Peyton Tague '21 Recruiting Profile

Basketball is one of the most loved sports all around the world. For me, I love basketball because of the way it has shaped me into the person I am today by allowing me to demonstrate both individual skills and the cooperation of being on a team. Being a guard has required me to not panic under the pressure of an aggressive defense. Both on the court and off the court I always start by taking a deep breath and seeing what is in front of me before I act.  On the court that means to be sure to turn and face before I put the ball down; off the court it means I need to think and plan so I am able to balance all the demands of my time. I have had to work hard on my individual skills when it wasn’t fun and others weren’t looking, like early Saturday mornings or full weeks during the summer. This type of preparation allows you to fall back on good habits when the pressure is high and instincts take over.

Being part of a team has built lifelong friends which has allowed us to work very closely. When I finished 8^th grade, the starting five for our school team had played together since we were in kindergarten. During those nine years we grew to know and understand each player’s strengths and weaknesses; we could rely on one another to encourage each other when we were down or to celebrate our individual and team successes. The starting five won our league championship for two years on junior varsity and two years of varsity. Although many of us went off to different schools we have remained friends. My AAU teams has played together for the last five years and we are also a great team – unselfish play and focus on the importance of the whole not the success of one.

Any team is only as strong as its weakest player, no matter what the sport but especially basketball. If all players aren’t working to their potential then it is almost like it is playing five on four. I work hard not to let my team down and when I see one of my teammates not having a great game I try and encourage them because I know it is important to be at full strength. This thought process also plays an important part in how I approach school group projects or when I am at work.