Nia Brown '21 Recruiting Profile

I am a believer in the fact that the environment one is in can affect the type of person someone grows to be. If there is specific jargon where you live, you're sure to pick it up, or there's a particular style or way to wear your hair that's something familiar for other people to follow right behind. Never being a bad thing only that one has established comfort and confidence in where and whom they live around, because if someone disliked the area they live in, then they would be sure to detest such elements. However, I, for example, never stayed in the same place for a long time, so I never was able to stay and identify with any demographic or specific type of people. Who and what I am is purely based on what I know to be hard work, family values, and the idea of never making excuses. Growing up and always being the new kid left me viable to be outcast by other kids who had been there longer and established connections, in other words, being bullied for things like my skin color and the way that I wear my hair. Which regularly made me feel lonely and was cause for some of my confidence issues growing up. One thing, however, that I was always sure of was my athletic ability. It's always what I feel has uplifted me even when feeling less than others. I played many sports as a kid, the main one being track and field, the track which taught me to be competitive and to depend on what I can do as well as always to strive to beat myself, through it I learned poise, and it gave me heart.

Going into high school, however, I decided to try a new sport, which I ultimately fell in love with, which was basketball. Basketball has taught me to trust in others and myself, and no matter how much athletic ability I have, I need to season it with skill. I found basketball in middle school, it was always something I was reluctant to try, but I liked how every new play is another opportunity to turn the game around. I liked the idea that basketball was about 'out-efforting' the other team. Its also ever-changing, and it, to me, sponsors personal growth.

I know though that there are other girls my age are on another talent level because they have been playing longer, I have learned that my athleticism and coachability are two things that will help me get to where I need to be to play in college. I plan to continue to strive to be better in high school, hoping to finish strong after having had a memorable year in winning CIF and continue to strive to be greater on and off the court.  In taking basketball with me to college, I want to use it as a tool to further grow myself into not only the adult but also the athlete I was meant and want to be. I plan to find my future in college and to study film and television as my major. Having had the experience of being moved around to several places, has given me the ability to work and be around all types of people. It has given me social awareness and the ability to work well with anyone. I find myself to be able to adapt to an environment quickly and help others around me maintain focus. I don't believe that the team is just as strong as its leader. I believe a basketball team is only as strong as the last person on the bench.