The bell rings, but the day isn’t over yet. From early morning practices, late night homework, and carefully planned discussions with college coaches, Minnehaha students are managing “auditions” for their futures.
High-school athletes face more pressure than ever during the recruitment process. From maintaining exceptional grades, staying consistent in their sport, and trying to stand out to college coaches. What should be an exciting change turns into a source of stress. Minnehaha athletes open up about the challenges of the recruitment process and share how it has tested their time management skills, athletic performance, and influenced their daily lives.
Daily life within recruitment
“The recruiting process was demanding,” said girls’ basketball stand-out Mia Curtis (‘20), who went on to play three seasons at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and one graduate year at Santa Clara University of California. “I had to schedule phone calls with coaches and make sure no other commitments overlapped my call times.”
This journey often can take time away from academics,
“Recruiting during school was really tough, especially during junior year. I would miss a lot of school for tournaments, and then I would come home and edit clips and send them to coaches,” said senior Vivien Affeldt, who committed to the University of New Hampshire to play volleyball.
Curtis faced similar challenges.
“I played on a competitive AAU team, which had a large time commitment. Because of that, I had to stay on top of my school work,” said Curtis, who has received her bachelor’s degree in physiology and Hispanic studies and just recently finished her master’s in physiology.
Even top recruits feel the pressure of being overwhelmed with communicating with coaches.
“There were always calls and text messages coming through that at times made it hard to stay present in the places I was in,” said Jalen Suggs, a former MA basketball and football star and current Orlando Magic point guard, in the NBA.
Stress
Uncertainty is a common theme among athletes exploring recruitment.
“For me, it was not knowing if schools were actually interested in me or if it was just one good game,” said senior Sinae Hill, who recently committed to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
These athletes had to thrive in the unknown.
“I never knew which school was going to come see me play or even offer me,” said Curtis. “I also committed later in my senior year of high school, so that was stressful because it felt like it was late in the game to commit.”
Adding on to the pressure, rejection became a part of the journey.
“It was really stressful putting myself out there and having to hear no sometimes,” said Affeldt.
For some athletes, their journey looks different, and their experience moves at a different pace,
“The recruiting process started off slow, but it started to pick up at the beginning of my senior year, and I had around 10 D3 and or D2 offers by the end of the season,” said senior Jonah Schimelfenig, who recently committed to Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. “I felt that I was constantly texting or calling coaches or sending film out to get my name out there. It was definitely a hassle.”
This process can be intense, but committing brings a sense of relief.
“It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I no longer felt like I needed to impress anyone,” said Curtis. “I felt a sense of accomplishment and was so excited for what was to come and to begin to live out what I worked so hard for.”
That sense of relief was echoed by other athletes after committing.
“Once I announced where I was going, I got very reflective on all of those who impacted my journey,” said Suggs, who announced his commitment to Gonzaga live on ESPN2 on Friday, January 3, 2020. “Going to college for free was always my ultimate goal, and after committing, I felt at ease.”
While recruiting can add pressure for some athletes, Lance Johnson said not every player feels the need to adjust their approach to the game.
“I could see how some athletes would change their playing style while they were being recruited, but I had athletes that didn’t need to change because they were already talented enough and so that set the tone for others on the team who didn’t get recruited as much,” said Johnson, who was the boys coach for 20 years and led his team to 5 consecutive state titles.
For many student-athletes, the recruiting experience becomes a learning experience as they balance academics, athletics, and goals.
“The recruiting process tested me in numerous ways, but also was a constant reminder that my goals and dreams were in reach,” said Curtis.
The experience itself creates meaningful opportunities for personal growth. Regardless of where an athlete commits in the end, their journey is bigger than the destination; it reveals dedication and deep commitment that these student athletes sacrifice in order to pursue their dreams.