The Student Athlete Sessions: Recent Episodes
D3Direct
D3Direct exists to share the stories of NCAA Division 3 student-athletes, and explore their journeys from recruit to the real world.
Yuuki Okubo is a former D3 student-athlete (Oberlin College) who is currently playing professional basketball in Japan for the Fukushima Firebonds of the BLeague.
Yuuki was under recruited out of high school, but went on to start nearly every game of his D3 college career and was a 3x all-league standout in the NCAC. He also graduated as the all-time leader in assists with 510 and helped steadily improve the Yeomen's W/L record during his career.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Yuuki discusses how he picked an agent to help him start his professional basketball career, gives his advice to future D3 student-athletes, shares how he got recruited to Oberlin, how he's adjusting to life in Japan, where he wants his pro career to go, and much more.
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
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As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
John DiBartolomeo is a former D3 student-athlete (University of Rochester) who is currently playing professional basketball in Israel for Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.
He is arguably the most successful D3 to pro story we've ever seen to so wanted to find out more about he went from D3 All-American to 6x Israeli League Champion and Euroleague Captain.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, John discusses how he picked an agent to help him start his professional basketball career, gives his advice to future D3 student-athletes, shares why he chose Rochester for college, how developing off the court helped him make major strides as a player, the hardest thing about adjusting to life abroad, and much more.
Sports/Sleep Tape - Sleep Better
Sleep is a critical component of athletic performance. Get better sleep with Sports/Sleep Tape!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Neruda and KJ are former D3 basketball players (Utica & Alfred, respectively) who, despite being conference foes in the Empire 8, teamed up to create a unique platform to spotlight small-college basketball: The NotEvenD2 Podcast.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Neruda & KJ discuss how they met, share advice to future D3 student-athletes, discuss why they each picked the college they chose, how they contributed to their on-campus communities, and much more.
Sports/Sleep Tape - Sleep Better
Sleep is a critical component of athletic performance. Get better sleep with Sports/Sleep Tape!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Shay and Guillermo are current D3 basketball players (Emerson College Men's Basketball) who have teamed up to create the College Athlete Network (CAN). CAN is a non-profit dedicated to empowering young athletes that offers free mentorship services.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Shay and Guillermo discuss why they decided to start CAN, share advice to future D3 student-athletes, detail why they each chose to attend Emerson College in Boston, their dreams to work in athlete representation, and much more.
Sports/Sleep Tape - Sleep Better
Sleep is a critical component of athletic performance. Get better sleep with Sports/Sleep Tape!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Josh McClary is a former D3 student-athlete (Roanoke College) who is currently playing professional basketball in Portugal for Ginásio Clube Figueirense.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Josh discusses how he picked an agent to help him go pro, gives his advice to future D3 student-athletes, shares why he chose Roanoke for college, how he developed as a basketball player, and much more.
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Ryan Chang is a current D3 Student-Athlete who is double majoring in Statistics and Economics at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Ryan discusses his D3 recruiting process for baseball, how he found Carleton from the west coast, how he used camps & showcases effectively as a recruit, navigating an injury in college, and what advice he would give his 18 year old self. Enjoy!
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Brad Breier is a former D3 Student-Athlete (Willamette University Baseball) and the Head Men's & Women's Golf Coach at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Brad discusses his D3 recruiting process for baseball, how he discovered golf and got his first college coaching opportunity, a behind the scenes look at building a D3 program from scratch, advice for recruits trying to play college golf, and what advice he would give his 18 year old self. Enjoy!
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Josh Erickson is a former D3 Student-Athlete (Willamette University Basketball) and the founder of Beyond Sports - the world-leader in travel for teams & athletes.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Josh discusses his D3 recruiting process, how he got an early start on his college coaching career, coaching professional and national team basketball in Costa Rica, what led him to start his own business (and not quit!), as well as advice to future D3 student-athletes. Enjoy!
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Christin Broyles is a current D3 Student-Athlete (Hamline University Soccer) who just completed her first year of collegiate athletics.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Christin discusses her D3 recruiting process, how to use social media effectively as a recruit, details her offseason schedule and how she got invited to play for the Philippines U20 National Team, explains her off-the-field interest including two business ventures, and gives advice to future D3 student-athletes. Enjoy!
