I AM COLLEGE READY – 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.
It doesn’t take long to see why Naje Smith, class of 2018 wing at Lewis and Clark High School, is one of the biggest recruits in Washington State. He has probably one of the biggest upsides to his game on this side of the mountain. A 6’7 shooting guard who can post up and take you off the dribble is very rare in these parts. Most guys at that height stay in the paint and use and assortment of jump hooks to dominate the other big men. Naje plays like a guard but has the body of a traditional post man in the Spokane area.
Class of 2019 combo guard Niko Clark is a tough guard that embraces physicality. His biggest strength is taking the ball to the basket whether it is in transition or taking his man off the dribble in the half court. Niko can also take control of a team in the half court and initiate sets. Cleveland is a team that tends to use very little clock when they are not in transition, so Niko has the responsibility of ensuring execution. The 6’1 guard does a good job getting after it defensively with active hands.
Johnny Love, Gonzaga Prep has a wingspan that exceeds his athletic, 6-foot-4 frame, he was a tough cover when he decided to get to the rim, and even a helping defender wasn’t enough to keep him from getting off a good shot. He also displayed the ability to defend and step out and shoot from behind the 3-point arc. Love has a high ceiling.
Michael Ervin, Ferris High School The 6-3 point guard was one of the top standouts of the day. He brought consistent energy from the beginning of the summer. Ervin doesn’t have the most conventional jump shot, but he hits with consistency from outside. His most effective trait is a willingness to mix it up around the ball. He cuts and moves, hits the glass and generally demonstrates good knowledge of the game. Good be a good candidate as a late signee for a D-III or NAIA program.
John Broom, Blanchett High School is a smooth 6-1 attacking guard, he can pull up in mid-range and launch from deep. He’s the kind of player who can be impactful in the open floor because he can make plays in various ways and has the athleticism to get all the way to the rim. He has the tools to be a strong perimeter defender as well, and he put some of that on display Sunday.