Personal Statement
I started playing basketball at 16, which was far later than my peers. This meant that I started at a disadvantage: I was last in drills and I made mistakes during practices that others didn’t. But this only strengthened my desire to improve and my passion for the sport. One of my best qualities is my drive – I have worked very hard to catch up to my teammates and I have loved every second of it.
Being naturally athletic has been a big help in my development. I started with a 32+ inch vertical leap at the beginning of my career, which has helped with things like finishing around the rim and getting rebounds over bigger players. However, I don’t rely on natural talent alone – I bring intensive energy to every practice for the betterment of both myself and my teammates. I’m also very punctual and dedicated, arriving early to put up more shots and staying behind to work on my mechanics. An example of my hard work is that my vertical leap is now at 36 inches.
I have accomplished the goals I set for myself at a national level, both on and off the court: I achieved the starting five position on my team and my grades are consistent because maintaining a good education alongside basketball is very important to me. Looking forward to a collegiate level, I want to play against high-level talent, win games and hopefully tournaments and continue to be an asset to my team.
