Richard Harley '21 Recruiting Profile

The clock ticks down. Only five seconds left, the crowd is dead silent, just as a snake slithering through the grass. My feet pound against the hardwood and the basketball mocks me. Time is suspended as I see the numbers slowly winding down, all the while defense is pressing. I maneuver around the two defenders but I run directly into a wall of flesh standing six foot three and at least 50 lbs heavier than me my opponent lurches to steal. All I can see is the net, all I hear is footsteps.  I jump and shoot a floater, I pray that all the practice I put in pays off. The clock sends off a high-pitched buzz. I hold my breath stare still listening until  “swoosh” the buzzer stops. Then my earbuds are overpowered with screaming clapping and chaos erupts around me and my teammates envelope me with praise.

 I never thought that I’d fall in love with a sport, it’s not a person or furry friend. It’s more than numbers and thrills. It’s about teamwork, loyalty, brotherhood and most importantly perseverance. How hard someone works shows a lot about their character, especially how hard somebody works behind closed door. During the whole weekend, I train and practice the sport I love for moments like the one I told.  I wake up at six o’clock in the morning just to get my day started. I practice morning, noon, and night in 90-degree weather trying to perfect my shot and working out improving my skills. I sit at the free throw line and I just shoot them until I'm just making ten in a row. If I miss before I hit a certain goal is a consequence every airball is a consequence. It might be that last shot or point that can change the game or keep the game from being that close and for me, I don’t wanna let my team down over a simple shot as one.

         In all my experience through sports, the greatest thing I learned is that hard work actually pays off. I believe why I'm such a hard worker now on the court and in the classrooms and behind closed doors. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard” is drilled into my mind so much you'd think it's tattooed on my eyelids. No matter how good you are if you don’t work to get better or practice your talent means nothing. My dad says you need to get in shape to play sports not play sports to be in shape meaning you should stay ready. This adage translates to life you do not only need to work hard in sports but in anything. If the intention is to be successful you need to plan; “be in shape”. 

         If it wasn’t for basketball I don’t think I would be the person I am today. I definitely wouldn't be the athlete that I am today. Athleticism seeps through into my personal life and even into school. I treat my studies like a game and the finals like the playoffs. I find myself competing with equally ranked students in my classes to get better grades than them. I even once turned painting the house with my family into a sport by timing one another. It’s a bit silly but I love to sport; it brings out my best attributes. So I start each day like it’s seconds counting down on the clock and a crowd waiting for me to guide the ball to the net.