Who is Dakota Simms?

Dakota is a 9-year old rising basketball phenom

Dakota practices everyday shooting over 300 shots. He routinely makes 50 3-pointers within 5 minutes. That is a shot "made" every 6 seconds; with just one ball! He is student of the game, a student in school and a quick study of both.

Watch CNN.com's 3-minute feature of NBA Hall of Famer, Dominique Wilkins and Dakota playing and talking about the game they love and what it takes to rise to the top. You will fall in love with the desire, passion and heart shown by young Dakota Simms.

Dakota started playing at age 7 and has never looked back. While kids his age are playing with a smaller ball, Dakota refuses to take the shortcuts and only plays with a pro-sized ball. "It takes strength to shoot the ball, it's not like something you can just throw up there and hope it goes in", plainly states Dakota.

Dominique and Dakota had a chance to meet and play and the Atlanta Hawks practice facility a few weeks ago. Dominique was fully impressed by Dakota Simms' arsenal of skills but had some poignant advice for him that carries on and off the court. "As long as you keep that attitude and focus, only you can stop you. Always remember that." The NBA legend continued with further advice for all kids of all ages, "Its the things you do now that dictate who you become in the future."

Surrounded by friends, family and coaches everyday Dakota puts his work in and loves the game. One of his special moves is called "the matrix". That was not a video effect you saw at the beginning of the CNN reel, that was Dakota slowing his between the leg dribble down into super slow motion before kicking it back up a notch. A notch that continually feeds his fire.

Is Dakota Simms NBA bound?

Only time can really tell, but Dakota sees the future blindingly bright and still just as simple as one basket at a time.

"Basketball is like a game of focus where if you miss a shot, you have to get your head right, you have to fix it, no one else is going to do it for you. I love basketball."

Good luck Dakota and may we all learn a little something from the passionate heart of a 9-year old man.

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