Michelle Steele told me she wanted to transfer before her senior year begin. I told her that she had to sit 20 days. Her response was “I hope not. But it doesn’t matter because I need to get better. I want to be ready for college”. You see Michelle Steele is not like other kids. She has always been about taking the long hard road. She knows that sacrifices are painful, but must be made to accomplish the big things on the big stage. Michelle Steele has always wanted a chance to roll with the big dogs. It’s why now she has positioned herself to win a national championship in college. That’s because she gave D2 mega powerhouse JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY a verbal commitment .
If you think for one second there are lots of kids that have walked in Michelle Steele’s shoes, think again and think real hard. Michelle Steele has had to work her way to greatness. She still is not a household in many basketball circles. Yet all that is changing these days because she has once again gave all of herself to the game this past spring and summer. It’s the reason so many schools were in pursuit of her signature. The fans and the folks that don’t matter may not have figured it out. But the people that matter have and college coaches were lining up for her services. But it was Jefferson University that closed the door and locked up the D1 talent. A player that will do anything to get better. A bonafide gym rat, a player filled with passion and desire to be special . Which is exactly what she was for Mary Beth Chambers Shoreshots this summer.
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Michelle Steele turned herself in an elite shooter, a next level ball handler and improved her basketball IQ all in one summer, remarkable stuff to say the least. She was on a mission from god it seemed. Now she is joining forces with one of the most successful coaches in the country PERIOD. Tom Shirley won 881 games, the most by among active Division II coaches. Across all NCAA divisions, he is fifth among active coaches and 12th all-time. In his 34 seasons at the university, the Rams have a record of 732-305 and have won at least 20 games 26 times, including their first 30+ wins in a season. You see Coach Shirley likes winning and recruits winners. Michelle Steele has found her dream coach and program. Because she too is a winner!
Michelle Steele, made her bones being part of the US HOOPS program. She learned her lessons from master teachers and coaches starting with the late Rich Leary and Tom Flaherty. They taught her to fall in love with the game. They gave her a rock solid foundation. She played for the NJ DEMONS AAU team. But when Rich Leary unexpectedly passed away this year, she needed a home. So she found that in the the Shoreshots and the rest is history
Michelle Steele, had not hit the recruiting map until she fell into the arms of Tracey Sabino and Mary Beth Chambers. Sabino gave her the platform. Mary Beth gave her the knowledge and the confidence to become a dominant player. She turned Michelle Steele loose. She made sure Michelle Steele knew she believed in her. She turned Michelle into a beast. A player who brought so many new weapons to the table. A player who was a sleeping giant whose talent just needed to be awakened. It’s why these days Michell Steele fears no one. Why she feels she is as good as any player in the shore. Mary Beth Chambers put Michelle Steele in the spotlight and she did not fold but rather grew under the bright lights. Maybe it was all the mental training she had to experience when she earned black belts in Taekwondo in Haidong Gumdo (HDGD), a Korean martial art focused on swordsmanship. Maybe being a flag football All Star taught her how to led and handle pressure. Who knows, we just know Michelle Steele has handled everything ever throw at her… that’s what winners do!
Michelle Steele’s parents Michelle and John believed in her. They knew she was special. You don’t score over 200 points and grab over 100 rebounds rebounds by sitting on your butt. You do it by moving your butt. You see Michelle Steele has never done things half ass. That because her parents taught her to give her best always. Never to settle and believe in herself. These lessons are paying off these days. Then again if your parents don’t believe in you… WHO WILL!
Leaving Homdel is tough for Michelle. She has her friends and memories. But she knows she is getting ready to walk in the lions den next year. She knows it’s not going to be easy at Jefferson University. It’s a D1 program for all practical purposes. If she going to have a fighting chance. She knows she needs the competitive practices and the intense games. So she had little choice but to leave her old teammates, friends and coaches behind. That’s because Michelle Steele has taken too long to get where she is today… and now is not the time to start taking shortcuts, so the sacrifices continue ….
JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY IS GETTING A PLAYER THAT HAS FACED THE FIRE… and wants even more heat. Michelle Steele wants to play against and with the best. She has earned the right.
CONGRATS TO MICHELLE STEELE AND JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY
MICHELLE STEELE OFFICIAL VIDEO..FEELING JEFFERSON!
