Alec James '22 Recruiting Profile

Basketball has been a part of my life almost as long as I can remember.  My first official team play began when I was in third grade and I haven't stopped since.  Each year, my abilities grow due to my hard work and perserverance.  I have been joining every club or competitive team I have had the oppurtunity to because I love basketball and it is truly a huge and important part of my life.  Playing on multiple teams to this point, including  recreational grade school ball, club basketball in middle school, and my middle school NCAA regional champion team, has given me the oppurtunity to become not only a better player, but also a leader on every team I am on.  My even, calm demeanor helps me stay steady under pressure and my team mates can look to me for direction and the settling presence that is sometimes needed in high pressure game situations.  This year I made the "C" team for my high school.  Our teams are structured as "D", "C", JV, Varsity.  Most Freshman who make a team in my high school are relegated to the "D" team, but I made "C" team as a Freshman, which I look at as an honor, but it also pushes me to strive even higher to achieve a position on the JV or Varsity team next year.   I also have been a thrower on my middle school track team and I will be joining my high school track team this spring.  During my middle school years I ran cross country for all three years.  Cross Country taught me the most about perserverance and the power of mind over matter that I have carried into both my every day life as a student and athlete, but also as a human being and it fundamentally changed the way I look at the world.  While basketball is my primary passion, academics are also very important to me. I currently have a 3.9 GPA, which I am able to maintain while taking Pre-AP classes.  These classes as a Freshman will lead me to AP and Honors classes as an upper classman.  I am currently a member of my shcool's AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) class.  This is a global nonprofit organization that operates on the principle:  Hold students accountable to the highest standards, provide academic and social support, and they will rise to the challenge.  This is a four year class that encourages students to strive for excellence in all that you do.  Through this course we are encouraged to always sit at the front of the class and the notes that we take in each class of the day are gone over and we are given any strategy needed to better our note taking skills and this class also includes test preparation in both our classes and ACT/SAT.  Through AVID we are required to complete 15 hours of community service.  I personally don't see serving the community as a requirement but as a privilege.  One of the projects I have taken on so far is ringing the bell for the Salvation Army.  It's incredible to see the giving spirit at work in the citizens of my city.  I also have volunteered at a local nursing home and played board games with a group of residents.  It was amazing to hear some of the stories they shared.  I am also a member of our high school orchestra as a double bass player.  I have been playing the bass for four years and plan to play for many more years.  It sparks my creativity, which only makes me a better student and athlete.  What free time I have, is spent at the local rec center playing pick up games of basketball and weight training in the gym.  I strongly feel that I will be an asset to your team, both strengthening the team's GPA, and also team performance and morale.  I will be proud to be the first person in my family to attend a four year college and recieve a bachelor's degree and possibly beyond.  This drives me to achieve greatness.