Expectation vs. Reality - Where Is Your Mentality?
Going from high school to playing at the college level will always have its’ challenges. In order to really be successful, you have to know what to be prepared for. Going up a level in competition, in education, and in life will always require another level of yourself. But are you ready to switch gears? You might be playing the same game, but when you are in a new arena there comes another set of rules.
If you are NOT mentally prepared for these challenges, you may fail or you may be highly disappointed. How do you combat that? You really just need to be ready to learn and work hard. Seems pretty simple doesn’t it? Well for some, it’s much harder than you think.
It’s seems like EVERYONE coming out of high school thinks that they are the greatest thing to now step onto a college campus. There seems to be an overwhelming sense of ENTITLEMENT for something that has yet to be earned. I think the biggest thing that hinders many, is the thought of what they accomplished at the high school level, and thinking it will now carry into the college ranks. And that isn’t the case at all.
You are starting on a completely different and new level playing field. The slate is wiped clean. Depending on the college, level, and team you are on… potentially everyone next to you has some of the same accolades, if not more from high school. But that no longer matters. As a freshman coming in, what does matter however, is that they have more COLLEGE level experience than you at this moment.
What I am saying isn’t to discourage anyone, but to get you to think about the arena you are stepping into. Think about the journey ahead, instead of the journey behind you. This is something new and different, whether you believe it or not. Sure, you may be able to put the ball in the basket, but what else can you do that can help this team win games with the people that are now fighting beside you? You have entered a new program, you have a new coach, this is a new level, you’ve got new teammates, and there should more than likely be a new mindset coming as well.
If you go into your freshman year with an open mind, ready to work, and earn your spot and opportunities, then you shouldn’t be disappointed. Don’t EXPECT things to happen overnight. You may have been highly recruited, and the coaches may have told you they want you to play right away (sometimes that happens), but there is so much more to playing at the college level than just scoring the basketball.
Here are some things I tell high school student athletes to look up before signing to play at the next level:
1.) The past few seasons for that team/school. What was their overall record?
- All teams should have a system in place. However, when you look at a team’s history and record from the past few seasons, it should give you an inclination as to what they are trying to accomplish. (Outside of the fact that most coach’s will say they are trying to “win it all.”) Is this a team with a winning record who has always made playoff runs? Or is this a team with a losing record struggling to find an identity?
2.) Ask the coaches what their expectations will be for you as a player, and for the team for the season.
- The coach could outright tell you that they want you to come in and work hard to earn a starting spot.
- They could tell you that the goal is to get a 20+ win season, to make it to the Final Four or to win a Championship, or that they would really like to beat their rivals for the first time in school history.
- Use these things to fuel you coming in, with the insight and knowledge that there are some hungry players already ahead of you.
- The words you should want to hear are, “the best players will play”... and then let the work begin!
3.) Look up the roster. How many players will be graduating? What positions do they play?
- Looking at these things should give you an understanding of what you might be up against. A team graduating 4 Seniors may be looking for someone to come in and step up immediately. They could be looking for everything you bring to the table and the right opportunity is right in front of you.
- If you sign to a team as a PG and this team already has 3 PGs, recognize that you are in line. This doesn’t mean you can’t beat them out for a spot, this is only for you to acknowledge that you will need to be mentally be prepared to beat out 2-3 PGs who already know the game plan, who have already spent time with these coaches and know the competition. They are ahead of you for a reason. Will you be ready to earn it?
If you are mentally prepared for the journey that lies ahead, you will be ready to adapt, learn, and grow into becoming the type of player you hope to be. If you aren’t mentally prepared, everything will seem like a challenge with the cards stacked against you because you had a set of expectations that weren’t met. Everyone’s journey is different, and some people have their number called sooner than others. Will you be ready when your number is called? Or will you be fixated on things not turning out the way you imagined originally, therefore you miss out on the rest of your opportunities because you’ve already planned your exit?