Youth Opinion : ‘I Didn’t Want to Waste My Athletic Talent’

During November, high school students across the nation sign letters of intent to accept athletic scholarships at colleges and universities. Among them this year is NAILA MOSELEY, 17, a girls’ varsity basketball player at Crenshaw High School. Last Wednesday, Moseley, who has a B+ grade point average and qualifying SAT scores, signed a letter of intent to attend Stanford.

Her high school athletic honors include All-City 1995 and ‘96, City Most Valuable Player ’95 and All State ’95. Moseley was one of the first 80 high school girls to attend the Nike All-American Camp last July in Indianapolis. She talked with MARY REESE BOYKIN about how she parlayed her academic ability and athletic prowess into an all-expense scholarship to Stanford.

I came to Crenshaw High with goals. In fact, I chose Crenshaw because it has a reputation of having a faculty and staff, along with the coaching staff, that care about the students. I felt it was a good opportunity to fit in and have people care about me.

One of my goals was to play on the girls’ varsity basketball team. I became the first freshman to be a starter on varsity. Another goal was to make good grades. I was already a Young Black Scholar [Young Black Scholars, sponsored by 100 Black Men, Inc., prepares members for UC admission]. Remembering a visit to Crenshaw with my dad near the end of eighth grade, I remember an assistant principal saying to me, “We want Crenshaw athletes to be successful both on the court and in the classroom.” I have remembered that comment and told myself that’s what I wanted to be: recognized not just for being an athlete but as a scholar-athlete. I have maintained a B-plus average. My third goal was to earn an athletic scholarship.

As a freshman on the varsity team, two players made an impression on me. One was Kristi Lattin, then a junior, who now attends the University of Texas at El Paso on a scholarship. The other was a talented senior who could have gone to a Division I school, but she wasn’t really into studying. She just liked basketball and that was about it. She didn’t have good grades or qualifying SAT scores. I looked at her as an example of how I didn’t want to waste my athletic talent.

For some athletes, there are the pitfalls of not realizing the opportunity that they have to get a scholarship or not taking their studies seriously or taking their studies seriously too late. An athlete shouldn’t be content with getting by just to remain eligible.

By ninth grade, I knew the qualifications for NCAA scholarships, and as standards changed--like from a minimum 700 to 800 for the SAT--I stayed aware. I wanted to make sure that I was prepared, ready.

I feel privileged to be in the Teachers’ Training Magnet program. I have had the benefit of being in more rigorous honors classes. This program opened lots of doors. Some of my classmates went to Ghana last summer.

These are some opportunities given primarily to students in the magnet program.

To make good grades, I have had to use my time wisely. Basketball practice starts at 3 p.m. and usually lasts until 5 or 5:30 Then I usually choose to stay until 6 to work on my personal game. By the time I get home, I am drained, but I still do my homework. What I have also done is to use any free time--nutrition breaks, lunch--to work on my homework.

All along, I have had so much support. Isaac and Margie Moseley, my parents, are in attendance at basically all of my events. There are also the Crenshaw coaches.

Coach Marian Flowers pampered us by preparing food before the games, washing our uniforms and disciplining us. Oh, she was as much a team mom as she was a coach. She retired in 1995.

The other coaches, Major Dennis and Gregory Cobbs, also care about the players as both students and athletes. Coach Cobbs especially has taught me a lot about basketball.

My advice to younger players is to have goals. You don’t have to look at sports as the only door. But if you want an athletic scholarship, handle your business academically and work really hard at the game.

I also tell younger players to learn as much as they can from coaches and camps. Girls’ basketball is competitive, so it is an advantage to get on a traveling team or summer team--City Force, Showtime, Say No Classic, for example--where you will be seen by college recruiters. There are shootouts where you pay to be on a team for a weekend. Again, college scouts look for players at shootouts. If you want a scholarship, it is not enough to be a good player if no one knows about you.

I always wanted to go to Stanford because it’s prestigious and it’s a powerhouse in women’s basketball. I plan to major in human biology and eventually become a pediatrician.

I am getting mentally prepared right now.