NCSA caught up with rising basketball star Dennis Mikelonis to talk about his high school career and the opportunity to compete at the next level.
NCSA: How do you show a college coach that you are really interested in their program?
Mikelonis: It requires a little preparation to show a college coach that you are really interested in their program. Before I initiate contact with a coach or answer a coach's call or e-mail, I go to that school's web site to learn about the school. Then I make notes about three or four things = that I like about their school so that I have answers and comments ready to respond to any topics that the coach may bring up. This also helps me to have a thoughtful question or two ready to ask them. Plus I tell coaches that I like conference they are in, the size of their school, and that their facilities are impressive (if that is what I really think).
NCSA: What are you doing to "take charge" of your recruiting process?
Mikelonis: I'm doing several things to "take charge" of my recruiting process. First of all, I research the schools that interest me. I also call coaches, keep my contact log up-to-date to keep organized and keep track of where I am with each coach. I also like to rank schools in order of my preferences. I respond to every coach because it turns out that coaches change colleges often; many of them know each other and talk about to each other about potential recruits. Therefore, it is really important to respond politely even to the schools that I'm not interested in because my reputation can easily get to other coaches and I sure don't want it to be a bad impression! I also give detailed answers to coaches when they ask, "Who else is recruiting you?" In addition, I am not afraid to ask if they are interested in me, where I am on the recruiting list, and how many athletes will they be recruiting?
NCSA: Have you had coaches evaluate you in person yet? Tell us about how that feels.
Mikelonis: Several coaches have evaluated me in person either by an interview in their office during an unofficial visit, watching me play at their open gyms, or watching me play in tournaments or at camps. I like the challenge of playing with college athletes in open gyms and am so focused that I don't even think about the coach watching me. However, I was so nervous at my first in-person interview with a coach that I asked him a question that he had already answered. That coach was very gracious and understood that I was nervous. But after that, I got better prepared and haven't really been nervous anymore.
NCSA: How do you handle nerves when communicating with college coaches?
Mikelonis: I really only was nervous for the first coach I talked to. After that, I used the NCSA book with advice on what questions to ask and what questions coaches might ask me. I memorized a couple of these questions and had my answers ready. Plus, the more you talk to coaches, the easier it gets. I think the key is in the preparation and in practicing speaking and listening. Now I enjoy the conversations and don't get nervous.
NCSA: How do you deal with disappointment in the recruiting process? Can you give an example?
Mikelonis: I have been extremely blessed in that I haven't really had disappointment in the recruiting process yet. I received many coach contacts right from the start. Every time NCSA sends out my profile, I get at least four to six responses immediately. Also, I have gotten many responses from being scouted at several tournaments and camps.
NCSA: What makes you a unique athlete that stands out from a crowd?
Mikelonis: There are a few things that make me stand out from the crowd that makes me an unique athlete. First off, I am 6'6" which is tall for a shooting guard. Plus I drive hard which makes it hard for the opposing coach to match up one of their players against me. I put in a lot of time into basketball which has paid off in that I almost always find a way to score.
NCSA: What are your goals for this club/high school season? How is the season going?
Mikelonis: I have three goals for my upcoming high school season. First, I want my team to do the best it can. Second, I want my team to win state. Third, I hope to lead my state in scoring for the second year in a row.
NCSA: What camps did you attend over the summer?
Mikelonis: This past summer I attended two camps. I participated in the first session of the Double Pump camp in Los Angeles. Locally, I attended the Boise State University camp. My club coach says it is always wise to support our local university.
NCSA: Who is your favorite college athlete?
Mikelonis: I like a lot of college athletes, but my favorite is Matt Bauscher, who is a 2008 graduate from Boise State. He just signed to play basketball over in Europe. Matt is someone who I know personally and he has inspired me to work harder and to dream bigger.
NCSA: Overall, how has the recruiting process been for you so far? Has NCSA made a big impact for you?
Mikelonis: The recruiting process so far has been GREAT! I have loved every minute of it. NCSA has made a big impact by offering a lot of exposure which has made even more schools interested in me because every coach so far has asked, "Who else is recruiting you?"
When I have a list of schools to tell them, they seem all the more interested in me. With all of these colleges, I have many choices to select from. NCSA also helped a lot with their resources of how the recruiting process works, sample questions, a timeline to follow, and what to expect. Anytime I have a question, I either call or e-mail NCSA and get a very quick answer. I also like the way they edit my highlight videos. My mom likes the Power Ratings of colleges on the NCSA web site to help select which are the more quality schools.
