In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Jaelynn Penn — former UCLA basketball standout, pro player, and current Athletes Untapped coach — to talk about one of the most overlooked skills in youth basketball: footwork. Jaelynn breaks down why young athletes focus so much on highlights, speed, or strength, but often forget the foundation that truly separates great players from the rest.
But this conversation goes deeper than footwork. Jaelynn shares a powerful mindset lesson from her time at UCLA — a quote her coaches required the entire team to write down before every single practice:
“My value comes from who I am, not what I do.”
It’s a message every young athlete needs today. In a world obsessed with instant results, social media highlights, and constant comparison, Jaelynn explains why grounding your identity in character — not outcomes — is the real key to long-term success.
In this conversation, Jaelynn opens up about:
- Why footwork is the biggest weakness she sees in young athletes today
- How footwork improves confidence, basketball IQ, and consistency
- The UCLA quote that reshaped her mindset and helped her handle pressure
- What athletes get wrong about development in the era of quick results
- How to compete intensely without tying your worth to performance
- Why coaches at the highest level still hammer fundamentals daily
- The difference between doing drills and actually mastering habits
Jaelynn’s story is a reminder that the fundamentals matter — not just the footwork you use on the court, but the values and habits you build off of it. Her perspective is one every athlete, parent, and coach will benefit from: the game can elevate you, challenge you, and grow you, but it never defines you.
At Athletes Untapped, we believe in building complete athletes — players who can move, think, lead, and stay grounded in who they are. Jaelynn is one of the coaches who embodies that mission every day, helping the next generation improve their skills while strengthening their confidence and character.
🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ — the nation’s #1 platform for private sports coaching. Our mission is to help athletes reach their full potential by connecting them with great coaches who elevate both skill and mindset.
Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for clips and highlights: https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/
#UntappedStories #AthletesUntapped #BasketballTraining #YouthBasketball #Footwork #BasketballCoach #UCLAWBB #AthleteMindset #SportsParenting #PlayerDevelopment #MentalPerformance #BasketballIQ #AthleteConfidence #ProAthlete #CollegeBasketball #WomenInSports #AthleteLife #FundamentalsFirst #TrainingMindset #SportsJourney