For every high-profile Nerlens Noel that hits the barbershop, etches a crisp school logo in the back of a high-top fade and takes his talents to college via ESPN, countless pairs of wishful eyes are glued to the television with the hopes of swapping places with one of America's top prep recruits. The underdogs.
The underdogs spend their days and nights tirelessly shooting jumpers and free-throws in empty basketball gymnasiums and at local parks. You can smell the hustle of an underdog in the form of sweat, blood and tears that act as a sign to the masses that there is no comparison to their grind.
Everyone roots for the underdog. High school bleachers erupt throughout the country when the scrappy senior who hasn't played a minute all season enters the game and sinks a three-pointer. The classic underdog photo evokes emotion from newspaper and magazine readers when they stumble upon a shot of an energetic bench cheering in unison for the players on the field or court. If only they could rip those jerseys off and get in the game, we think. And we cheer with a fury like none other when they do. The underdog is the reason for the existence of sports awards like "comeback" player of the year or "sixth" man of the year. The underdog athlete is the star of our favorite childhood movies.
College Level Athletes was built for the underdog. Our advice? Carpe diem. Seize the day.
Our belief is that the underdog student-athlete has the potential to tap into an inspirational resource that a 5-star recruit cannot comprehend. The need for recognition, both athletically and academically.
Top prep athletes quickly become accustomed to receiving attention from local and national news media outlets, NCAA recruiters and coaches, recruiting websites, blogs, fans and many others. In America, there is a deep-rooted, sincere recognition of our very best high school athletic programs and student-athletes. Often times, this can result in a polarizing effect for other lesser-known programs or players on the fringes.
At College Level Athletes, we feel that in order to be considered a top high school team or student-athlete, you must first prove your resolve to help the underdog succeed.
This is a movement. It is our belief that the power of teamwork, community, love and positive reinforcement within athletics is stronger than anything in the world. With this in mind, we will continue to build the College Level Athletes network into the biggest community of underdogs ever assembled. As student-athletes, coaches, teachers, parents and fans, we have the resources to change the sports recruiting landscape, and once again put the underdog first.
