Hilton Mitchell '19 Recruiting Profile

I am a fighter. It feels strange writing it without capitalizing the word. I am not your average fighter, I do not wrestle or compete in martial arts, I am a fighter in the sense that I do not easily accept defeat in spite of difficulties, setbacks, or opposition. I have been a student athlete for the past eight (8) years, I am telling you this because I am extremely good at what I do. I am a varsity basketball player, a swimmer, an athlete in track and field and occasionally a soccer player when needed to be. These are not the only sports I play but these are the sports I play at the highest level for my school. My main sport is basketball, I love the competiveness of basketball, a fair game, giving everyone has the opportunity to score for their team and show their personal skills. I am ranked the number one basketball player in my school and currently a professional FIBA 3x3 player. We have not yet won a championship yet but that will change soon, we reach the finals each year but fail to bring the chip back home and this is what fuels my ambition as a fighter, this is what motivates me to keep working and training.

     There is a chance I may not have a future in basketball. As good as I am, I might never play in the NBA. This may not sound appealing to you and its definitely not appealing to me but in life anything can happen, but I still polish my skills, shooting, dribbling and my conditioning, pushing myself to improve every day.

       I know you are wondering why I do this, why I still polish my skills knowing I might not have a future in basketball. The first reason is that there is still a chance I have a future in basketball, but the main reason is that basketball may not be my future, but it is the key to my future. I know my success on the court would send me far in life, I know my skills and mindset in sports will get me a good university in the future with the best education. It will allow me to have a brighter future than I have now. Sports is a means to the end; it is the future that truly matters as that end.

    My love for sports has opened a window of possibilities for me, it leads to my drive in community service, giving me the confidence to truly step out of my comfort zone and to seek the best university to help me grow. 

My parents who dream a better future for me, giving me what I need to succeed at my disposal has helped a lot.

This is what drives me on the court, this is what makes me want to wake up every day and train. Even though it would be easy to dismiss my athletic prowess and mere competitive drive, it is so much more than that. It is because of what and where it can get me in life, that makes it important. I will be able to do whatever I want and know this because I am already doing what I set my mind to do. 

     A lot of people might see my drive as a cynical exploitation, but it is not, it is anything but that. What is truly important and what really matters to me, is what my drive and passion for sports will send me, what I will become. Going to university is the most vital step on my path to growing.  I am still not sure what waits for me at the end, or not too sure of what I will become. I only know that it will be something better than what my parents could have hoped for.