Zachary Hannen '20 Recruiting Profile

I remember the many nights I spent talking to my brother about how I should get into playing basketball. I was eight years old. Little did I realize that my decision to play basketball would change my life; shaping both my on-court skills, my work and life habits, and forging core values founded on commitment, community, passion, selflessness, and integrity.

Playing basketball has been hugely influential in my life. It has helped me gain the necessary skills to strive and achieve excellence in the classroom, as well as helping me develop my leadership through the opportunity’s basketball has offered me to serve, coach and referee. I have been able to influence many young people in the local community through coaching within the Gators Club (AAU Team) and Waitaha Representatives Academy (State Team), helping them develop their game as well as installing the same values I learnt through my basketball journey in them too. I have also been able to impact the lives of the wider community through volunteering at the Christchurch City Mission center (homeless shelter) and through the Mainland Eagles Academy which support junior basketball players in achieving in all areas of their life including academics & leadership. Helping these young people has made a large impact on myself. It has made me appreciative of how fortunate I am in my life. Due to me realizing how fortunate I am, it has only caused me to work harder. I am lucky that I have more opportunities than many young people and I believe that if I don’t work hard then it is disrespectful to all the young people who don’t have the same opportunities as me. However, not only has working with these young people made me want to improve myself, it has made me far more motivated to help people wherever I can. I have seen young people with very tough lives and it saddens me to see, but also motivates me to help. I am highly motivated to help people in need, and I am thankful that basketball has given me this opportunity. It is my dream to continue to use basketball as a tool to help people in need in the US College environment.

I believe obtaining a college scholarship would be hugely beneficial in setting me up academically for the future, both in exposure to high-level professors but also in challenging and real-life academic experiences and interactions. I think that attending an elite US college would be a unique opportunity to push myself and continue to develop basketball skills at a high level as well as being a great platform to continue my academic ventures at the same time. I want to use this opportunity to attend an elite US college to learn as much as possible from the professors & coaching staff, while also developing myself to then becoming a valued part of an academic programme, campus life & basketball programme. I also aspire to attend an elite college in the US because it offers opportunities to make valuable connections and friendships with people from all around the world.  The ability to become part of a fraternity and network that has global reach will help position me for my future career ambitions.

I plan to study Business because I want to be able to go into any area of life which I love and help to make it flourish and succeed. I plan to use this degree to set up more opportunities in New Zealand nationwide for young people not only to play basketball but to learn some of the same life skills and habits I did through basketball, and in doing so I’ll be able to help make my communities and country a better place. I think that a Business degree would provide the platform of learning which would allow me to set up such a business, and also allow me to utilize the contacts and friendships I have formed in College to enhance the New Zealand basketball system on a national scale. It has also been one of my goals to make a difference in the realm of mental health, and I think that going to a US College and gaining a Business degree would not only provide me with the skills to set up a business which advocates for the mental health of young people but also allow me to spread my aspirations on a global scale through the contacts I create in the US College environment.

Being a natural leader while also understanding the importance of playing my role and having a mindset to learn are characteristics which I believe will help me fit within any team environment. My genuine love for the game and team-oriented mindset are attributes I believe will help add to any team, as would my drive for excellence and hard-working attitude. My collegiate goals are to grow my basketball skills to help create a pathway to a professional basketball career, gain a first-rate Business degree from a quality institution, be part of an alumni network, have a positive impact on the people around me and build valuable friendships.