Coach Amy Bryant recently participated in a Transformation Thursday panel hosted by The Laurel Springs School, alongside Claire Sheldon Richardson, founder of Prospective Student-Athlete College Counseling, and two recent Laurel Springs graduates now competing at the collegiate level. The panel was hosted by fellow The Student Athlete Advisors member and owner of A2A Academy, Reid Meyer. Together, the panel brought a coach’s perspective, a counselor’s guidance, and student-athletes’ lived experiences into one conversation about today’s college recruiting process.
During the discussion, Coach Bryant drew on her 23 years of college coaching to address the questions families ask most often: how much academics matter in recruiting, how and when student-athletes should communicate with coaches, what information actually moves the needle, and the appropriate role of parents and outside advisors. She also spoke candidly about common “yes-yes” and “no-no” behaviors, along with how NIL, the transfer portal and competition from international athletes are realistically impacting recruitment
Hearing from current collegiate student-athletes added an important layer to the conversation, as both shared what the transition from high school to college athletics has really been like—academically, athletically, and socially. Their reflections reinforced a message Coach Bryant emphasizes often: the goal isn’t just getting recruited, but choosing an environment where a student-athlete can grow and thrive once they arrive.
