TIPS TO MAKE SURE ITS WHAT YOU WANT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS (OR MORE)
Some teammates and I break down how to go about the recruiting process in an empowering way. Don't let this process drain you, let it EMpower you.
"Keep an open mind, don’t believe everything you hear, and soak it ALL in! You’ll never be wanted that way again." - Allie Clement, Former Marist Women's Basketball Player
Tricks of the trade: When I was being recruited I spent the first two years just going through the motions of the recruiting process and constantly feeling overwhelmed. With that being said, the recruiting process is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It helps you figure out who you are and allows you to meet many new people. Some fellow teammates of mine and I are here with tips to help you get the most out of this process.
1. "I think in order for recruits to pick the right school they need to consider if they would still want to go that school if they weren’t playing basketball." - Maren Durant
2. "If it doesn’t work out with a school that you thought was the one, don’t worry. Trust that it wasn’t the place for you, keep an open mind, and remember that you are another step closer to finding the school that will be your home and the team that will be your family." - Annabelle Larnard
3. "You take on the responsibility of not only representing the school on the court but also in life. Furthermore, you are expected to uphold the morals and standards in everything that you do." - Liz Shean
4. "I wish I knew that no one should be able to pressure me into making a decision." - Riley Childs
5. "I recommend always doing a pros and cons list after speaking with a coach or visiting a school. You can then ultimately figure out what you like and can find trends. For example, if you like big schools, small schools, up north, down south, east coast/west etc. Therefore you won’t be persuaded into liking just what the coaches are selling you." - Katie Nelson
These are all great tips to take into consideration. One of my tips to add would be to keep a journal throughout the whole process. When I did this, I used my journal to jot down some notes and key points of what the coach was saying. Doing this allowed me to keep track of how often they called me which helped me gauge their level of interest. Another thing it allowed me to do was to see if they were being consistent with what they were saying. If I noticed they weren't being consistent I noted it as a red flag. Lastly, put forth an effort to make a personal connection with all the people [players and coaches] you meet along the way because they are so much more than just their title of coach or player. It is also a great opportunity for networking.