Scholar-Athletes

In the majority of my dealings with recruits I talk about the scholar-athlete mentality; the notion that excellence on the court and in the classroom is not only achievable, but is inextricably linked to one another. The very same energy and work ethic that will score you points on the court will also propel you forward academically. The title of scholar-athlete is less about what you do exactly, and more about how you do it.

The scholar-athlete label also identifies a knowledgeable athlete, a student of the game.

Scholar-athletes think about the game, think about strategy, about how to become better individually and as a team. Basketball is not only be a physical activity for them, but also a mental exercise in persistence, courage, and teamwork. Teams that think alike and speak the same language achieve a higher level of performance than teams who fail to communicate on this elevated level.

Scholar-athletes, because of their investment in their sport, are leaders and have the power to direct their team towards improvement and success. They understand how to lead and how to be led. The team becomes less about the coach's agenda and more about the goals of the scholar-athletes. They are in control of their team, program, and season.

I chose this topic for today's post because our full team is back on campus and enduring the first full week of classes. Their dedication to the team in the preseason is already evident, as is their excitement for their new courses and professors. Being a scholar-athletes takes an incredible ability to balance one's energy and time. It isn't easy to achieve this equilibrium, but nothing worth achieving ever is.