As a high school student athlete you can lose perspective on what is really important in the recruiting game. Many student athletes that we talk to at the Top Prospects have great athletic abilities and are the kings and queens at their high school. They assume that, that is the only important thing that will get them to play at a college program. What they don’t realize is that with every failing grade or with every suspension or detention that they are hurting their future as a college athlete and throwing away opportunities to get to a great college where they can ultimately get a great degree.

When you are on top, there are many people that want to bring you down. There is a spotlight on student athletes now more then ever. High school games are being televised and the pressure on some of the top recruits is enormous. For a student athlete like Josh Massengale all it took was a few bad decisions and now he is throwing a chance away of an opportunity to go to college. A High school student athlete has to be careful to not get caught up in the negative things that can affect their future. Every student athlete should know right from wrong and it is essential to make the right decisions. If they make the wrong decisions it can cost them thousands of dollars in scholarship money.

A great athlete coupled with being a good citizen and student off the field gives a high school student athlete the most leverage they could ever have. College coaches no longer want to invest scholarship money in a student athlete if they can’t guarantee will play on the field. Goal setting and guidance is essential for high school student athletes. A mentor for a student athlete is essential to keep them on the right path to a successful college experience. Without knowing people that have gone through this process recently, a high school student athlete can seriously limit their recruiting potential.