Maddie Pond '21 Recruiting Profile

I fell in love with basketball at four years old. It has been a steady driving force throughout my life and has taught me the importance of teamwork, self-confidence, dedication, leadership, and hard work. When I was in the sixth grade, I began playing AAU basketball for one of the top women's basketball programs in the Northeast, and that further fueled my love of the game. Being able to play amongst some of the most premier players in the area inspired me to continue to develop my skills and set personal goals both on and off the court. In a seventh grade essay about future dreams, I wrote of my personal goal to be a 1000 point scorer in high school. Now, being less than 50 points away from that goal entering my senior year gives me a reason to reflect on all of the opportunities that basketball has given me. I have met amazing teammates, and have played for supportive and inspiring coaches. I have been part of an accomplished championship high school team, that has won our league two times in the past three years, won a Western Massachusetts Championship, and went on to become 2018 State Finalists. That following summer, I was selected to participate in the Baystate Games. The Baystate Games are a highly competitive two-day tournament, made up of six Massachusetts teams split up by region that compete against each other for a bronze, silver, or gold medal. Alongside the very best teammates and coaching staff in Western Mass, I am proud to say that we won the gold. I have learned so much from this sport that I love, and I know that I have the drive, talent, and work ethic to contribute to a college-level program. I look forward to my next chapter in finding a college/university that fits me both academically and athletically.