Raina Mathews '26 Recruiting Profile

Hello! 

I'm Raina. In terms of college, academics will always be my priority, but I'm the type of student who needs to play a team sport in order to do well in school. For me, it's a harmonious relationship where each supplements the other, and I'd like to preserve that whenever possible. 

I love the creativity that comes with playing basketball, and one of my favorite aspects of the game is creating and executing plays with my teammates. I think this kind of creativity can have evident effects on a student-athlete's ability to contribute in other situations in life; improvisation in unfamiliar situations, problem-solving, and team-building and cohesiveness. 

Regardless of my individual skill, I think basketball is special because any player can highlight their abilities and contribute based on their ability to play as part of a team.

As Phil Jackson once said, "The strength of the team is each individual member, but the strength of each individual is the team."

Thanks!