Personal Statement
Hello, My name is Bryce McAlister and I am blessed to have the opportunity to play basketball. 2015-2016 was the hardest season of my lifetime because I had to watch from the bench. After a very successful season in high school and AAU during the 2014-2015 season, I was hit on a drive to the basket and landed awkward which resulted in a torn ACL at a Memorial Weekend tournament. Believing I had an opportunity to play at the next level, my family searched out the best doctor we could with the team doctor from the San Antonio Spurs. We immediately had an ACL surgery using a tendon from my hamstring. Although, I worked hard, passed the exit performance test with unbelievable scores; I did not realize there were multiple types of ACL surgeries, which I had one of the weakest replacement of all types. To say the least, I wished I knew then what I know now about ACL replacements because 10 days after being released, I tore the replacement ACL. I, along with my coach and team, was devastated. After a lot of research, we met with a doctor that works with ACL injuries for the Olympic Ski Team and he replaced my reconstructed ACL with a bone-patela-bone replacement. I really wished I knew to have this type of surgery in the beginning because I now feel my knee is stronger than ever and I am more confident then ever with my knee.
Even with the injury, I continued to encourage and push my team to be the best they could be. I became a leader from the bench and showed excellence with my hard work and dedication in rehab. I have been released from my injury since June, 2016 and have continue to work on my game. I made a decision not to play AAU in July and use that time in my own school's gym to get back to the level I can be. After many hours of weights, shooting, ball handling, and conditioning, I believe I am back at the level I am supposed to be at. I attended two showcases in October, 2016 in Albuquerque, NM with the D1 Nation New Mexico Ranking Showcase and the New Mexico Top 100 Showcase. In the D1 Nation New Mexico Ranking Showcase, I achieved the following average stats for two games: 17.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 11.5 deflections, 4 steals, 2 turnovers, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks against some of the best players in New Mexico. Let me tell you, it felt GREAT to be back playing the game I love so much. I am looking forward to this season and the opportunity to show everyone that my injury was not a roadblock but just a big bump in the road towards my goal of playing at the next level.
My collegiate goals involves being the best student athlete that I can be. Although I want to excel as a student and athlete, I hope to graduate college with an outstanding grade point and be an All-American academic basketball player. When looking for a college, there are many aspects I would look into. Some of these includes: previous records, stability or improvement of the program, competition in post season play, and the coach/coaching staff. I hope to have the opportunity to play in a program that continues to improve players and pushes me in my degree plan. A few things I feel I can bring with me to a collegiate program is my dedication, hard working ethics, coach-able attitude, with the academic knowledge to be successful and a student of the game of basketball. Athletically, I feel I can bring size to a guard / shooting guard position since I have mostly played in those positions all of my life. Having grown five inches in 2014-2015 I have continued to be fluent in my ball handling skills and work on them daily. I hope with my continued work in both the weight room and in the gym will allow me the opportunity to play at a highly competitive basketball program.
I look forward to visiting with any college or university who believes I could be a fit for their program and develop those personal relationships that will be a part of me for the rest of my life. Thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to visiting with you soon.
I know that traveling to watch a player during the collegiate season is sometimes very difficult. Although I would love to visit and talk with you in person, I am blessed that our school broadcasts all home games through the website listed below. Home games are listed below with times listed as MST:
- December 8 @ 8pm
- December 9 @ 8pm
- December 10 @ 7:30pm
- December 17 @ 7pm
- December 18 @ 2:30pm
- December 20 @ 7pm
- January 13 @ 7pm
- January 14 @ 7pm
- January 20 @ 7pm
- January 21 @ 2:30 pm
- January 31 @ 7pm
- February 3 @ 7pm
- February 10 @ 7pm
All games will be streamed at: https://livestream.com/accounts.85948
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Bryce