Tips and Advice to Excel in the Classroom and on the Court

By: Dylan Tehada

Balancing academics and athletics is an essential part of a young athlete’s journey. Excelling in school paves so many opportunities on and off the court whether it be enhancing life beyond basketball or helping players gain the trust and respect of their coaches and support staff. Just as honing basketball skill sets consistently and deliberately elevates athletes’ games to new heights, so does focus and consistency in the classroom.

Building good habits early on enhances life far beyond the court, helping athletes develop skills such as critical thinking and decision making on and off the court. For athletes of all ages and skill levels, the ability to balance academics and basketball is a game-changer. As both basketball seasons and school years continue to ramp up for the next few months, we caught up with a few collegiate athletes to gain their insight and advice for balancing both school and athletics.

A schedule containing both school and basketball is extremely jam packed to say the least. In order to excel in both areas, a great deal of time and effort is required. However, athletes must remember they are not alone when it comes to getting help and support on and off the court. Just as a player is encouraged to ask their coaches questions and lean on their coaches for guidance, the same applies in the classroom. Especially in the midst of a busy regular season, Loyola Marymount University sophomore Mari Somichivan finds a lot of value in reaching out to the professors.

“My biggest piece of advice [for excelling in school] would be to talk to your teachers and be proactive. Most professors will be really helpful, but you have to seek out their help and communicate with them,” Somichivan stated. 

There are many parallels to the way students and athletes alike thrive in their respective areas. Both aspects of life require a great deal of dedication, effort, and consistency. These are three of many traits that apply to both areas of a student-athlete’s lifestyle on and off the court. In fact, according to sophomore at Loyola Marymount University, Maya Hernandez, the habits developed in the classroom translate to a long lasting, successful career outside of basketball.

“Doing well in school is important to your collegiate career because it helps to build habits that you will need later on in your life. Being able to multitask and succeed in areas that are pretty different from each other help to be successful in your career later,” Hernandez stated. 

Time and time again we have seen athletes leverage their education and passion for basketball to create careers for themselves after their playing career is over. Whether it be as a sports commentator, head coach, or member of the front office, there are plenty of opportunities for athletes to pursue after their careers. According to Kaden Holdbrook, sophomore at Macalester University, excelling in school, especially in college, provides many opportunities outside of basketball.

“Doing well in school is very valuable because at some point the ball will stop bouncing so it’s important to take advantage of academic opportunities while in college,” Holdbrook said.

Both academics and athletics are integral aspects of any student athlete’s life. While the two are distinct, both are valuable to sustaining a long, successful career on and off the court. A lot of the lessons applied in one area are often transferable to the other and last a lifetime. Whether it be earning the trust of your coaches or preparing for opportunities off the court, the importance of balancing sports and school cannot be understated.