The Start of my mini AM exercises

So I decided to just go ahead and try to do the exercises that are given to AM (Animation Mentor) students. I figure, why not do the exercises that are helping so many people figure out how to animate well. If it works for them, then it has to work for me. So the first exercise it to create a realistic acting ball. It has to feel like its real. I decided to do a ball shot at a basketball rim. I am close with this pass I think, but still not perfect, of course there is always room for improvement. Well here is the first pass at this basketball animation.