- 2022 Spotlight
Personal Statement
My name is Cadance Gilbert and I am a 5’8” all-around basketball player from Keene, NH. I have been playing basketball since I was 5 years old starting in recreation leagues and then started AAU basketball in the 3rd grade on a 5th grade team. I have the experience of playing and training with older grades and one season on a boys AAU team. Basketball is not just a sport for me, it’s a passion. Each day I wake up and begin thinking of ways to improve my game. I take pride in my self motivation to consistently practice as well as condition my basketball skill and knowledge every day.
Additionally, I have maintained an academic record of high honors in my years at middle and high school even during the pandemic with remote learning. I am proud of the dedication and hard work that I put into my academics.
A challenging time for me was the year when my close aunt (my moms twin) was diagnosed with breast cancer. That same year I sustained a significant concussion in which I was not cleared to play basketball for 5 months. I felt lost at times worrying about if my aunt was going to be okay. In this year I learned a lot about true strength and determination. I developed a greater perspective of what it means to be strong and how to look for positivity in the most challenging of situations. All things I saw in my aunt’s journey with breast cancer that inspired me. Though I was not able to play during those 5 months of my concussion competitively, I found ways to keep up my basketball IQ by watching videos, learning new techniques and practicing stationery skills such as dribbling and shooting. When I was finally cleared to play, I came back with a greater appreciation for the game and a better understanding of true strength.
I am interested in college to further my education in a sports related field and playing basketball at a collegiate level. By playing at the collegiate level I hope to continue my passion for the sport, my strength as a student-athlete and the camaraderie of a team.
