Hailey Croft '24 Recruiting Profile

From a very young age, I have had a love and passion for basketball, and playing the game always came very naturally for me. I have had many high moments that include winning several hoop shoot competitions in Montana, as well as having the opportunity to start as an eighth grader in our varsity district tournament. While winning awards and trophies brings a high that we all strive for, losing has also taught me many lessons and allowed me to grow as a leader and a thoughtful teammate. Losing gives me and my team the opportunity to assess our weaknesses, as well as fuel our desire to be better. In the times of moving forward after a loss, I dig deep to be strong for my teammates, with a positive attitude and productive work ethic. This, as well as being respectful of others, are among my top priorities.  

Since eighth grade, I have earned three sportsmanship awards from the referees in my county. This is a proud accomplishment for me because it reflects my genuine efforts to be a good teammate and opponent.  Examples of this include shaking the hand of an opponent who has fouled out while playing a great game, passing off to a younger teammate to give her the chance to feel the rush of getting a basket, or owning up to fouls or mistakes when I make them personally.

My goal after high school is to play for a college program that allows me to further develop my skills on and off the court, while it simultaneously benefits from my unique qualities.  Academics are equally as important as basketball to me, so finding a school with the programs I am interested in is just as significant as the athletic department.  I intend to offer my future team my deep love of basketball, my knowledge and coachability as a leader and teammate, my ceaseless work ethic, and an attitude that reminds fellow players and young  athletes alike why they fell in love with the game in the first place.