Jalyn Tillerson '19 Recruiting Profile

Jalyn Tillerson

Personal Statement

    At a very early age I became involved with sports and athletics.  I started in gymnastics when I was six  and have been involved with athletics ever since.  My older brother played basketball and soccer and I was constantly playing with him until I finally got old enough to play on my own team.    I played travel soccer through middle school and continue to play basketball today.  Athletics is a major part of my life and with that lifestyle, I learned many valuable lessons and earned noteworthy accomplishments.  

    The most exciting experience of my basketball career came during my freshman year, when my high school team, Monacan High Chiefs, won Virginia's State Championship.  I was the only full-time freshman player on the team and it was amazing being coached by and playing with some of the best players in the nation.  The dedication, commitment and love for the game was evident every day of the season.  I learned the value of constantly pushing forward, understanding the importance of the smallest details, trusting the process, and playing my role to the best of my ability.  We went 29-1 that year and being able to play in the championship game was a dream come true!

     After winning the Virginia State Championship and planning to return to Monacan and defend our State Championship Title my sophomore year, I was hit with a bombshell.  One of my parents’ job transferred and we were moving to Georgia.  This was the most difficult transition in my life!  I had to leave everything that I knew behind and was disappointed that I would not be able to play with my high school team again the next year.  However, during the transition to Georgia, I learned how to persevere through unwanted change and kept a positive attitude.  I started a new school and was able to quickly find my place with the Alpharetta High School Lady Raiders.  During my first year at Alpharetta, I was starting point guard; we were Conference Runner-Ups, and a qualifier for the State Championship Tournament.  The 2015-16 season was the first time Alpharetta High School Girls Basketball qualified to compete in  the Georgia State Tournament and it is awesome to contribute to what I feel confident will be a  winning tradition.  Currently in my junior year,  I believe that the Lady Raiders are in position to not only make it to the State Tournament, but win the Georgia 6A State Championship!  Over the past two years, I learned how to adjust to changing situations and keep a positive attitude.  It is true that I miss my friends and teammates in Virginia, but I have made new friends in Georgia and look forward continue to grow as an athlete and scholar. I believe that academics are as important as athletics and have worked diligently to be competitive in both areas.

     In addition to sports, I am very interested in the arts and fashion design.  When I am not on the court, I am drawing and listening to music - two of my favorite things to do. I am preparing to attend a university with a strong women’s basketball program and undergraduate degree program that will afford me the opportunity to study art and fashion design.