NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

As I reflect on 2009, one of the lasting memories was the impact NCSA education and guidance had on a terrific young lady named Ashlin Sanders. A year ago this month, I delivered College Recruiting Simplifed on a cold, winter night in downtown South Bend, IN. Kirby Whitacre, Dir. of Athletics for South Bend schools, had organized the event. Kirby has always made sure Recruiting Education is available to families. When he was A.D. at Mishawaka High School, he saw the difference NCSA made for athletes there in the recruiting process, and has been a supporter ever since.

Ashlin’s parents, Perry and Cherrie Sanders, were in attendance. Ashlin was at basketball practice. The 5’8″ guard was in her senior season at Riley High. Even though she was All Conference and played on AAU teams such as The Family, the official NIKE travel program for girls basketball in Indiana, and in Showcases, she wasn’t being recruited that much. The family felt her High School coach wasn’t doing enough in recruiting, but the bottom line is that it is not the job of the High School coach to lead the way in recruiting. It is the responsibility of the family. You can’t ever blame the coach.

A few letters were making their way, but nothing was really happening for this very talented basketball player. As I have said many times, AAU and Club are important because you have to develop the ability to play at the College level, and their events get kids in front of larger groups of college coaches, but many families think it assures them College scholarships. For the top kids who are on a lot of coaches lists, yes, but many quality young people fall between the recruiting cracks because they think things will ‘just work out’ if they keep going all over creation playing in events. Ashlin was headed that way.

Mr. and Mrs. Sanders heard my 50 minute presentation on The 5 Things You Must Know and The 5 Things You Must Do to connect with College Coaches, and they followed the steps. They knew they had to be more proactive with the recruiting game.

They decided to go into one of the NCSA programs. She built her Profile with NCSA’s guidance, and NCSA sent it out in January of her senior season. A lot can happen senior season, but you can’t horse around. Families have to take action. January is a critical month.

“Everything came alive then,” said Mrs. Sanders of the response. “We heard from schools all over. Schools we had heard of. Schools we hadn’t. Division 1, 2, 3, NAIA, Junior College. Schools came out of the woodwork. Evansville was very aggressive after her. The Lady Vols viewed her profile. Seton Hall. Indiana. South Alabama. Eastern Michigan was really interested. Middle Tennessee State. Schools in North Carolina, New York, Florida…”

Ashlin was a very good player. Colleges simply didn’t know she existed. The sad thing about recruiting every year is that so many kids don’t get recruited because College coaches don’t know who they are. Good kids who work hard. Just because you are a hard working young person doesn’t guarantee you will play College – not if you don’t know how to handle recruiting. College coaches today find good, quality kids through verified sites like NCSA. They can’t be everywhere personally finding kids. In today’s recruiting world, they are taking advantage of the internet and the ability to watch a young person’s hilites, full game tapes, and verified transcript all in one place. When they saw Ashlin’s ability to run the floor and play the game, their eyebrows raised!

Ashlin wanted to stay in the Midwest area within four hours of home. NCSA was able to open her up to all those schools’s in that radius.

Academically, she carried a 2.6 GPA as a senior at Riley High and struggled with the SAT, like many young people do for various reasons. Had she entered NCSA earlier in her High School career, she would have been more educated and would have been more options. As I always say – and this has resonated with young people because they will listen to an outside expert – “the better your grades, the more options you will have in college sports!” Ashlin’s grades/test scores weren’t the greatest, so she didn’t have as many options as she could have. Still, she had some, and took advantage of them! Among her offers was one from Lincoln College, a highly rated private, two-year, liberal arts college in Lincoln, Illinois.

Lincoln is covering her $21,000 tuition. Her family is covering room and board.

“That’s what I wanted!” said, Cherrie, excited. There is no greater relief than knowing the vast majority of college costs are being covered. The average college grad leaves with $23,000 in loans. Athletes like Ashlin Sanders have an advantage, which is why families need to be doing everything they can to connect with coaches.

Cherrie wrote a note to me later saying NCSA had been a godsend to their family. What I love is that NCSA can help good kids get a lot more looks. These kids deserve to be playing somewhere. I love how we are able to connect coaches with top quality kids!

