YOUTH BASKETBALL: HORSEHEADS' 8-YEAR-OLD MAKING A NAME FOR HERSELF WITH HER CROSSOVER (12 PHOTOS) (May 27, 2026)

BY BRIAN FEES
Southern Tier Sports Report
A killer crossover. 10 million plus Youtube views and an appearance on the Jennifer Hudson show. 

For most professional basketball players that would seem like an impressive resume. But, that’s the accomplishments of eight-year-old Horseheads second grader Faith Micknich. 

For Micknich getting a chance to be on the Jennifer Hudson show was special.

“It was so much fun,” she said. “She’s a really nice person and it was so nice to be around her. It was just crazy. I was just freaking out, because it was one of the best moments of my life.”

The second-grader got a chance to not only show off her skills, but teach Hudson a double crossover.

“It was really cool, because she didn’t know how to do a double crossover, so I had to teach her all that stuff,” Micknich said. 

Micknich has developed her skills with a ton of work. 

“I dribble for like two hours a day and I practice for like two hours a day,” she said. 

Micknich’s crossover would put plenty of varsity players to shame, and it comes from hours and hours of work. 

“It comes from practicing and working hard with my crossover,” Micknich said. 

That hard work all comes from self motivation as Micknich always pushes herself to get better.

“It’s something I just want to get up and do everyday,” Micknich said. “It’s so much fun working.”

For Micknich it’s not parents telling her to practice, it’s her parents having to tell her it’s time to take a break. 

“They have to make me stop,” Micknich said. “They have to make me leave my practices.”

And, now that it’s nice out the second-grader can get outside and practice in her driveway. 

“Like every single hour of the day,” Micknich said of how often she tries to get out on her driveway. “I was so excited (when the weather got nice), because I could just practice on my home hoop more.”

Micknich’s Youtube videos have 10 million plus views on them, and as the numbers got higher it became very exciting for her.

“Probably like 10k, because it was so cool to see the K, because I’m used to seeing the thousands, like seven thousand, so when I saw like the 10K I freaked out, because it was so nice,” Micknich said. 

In second-grade, Micknich regularly plays against much older players. She’s the only second grader on Team 94, the third-grade national team led by Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Phil Handy. 

On her travel team she regularly plays against much older kids. 

“I usually play against fifth graders, who are like 11 year olds, and 10 year olds,” Micknich said.

Playing those older kids makes the eight-year-old work that much harder.

“It’s really fun, and also it’s really hard,” she said. “Because they are so much bigger then me so I have to exaggerate my moves to get by them.”

Her crossover helps Micknich compete against the older kids.

“It helps me get by them by being quick with my dribbling,” Micknich said. “You have to be fast with the dribbling and it’s really fun practicing it.”

One of the big keys to the crossover is keeping the dribble low.

“Staying low and keeping my dribble low,” Micknich said.

Not only is Micknich playing older kids, she’s often playing with, and against, boys. Being younger than the other kids, and smaller, helps her keep the crossover low against the boys. 

“It helps a lot, because the boys are tall and they can’t reach my dribble,” Micknich said. 

Right when Micknich started playing she started getting good at the crossover.

“Like three years ago when I started playing, right when I started I knew I was going to be good,” she said. 

Micknich goes to every camp, and works on her game every chance she can. She has spent time working Horseheads high school players before.

“It helps a lot, because if I play against older kids it’s going to be easy when it comes to the fifth grade kids,” Micknich said. 

While she’s only in second grade, Micknich is already excited for what she’ll be able to do in high school.

“I am so excited for the stuff, because I know I’m going to be really good when I get in high school and I’m just going to be cooking boys and girls,” Micknich said. 
—————
PHOTO GALLERY OF FAITH MICKNICH PRACTICING BASKETBALL:



Print Friendly Version