During a recent interview on the Passthaball podcast, Brittney Sykes discussed her college recruiting process, explaining the whirlwind period that almost derailed her journey to Syracuse.
“I had no clue I was going to go to Syracuse,” Sykes confessed. “I swear, my recruiting process was kind of interesting.”
“I had every school knocking on my door. That’s a blessing and a headache, but truly a blessing to be able to have an option, you know?”
The current WNBA All-Star, who makes 195,000 a year, opened up about her college recruiting process. She explained, the influx of college interest ultimately led to both excitement and pressure for the future professional star. However, Sykes ultimately arrived at a short list of programs before making a surprising decision.
Her commitment, which was spontaneous, shocked her entire support system. Sykes’ mother and high school coach were both surprised by the haste of Sykes’s decision immediately after learning of it.
Her mom and high school coach questioned her reasoning and asked why she had just committed. The outside pressure from her support system made her reverse the decision so quickly, Sykes decommitted within a week or two.
What happened next would be crucial to the future star earning $195,000 for the Mystics. Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman contacted Sykes with a message that changed everything.
“After I had decommitted, Q was one of the first people that called me,” Sykes revealed. “He was just like, ‘I don’t care who you picked first. I still want you.'”
The recruitment story shows the human element in college basketball decisions. Young athletes experience tremendous pressure while trying to decide their entire career, while attempting to make the career-altering choice of picking the right team.
How Brittney Sykes Found Her Basketball Home Despite Recruiting Chaos
Sykes also reflected that many schools tend to get salty, with a lot of coaches taking decommitments personally or viewing them as a hit to their ego.
For some coaches, especially during the recruiting process, decommitments feel like a personal and direct attack on them rather than understanding the thought process behind the decision. However, Hillsman was far more open-minded and saw the bigger picture.
“With him, he was like, ‘I still want you. Come my way.’ I appreciate that a lot,” she said.
The incoming recruiting class for Syracuse, as well, also had an important factor in Sykes’ final decision. The level of talent and the level of chemistry with others in the recruiting class solidified the fact that she had found the fit she was looking for.
Her final decision at Syracuse was absolutely the right one. The program provided the foundation for her very successful basketball career that turned into a WNBA career.
Read More:
- Syracuse HC Fran Brown Drops Bold Praise for 2x National Champ SEC Head Coach
- Syracuse Fans Call for Return to Big East After ACC’s New 18-Game Schedule Decision
- Indiana Fever vs Washington Mystics Odds, Picks, and Prediction
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
