Quinn Prater '20 Recruiting Profile

I currently maintain a 3.3 GPA as a junior at Rock Ridge high school. I am member of the Mobile Hope Club, which aids several homeless shelters in the locale of Northern Virginia, and Phoenix Friends, which supports special needs students at my school. I was inducted into the International Thespian Society and served on technical theatre crews for several performances with the Rock Ridge Performing Arts (RRPA). I annually volunteer as a mentor/counselor at RRPA Broadway Bound Summer Camps, teaching elementary schoolers about the arts. I also joined a volunteer program as a referee for the Junior Special Olympics basketball league this past January. I’ve also had the opportunity to get involved in my local Government by applying and being accepted into the Youth in Government Program. Off the court, my hobbies are drawing, photography, painting, and writing. I have also been involved in several other sports growing up, like competitive swim, dance, and volleyball, as well as  coaching several athletic youth programs. I hope to continue my passion for helping others by studying and working in the healthcare or education fields, more specifically in kinesiology, adaptive youth sports, elementary education, or special education. After college graduation, I plan on joining the United States Marine Corps as an officer, since I've always idolized the level of teamwork and camaraderie the Military, and the Marines especially, symbolize. I find myself drawn to these same aspects in basketball, in addition to the competition, goal oriented nature, and just plain fun. 

More specifically speaking about basketball, I have consistently played in leagues and elite travel teams since second grade, including, Elevate Elite and the Freedom Falcons, Gainesville Hurricanes, and Lady Attack. I transferred schools many times but no matter where I went, I signed up for the basketball team, and was able to find a community. I’ve participated in elite high school basketball camps and/or tournaments at the University of Maryland, James Madison University, George Washington University, Longwood University, and the University of Mary Washington. While the sport has been my passion since I was old enough to first pick up a ball, first and foremost, I am a student then an athlete, as I strive to balance my studies with athletics through time management, responsibility, and hard work. As a student athlete, I still prioritize my academics just as much as my commitment to sport, as I feel the need to pursue my education as preparation for the future.

-Quinn Prater