Cullen Donovan '12 Recruiting Profile

Coaches, My name is Cullen Donovan. My purpose of this letter is to inform you of my increased interest in playing basketball as a collegiate student/athlete. This past season I participated on the Wethersfield High School junior varsity basketball team. Mid-way through the season I was rewarded for my play by being placed on the varsity team. For the remaining ten games of the season I participated for both the junior varsity and varsity teams. Outside of highschool basketball, I have spent my last three spring and summer seasons playing for Connecticut Premiere Basketball. To give you some information about me personally, I live in Wethersfield, CT with my mother. We have lived in Wethersfield for 11 years. My mother is a single mother as my parents never married when I was a child. I am 5'9 and I weigh approximately 150 pounds. I am a right handed players who is fluent with both hands for dribbling. For my highschool and AAU team, I am primarily a point guard but can also serve as a shooting guard. In my college search I am very open to looking at colleges/universities along the East Coast and I'd prefer a medium size school where I can get a great education while playing basketball. It is extremely important for me to further my education as well as my basketball. I'm interested in a couple majors such as marketing, sports management and physical education. While it is a goal of mine to attend the best school possible for me, financial support would be needed to make that dream come true. As previously stated, my mother is a single mother who works tirelessly to make all of my basketball opportunities possible. It was only four years ago that I started playing basketball competitively and ever since then basketball has grown to become part of my everyday life. As a player, my skills have grown from day one due to a strong work ethic. It has become a motivating force for me to keep reminding myself that everyday I need to become a better basketball player. I am a very consistent ball handler who works constantly at developing a skill set to become a smarter point guard. What I feel separates me from most point guards is my excellent ability to shoot the basketball. I have become very consistent from long range and a smooth free throw shooter. What has grown the most over the past couple seasons is my ability to not only penetrate to the basket to score but to get to the basket to dish to my teammates. Defensively, I am smart in the fact that I know different techniques to create better chances for me to defend. Whether it be forcing to the weak hand, getting to help side or jamming a hole shut on penetration, I have taken an extreme interest learning how to become a better defensive basketball player both on and off the ball. Mentally, I have become a stronger part of my team because I have learned to expect more of myself each and everyday. I look at basketball and demand greatness from myself through every workout. During the times where I am not playing my best and the team may be struggling, I am the player that a coach can count on to lift the team up. I am a very positive leader and know how to treat my teammates to maximize what we can give to the game. I have a very high basketball IQ and am very positive to my teammates and the game. I have been taught through AAU basketball that there are going to be teams that are better than you, and that's fine, but it is very important for me to play every game to my best ability and leave all of my efforts out on the court. In closing, some people dream big and wish to shoot for the NBA...I am more realistic and wish to take my dreams one step at a time. It is my absolute "short term" dream to play college basketball at a college that will allow me to create a fulfilling future for myself and family. Through my efforts on the court and in the classroom, I know I am putting myself in a position to be a success at whatever college/university that gives me a chance to show what I'm made of. Thank you, Cullen Donovan