In May of 2017 I will be graduating from Abilene High School in Abilene, Kansas.  I will then be enrolling at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida as part their Post Graduate program.  Given that I will be reclassifying to 2018.  

I think I always knew I wanted to compete at the Collegiate Level.  Wildey’s compete; it’s what we do at everything.  I have competed on the soccer field, on the football field, in hunting, in fishing and my favorite, in basketball.  I am from a family of competitors.  My dad, Craig, played tennis at the University of Kansas where he was an All-American in both Singles and Doubles.  My cousin, Jennifer Crisman, was an All-American swimmer at the University of Michigan.  My sister, Aldyn, pitched at Johnson County Community College where they ended their season last year as the 3rd place team at Nationals.  She is currently the manager for the University of Kansas softball team as she suffered a career-ending injury.  My grandfather, Cliff, was competing on a baseball team at the age of 70 and he had a valve replacement in his heart.  There are numerous more aunts, uncles and cousins who have competed at the collegiate level, so competing is in my blood; it’s what I do.  

I loved basketball at an early age because I could always shoot.  I could make shots at a relatively early age but when I could make 3-point shots, it really was love at first basket.  But when I really knew I wanted to play the game at the collegiate level was the Summer of 2015, playing in an AAU tournament as part of the Wichita Heat.  I was what can best be described as being “in the zone”.  I scored 34 points, was 10 for 12 from 3-point line, a layup and 2 free-throws.  I have heard athletes describe being “in the zone” before but I can’t say I have experienced that feeling until that game.  I did not fully understand the concept of being “in the zone” until that moment.  The game slowed completely down for me; I knew I was on and so did my teammates.  They fed me the ball and I put it up.  From that day forward, I knew I would do anything I could to feel that way.   

Working with Cookie Belcher at IMG Academies in the summer of 2015 and now with Will Spradling, who is my AAU coach, and former player at Kansas State University under Frank Martin and Bruce Weber, solidified my love for the game.  They also taught me I had to work hard.  You do not always have to be the tallest, fastest, most athletic person on the court BUT you always have to be the toughest.  (Incidentally, Cookie Belcher played for Will’s dad on his AAU team so I have learned relationships are very important and it is a small world, this basketball world).   

I love being part of a team.  I love knowing my teammates trust me to take a much-needed 3 or put in a free-throw.  I like players to underestimate me and then steal the ball from them.  I’m a shooter, I’m a competitor, I’m tougher than the other guy.  That’s my job.  That’s what I do.  

Whether you hunt, fish or play a competitive sport, you want to win.  You want to have the patience to catch the biggest fish or kill the biggest deer or make a game-winning shot.  You want to be the person your team counts on.  The pressure is not always easy but you have to have the confidence to handle the pressure.  To be “in the zone” takes hard work.  I am learning from Will to be tougher and more confident, to work harder than my opponent and to fear no one.  

My mom told me to “find something you love, then find a way to make money at it.”  If you can accomplish this, you will never have to “work” a day in your life.  She was talking about a career but I think if you can find something you love and also find a way to have it help pay your way through college, you get the ultimate college experience.