Khalil Carlson '24 Recruiting Profile

From the time I could even pick a ball up, I knew basketball was going to be a love of mine. I remember being asked so many times by my neighbors if I was the one bouncing the ball all the time. Yes, I was, but this wasn’t because I was trying to bother them, I genuinely had a love for the game and a drive to improve my skills.

Growing up in Berkshire County, being tall is not common, so when I was already 5 feet tall in 3rd grade, my coaches automatically put me under the basket. There was one practice that I remember, when I was in 3rd grade. My team was going over an out-of-bounds play in which a player has to pop to the top of the key, and I remember my coach saying, “no disrespect, but Khalil, I don’t want you getting the ball out there because your dribbling skills aren’t great.” This was very true, and I understood that the height I was going to grow to was not going to be big man height at the next level (my goal has always been to play college ball), so I used his words as fuel and went and improved my ball handling skills. Next year, I was the point guard on that same team. 

I would consider myself a very versatile player. I can adapt to whatever situation a coach wants to put me in. If coach wants me to play point guard I can, if they want me to guard a big, I can, if coach needs me to lead, I’ll lead. Also I won’t complain about the situation I’m put in. As long as it helps the team, I’m okay with doing it.

My ideal college would be a college that challenges me not only on the court, but off of it as well. I’ve never been one to shy away from a big school assignment, and I take my schoolwork very seriously. I want to study to hopefully become a therapist because I believe helping people is a valuable trait to have. Ultimately, I’m open to any college, and I hope my experiences in college make me a good role model and leader to those around me.