Varsity athletes make early verbal commitments
Senior Jordan Portela talks with a teammate before practice. Portela has been swimming competitively for seven years
October 24, 2016
Senior Madison Piper committed to play basketball at Santa Clara University in California, while senior Jordan Portela has committed to swim at the University of Minnesota.
“I decided on Santa Clara because it’s in California [and] I love the coaches, I love the players, [and] I love the campus itself,” Piper said. “I really like the direction the program is headed.”
Portela committed to Minnesota for the school’s swimming program and the business school.
“I have to look out for the future above and you know past the four years. The business school at Minnesota is [called] Carlson and they have been [the] number four business school in the nation so that’s why I picked it.”
Piper shoots a field goal above a defender during a home game. Piper practiced basketball daily. “I have to do something everyday or else you won’t get better,” Piper said.
Piper went deeper on what the definition of commitment means and how it applies to her.
“[It’s] about being true to your word and be true to what you’re committing to do. So if I’m committing to play basketball in college for that college then I have to do what [that college] feels I need to get better at and I need to commit to that.”
Bryan Duncan, girl’s head basketball coach, explained the difference between verbally committing and signing.
“With [a] verbal commitment, you have the opportunity to back out if the coaches change, etc,” Duncan said. “Once you’ve signed…that’s when it really becomes official. So when you have the ceremony and you sign, you really are making that four year commitment and it’s binding, where the verbal commitment can still be backed out of,” Duncan explained.
Before deciding on the college to play for, the athletes looked at several other colleges. Portela struggled to make the choice.
“I took recruit trips to Florida State and then also Arizona State [and] it was pretty hard decision amongst the three.”
Duncan was not surprised about the college Piper chose and praised her decision.
“She’s an extremely hard worker,” Duncan said. “She’s very disciplined in what she does and is certainly talented. Her potential, her effort, her competitive spirit, will all help her thrive at the next level. She’s such a good teammate, she makes all of the players around her better and her commitment to what she does and her team will help keep her motivated throughout the next four years.”
