Anika Prasad '20 Recruiting Profile

My name is Anika Prasad, and I'm a 17-year-old junior at Saratoga High School (SHS), California. I intend to pursue a degree in engineering while competing for a prestigious university that will provide me the challenges I seek both academically and athletically.

I am a gym rat. When I’m given a choice between hanging out and practicing my game, I always choose basketball. The basketball court is my second home. When I am not studying, I am working on my game. I watch game film to find ways to improve, and I hit the weight room — getting stronger and quicker everyday. I have been playing club basketball since I was seven years old. I’ve played on the SHS Varsity basketball team since 9th grade, have been a starter since 10th grade, and was elected captain this season for my ability to lead both on and off the court. I am an excellent ball handler and shooter. I take pride in my work on the defensive end and I’m always assigned to guard the best player on the court. Being a two-way player takes hard work, and I understand there’s always room for improvement. My coaches consider me coachable. I want to never stop growing as a player. I continue to study and grow my acumen.

I was named ‘All League Player — 1st Team’ (De-Anza League) this season and recognized as the top 50 player by Bay area news group;  ‘All League Player — 2nd Team’ and voted ‘Best Defensive Player’ during the 2017-2018 season. I averaged 11.9 PPG and 3.5 RPG this season. I was also named an ‘All-Tournament Player’ at the West Coast Jamboree in 2017 and 2018. Scholastically, I have maintained a rigorous course schedule and a 4.0 GPA.

Basketball is the environment where I’ve grown both as a player and a person. When I step on the court, I play hard, I play smart, and I play to win. But I know it is not always about winning; I have also come to appreciate the lessons of camaraderie, losing with grace, learning from your mistakes, controlled aggression and respect for others — all of which will last me a lifetime.