“I wouldn’t say it’s pressure right now. I just go out there and play.”

 

     Jarred Vanderbilt first started playing basketball at the age of five and has excelled ever since. The 6’7” Power Forward from the class of 2017 already has over 30 scholarship offers before even stepping onto the court for his Junior season.  A common phenomenon is to see top high school prospects overwhelmed with the recruiting process, but Vanderbilt has been able to stay focused and keep a level head through it all.

 

     “My motivation is that I’m so close to being there. It pushes me to reach a little further. I do it for my family because nobody has made it that far yet. They've played Division 1 basketball, but nobody in my family has made it to the league.”  

 

     Vanderbilt has been active in the process so far. “Basketball related, I'm looking for the best fit. The most comfortable spot where I can fit in, come in right away and be a game changer.  That's my goal. A place that I'd fit, with the same type of system that I excel in. [I also want] a coach that will help develop me as a player and get me to where I need to go”, explained Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt has closely considered which schools meet his needs and for the first time he has narrowed his list of schools saying: “Arizona, Baylor, Kentucky, Arizona State, Duke, Kansas, Houston, Texas, and Texas A & M.”

 

     Even with the stress of the recruiting process, Vanderbilt is able to balance school and sports. According to USAB.com, Vanderbilt has a 4.3 GPA, which is incredible considering the amount of time he spends working on his basketball game. “I just make sure that I prioritize. I know school comes first, that's the main thing. I make sure I get all my work done, then I go work out. The main thing for me is to get an education because we're student athletes now, so education comes first.” Although he isn’t positive what he wants to major in, in college, Vanderbilt says that his top choice is Chemical Engineering.

 

     As a basketball standout and a standout in the classroom, many people would be surprised to learn that Vanderbilt has also fared quite well in other sports besides basketball. “I played football and ran track up until my freshman year, but I might actually run track again this year.” Some would think that playing other sports would distract Vanderbilt from his pursuit in basketball, but Vanderbilt would argue that playing other sports didn’t hurt, but help his basketball skill.  “I would say football helped me tremendously with physicality. The physical toughness along with the mental toughness helped me. The footwork also helped for sure. I was a wide receiver and a cornerback, so the footwork really helped me on the basketball court. Track helped me with my quick speed, my lighter speed, my conditioning, and my quickness.”

 

     With the recruiting process fully underway and a list of schools to choose from, Vanderbilt is definitely prepared for his Junior Year at Victory Prep(Houston, Texas). It should be exciting to follow his progress as he nears the end of high school and continues to grow as a player. If there is one thing we know for sure, it’s that Jarred Vanderbilt is definitely a Game Changer.