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National Scouting Report scouts love meeting those high school student-athletes who possess focus, work ethic and a genuine sense of purpose. Abbey Jensen, a 2017 dual prospect – volleyball and basketball – from Kofa High School in Yuma, Ariz, has all three in abundance.
However, what perhaps makes the 6’1″ Jensen so special is that when you watch her and then listen to her, you know right off just how dedicated she is to becoming a college athlete and that she has homed in on that objective.
“Playing a sport in college is a goal I have aspired to since I was in junior high school, and I have and will continue to put in the effort to meet my goals. I consider the opportunity to play at the collegiate level a great privilege and responsibility that requires an even greater commitment which requires dedication, sacrifice, and determination both on and off the court, in and out of the classroom. I believe that I have laid a solid foundation academically and athletically to prepare myself for the opportunity to be a student-athlete at the college level.” Jensen said in her NSR essay to college coaches.
Her confidence and determination are as obvious as they are admirable. Yet, when NSR area director Clair Rogers first saw her on a volleyball court only a few months ago in October of 2015, Jensen was not capturing the attention of college coaches.
Yuma, as it turns out, is not a Mecca for college coaches. So, as is the case with so many talented high school prospects, exposure was Abbey Jenson’s number one problem.
Upon first seeing Jensen play volleyball in a high school match, Rogers wasn’t what you might describe as bowled over.
She was tall and athletic, yes, and she could definitely get up (jump in volleyball parlance), but she was a raw talent to be sure. Rogers decided that he would patiently follow her for awhile then determine later if he would connect with Abbey and her parents.
Because NSR will only represent legitimate prospects to college coaches, the wait-and-see strategy is one the company trains all its on-the-ground scouts to implement. In Jensen’s case, it paid off for Rogers.
In subsequent matches, Rogers noticed that Jensen was indeed improving week to week. Her mechanics showed marked development, especially in the footwork department. At the net, the middle blocker was becoming far more efficient in her side-to-side movements. She was also gathering more power with her arm swing. Overall, her increased comfort level on the front row was noticeable. In a matter of weeks before Rogers’ eyes, Jensen was evolving into a college prospect.
Seeing this, Rogers decided to approach Abbey and to inquire about her plans for college. She and her parents confirmed that Abbey wanted to move up to the college ranks in either volleyball or basketball. When Rogers discovered that Abbey’s GPA was 3.5 and that she had been named a Top 15 basketball prospect in Arizona, he committed to sitting down and interviewing Jensen.
Once face to face with Abbey, Rogers belief in her became even deeper. He learned about her desire to be a college student-athlete and the sacrifices she was making to see that materialize. On the day after Christmas, Abbey’s parents enrolled her in both sports.
A prospect in a remote location, regardless of the sport or size of the town or high school, faces a unique set of problems. The Jensen’s have taken the forward steps to solve them.
First, by enrolling with NSR, Abbey’s profiles, stats, grades and videos are readily available to college coaches across America in both sports. Without that coverage, Jensen’s options would be limited to a few local and regional colleges. No one else would hear about her.
Second, she joined a club volleyball team which will allow her to play in front of college coaches, something high school sports rarely afford a prospect in any sport. That move, along with NSR’s promotional machine behind her and Rogers’ personal involvement, will open the college doors to which she would not have otherwise had access.
What’s more, Abbey feels she presents something special to college coaches in both volleyball and basketball.
“In many ways, I view myself and the work I have put in for the chance to play in college in the same way that I view an iceberg,” said Jensen. “If you were to take a casual look at me, what you see on the surface is only a small fraction of who I am, just the same way that there is more to an iceberg than what is visible. But, just like an iceberg, it is what is underneath – the hours, weeks, months, and years of preparation and work – that make up the bulk of who I am. And, just like an iceberg, it is the hidden part of me that will make the biggest impact if given the chance to be a part of your program.”
College coaches are drawn to prospects such Jensen. They love to cross paths with recruits whose purpose is so firmly ingrained.
Jensen is one iceberg they definitely not want to avoid.
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.