Spectrum News: Preparing student athletes for college

For high school senior Paul Hope it was a day to tour, ask questions and ponder what the future might look like as a college athlete.

Hope is a basketball player at Spencer Center High School and considered a scholar athlete in Cincinnati Public Schools. He knows just how much time and effort it takes to be a great player. He’s just curious to know what it takes to play at the collegiate level.

“I know making that big jump from being in high school to college can be really difficult for some athletes,” he said. “And I just want to know, like how I can like, be ready.”

Hope was one of about 300 students from CPS who came to UC Wednesday, Oct. 25, for a day of activities designed for high school athletes considering higher education. 

A panel of UC student athletes offered tips for success and insight into campus life while financial aid and academic advisers who support college athletes followed with workshop sessions for high school students. High school athletes also got a tour of the Cincinnati Bearcats Athletic Facilities.

Spectrum News covered the day’s events interviewing Hope and UC football player Antwan Peek Jr.

Peek said the most challenging thing about playing at the collegiate level was time management. Completing class assignments, maintaining his commitment to a dedicated team and having enough physical rest is a delicate balancing act.

“College coaches are really looking for athletes with good grades,” Peek told Spectrum News. “You know, it shows that they know what they're doing and that they can be trusted on the field and off the field.”

Learn more about Antwan Peek Jr.

Jack Miner, vice provost for enrollment management, says the purpose of the daylong event was to insure that high student athletes were exposed to a world of opportunities on campus. The UC event was part of CPS' larger 'College Week' program that emphasizes not only the importance but also the attainability of college.

“Being a high school athlete can open doors to a college degree,” says Miner. “CPS has such a strong history of growing incredible student athletes. UC has seen them excel on the field, on the court and in the classroom. I love it when we are able to keep ‘the pride of our city’ right here in our city."

UC has more than 450 student athletes playing 18 sports.   

“CPS has such a strong history of growing incredible student athletes," adds Miner. "UC has seen them excel on the field, on the court and in the classroom. I love it when we are able to keep ‘the pride of our city’ right here in our city."

“My favorite part of this program is the high school athletes hearing directly from Division 1 athletes who are at different points in college," says Miner. "It is inspirational hearing the advice, the care and the hope that these college athletes, only a few years their senior, are giving to these high school students.”

Miner says college athletics isn't just about high-profile varsity athletic programs.

“In reality this is just a small segment of the athletic and recreational sports offerings on a college campus," says Miner. "Colleges offer intramural sports, recreation facilities and club sports.”

The full Spectrum News segment is available online.

Featured top image of UC football player Antwan Peek Jr. on the field. Photo courtesy of UC Athletics.