College Ready Guys – player notes
Almost every athlete with a college scholarship has outsized expectations for his professional future, and this is especially true of basketball players. In 2015, the NCAA conducted a poll of its student-athletes, and more than 75% of DI basketball players said they believed it was “somewhat likely” they would play professionally. There are almost 5,250 kids playing D-I ball, and almost 4,000 of them think they are going to be pros. In reality, only about 40 of them each year will become NBA draft picks (the remaining picks are typically foreign-born). A fraction of the remaining group will play overseas, and only a handful of them will last long enough to earn an actual living on the court.
Here are some tips from previously athletes that have played collegiate ball.
1. Your job is to be a student athlete. Practice, class, film, weights, eat, study hall. Treat your responsibilities as if they were your-full time job, because they are. Create an hourly planner, and update it daily. Stop scheduling nap times, and use breaks between classes to study and get your work done.
2. Telegraph your absences. The key to successfully managing missed classes is to communicate. At the beginning of the semester, let your professors know (in person, by E-mail, or through a letter from the athletic department) the dates you will be missing class to participate in athletics.
3. Avoid “imposter syndrome.” Inevitably, there will come a time in your college career when you feel as if you’re walking around with a sign on your back that says, “Dumb Jock.” You may feel you don’t belong in the same class as the “regular” students, either because of your lack of self-confidence or poor treatment by those who (for whatever reason) don’t like athletics.
4. Don’t be a punch line. We all know him, we’ve all seen him, and we all know how much of pain he is . . . that guy. And trust us, every team has one. You don’t want to be the player who causes your teammates daily grief. Be on time (in the athletic world, being on time means being early). Be prepared, whether it’s practice, class, or study hall.
5. Manage your brand. Signing on to be a college athlete automatically projects you into the spotlight, not only on the field but off the field, too. You are the face of your university, and your actions reflect on your institution and your sport, both positively and negatively. Make good decisions, especially when it comes to alcohol and drugs. One bad decision will negatively affect not only you but your team, your family, and your whole athletic department. Understand that as an athlete, it’s not just about you anymore; you are part of a greater whole.
6. Make the most of failure. Many college freshmen—especially student athletes who have the twin demands of challenging athletic competition and heightened academic expectations—experience some kind of difficulty in their first semester. For some, it’s a low grade on an exam or paper; for others, it’s just feeling lost or overwhelmed in their new surroundings. Resist the temptation to give up. Make a realistic assessment of where you went wrong.
7. Value Plan B. Every college student has dreams. For the ones who are athletes, those dreams usually include competing professionally. That’s Plan A, and there’s nothing wrong with it. The reality, however, is that fewer than 5 percent of all college athletes compete professionally after graduation. This means that you need to make a Plan B for what happens if your athletic career ends after college-level competition.
8. Plan for life. It’s easy to forget the big picture when your daily life is packed with academics and athletics, but remember to use your resources and build your network. You should aim to take at least two classes from the same professor so that when you need letters of recommendation, you will know a faculty member who can write a strong letter for you instead of a form letter. And create a résumé early.
Here a couple of guys who in my eyes are, “collegiate ready.” These guys physically mature enough to make a huge impact at the next level and handle there business in the classroom as well.
Noah Williams is a 6’4 scoring guard, that can pretty much do it all on the court. He shows quality leadership, always being vocal and leading by example with his hard work ethic on and off the court.
Lindbergh 6-foot-6 wing Jalen Green is one of Washington’s most intriguing prospects. With great size and an ever-increasing skill-set, it seems a matter of time before other schools decide to get involved with Green.
Khyree Armstead has developed into a smooth combo guard, now running more point guard, creating plays off the dribble. With his ability to shoot the jump shot and create for his teammates, Armstead is due for a big time offer pretty soon.
At 6-7, 2018 Monroe prospect forward Colby Kyle loves to play defense, specifically block his opponents. Kyle has a knack for hitting short jumpers, but can also step out to shoot a three if he needs to. Another aspect of his game that he prides himself on is rebounding, which at 6-7 and long arms comes easily.
Jacob Hjort is one of the most underrated guards in the state of Washington. He is long, athletic and has the ability to get his shot off at will. In some of his more recent tournament play he has shown that he can also knock down tough shots in tough situations. With an increasing skill-set and a great coaching staff at his disposal he will continue to build on his abilities.