Rohit (JoJo) Saini '22 Recruiting Profile

Tell coaches about your collegiate goals and aspirations: I skipped 1^st grade and was placed in 2^nd grade from kindergarten. I graduated my 8^th grade (May 2017) as a valedictorian with a GPA of 4.3. I am repeating 8^th grade this year (Fall 2017) to avoid graduating high school at 17 years of age. However, I am on a freshmen academic track, taking all high school classes. I’ve enjoyed my time as a pre K – middle school student so far, and feel very committed to furthering my passion for basketball while pursuing a degree in medicine, hoping to be a cardiovascular surgeon some day. My grades have shown that I have the aptitude to achieve a high class degree, and my experiences have proved to me that I will be able to cope with anything that university life throws at me. Success in my school studies and outside interests has given me a secure foundation to embark on a degree course in medicine with confidence and excitement while pursuing my passion in basketball.

What makes you a good candidate for their team?Playing on TEAM USA in the 14U team when I was 12, on Tracy Spartans AAU club since fall of 2013 and my school's basketball team has greatly improved my ability to work as a part of a team. As a student-athlete, I've failed more than I have won when I started playing basketball, however, I've always got up and kept going to avoid letting down my parents, my mentors, my coaches, and my team. I am confident in juggling my responsibilities, including classes, studying, strength training, conditioning, practice, travel, and games. I am also a great leader, follower, and am able to take control of any situation on and off the court. In short, I am very comfortable to lead but at the same time I am able to provide support when needed, in class and in court. I learnt to be self-motivated and took responsibility for my own learning by teaching myself Spanish 1 and am currently working on Spanish 2.

What makes you different from other recruits in character, athletics and academics? At age 13, I, Rohit Saini, known as JoJo, have been to 8 different countries, across 3 continents, many different states within USA and getting a taste of a multiculturalism that would taint my life to the present day. The experience of a nomadic upbringing it inspired analysis from a young age; it inspired the recurring questions “how?” and “why?” It is because I have families in Malaysia, India, Australia, and I have travelled a lot for Taekwondo and Basketball tournaments, both locally and internationally. I’ve been involved in taekwondo, tennis, and swimming since the age of 3. I skipped first grade and have topped the class every semester with a GPA of over 4.0. I have been awarded the Player of the Season, for 14 season, for the AAU team I played for as a Point Guard. I have now completed 15 seasons playing for Tracy Spartans. I have received many academic excellence awards to include President Obama’s Academic Excellence Award, Principal Honor Rolls, many leadership awards and many more. I have a Black Belt in Taekwondo since I was 8 years old; in addition to Gold Medals from Jr. Olympic and Nationals for taekwondo for three consecutive years. My most recent achievement includes a silver medal for TEAM USA in the 14U boys divisions having played in Austria in 2016 and a gold medal for TEAM USA in the 14U boys divisions having played in Barcelona in 2017.