A bedroom alarm sounds at 7 a.m., and coaches organize their before-school practice plans, all as the sun is beginning to rise. For athletes who have dreamed about showcasing their skills at the collegiate level, this is part of the routine. Early mornings and late nights dictate what they contribute on the field, court, or mound. It’s what they contribute to the school’s athletic legacy that sparks the college recruiting process. It’s up to them to make the choice where they further their academic studies and further cultivate their athletic careers.
For senior basketball player Braden Ledebur, the college recruiting process has been a mix of in-school action as well as out-of-school competition.
“It’s a two-way street; coaches will make the effort to come and watch you play, be it AAU tournament or school basketball,” Ledebur said. “If you impress them they will usually reach out and stay in touch with the athlete. However sometimes the best route for the athlete is to reach out to the coaches. That way they know you’re dedicated to the process.”
Ledebur called experience with the college recruiting process “fairly exciting,” receiving offers from Swarthmore College, MIT, Dallas Baptist University, Arkansas State, and Texas A&M Commerce.
“It’s cool when coaches just call your cell wanting to talk and see how I’m doing,” Ledebur said. “I’ve been happy with how thoughtful and kind the coaches are.”
For junior volleyball player Rachel Langs, she knew early on what school was the right fit for her.
“I chose Clemson because when I visited I loved it,” Langs said. “The coaches are husband and wife so it has a nice family feel to it. I had a couple other scholarship offers but I knew Clemson was the right fit for me so there was no hesitation.”
Langs said she is aware of the degree of difficulty of transitioning to college, but is excited to make the switch.
“I know it’s going to be a change,” Langs said. “The game is a lot faster in college, but I hope to make an impact from the beginning. I’m looking forward to the competitiveness and traveling to the various ACC schools.”
Langs attributed much of her success in the recruiting process to her head coach, Jason Nicholson.
“Coach Nick has helped me through much of the process,” Langs said. “He gave me information on the schools I was looking at and has helped me grow a lot as a player. He has been very supportive both on and off the court and is invested in my success.”
Junior football player Bumper Pool has made numerous visits in the hope to fulfill a longtime dream.
“The past two visits I’ve been on have been really good,” Pool said. “At Arkansas I felt at home, and at Michigan I was blown away by the education and opportunities they offer. I’ve always wanted to play in college, and I knew I was pretty good as I was growing up, but never envisioned myself playing Division I until recently. It’s helped me out just simplifying the game by watching film and analyzing what I need to do to make it at the next level.”
Sophomore softball player Mattie Boyd made a commitment as a freshman, and it wasn’t an easy decision to make so early on.
“There were a lot of factors that came into play when I decided to commit to Oklahoma State,” Boyd said. “I fell in love with the campus and the environment of OSU and I didn’t want to be too far from home. Other schools were appealing to me that I highly considered, but I felt good and didn’t hesitate after making my decision.”
The element of young age played a big role in Boyd’s recruiting process.
“It took me a while to commit after receiving an offer because it’s such a big decision, with it being unofficial due to my age,” Boyd said. “I took a tour of the campus as well as met the team and sat down with the coaching staff. We got to eat on campus with all the coaches. It’s exciting because you get to see much more than the average person who walks on campus. I envision my first year to be difficult, but I think it’s going to be an amazing experience.”
Senior softball standout JoJo McRae has endured a lengthy recruiting process that has ultimately landed her on the East coast at University of Maryland.
“The recruiting process is lengthy; I probably started at age 14,” McRae said. “I’ve enjoyed all aspects of it. It’s a lot of hard work that includes keeping contact with many different schools, camps, emails, miscellaneous evaluations, and visits.”
McRae did not initially see her journey landing her so far from home.
“I never would have imagined myself on the east coast, but when I visited I fell in love immediately with the campus, the coaches, and the team,” McRae said. “I’ve lived in Texas my whole life, so going somewhere different is something I’m really looking forward to. It’s a big transition, but I’m prepared to become a part of a new area with such rich history.”
