Chaela Luelling '26 Recruiting Profile

I found my passion for basketball late in the game, as some would say. I first learned about basketball in 8th grade through my PE coach. She wanted me to try out for the team, so I did and made the A team. That was during Covid-19 when school was still half in person and half online so we did not have many practices or games. By 9th grade I became completely obsessed with it. We had 20 players on our team so I did not have much playing time. I started training hard after that and played my first year of AAU basketball. 

As an athlete I have learned a lot about myself and have grown as a person through basketball. I set high standards for myself and I have learned that making mistakes is okay and that your body language plays a big part in how you perform. I have learned how to control my emotions when I feel like I had a not so great practice or game and how to turn those negative feelings into being even more motivated and positive to myself and team. I have learned mental toughness is one of the keys to becoming a better player and work on that everyday. I believe having a strong relationship with your team is crucial. My parents help push me to become great and reach my goals by always supporting and encouraging me. I work hard all year around on my basketball skills by playing high school and AAU basketball. Additionally, I do extra training classes, speed and agility classes, open gym practices, track and weight training, which all contribute to my athleticism. I hope to be a great role model for all my peers and younger girls.

One of the obstacles I have had to overcome was having a great first season game (Double Double) my first year as a Varsity player and then breaking my L clavicle during the next game. I put in so much hard work prior to the season and was not able to do anything from November until the middle of January. Not being able to play was extremely hard for me. I had to focus on what I was allowed to do to keep busy and try not to loose all the work I had put in. It was mentally tough not being able to do something that I love but it made me truly appreciate everything even more when I came back. I feel I am more positive and more of a leader. I did not let it slow me down and have recovered 100%.

Some academic goals I want to pursue throughout the rest of high school and college are to develop stronger study habits, effectively manage my time with basketball, studying, and charitable events and obtain a Master’s degree in Business or Sports Science.

I am very competitive and feel I possess a bunch of skills, like the ability to communicate, adapt to new situations and help my teammates with confidence. I also think a crucial skill in my game is my game IQ and how I can read other players. I was awarded Defensive MVP my sophomore year. I would also say another skill would be my speed. I'm always the fastest on the court and I have high endurance. I love sprinting and I have also medaled in several track meets. I'm very committed to basketball and I'm excited to get better every day!