Troy’s journey began in his early teens when he was spotted dunking on players twice his size during a pickup game at the old Hardwood Park. Rumor has it, his shoes were so worn down that every jump was a testament to sheer willpower. The town couldn’t afford much, but they rallied to buy him his first pair of basketball shoes—red and white classics that would later become a symbol of his unstoppable determination.

Through high school, Troy led his team, the Hardwood Elites, to consecutive championships, shattering records along the way. But it wasn’t just his skill that won people over—it was his heart. Troy was known for staying after games to train younger kids, always reminding them, "The court doesn’t care who you are; it only knows how hard you play."