Jerrod Nolan '20 Recruiting Profile

My name is Jerrod Nolan and I currently attend Bishop McNamara High School right outside Washington, D.C., in Forestville, Maryland. I began playing basketball because of my father. He played basketball in high school and college at a very competitive level. Growing up I played almost every sport, however, basketball always stuck out to me above the rest. I started playing basketball competitively in the fourth grade and between fourth and seventh grade I was able to travel across the country playing the game I love. Unfortunately, in the fall of my seventh grade middle school basketball season the most significant event in my young basketball career happened. On November 13th, right before the start of the season, I had a bad accident during a practice. I ended up breaking both my tibia and fibula in my right leg. This was the first major injury of my life, and it kept me out for almost 12 months. At the start of my eighth-grade year, I was still not fully healthy and did not know whether I would ever be the same player again, or if I was going to be able to play basketball again at a highly competitive level. Clearly, I had a decision to make; I either had to give up playing basketball, the sport I love, or I could bust my butt and become even better than I was before. My leg injury affected me throughout my freshman and into my sophomore year of high school. I had to have another surgery on the same leg during the summer between my freshman and sophomore year to correct a deficiency in that leg. I finally got completely healthy at the end of my sophomore year, all the hard work I had put in was starting to pay off. However, I realize all the work that still must be done.

These trials and tribulations have taught me valuable lessons such as determination, perseverance, and resilience. These are characteristics that I will bring to a collegiate program as well as the idea that no one will outwork me. I had to come to the realization that there will always be bigger, stronger, and more naturally talented players. The way I have always been able to compete with them has been to outwork them. My goal has always been to never be outworked in the gym or the classroom. I plan on bringing in, adding to, or enhancing a culture of hard work and relentless effort to whatever college basketball program I have the honor and privilege of joining. Coaches will never have to worry about behavioral or academic issues with me.

To assist my parents financially, I competed for and received the Father Basil Moreau Scholarship. This scholarship requires me to maintain a 3.5 GPA. I have exceeded the 3.5 GPA, recieved honor roll status, and suma cum laude in school while taking all honors and AP classes. I am confident that I will maintain or help raise the overall GPA and academic success of the team.

I believe I have the ability to play college basketball I plan to major in psychology while in college and plan to become a sports psychologist with the goal of helping athletes overcome traumatic injuries and return to playing the sport that they love by helping them enhance their psychological and physical health like I have been able to do.