Zachary Mrozek '13 Recruiting Profile

How do you encapsulate who you are in a few paragraphs?  This is not an easy task but I will do my best to give you an idea of who I am as a person and a player.

My coach describes me as a quiet leader. I lead by example. I want my teammates to give one hundred and ten percent so that is what I give them. I am not a big talker, so sometimes I’m unsure if my leadership style is effective. I received some confirmation in the February edition of our school newspaper.  “Zach is a very serious player at practice and holds high expectations for himself and his team. His determination influences me to be a better player.” This quote from a teammate encouraged me to continue my leadership approach. I enjoy being around players that are as enthusiastic about basketball as I. I am a team player and no matter how overused the cliché is, I wholeheartedly believe that there is no “I” in team. My teammates recognize and respect my unselfish play. I am all about the win not showcasing my abilities. My strengths are my court IQ and passing. Skills that I still need to work on are creating my own shot.  My biggest accomplishment last (2010-2011) season was to be selected as one of the youngest players (sophomore) to make first team all star in the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference (PHAC).  I am 5’11” and 150 pounds. My averages per game are 15.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 steals. This season (2011-2012) I was honored again to be named first team all stars in the PHAC.

My hard work continues off the court. I am in the top ten percent of my class and all of my core courses are honors level. I have also opted to take academic electives throughout high school as well. I was nominated by my high school faculty to be their Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) ambassador. I am active in my school and community. Last year I looked forward to working in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and this year I am happy to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed my little brother! I have gained a new sense of self worth through helping and mentoring my little. I began thinking that the relationship would be more about what I could give to him and found that he gives a lot back to me too.

Most young basketball enthusiast would tell you their dream is to play D1 ball, but as I have grown in this sport through competitive camps, tournaments, and AAU teams I realize that what I want most is to play competitive basketball. I want to be surrounded by players that have a passion for the game and coaches that can mold me into the player that I have the potential to become.

I have little experience on a college campus, so right now location and size are not high on my priority list. Therefore, I am open to possibilities. I would like to major in a science, math or health care field. Foremost, I am searching for schools with a solid academic reputation. I want to be challenged and have opportunities to grow academically, athletically, and personally.

As my junior year of high school comes to an end I will be refining my ideas about what I am looking for in a college. I am grateful that I have a little more time to think about post secondary decisions. I will spend the next several months continuing to develop my weaknesses on the court through more practice and competition. I will also spend a lot of time researching and deciding what type of school I feel would be a good fit for me academically, athletically, and socially.