Danielle Merriman '20 Recruiting Profile

    As the team captain for two years now (2018 to 2020) for the Mt.Pleasant High School varsity basketball team, I have learned a great deal, and I realized just how much the sport truly means to me. It has shaped me into a leader and driven me to do things I never thought possible both mentally and physically. And while receiving multiple awards throughout my high school career was extremely noteworthy (“Defensive MVP” in 2018, “Most Assists” in 2017, and “Academic All-District” in 2019), it wasn’t the most valuable thing I’ve received from playing basketball since I was nine years old. 

    No, the most important thing basketball has brought into my life is friends, family, and courage. From the time I was little playing with various traveling teams, to my current experience with my AAU team (PACK), I have made friends from all over and from all walks of life. In many cases, these friends have been life-long connections. It has also given me the courage to push past race divisions that were a struggle throughout much of my playing career and break racial barriers between my teammates and I until we were no longer separated white and black players but instead became a family. I truly hope to find a college program that will embrace this family ideal and continue to push me both mentally and physically.