Jacob Rhee '19 Recruiting Profile

When you're a multi-sport athlete, especially in football and lacrosse, injuries are a part of the deal and can be very discouraging to many athletes.  In my case, I had a fractured lumbar spine (from a ground ball scrum and being pushed in an awkward angle), a broken thumb (when my hand got caught between an opponent and a teammate during a tackle), and a broken collar bone (from a late hit by an opponent during a winter league lacrosse game) . . . all within a 12-month span.  These injuries set back my freshman year from a lacrosse standpoint, but through a lot of sweat and tough physical therapy, I persevered and came out healthier and stronger than I've ever felt.  I worked my way on to the varsity team and then had a very successful rising sophomore summer - being selected for all-star games at three recruiting showcases.

I learned a lot from overcoming injuries and setbacks and became a more focused student-athlete.  I didn't let the injuries get me down, and instead, I worked harder in school and getting my body ready to compete in 8 summer lacrosse events.  I learned the importance of continuing to support my teammates even though I couldn't take the field with them.  And when I was healthy again to take the field, my mind had never left the game and I was able to contribute right away.  I think my teammates saw how I overcame the injuries and my perseverance lifted them up when the team went through rough spots during the season.  I became a better student of lacrosse and a better leader on and off the field.

I'm continuing to excel in the classroom with a 3.8 GPA with a mix of honors classes and AP classes.   I recently earned a 33 on the February 2018 ACT.  I'm looking for a highly competitive school where I can continue excelling academically, grow even more as a leader, and help make my teammates better players.