Personal Statement

My name is Hallie Koltz, and I am a 2025 graduate.  I have been playing basketball since I was in third grade, and it has been my dream to play college basketball for a number of years.  I know that playing college basketball is an honor, an experience that could change my life, and something that I have made it my goal to be a part of.

I am "young" for my year in school, with a late August birthday, and am sometimes over a year younger than girls in my class.  Despite that, I played varsity basketball as a freshman, and started this year as a sophomore.  I view being younger than my competition as a challenge, and not a disadvantage.  I strive to be a team leader by being the first in to, and the last out of the gym.  I am coachable, and have a strong work ethic.  I have always gotten along with my coaches and teammates, and enjoy learning new ways of looking at the game and different styles of offense and defense.  One quote that hangs in my room is "never let anyone outwork you," and I strive to be one of the hardest workers in the gym.

I have great shooting skills (including from three), a quick release, and finish very well with both hands at the rim.  I am right handed, but many people think I am left handed when they see me play.  I handle the ball equally well with both hands.  I have a solid first step, and can get by most defenders and into the paint where I can finish or kick to open or cutting teammates.  I play solid defense, and have made that a focus this summer.  I rebound well from the guard position, and make sure that my girl is boxed out.  In general, I have a high motor on the court.

I play AAU ball for Wisconsin Flight Elite, on its Nike EYBL U16 team.  This is my first year with this club.  I am surrounded by teammates who have multiple Division 1 scholarship offers, and we regularly scrimmage against our U17 team which has commits to UConn, Iowa, and Marquette (and many others) on its roster.  I am in love with this team and its coaches, and it is making me a better player and teammate.   I learn something about basketball or myself every practice and game.      

I also played varsity golf as a freshman and sophomore, and helped lead our team to sectionals in the playoffs each of the last two years.  Last year I was our statistical number three golfer and won the Freshman Award.  This year I was our number two golfer, and won the Most Improved Golfer Award (biggest decrease in shots per round).   Additionally, I played varsity softball as a freshman, and started every game at second base.  This year I have moved back to the outfield, which is my natural position.  Finally, in addition to playing varsity softball last year, I also ran varsity track in the same season, scoring points for my team in every meet I competed in.  Due to softball and AAU basketball commitments this year, I have not been able to  run track.  Prior to high school I also played soccer, and ran cross country.

Sports and academics go hand in hand in my life.  I am a strong student, with a 4.08 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), and am in advanced classes.  I was recently admitted to the National Honor Society, and I have been on the honor roll every semester of high school.  I was named to the Wisconsin Golf Coaches Academic All State Team this year.  Last year my team won the Wisconsin Golf Coaches Gold award, for the highest team GPA in Wisconsin for Division 2.  I was selected to my high school's Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, and was selected by my high school to represent its freshman class in its Cognia accreditation process.  I was also chosen to speak at my high school's groundbreaking ceremony for its new sports field complex.  

I want to attend a school where I can follow my dream of playing basketball and also study medicine.  I believe that I will be a good addition to any team both athletically, academically, and in the locker room, and am seeking to find the right fit at the right place.