Alessandro Bernini '21 Recruiting Profile

I fell in love with the game of basketball ever since I tried learning how to shoot for the first time in the 8th grade.  I learned quickly and became fascinated.  I found myself compelled to get that bright orange ball in the hoop every single time I picked it up.  If I had a formal presentation in school, my opponents would see me dribbling up the ball in a suit and tie.  There were constant times where I would stay practicing after dark in my front yard, just to check the clock and realize it was 1 in the morning and I had school the next day.  I used to call it an addiction, but now I see my relationship with the game for what it is, love.  

I play shooting guard and point guard at my school.  I would say my strongest skill is my shooting and my role as a leader.  I know how to talk to my teammates without putting them down and find it easy to score off the mid-range, which is a factor of basketball I feel is missed these days with the rising popularity of shooting the 3-pointer every chance one gets.  I was also the go-to option to guard the best defender on the opposing team if he was ever punishing us too harshly, which I consider to be one of the reasons why we won the district tournament for the first time in our school's history.

I see everything in basketball as a way for me to get better.  I knew that I was a late bloomer when I realized I was getting serious about my career in basketball, so there weren't and aren't any room for breaks.  I know I can get better than where I already am, and I won't let myself give up and be the reason why I  don't succeed.  No matter how hard I work, I know there is always someone out there working harder.  That's motivation.