NCSA caught up with rising basketball star Vanessa Ho to talk about his high school season 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?
Vanessa: Before I meet with coaches, I make sure to do research about their schools and their basketball programs. I try to ask questions specific to a coach's specific school so the coach knows I've done research. Scheduling a meeting with the coach or stopping by their office during a visit to their school also shows your interest.
NCSA: What are you doing to “take charge” of your recruiting process?
Vanessa: I've emailed the link to my NCSA video to the coaches of the colleges where I'm interested in playing basketball. I've maintained email correspondence with the coaches, and alerted them of when I'm visiting. Maintaining contact with coaches is extremely important; It's a way for them to get to know you and remember you.
NCSA: Have you had coaches evaluate you in person yet? Tell us about how that feels.
Vanessa: Yes, I've been evaluated in person. It's a little bit nerve-wrecking in the beginning, but if you really believe in the quality of your skills (as I do), there's nothing to be afraid of. It was nice to receive feedback about my game and my willingness to listen to possible criticism probably made me seem more committed to improving, which coaches like.
NCSA: What camps do you plan to attend over the summer?
Vanessa: I don't have any plans as of right now, but one of the most effective camps I attended in the past is Point Guard College (PGC), a week-long basketball camp specifically for point guards. I improved immensely and learned to utilize my teammates to their utmost ability. I would really recommend checking out PGC if you're interested in improving your fundamental skills and ball-handling.
NCSA: Overall, how has the recruiting process been for you so far? Has NCSA made a big impact for you?
Vanessa: With help from NCSA, the recruiting process has actually been very easy. The video that NCSA helped me make has been crucial to coaches' interest in me; it highlighted my abilities and showed the range of my game. If I were simply presented on paper, my height (5"3) would immediately turn most coaches away, but this video disproved any ideas that my height is a disadvantage.
