Julia Pinckert '22 Recruiting Profile

Playing up…

I’ve been playing sports since I can remember, and the one constant has been that I have always played up, and when that option was not immediately available, I sought out better competition. The drive to achieve and better myself follows me in my academics as well where I currently maintain a cumulative 4.0 GPA in my Sophomore year in High School.

To provide some insight to me as an athlete and a person I want to provide some of the highlights which illustrate how I got to where I am and demonstrate why I would be a great addition to a college level basketball program.

I grew up playing multiple sports.  I have played competitive Field Hockey, Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Lacrosse, and of course Basketball.  I’ve competed at a high level in each of these up until this year where I decided to focus solely on basketball. 

At an early age, I was always looking for new challenges.  I was not pushed, I was encouraged, given opportunities, and where necessary, stood against norms of the day.

For example, as a 9-year-old, I moved from softball to baseball to find better competition.  I made the boys 9U travel team where I pitched, played shortstop, and batted in the heart of the order. As a 10-year-old I was invited to play in the inaugural “Baseball for All” tournament in Orlando Florida.  I was the youngest member on my team by 2 years, but batted leadoff, pitched a game, and played multiple positions on the field. These experiences as young athlete, playing with the “boys” and with elite girls from around the country, instilled a drive that I’ve carried throughout my youth and into high school.

This is the case with all sports I’ve played, but specifically for basketball, I’ve always “played up” and when local teams were no longer a challenge, I joined AAU in 6^th grade.  From that point forward I knew this is what I wanted to do.  By the time our AAU team got to 8^th grade we were competing against some of the best talent in the country.  As an 8^th grader I got to practice with and scrimmage against the high school age AAU teams in our program which had Division I, II, and III level athletes.  I held my own against them, but more importantly it made me a better player, and challenged me each and every week.  As a Sophomore, I now play with the 17U team.

This drive is evidenced in my short high school career where I earned starting positions and varsity letters in Soccer, Basketball, and Lacrosse.  I’ve earned various awards in each of them as well. The awards range from “Rookie of the year”, to “All Conference – Second Team” to “All Division Honorable Mention” as a freshman.

In high school basketball, as a freshman, I started point guard and rotated through all 5 positions.  Our high school team is small in size, so at 5’9”, I often have to play every position each game.  I rarely leave the floor and often play the full 32 minutes. 

I think it is important to point out that I chose my high school. I go to a private Catholic high school.  I chose to go here because of the academic rigor available, and that I think it best prepares me for college. The offerings of Honors and AP classes challenge me academically, and being a Catholic school offers a way to give back to the community through service hours. 

A couple notable academic achievements, in addition to a 4.0 GPA, are that I was the only Freshman to be inducted into the French Honor Society, and one of a handful of Sophomores who gained acceptance into the National Honor Society.

In closing, I believe I will be a great addition to any college program.  I have the drive, dedication, and know what it takes to compete at a high level.