Natalie Kerstein '25 Recruiting Profile

Hello, I'm Natalie Kerstein. I'm just starting my senior year. When I first started playing basketball I tried out for the middle school basketball team in 5th grade and wasn't selected. One of the reasons was my size and being the coach didn't have a spot open for the position she would have me play. I worked on the things the coach advised and the following year in 6th grade I came back to tryouts and made the team. I tried out for an AAU team who didn't pick me. I reached out to the coach to see why I wasn't picked and what I could work on. I continued to train and put the work in the areas he advised and when the next season came around I went to tryout again. This time not only was I picked for the team, but I was also asked to play up a grade higher. I know that it takes hard work and consistency to be a great player. 

Since I have started playing basketball I have thrown myself into school teams, town travel, AAU programs, camps, private trainings as well as volunteered my time during summer basketball camp for younger kids. I know you have to put the work in to succeed. One of my coaches had told me, "it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog" and that I have a lot of fight in me and passion for the sport. This has stuck with me! When you see me on the court, you will notice I am not the biggest athlete in size, but you can tell where my heart is!

Most importantly, I should have mentioned that I am a student first above everything. I take great pride in my schoolwork and grades. I have held high honors every year throughout middle school and high school. Where I previously went to school, the 8th grade was part of the high school. In 8th grade I took courses to start earning credits towards graduation, which are only available to honors students. My freshman year, I continued taking all Honors level classes and maintained high honors throughout. My junior year I continued taking honors level classes, as well as adding 2 AP level classes to my workload. This senior year I have increased to 3 AP classes, a dual enrollment class and an internship.  

My goal is to get into a school where I can be successful academically as well as be able to play basketball at the college level. I hope that my references above have conveyed that while I may not be the biggest athlete on the court, I have the fight, will to succeed, and work ethic that would be an asset to any school and team.