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Hank Morgan is a former D3 Student-Athlete (Hamilton College Basketball) who is working to land his first professional basketball contract overseas.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Hank discusses his development as a basketball player, gives his advice to future D3 student-athletes, shares why he chose Hamilton for college, how he got recruited and landed college offers, plus the steps he has taken to get his first pro contract. Enjoy!
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Randy Walko is a former D3 student-athlete (TCNJ Basketball) who is currently playing professional basketball in Taiwan for the Formosa Dreamers.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Randy shares why he chose to play in Taiwan vs. his other pro opportunities, gives his advice to future D3 student-athletes, shares why he chose TCNJ for college, how he rebuilt TCNJ's team culture and learned how to lead as a team captain, plus much more.
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Skubie Mageza is a former D3 student-athlete (Curry College Football) who is currently working as a broadcaster for ESPN, hosting SportsCenter, among other hosting responsibilities.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Skubie shares why he chose Curry, gives his advice to future student-athletes, dishes on why he chose to work in the 2nd smallest TV market in America, how he landed his first sports broadcasting opportunity, navigating injuries as a college athlete, and much more.
Enjoy!
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Luke Chicone is a current D3 student-athlete (John Carroll University) who previously played at D1 Youngstown State.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Luke discusses his basketball recruiting process, deciding to go D1 for college, why he ultimately decided to transfer and how he found his fit at a D3, leading while not being able to play, coming back for a 5th year, and much more.
Enjoy!
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Dan Arnold is a former D3 student-athlete (University of Wisconsin-Platteville) and NFL Tight End (2017-23) who is currently coaching football at his alma mater.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Dan discusses his football recruiting process, playing two sports in college, learning how to navigate adversity, landing his first NFL opportunity, switching from WR to TE, and much more.
Enjoy!
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, we caught up with two D3 Allstars (one current & one former) fresh off of a basketball tour around Europe:
- Adam Brazil (Hampden-Sydney '25) is coming off an All-American season and trip to the National Championship game
- Nate Shafer (Swarthmore '20) is a current pro basketball player in Ireland 🇮🇪
They share their takeaways on how to build a successful D3 program, how to land a pro contract abroad, and much more.
Enjoy!
Support the show
Our Website: d3-direct.com
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
As always, let us know who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests.
For more reliable D3 recruiting and admissions info, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Kathleen Elkins is a former D3 student-athlete (Williams College) and is currently a Correspondent at Business Insider, covering investing and financial freedom.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Kathleen discusses her college recruiting process, finding a good on-campus job, convincing your coach to let you go abroad, how to develop a career in journalism, being featured for her work on Good Morning America, and much more.
MEET KATHLEEN: Former D3 Tennis Athlete at Williams College
Majored in Spanish
3x National Champion
Nearly 10 years of journalism experience
From Davidson, NC
Play Overseas
Get a discounted Master's in the U.K. & continue playing your sport!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the Show.
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
Our Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
Mitchell Kirsch is a former D3 student-athlete (CMS & Babson) and is currently playing professional basketball overseas in Norway.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Mitchell discusses his college recruiting process, the importance of a college visit, playing pro overseas, growing as an entrepreneur, and much more.
MEET LOGAN: Former D3 Hooper at CMS & Babson
Double Major: Psychology and Studio Art Played Pro in Europe & South America
Founder of Elevate Basketball Academy
From Atkinson, NH
Sports/Sleep Tape - Sleep Better
Sleep is a critical component of athletic performance. Get better sleep with Sports/Sleep Tape!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the Show.
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
Logan Kosmalski is a former student-athlete (Davidson College) and the founder of one of the largest youth basketball organizations in the U.S. - Pro Skills Basketball.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Logan discusses his college recruiting process, transferring to a small liberal arts school, playing pro overseas, starting a company with his friend & teammate, and much more.
MEET LOGAN: Former D1 Basketball Player at Davidson College
Majored in Psychology
5 YR Pro Career in Europe (France, Poland, Germany, etc.)
Co-Founder of Pro Skills Basketball
From Euless, Texas
Support the show
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
Ben Kaplan is a former D3 student-athlete (Amherst College) who just published his first book - Pipeline to the Pros: How D3, Small-college Nobodies Rose to Rule the NBA
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Ben discusses walking-on to his college team, why a D3 background can help you get a job in the NBA, the book writing process, the impact that going D3 has had on his life, and much more.
