Ethan Eckard '24 Recruiting Profile

While basketball has been my favorite sport for as long as I can remember, when I was young, I simply played for fun. I had a turning point in third grade when I noticed for the first time how much I could improve by practicing. I spent that whole summer outside, working on my game, and watched all my hard work pay off during the following season. I loved the feeling of satisfaction when I finally started playing well. To this day, I still love that feeling, and it is one of the main reasons why I work every day to be the best player I can.

By fifth grade, I started playing for my school team, which has been such a great experience that I choose to still play on that team. I have had many great coaches over the years and I give them all a lot of credit for my success. All of their positive feedback has really encouraged me, and their advice has helped me grow into a better player and person. I have made sure to maintain my positive work ethic and always find a reason to get better. When I lose, I use it as motivation. When I win, I use it as proof that perseverance works. Both of these are reasons I get back in the gym the next day.

School is important to me, too, and I don't think of academics as a chore or a requirement, but as a privilege and an opportunity. Being homeschooled causes me to take ownership of my learning and also allows me to pursue things that I especially enjoy, like American history and politics. I especially like learning about things that are relatable to current events, and having conversations with friends and family about relevant topics.

In addition to basketball and my academics, my family is one of the most important things to me. I am the oldest of 7 kids, and with all of us being homeschooled, my at-home life can get kind of crazy. We have developed a great “system” of chores, cooking meals, and helping each other with school work. Being with my siblings for hours every day has helped develop great relationships between us and I have many wonderful memories with them. Another thing that I really care about is my relationship with God. The comfort I feel after praying and going to church is something I couldn’t live without.

I really look forward to having an opportunity to both learn and compete at a higher level when in college. I would like to be taught by professors who will inspire and challenge me. I also hope to have access to hands-on learning opportunities, such as research and professional internships. Last, I am excited to be part of a close basketball community, with teammates who work well together and with a coach who I can learn from and will help me improve.