Livin’ The Dream

Preston Troutt burns the nets and flies first class.

by Dave Spahn / @davespahn

Preston Troutt has a tough time finding things to complain about these days. His Texas Titans team punishes most of their opponents in dominating fashion. He torches the nets regularly, becoming one of the nation’s premier shooters in a short amount of time. He possesses a respectful, encouraging personality that impresses the harshest of critics. And oh yeah, he lives in a house that makes the white house look like a Motel 6. No big deal, right?

Son of the ultra successful Kenny Troutt, Preston comes from a hard working family tree. His father sold life insurance to pay for his college tuition at Southern Illinois University. He founded Excel Communications and merged with Teleglobe (a multi-billion dollar operation) and owns the horse Super Saver, the 2010 Kentucky Derby Winner. Ask Preston about any of his family’s success and you’ll receive a humble, sophisticated answer.

“I saw how my dad persevered through his rough childhood to be the best he could be,” Preston stated. “I try to work my hardest in everything I do to reach my full potential for the glory of God.”

Preston puts his tireless work ethic to the test every weekend with the Texas Titans, and most games end up working out in his favor. He quickly became a hot commodity among scouts and college coaches by absolutely scorching the nets from beyond the arc (this video just about sums it up). Preston’s beautiful shooting form demonstrate his dedication to the game, spending hours on end trying to improve his shot. His shooting range extends well outside the three-point line, and he nails almost any open look he gets. His basketball IQ and ball handling skills allow him to be more than just a “shooter” on the court, causing big time problems for opposing defenses. He helps take some pressure off Julius Randle, arguably the nation’s top player in 2013, and poses as a dangerous scoring option for the Titans.

Owned by Preston’s father, the Texas Titans pride themselves on creating an enjoyable learning experience in which everyone involved grows as a person. They participate in team Bible studies and host weekend training sessions in which they practice multiple times at their state of the art Texas Titans practice facility. They emphasize hard work and character, something many view as lost in today’s youth sports.

“The experience has been great,” Troutt explained about playing for the Titans. “It’s been so much fun to travel around with all my really good friends/teammates. I’m lucky to be a part of such a great program.”

An enjoyable experience usually comes easy when you sport a bona fide superstar in post prospect Randle, but players like Preston make the Titans such a dominant team. The Titans have complied an incredible spring so far, winning multiple tournaments and garnering national exposure from almost every media outlet in the country. The Titans now are preparing themselves for the brutal July evaluation period, a time of intense competition and pressure to succeed. This team, however, plays together with a smile on their faces.

“The best part about being on the Titans is being able to play with a team filled with such great players and incredible coaches,” said Troutt. “The coaches care about the team and our character, not about themselves.”

Flying in his private jet, cheering on his family’s horse in the Kentucky Derby, shooting hundreds of shots a day in his gym; Preston Troutt blends a uniquely famous lifestyle with a never-ending work ethic for his passion. Not a bad life, don’t you think?

Special thanks to coach Scott Pospichal and the rest of the Texas Titans members. You would be hard pressed to find a group of people in the game of basketball who truly care about the well being of others more than the Texas Titans program. Your work has not gone unnoticed.