Noam Gracia '25 Recruiting Profile

I have been playing all types of sports since I can remember, such as tennis, swimming, soccer, tennis, and now basketball. I was very passionate about soccer and continued playing up until 6th grade when I decided I wanted to switch to basketball. The decision was inspired mostly due to my love for the 2019 Nets team, a fun young team with a great bond and chemistry. I first played in the mini-basketball team in my school, and I definitely was not the best, not even close. But as time passed my passion grew and my hunger to get better also did. When everybody was in COVID lockdown, I trained every single day and developed my game immensely. By this point, I caught up with all the players who played from little and started playing in club and travel teams, all while playing soccer, volleyball, and soccer in school. Playing many sports helped me develop a variety of skills that I could later translate into the basketball court. Now, in 11th grade, I see myself in a very humble position, as I wake up early in the morning for physical training, go to school, and spend the rest of my afternoon developing my basketball skills. My goal is to play in the collegiate level and then become a professional player. The odds are very much against me since I do not have much exposure, I started playing basketball later than most kids, and most people tell me it is too big of a sacrifice to pursue, but sincerely, I love this game and I am willing to work and do anything possible to make my goals become a reality. 

As a person, I am a very perspicacious and intriguing individual. I am very coachable and love to learn and absorb as much information from my coaches as possible. My fierce competitive spirit, which came from having an older brother and always competing for everything) helps my development as a player, since I cannot ever be satisfied, and always aim to be better. Outside the court, I enjoy being with my family and spending quality time with them, as I love to make jokes all the time and laugh. To add, I thoroughly enjoy playing chess and am proud to be the chess vice president in my school.

Academically, I have attended a very rigorous school (debatably the toughest high school in Puerto Rico), since I was little. I must admit, I used to and still sometimes procrastinate, but I significantly improved my GPA last year from a 3.38 to a 3.63 and plan to continue doing so. I very much value academics and I think it is the root of a well-rounded and respected individual. A notorious academic university is very important for me and my parents. To add, I have been a member of the MUN club for the past 2 years and do very well in the competitions I attend.