Vitorio Dante '24 Recruiting Profile

Basketball has always been more than just a game to me; it has been my biggest passion, it's  a part of my identity, and has shaped me into the man I am becoming today. When I was 2 years old, I joined my first basketball team with the local recreation center. Although a bunch of toddlers waddling around a court doesn’t sound very serious, it instilled a love of the sport in me. I joined my first competitive team at seven, which is when there was a shift. What I didn’t realize is that from that point on, this sport would transform me and give me core values that I still hold today such as perseverance, dedication, and teamwork.

At nine years old, I joined Colorado Premier, a move that was important in my hope to become a college athlete. I had visited my sister in college and went to my first college game, it made my dream even more realistic. The goal was big, especially at nine, and I knew I had to give everything I had every day to even receive the opportunity of a tryout someday. As a kid, I spent countless hours on the court and in training daily. When my friends would have sleepovers, I would choose to stay home or go to bed early for my tournament the next day. I was serious about achieving my goal.  

One of the most important things I have learned from basketball is time management. I had to learn how to handle school and homework with late-night practices and weekend tournaments. I learned to get my assignments done before practice so that I could focus on my skills and not worry about homework. Prioritizing my time as a kid has taught me how to do it as I become an adult, which comes with even more things in life to balance. Basketball also taught me the importance of communication and dialogue, especially when working with a team. You must talk on the court, but most importantly, listen to your coaches and teammates or the team won’t win. By constantly being in an environment most of my life where you have to communicate and collaborate, I have learned how to bring this into my academic career as well.

When I began high school in 2020, my dreams got hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Online school was a struggle, there were no teams allowed to play, and it was winter so there was nowhere for me to practice. When my freshman year started that fall, I had lost months of practice but was excited to return to some kind of normalcy. Yet, it was not like anything I had expected. We had to wear masks for every practice, workout, and game, which was difficult for a kid with asthma.  I persevered and worked overtime to get back to where I was. My freshman year I was the only underclassman to make JV, which was a huge relief and success in my eyes. The following year, I was back on track and earned a spot on Varsity. My dedication and perseverance paid off, building me into the athlete I am today. 

As I start on my college journey, I carry these values and lessons with me. This sport has shaped me into the person I am today, and I am ready to take on whatever hurdles come my way. I am confident that everything I have learned in basketball will teach me how to embrace a new life in college, and succeed academically. It has equipped me with everything I need to make a meaningful impact on my university and beyond.