As an Athletic Director, I believe we live in an era where too many high school athletes are chasing the scholarship instead of embracing the grind, development, and process that will make them better. We also live in an era of the transfer portal, where opportunities for high school athletes are becoming more limited. My advice to every athlete who wants to play at the next level is simple: Focus on what you can control. Control your effort. Control your attitude. Control your development. Control how you respond to adversity. Control how you show up for your team every day. Don’t let the pursuit of a scholarship take away from the experience of becoming the best version of yourself. If you commit to the process, embrace the grind, and become the best player and person you can be, you will have no regrets. The scholarship should be a byproduct of your development, not the sole purpose of your journey. Trust the process. Earn your opportunities. Become the best version of yourself.

Same game. Three completely different thought processes: AD: Is everything taken care of? Tickets, concessions, officials, field, parking, visiting team, press box, announcer, security. Coaches: Are we prepared? Hudl, game plan, execution, meetings, players, play calling, adjustments. Parents: Is my kid playing? Highlights, outfit, tailgate, tickets, where are we sitting? Same game. Different lenses. That’s athletics.