« –This week on the radio–Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - –Tuesday, December 18 Results-Basketball, Swimming, Wrestling »

–Ask the Scout - by Alan Parham - National Scouting Report

19 December 2007
Written by: prepalertnc Posted under Christ School, Smoky Mt High, Alexander Central, Asheville School, Robbinsville, Freedom High, Mt Heritage, Mitchell County, Swain County, South Caldwell, Madison High School, Tuscola High School, East Rutherford, Avery, Charlotte Country Day, Hiwassee Dam, R S Central, Newton-Conover, Crest, Hickory, Chapel Hill, Highlands, East Burke, East Chapel Hill, Rosman, Murphy, Hayesville, Avery High, South Point High, North Henderson High, Mountain Athletic, Western Athletic, Asheville Christian, Enka High School, Owen High School, North Buncombe, Western Highlands, NCISAA, Northwestern, Smoky Mtn, MAC, WAC, High School Sports, Cherokee, Pisgah High School, McDowell High School, Franklin High School, Polk High School, A C Reynolds, Brevard High School, Watauga High School, East Henderson, Carolina Day School, Asheville High School, Hendersonville, Erwin, West Henderson, TC Roberson, WHC

Question: 

What is the major obstacle a high school athlete must overcome before going on to play college athletics?

Answer: 

I will answer that question by speaking directly to young student-athletes with aspirations of playing at the next level.

Academic performance is the number one way to open college coach doors.  The higher your GPA, SAT (reading plus math) and class rank, the more colleges you can be admitted to. 

The lower those three things are, the fewer colleges which can recruit you.  Take your studies seriously because, if you do, in a few short years you will be looking for a job. 

When you make great grades, you roll the red carpet out for yourself that will lead you to a life of higher wages, faster advancement in your career and place you in a terrific position to reach goals you cannot conceivably get to with poor grades. 

To be blunt, your grades in high school, more than any one element, will influence what course your life takes financially, personally and professionally.  If you work hard academically, the world will open up to you.  And, it is your call. 

Parents cannot force you to bring books home, to study extra for better test scores, or to dig deeply into yourself to pull out the best in you.  It is up to you and nobody else.  Strive to be a great student.  Ignore your friends who give you grief for it.  In ten years, they will be struggling to keep up in life while you will be in control of your own destiny and future 

Take this time to make the most of this incredible opportunity in front of you and be clear on this point: there is a direct link between being recruited and the grades you make in high school.  Put your head down and work hard every day.  Realize that you are only seven to eight years from being out in the world as a contributing citizen, and it will go by like snapping your finger.
 
Ask yourself what kind of contributions you see yourself making to your community?  What kind of career do you want to have?  What type of father or mother do you want to be?  What kind of reputation do you want to have?  The answers to all those things can be found in the academic direction you choose to take now and the rest of your high school career.  To be a winner tomorrow, you must excel in the classroom today. 

Take responsibility for your own life’s course.  Dream.  Set goals.  Focus.  Work hard.  Never give up.


Leave a reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.