PHOTO: The rickety hoop in rural Virginia where Steph Curry honed his shooting skills

Stephen Curry wasn't always a master chef. Even this young sharpshooter had to cut his teeth somewhere. Turns out that somewhere is Grottoes, Va.

Wardell Stephen Curry II was born in Akron, Ohio - birthplace of another somewhat popular baller, however, he spent most of his formative years in Charlotte, N.C. He would frequently visit his father Dell's childhood home in rural Virginia, which is where the younger Curry says he would learn how to shoot, the hard way:

It was "make it or chase it" out there, and if you missed, it was terrible. So you didn't miss. That instills something in you as a shooter without you even knowing it's happening.

We've heard the stories before. A young, scrawny Stephen shot the ball from his hip. He did not yet possess the renowned long-distance range that has made him virtually unstoppable today. And so, Dell took it upon himself to help his son rebuild his shooting mechanics from scratch. These tough lessons, which often left Stephen in tears, happened on this hoop:

Now, years later, the son of Dell is shooting high-arcing, quick-release bombs from anywhere he chooses. Just ask the Houston Rockets.