Laura Irish '16 Recruiting Profile

For as long as I can remember, I have been setting and achieving goals. This next school year, I will achieve a goal of playing regular season varsity basketball for my high school. Attending college while playing basketball is also a goal I have set. I want to graduate with a degree in some sort of science. I am not sure which one at this time, but I have been preparing for college by taking STEM classes since 7th grade. I dream of being an impact player for whichever college team I play for.

I am a good candidate for any team because I have a high basketball IQ, am very coachable, am versatile because I train to play every position, and strive to work well with everyone. I fill the spot of a role player very well; I’ve had to be the major scorer who averages a double-double as well as the tough-kid rebounder and hustler who does all the dirty work. I am also an unselfish player who gets as excited about an assist as my own finish. I always acknowledge the passer and praise them at the first opportunity, which makes me a good teammate.

I am used to pushing myself, in both school and basketball. I have developed a stellar work ethic and it shows. I know when to buckle down and get serious. Boise High has five guiding principles: respect, responsibility, courage, compassion, and honesty. I do my best to follow these principles, and the friends I have, and the loyalty I have towards them and that they have towards me reflect those principles. I’m a good listener who does her best to put herself in the other person’s shoes, and as such I am the sounding board for many kids at Boise High.

In my athletics, I’m a very solid, fundamental player. Being flashy is not my thing; I prefer to just flat out get the job done. I put my best effort into every practice as every day counts towards achieving goals. During games, I am positive on the bench and relentless on the court. The summer before my junior year, I broke my nose going for a rebound and even though I couldn’t see anything I tried to get up and play defense. I was also convinced that if I got the bleeding to stop I could go back into the game (which obviously didn’t happen). The following Monday I was able to get a face mask from school and play the rest of summer ball. That pretty much describes how I approach athletics.

As far as my academics go, I’ve been taking classes that counted for my high school transcript since seventh grade at a separate school called Treasure Valley Mathematics and Science Center (TVMSC). As a junior, I will be full-time at Boise High because now the same classes are offered at both schools and I am allowed to take them. I study hard and strive for an A in every class. I also regularly win awards and receive recognition for my grades, but I never let it go to my head and always ask for help or clarification if I need it. I have had straight A’s since eighth grade, including advanced placement courses, and will be continuing this streak all the way through high school. I don’t plan on letting it slip in college.

The most important thing to know about me is this: I am a rubber ball. When life drops me I bounce right back up.