MEET BEN: Walk-on Varsity Basketball at Amherst
Double Major - Econ & Sociology
Author of 'Pipeline to the Pros'
Contributing writer for D3Hoops
From Glencoe, Illinois
Support the show
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
Weekly Newsletter: d3direct.substack.com
Dasia Thorton and Sydney Wright just had a perfect season with Transylvania University Women's Basketball.
They joined us on this special co-hosted (Riley Zayas) Student-Athlete Sessions episode to discuss the strength of the Transy community, why D3 was the right fit, balancing academics with athletics, how they pulled off an undefeated 33-0 season, and much more.
MEET DASIA:
International Relations Major
Foreign Languages Minor (Chinese & Spanish)
HCAC All-Conference First Team
HCAC All-Tournament Team MVP
MEET SYDNEY:
Health & Exercise Science Major
National Champion (2023)
Aspiring Healthcare Professional
Grew up near Transy in Cynthiana, KY
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to related episodes, visit d3direct.substack.com
Support for this episode was provided by:
PLAY OVERSEAS
If you're not sure what you want to do after college or just not interested in jumping straight into a 9-5 job, they can help you continue your academic and athletic career in the U.K.
Interested in advertising on a future episode? Contact us at dthreedirect@gmail.com
Adrian Romero is a former student-athlete (Lewis & Clark ) who is using the game of basketball to give back to the community he grew up in.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Adrian discusses his college athletics recruiting process in Oregon, playing in the Northwest Conference, using the game of basketball to give back, the impact that going D3 has had on his life, and much more.
MEET ADRIAN: Rhetoric & Media Studies Major (3.1 GPA)
4 Yr Varsity Basketball at Lewis & Clark
Founder of the Bilingual Básquetbol Initiative
2x High School Basketball State Champ
From Irrigon, OR
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to related episodes, visit d3direct.substack.com
Support for this episode was provided by:
PLAY OVERSEAS
If you're not sure what you want to do after college or just not interested in jumping straight into a 9-5 job, they can help you continue your academic and athletic career in the U.K.
Interested in advertising on a future episode? Contact us at dthreedirect@gmail.com
Jack Betts is a Senior Wide Receiver at Amherst College in Amherst, MA. He is the founder of MYOL Academy (Make Your Own Legacy), which helps small-market athletes fully realize their NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) potential, and a pioneer in the use of NIL at the Division 3 level.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Jack discusses his football recruiting process, recruiting strategies that helped him get noticed by college coaches, why he picked Amherst, developing a culture of equals in the locker room, NIL strategies for D3 athletes & much more.
Get to Know Jack Betts:
- English Major (x GPA)
- 5 College Native American & Indigenous Studies Program Participant
- Founder of Make Your Own Legacy (MYOL)
- 2023 NIL Summit Hustle Award Winner
- Amherst Football Wide Receiver
- 40+ NIL Deals signed so far
- Treasurer - NESCAC Coalition for Student-Athletes of Color
How to reach Jack Betts:
- Email: jrbetts21@gmail.com
- Socials: twitter, instagram, and tik tok
S/O to PlayOverseas for sponsoring the episode! If you're not sure what you want to do after college or just not interested in jumping straight into a 9-5 job, we can help you continue your academic and athletic career in the U.K.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. We’re here to help - so ask away!
Harry Newton is former college soccer player from the UK who came to the US for school. After graduating, he started Play Overseas to help US students looking to do the opposite - and play their sport in the UK.
In this episode we dive into how he started the company, how he's helped hundreds of D3 athletes make their way across the pond, and what's next in UK college sports.
PLAY OVERSEAS
Not sure what you want to do after college or just not interested in jumping straight into a 9-5 job?
We've partnered with Play Overseas to help you continue your academic and athletic career in the U.K. Check them out today!
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
Support for this episode was provided by:
DIIIHOCKEYNEWS
DIII Hockey News is your go to source for both Men's and Women's D3 Hockey updates. They've added a ton of new video work lately and keep an eye out for their new website coming soon - diiihockeynews.com!
Interested in advertising on a future episode? Contact us at dthreedirect@gmail.com
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
Cody Mitchell is a Senior at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL. He just finished up his D3 Hoops career as the leader of the Titans Men's Basketball team - and is on his way to a 5th Year at Roosevelt University where he'll also study for an MBA.