Ashlin is home on Break. As she walks around town, people say, “There is a college athlete.” How many people get to have that said about them? Not many. She is loving her experience at Lincoln College. She has scored 17, 13 and 11 points in recent games, so she is getting to play a lot. She is learning what it takes to be a college athlete. Academically, she is now carrying a 3.5 GPA because of the tremendous academic support programs in place for athletes. Her mother calls their academic support “excellent.” Her grades may not have been “lights out” in High School, but she showing the kind of student she can be, and that’s exciting!

Division 1 schools like Eastern Michigan continue to watch her. No doubt, she will have the chance to transfer to a major college program in two years, which would be a full scholarship. Upon graduation, she wants to be a Physical Ed teacher and a coach. Like many athletes, she wants to spend her career in Sports.

“Everyone we talked to at NCSA was friendly and helpful,” said Cherrie, adding special praise to Amanda Rawson, Senior Recruiting Coach in Basketball. Amanda started her collegiate career with a full-scholarship to South Suburban College where she was the NJCAA Region IV MVP. She then transferred to St. John’s University were she spent the last two years of her collegiate career on full-scholarship. While at SJU she was named to the Big East All-Academic Team.

“If you choose to do one of the NCSAprograms,” said Cherrie, “it’s worth it”

As I head out to speak across the country, I always tell my wife that delivering College Recruiting Simplified will be a life changing experience for some of the people in every audience. The Sanders made the decision to drive out on a snowy night in the dead of winter a year ago to hear the Talk. Their girl was under the radar in recruiting. They chose to follow the steps and take action. Ashlin’s life has been changed. It’s early, but she is on track to earn a college degree. In today’s world, getting a college degree is no longer an option. It’s a necessity. Ashlin is doing it!

I spoke at her High School in mid December. Several of the girls basketball players came out because they had heard what happened with Ashlin, and they wanted to learn how to be more proactive in recruiting.

Where are you in the process? Are things happening? Recruiting is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Don’t let Signing Day come and go without having done everything you could to have as many options in recruiting as possible.

What is your NCSA story? How did you start working here?

My darling daughter’s club softball coach invited Chris Krause and Jack Renkins to speak to the players and parents at the club softball team. That day, I enrolled my daughter in August, 2003. About 13 months later, after my daughter had received recruiting interest from about 75 different colleges and universities, I took a tour of the NCSA worldwide headquarters on Paulina Av. I stuck my head into CK’s office and asked him how I could get involved. He said that I could start speaking to families. So I began part-time in Oct, 2004 and went full time 10 months later.

What were you hired to do?

I was hired to scout. What is your current position? I’m a scout. But instead of “National Scout” I’m a Sr. NSD-VP.

What lead you to the position you are in now? I saw CK’s vision and Joseph’s practical steps for growth and figured I could help them achieve their goals. At the same time, it allowed me to achieve my goals.

How long did it take for you to reach your current position?

4 ½ years. I didn’t know what I was headed for since my position wasn’t invented until about 6 months before I was given the opportunity to take it.

What was the biggest challenge or frustration along the way?

My biggest challenge was getting competent as fast as I wanted to get there. It took a lot longer for me than some of the newer scouts coming along. But hard work, and perseverance allowed me to get there. I was never frustrated, but always challenged. I still am. (It keeps me young!)

What do you think was most integral in your success up to this point?

Never giving up. Always persevering. Hard work. Attitude! You control what goes on between your ears!

Did you have any mentors throughout your career?

Of course. CK is an inspiration. Joseph is calm and practical. I’ve had others in previous careers going back to when I first managed at McDonalds – in the 1970s.

What is your why?

Why do you work here? Every parent should have the thrill of a lifetime that I had watching my daughter grow through her sports. To say I lived vicariously through her is an understatement. That thrill ride is priceless! (The fact that I didn’t have to pay for her college was an added benefit, also )

Any advice they would give to those trying to grow in the company?

DO YOUR JOB! DO IT WELL! In this day and age, there is no such thing as “career path” in the 1970’s meaning of the term. When you consistently do your job well, you’ll see opportunities for improving NCSA and aid our growth. Those opportunities will empower you to achiever you career goals.