Giulia Abraham (US playing overseas) '21 Recruiting Profile

My name is Giulia Abraham and I am a 5’7” Class of 2021 combo guard. Point guard is my natural and favorite position, however I am a 41% 3-pt shooter from the FIBA/WNBA 3-pt line (which I have played on the last three seasons), so I am also very comfortable playing #2/shooting guard. I currently live and play in Amsterdam, The Netherlands after my dad was transferred from Seattle, Washington at the beginning of my 10th grade year. I am currently a senior at the International School of Amsterdam where I have a predicted IB DP Score of 37 (US GPA equivalent – 3.68) and a 1250 SAT.

Upon arriving in Amsterdam, I found an incredible club team and have played on both their U18 and U20 teams the last three years as a 15 and 16 year old and now a 17 year old (this season). Last season (2019-2020), I was the starting point guard and captain of the U18 team and led the league in scoring with 21 points per game. While I feel like I have always been a leader on any team I have played on, I really enjoyed the experience of being the team captain and working with my coach to get the best out of my teammates and grow our culture and community. We were really coming together at the end of the season and making a strong push into the playoffs when, like many others, our season ended due to COVID-19.

While I have been here in Amsterdam, I also played on my High School team my sophomore and junior years (this year’s season, my senior season, was cancelled due to COVID-19). We were Northern European champions my sophomore year, however, the championship tournament was cancelled due to COVID my junior year.  My sophomore year I was the MVP of the pre-season and postseason tournaments (I missed the pre-season tournament due to the SAT my junior year and as mentioned, our postseason tournament was cancelled my junior year). I also led the league in scoring my sophomore and junior years.

This year I am playing with the U20 team at my club as my primary team, but I also continue to play and practice with the U18 team. Unfortunately, our season remains impacted by COVID-19, and we have not had a game since early October and have not practiced since mid-December.  Nevertheless, I continue to do everything I can to stay in the gym and improve my game.  I am able to get access to a gym 2-3 times a week for 45 minutes to 1 hour by myself where I work on shooting and ball handling. Twice a week I am also allowed to work-out in the gym with a small group (3 players maximum) with my U-20 coach where we focus on shooting, 1:1, and 1:2 drills. Finally, I work-out three times a week with a speed, quickness and strength trainer and supplement all of the above with at least one day of conditioning work per week.

In conclusion, basketball is my passion and joy, it is my dream to continue to compete at the collegiate level, and I believe that I have the skill, work ethic, passion, and leadership to not only contribute, but to excel at the collegiate level.  As a reference, I have attached a message my U18 coach sent me at the end of last season (below) and can also provide all of my coaches contact information if that is of interest.  Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can provide any additional information.

Giulia, you have been a real pleasure to coach. Your drive is infectious, and inspiring. Every step of the way, you have been focused, open minded, giving. I have been playing and coaching for a long time, and seen many leaders, and you stand out among the many. As a vocal leader you have a natural ability to talk with your team, and everyone listens because they respect you. They see in you what everyone sees: you are passionate, driven, intelligent, work hard to improve, and you want what’s best for the team. Because of this people are willing to follow you. You also keep looking to improve, which is an important quality, and that openness to learning serves you well and makes you a great captain, as you also listen. I’ve found it uplifting to be able to hand you the reins and not worry about your thinking or approach to getting it done. It made my life easier to know that you would do your best to implement anything I asked, but are also smart enough to have to be told everything. But you also listened to your team, solved problems as they arose, and communicated them if necessary. Linking people together and bringing clarity to the group are great strengths of yours. As a player it’s been great to watch you grow as a creative force. You entered the season having consolidated your shot as your biggest weapon, and need to keep improving it to build on that strength. But where you really grew as the season progressed was your ability to create scoring for others. You have gotten leaps and bounds better in the pick and roll, and found 1-2 passes you can consistently make out of that situation. As you keep improving your reading of the defense your passing out of ball screens will reach another level. I also enjoyed watching you get better at knowing when it was time to take control of a game and when you should distribute and let the game come to you. I’m sad we didn’t get to play more of those tough games because that lesson was at the forefront recently. You spotting up as a shooter (and learning how to use the corners), letting others create when they were shining, but taking the ball and creating shots in key moments when the team needed you, knowing when to run a set offense, when to capitalize on an unprepared defense.. I think answering these questions, “thinking the game”, are exciting challenges for you to embrace given intelligence is one of your biggest weapons on the court. Now that it’s the off-season, time to transition, and the key learning here is being able to execute the different plays: hitting the shot, on the kick out or as a creator, executing your breakdown moves and finishes... I hope you keep growing as a player and a leader, because building on your talent, incorporating new learnings into your being, adding new tools to your arsenal and refining your essence so you can shine are a lifelong journey. I believe in your greatness, both on and off the court, and am always here for you if you ever need anything.