Witherspoon a man whose life work sits at the intersection of leadership, faith, purpose, and community.

From his days as a two-time state champion at Rainier Beach to serving as Team Chaplain and Player Manager for the Los Angeles Lakers during their 2020 championship run, Romell has lived the highs, lows, and quiet in-between spaces of life after sport.

And the lessons? They’re bigger than basketball.

This conversation goes deep into:

What really happens when the scoreboard shuts off and the athlete identity fades

How to rebuild confidence from the inside out — and why no one can give it or take it away

The “Confidence Code” and the mindset tools he uses with high-level athletes and everyday leaders

Why the small, unseen reps will take you farther than talent ever will

How to win the scoreboard in life, not just in the game

The difference between teaching basketball and teaching life through basketball

What it means to be famous in your own home

Romell’s journey, from competing against Washington’s greatest, to acting in New York, to standing in NBA locker rooms with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, to shaping the next generation of leaders in Seattle, is a masterclass in purpose, resilience, and becoming.

If you’re an athlete, a parent, a coach, or anyone navigating a transition…this episode will shift something in you.

Romell Witherspoon is an actor, inspirational speaker, mentorship director for the City of Seattle under Mayor Bruce Harrell, and Head Girls Basketball Coach at Bellevue High School. A former Rainier Beach standout and collegiate athlete, Romell later spent four years with the Los Angeles Lakers providing player mentorship and chaplain support — culminating in a 2020 NBA Championship. His work centers on leadership, confidence, community, and helping people become who they were created to be.

Connect with Romell:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romell_witherspoon/

Connect with us:

Website: https://www.ebconefamily.com

EBC's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebconefamily/

Nick's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachnick_ebc/

When the ball stops bouncing, who are you beyond the game?

In the very first episode of Purpose Over Points, host Nick Crossan opens up about his journey, from growing up in Seattle and chasing basketball dreams to realizing that true success isn’t measured by stats, but by purpose, growth, and community.

Nick shares the heart behind Purpose Over Points, a movement built at the core of EBC Training Center that’s all about developing people, not just athletes. He reflects on his family, his mentors, and the life lessons that shaped him into the man and coach he is today.

He also answers three listener questions that go straight to the soul of the show:

• What’s your “why” behind coaching—and how do you stay connected to it every day?
• How can parents use sports to teach life lessons beyond the game?
• What would you tell rookie Coach Nick if you could go back in time?

This is what Purpose Over Points is all about: authentic conversations, real growth, and community that lasts long after the final buzzer.

Connect with us:

Website: https://www.ebconefamily.com

EBC's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebconefamily/

Nick's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachnick_ebc/