Check out Cody's thoughts on the Transfer Portal and how he used it to get a free MBA while extending his basketball career.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Cody discusses his college basketball recruiting process, his career highlights at IWU, the transfer portal, his plans after graduation, and much more.
MEET CODY: Marketing Major (3.25 GPA)
Team Captain
Unanimous 1st Team All-CCIW
NABC & D3Hoops All-Region Selection
MBA & Hoops at Roosevelt University (2023-24)
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
Support for this episode was provided by:
PLAY OVERSEAS
If you're not sure what you want to do after college or just not interested in jumping straight into a 9-5 job, they can help you continue your academic and athletic career in the U.K.
DIIIHOCKEYNEWS
DIII Hockey News is your go to source for both Men's and Women's D3 Hockey updates. They've added a ton of new video work lately and keep an eye out for their new website coming soon - diiihockeynews.com!
Interested in advertising on a future episode? Contact us at dthreedirect@gmail.com
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
Andrew Greenblatt is a former student-athlete (Swarthmore College '13) and a lifelong lover of basketball.
Nowadays he is celebrated Career Coach workshopping a program specifically for former college athletes called "Athletes in Transition." We caught up with Greeny to learn more and understand how he got to this point in his career.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Andrew discusses growing up with the game of basketball, mindfulness and meditation, developing as a leader, navigating life after college, and much more.
Andrew's Career So Far: D3 Student-Athlete
PCG Instructor
WNBA Practice Player
Organized basketball tournaments in Tibet
Established a career coaching practice
Founder of "Athletes in Transition"
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
S/O to PlayOverseas for sponsoring the episode! If you're not sure what you want to do after college or just not interested in jumping straight into a 9-5 job, we can help you continue your academic and athletic career in the U.K.
More from Greeny: https://www.andrewgreenblattcoaching.com/
More from D3Direct: https://linktr.ee/d3direct
Sante Parker Jr. is a Senior at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX. He is the leader of one of the nation's most vaunted defenses and helped lead the Cru to a National Championship in last year's Stagg Bowl.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Sante discusses his football recruiting process, how he came to pick his Major, developing as a leader, adjusting to life in college, and much more.
Get to Know Sante: Computer Science Major (3.93 GPA)
Team Captain
2x CoSIDA Academic All-American
First Team All-ASC
2022 William V. Campbell Trophy Semi-Finalist
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
S/O to PlayOverseas for sponsoring the episode! If you're not sure what you want to do after college or just not interested in jumping straight into a 9-5 job, we can help you continue your academic and athletic career in the U.K.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
Max Hisatake is a former student-athlete (Illinois Tech) who has made the jump from #D3Hoops to professional basketball in Japan.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Max discusses his college athletics recruiting process, his love for architecture, how he negotiated a larger financial aid package to save money on his college tuition, adjusting to life in Japan, and much more.
Get to Know Max: Architecture Major
NACC Men's Basketball Defensive POTY
First Team All-Conference
D3Hoops.com All-Region
1000+ Points & 1000+ Rebounds
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
S/O to PlayOverseas for sponsoring the episode! If you're not sure what you want to do after college or just not interested in jumping straight into a 9-5 job, we can help you continue your academic and athletic career in the U.K.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, we sat down two of the creators behind DaGuys: Jalen Wadlington and Beau Bommarito.
Jalen is DaGuys' "Lead Graphic Designer and a Certified Bucket." He played D3 basketball and graduated from Fontbonne University.
Beau is "the wheel that keeps everyone [at DaGuys] moving in the right direction", and he graduated from Emory University where he played 4 years of D3 basketball.
Now they're touring the country playing the game they love and showing the world what D3 athletes are capable of. If you aren't already subscribed or following them - you're missing out!
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
S/O to PlayOverseas for sponsoring the episode! If you're not sure what you want to do after college or just not interested in jumping straight into a 9-5 job, we can help you continue your academic and athletic career in the U.K.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
Chadwick Hixon is a former student-athlete (Emory University ‘10) who was both a 2x JUCO All-American (Oxford College) and D3 standout (Emory U.).
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Chadwick discusses his college athletics recruiting process, playing in the UAA, how he navigated his transition to the working world, the impact that going D3 has had on his life, and much more.
