The more time Frank Lyles’ youth basketball team spends together, the better.

Saturday morning at the Margaret Martin Gymnasium, Lyles gathered his players for a pregame warm-up — something he believes will benefit their self-awareness.

“I always ask them to come up early,” Lyles said. “It gives them time to be themselves, and it gives them time to collaborate with others. That way, they know what they need to do.”

During the preparation before its game in the City of Natchez Recreation Department Youth League, Lyles never skipped a beat. Between stretches and a series of shooting drill, Lyles knows how important it is too communicate, too.

“When you talk with a person, you find out more about them,” he said. “It really helps them see what interests them and for them to find out what direction they want to go.”

Once his team is able to nail the fundamentals, Lyles said, it’s much easier for them to mature as athletes.

“I want them to take more shots than normal. It’s about them pulling together and working toward the same cause,” he said.

At times, Lyles knows he is also a great asset to their young developing minds.

“Sometimes they will tell you things that they won’t tell their parents,” he said. “I’ve been there before, though. They just feel comfortable talking to someone on the outside.”

Though his players come to him for things often times outside of sports, Lyles said he doesn’t mind.

“It gives them a chance to learn about themselves. I love working with them,” he said. “Being here gives them time to be with people their age and just have fun.”

Ultimately, Lyles hopes basketball can teach his players about life.

“I want them to find out exactly who they are,” he said. They need to learn how to lose as well as win. This is about going out and performing the best you can on that given day, because every day you go out is not going to be your best day playing ball.”