These days running is the Fab. No I’m not talking about running on a race track or running to stay in shape. I’m talking about running away from challenges. I’m talking about running away from the truth. Now when a kid faces adversity, these days, they run into the transfer portal or transfer schools. You see it far more easier to run, than to face the hard struggle. ABBY STURM, of the Red Bank Catholic and the U16 HGSL Shoreshots is running too. She is running a marathon. That’s because she knows running down a dream requires exactly that.
ABBY STURM, struts into the Hoop Group everyday with many of her heavy recruited and highly regarded teammates to shoot everyday. She is surrounded by high level D1 players everyday. The type of players who are gym rats and committed. The type of players D1, coaches crave to sign. Abby Sturm hopes to be one of those players one day. It’s why she put ups with the daily criticism directed at her. It’s why she can take it when I complain she is not dedicated or in the gym enough. She actually knows she lives in the gym. She knows she is paying the price. She knows the pressure and constant personal digs at her game are all part of getting to the finish line. So she runs towards the hard coaching. She swallows her ego, knowing she doesn’t have the status of many of her teammates in the gym. That’s because Addy Sturm has big dreams and she knows to run towards these dreams, requires sacrifices and she makes them everyday. The ones so many talk about and can’t.
Abby Sturm, knows she could be at just about every other high school team in the Shore starting and putting up stats. She knows her life could be much easier at a school where the practices are not a life and death battle everyday. Where things are all set up nicely. She knows at other schools she could put it on cruise control. Maybe brag about a few high scoring games. Read her name in the papers. Win a few awards and be one the big girls on campus. One of the stars on the team. She knows she could have all that anyplace except where she currently plays … RED BANK CATHOLIC. She knows RBC is the land of Alpha Females. It’s the place to go if you really want to reach for the stars, not talk about them. It’s the place where D1 coaches flock to. Where every game is the biggest game of the year for the opponent. It’s where nothing is easy. Nothing is given of promised at RBC. There is no special treatment for anyone. There are no backdoor deals. Its where your parents, AAU coaches and trainers can protect you. You simply show up and let the chips fall where they may. It just so happens at RBC the chips seem to always lead to a jackpot. Abby Sturm knows RBC is where she belongs. She hears the whispers how she should transfer and play major minutes at other schools. She knows the doubters are out there. But Abby is not a runner, she understands trust and hard times are part of anything that is great.
Abby has done the hard things like developing her body. As one D2 coach said this past weekend. “I didn’t recognize her”. Just like he didn’t realize how this weekend at the Spring Warmup, she at times was spectacular and dominating. She ran the floor with her now 6+ size and wonderful length like the wind . She pulled up and knock down jumpers with superior confidence and made post moves that had people jumping out their chairs. She played like a women on a mission. She took all that god given physical talent and went to work on folks in dynamic. She was collecting on those tough practice for 5 months at RBC. She was collecting the rewards for all the daily sacrifices, day after day, week after week, month after month. Or as she reminds everyone “I AM HERE EVERYDAY “ as if too say. I have earned it and you better acknowledge it. Abby Sturm is evolving into the player we all knew she could become. She is fulfilling her potential right in front of our eyes. She has allowed her coach Jen Liggio, the best in the business these days to mentor her. Show her how to use talent. It’s all because she has refused to run from the hard things. Abby Sturm has been too busy running the hard road and now she is finding this road is paved with “GOLD”
The live period is about to start in less than two weeks. Coaches, are in for a surprise. They are about to witness a player hitting her growth spurt and stride at the same time. They’re about to see a player that is setting up her future recruiting in a very nice way. Abby Sturm is setting the table. In a time where D1 coaches no longer value high school players with potential. Abby Sturm, is making the case that being a marathon runner is the key. Running with the best, playing against the best. That’s how you develop into the answer for lots of programs, yes even D1 programs.
Can you imagine what this young lady is going to be in a year? Let me help you out , 6’2” with a college body and a mental toughness that is unbreakable. Abby, knows noting is guaranteed in the future. But Abby is not going to be out worked or forgotten behind. You see ABBY STURM is playing the long game and it’s starting to pay off in a big way. Last weekend you just happened to get your first taste of what’s coming.
SUMMER CAMP DATES