Get to Know Chadwick:
All-time leading scorer at Oxford College of Emory
Undergrad Major: Political Science
Masters in Higher Ed & Leadership
Working as an Academic Advisor at Emory
What we discussed in the episode:
How recruiting has changed as a process
Alternative paths to college (ex. JUCO)
Why good grades matter in recruiting
The UAA athletic experience
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit d3direct.substack.com
Tyler O'Shea is a former D3 student-athlete (McDaniel College ‘17) who defied the odds to not only play college baseball - but finish his career as an All-Conference standout.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Tyler discusses his underdog mentality, challenges faced during his athletics recruiting process, strategies he used to earn playing time, how he started his own media brand, and much more.
As mentioned during our conversation, here’s a video of Tyler’s 1st College Home Run.
Some Background on Tyler:
Cut from his middle school baseball team
Limited recruiting process
Fewest errors in the conference as a SR
Goes on to earn All-Conference honors
Founder of JokerMag - 40,000+ monthly readers
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit d3direct.substack.com
Chelsie Schweers is a former student-athlete (Christopher Newport University ‘11) who was the D3 National Player of the Year and more recently was named to D3Hoops.com All-Decade Team.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Chelsie discusses her college athletics recruiting process, how she got her start playing professional basketball overseas, what she got up to during COVID, and much more.
Some Background on Chelsie:
4x NCAA D3 All-American
4x 1st Team All-Conference
3x Conference Player of the Year
D3 Final Four in 2011
CNU Women’s basketball all-time leading scorer (2869 Points)
2011 D3 Women’s National Player of the Year
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit d3direct.substack.com
The Student-Athlete Sessions
Kendall Sosa is a former student-athlete (Illinois Wesleyan ‘21) who was the 2021 NCAA D3 National Player of the Year and more recently was named a recipient of the NCAA Top 10 Award.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Kendall shares advice from her own D3 recruiting experience, how she handled finishing her career during COVID, developing career interests during college, and much more.
Some Background on Kendall:
Marketing Major
Averaged nearly 27 points as a Senior
2021 College SID’s of America First Team Academic All-American
2021 finalist for the 2021 Division III Honda Athlete of the Year
2021 First Team All-America by both the WBCA and D3hoops.com
2021 CCIW's Most Outstanding Player
Unanimous 2x First Team All-CCIW selection
5x CCIW Player of the Week recipient
So in short - she had quite the on-court career.
What impressed us even more about Kendall was what her teammates and coaches had to say about who she was as a person. Here was one of our favorites from IWU Head Women's Basketball Coach Mia Smith:
"Her skills on the basketball court were amazing and her highlight reel is one that I can watch over and over again - especially the 47 point performance at Millikin. As much as she brought to the court, what she brought unrelated to basketball was even more impressive. Her growth from freshman year to her senior year was fun to watch. If we gave an award for all-time best teammate, it would be Kendall."
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
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The Student-Athlete Sessions
Ashley Yu is a former student-athlete (Hunter College '19) who is making in-roads in the world of college coaching.
In this episode of the Student-Athlete Sessions, Ashley shares advice from her own D3 recruiting experience, how she handled graduating during COVID, her 2021-22 season outlook for Dominican Women's Basketball, and much more.
More on Ashley:
Gender Studies Major
3x Captain of Hunter College WBB
Former coach with City College of New York
Current Asst. Coach with Dominican University in Illinois
As always, let us know if you have suggestion on who we should interview next or questions you want us to ask future guests and we’ll be sure to work them into our next interview.
Inside the Episode w/ Ashley Yu (Hunter College ‘19)
In this wide-ranging episode with Ashley we discuss topics like:
Why Grades Matter for NCAA D3 Financial Aid
"Now that I'm going through the recruiting process at Dominican, you see how much your GPA plays into what [Financial aid packages] you can get."
Coach Ashley Yu on CUNYAC financial aid for NY in-state residents and what she's learned about the importance of recruits having a good GPA.
How to Build a Strong Team Culture
Here's what Ashley Yu emphasized during her 3 years as a captain with the Hunter College Women's Basketball team (NCAA Division III) that helped turn the program around:
Wanting to be around each other
Wanting to work hard
Wanting to compete
Learning from mistakes
How to Get Recruited to Play D3 Sports
Here's how she got recruited to play college basketball and how she decided that Hunter College, a D3 school in NY, was the right fit for her.
& Much More!
Thanks for reading! For more info about Division 3 sports, check out what we’re up to on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. As always, we’re here to help - so ask away!
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