Nathanael (Nate) Lee '17 Recruiting Profile

I apologize if this is long. I just feel I just have so much to offer on and off the court. First off, I love the game of basketball. I have played since I was in the 5th grade - learning more and more each year. I refuse to let all that I have learned over the years go to waist. I have played for that long and I am determined to make something out of it. So, if I am asked to do something on the court by a coach I do it because one thing I have learned over the years is that coaches see things that I don't.  These things can often make me a better player. I have heard this all my life and I believe it.

Another thing that I have learned over the years is that school is very important.  Before recently, the classroom wasn't a priority of mine.  I did not see the value in what was being taught in my classes. Now, I see that doing well in the classroom can help me in many ways. First, there is so much basketball talent out there that my grades may be the thing that helps me stand out.  So, showing growth in my GPA is important. Also, if it is Gods will that I do not make it in basketball, good grades will help me get a good job one day.

If I do not make it to the highest level, I will do something that has to do with the game.  Something like training kids to lift weights and develop skills on the court is an example.  When I was younger, players would push me around in the paint. I became tired of it. So, I started to work out and it made me stronger.  Now, I love the weight room.  It clears my mind and it is making me better on the court. If I do not become a pro basketball player, I will use weight training and other physical activities to keep me on the court in other ways.  For example, I can train kids first as a starter job and later open my own gym.  If I don't make it, I want to make sure that kids always have somewhere they can go and do serious work if they want to go far in the game.

I have already started working with kids.  My high school, Northgate High, runs a camp for the younger kids teaching them basketball every year.  I have been a volunteer at the camp for the past two years. I enjoy doing this very much. Something people learn about me quickly is I am a "people person".  The kids seem to be drawn to me and they tend to follow my instructions and we all have a good time. 

My teammates also seem to be drawn to me. This makes it easy for me to be accepted as a leader. A coach of mine told me that it is his job to be the leader that yells but my job to be the leader that makes sense of what the coach is yelling about. This has helped me to be a better leader because they are more liable to listen if I am leading by example.