The PrepStar featured athlete for this week is Adam Diaz. Ranked among the top snappers in the state of Arizona placing 1st place top score at the 2025 Kohl’s Kicking Western Showcase with average snap times of .72 seconds! Diaz also 1st place AZ Kicking Upperclassmen Combine 2025 for long snappers. Overall, Adam is ranked 35th in the county class of 2026 with a 4.5 star rating. Additionally, he was selected 1st Team All Region 6A Fiesta after the 2024 season. Recently, I caught up with the rising Senior about preparation for the coming season and some memorable moments.
The PrepStar featured athlete for this week is Riley Baughman. At 6’5”, 285, Riley is a massive offensive lineman from Cactus Shadows High School and ranked as one of the top linemen in Arizona (#11). Heading into the summer camp season, Baughman already has offers from Augustana University, Black Hills State University, University of Sioux Falls and Fort Lewis College. Recently, I caught up with the rising Senior about a few future goals, passion for the sport, memorable moments, and some light, fun personality-based questions.
How High School Athletes Can Successfully Connect with College Coaches
The recruiting process can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to stand out and make real connections with college coaches. If you’re a student-athlete looking to take the next step in your athletic and academic journey, here are five essential tips to help you build relationships with college coaches and get noticed.
1. Do Your Homework on Schools
Start by researching colleges that fit your athletic level and academic goals. Look into the team’s performance, coaching staff, facilities, academic support, and overall campus environment. The more you know, the better you can target schools where you’ll be a strong fit—and show genuine interest when you contact coaches.
2. Initiate Contact with Coaches
Don’t wait to be discovered—take the first step. Send a well-written email or direct message introducing yourself and explaining why you’re interested in their program. Be polite, professional, and personal. Mention specific reasons why you admire the school and team. Follow up with a short phone call or text if appropriate. Coaches appreciate athletes who take initiative.
3. Share Your Recruiting Profile
Make it easy for coaches to evaluate you by including a link to your PrepStar recruit profile in your messages. Your profile should highlight your athletic achievements, stats, GPA, test scores, and a short bio. You can find your profile link by clicking the Settings button on your Scoreboard homepage. A strong, updated profile helps coaches get to know you quickly.
4. Use Social Media the Right Way
Your social media can be a powerful recruiting tool—or a red flag. College coaches often review athletes’ profiles to learn more about their personality and behavior. Post highlights, training clips, and positive content that reflects your work ethic and character. Clean up anything that might raise concerns.
5. Be Consistent and Stay Patient
Recruiting takes time. You might not hear back right away, and that’s okay. Keep training, improving your skills, and staying in touch with coaches. Send updates when you have new highlights or achievements. Persistence shows dedication, and the right opportunity will come with consistent effort.
Final Thought: Connecting with college coaches is about being proactive, professional, and prepared. Stay focused, stay positive, and keep showing coaches that you’re ready—both on and off the field.
In today’s competitive athletic landscape, many young athletes feel the pressure to participate in multiple sports year-round. While multi-sport participation has its advantages, specializing in a single sport offers significant benefits, including greater skill development, reduced injury risk, and increased opportunities for advancement.
1. Mastery and Skill Development
Focusing on one sport allows athletes to refine their technique, improve fundamentals, and develop a deeper understanding of the game. The additional practice and repetition provide a competitive edge, making athletes more proficient in their specific position or role. With dedicated training, athletes can perfect their mechanics and strategy, leading to a higher level of performance.
2. Increased Repetitions and Competition
As a one-sport athlete, there is an abundant opportunity to get a tremendous amount of reps. Good, quality repetitions are essential for improvement, allowing athletes to fine-tune their movements and enhance muscle memory. Additionally, in sports like baseball, soccer, and softball—where year-round play is possible—one-sport athletes have the advantage of continuous competition. This competition can come from both teammates in practice and opponents in games, pushing athletes to elevate their game.
3. Better Strength and Conditioning
One-sport athletes can follow a training regimen tailored specifically to their sport. This includes strength training, mobility work, and endurance exercises that directly improve performance. A focused training program also helps prevent injuries related to improper training methods or overuse from playing multiple sports.
4. Reduced Risk of Injury
Playing multiple sports can increase the likelihood of overuse injuries due to repetitive strain on different muscle groups and joints. Specializing in one sport allows for a more structured training regimen with proper recovery periods. Athletes can focus on sport-specific strength and conditioning programs that enhance performance while minimizing wear and tear on the body.
5. Increased Opportunities for College Recruitment
College recruiters often seek athletes who demonstrate exceptional ability in one sport. By specializing, athletes can participate in elite-level competition, attend specialized camps, and gain exposure through travel teams or showcases. This focused approach can enhance visibility and improve the chances of securing a scholarship or roster spot at the next level.
6. Stronger Relationships with Coaches and Teams
Athletes who dedicate themselves to one sport can build deeper connections with their coaches and teammates. This consistency fosters a strong support system, effective communication, and a sense of belonging. It also allows coaches to provide personalized feedback and guidance, helping athletes reach their full potential.
7. Mental and Emotional Consistency
Juggling multiple sports can lead to burnout, fatigue, and stress. Specializing in one sport allows athletes to maintain a more balanced lifestyle, with time to focus on academics, personal interests, and recovery. With a clear training schedule, athletes can set realistic goals and track their progress, leading to greater motivation and confidence.
Final Thoughts
While multi-sport participation can help build a broad athletic foundation, specializing in one sport offers distinct advantages for skill development, injury prevention, and career advancement. Each athlete’s journey is unique, and choosing the right path depends on individual goals, passion, and long-term aspirations.
In today’s highly specialized sports environment, young athletes are often encouraged to focus on a single sport from an early age. However, becoming a multi-sport athlete offers numerous benefits that can enhance an individual’s overall athletic development. Here are three key advantages of engaging in multiple sports: learning game strategy from other sports, developing strength, agility, and coordination, and being exposed to different coaching styles.
Learning Game Strategy from Other Sports
Participating in multiple sports provides athletes with a diverse set of strategic insights that can be transferred from one sport to another. For instance, understanding spatial awareness in soccer can enhance a basketball player’s ability to navigate the court. Similarly, the quick decision-making required in fast-paced sports like hockey or lacrosse can improve a football player’s reaction time and on-field intelligence.
Different sports emphasize various aspects of strategy, such as teamwork, positioning, and tactical thinking. By engaging in multiple sports, athletes can draw on a wider range of experiences and apply these strategies to their primary sport. This cross-pollination of ideas fosters a more comprehensive understanding of game dynamics, allowing athletes to anticipate opponents’ moves, identify opportunities, and make smarter plays.
Developing Strength, Agility, and Coordination
Another significant benefit of being a multi-sport athlete is the overall development of physical attributes such as strength, agility, and coordination. Each sport typically emphasizes different muscle groups and movement patterns. For example, playing soccer or basketball can enhance cardiovascular fitness and lower body strength, while swimming can improve upper body strength and flexibility.
Engaging in a variety of sports helps athletes develop a well-rounded physical foundation. This holistic development reduces the risk of overuse injuries that often result from repetitive motions associated with a single sport. Additionally, the varied physical demands of multiple sports can improve overall athleticism, making athletes more adaptable and resilient.
For instance, a baseball player who also participates in track and field will benefit from increased sprinting speed and explosive power. Similarly, a gymnast who also practices martial arts can gain better balance, flexibility, and body control. These physical benefits translate into enhanced performance in any sport, as athletes become more versatile and capable of excelling in diverse athletic situations.
Exposure to Different Coaching Styles
Being exposed to different coaching styles is another valuable advantage of participating in multiple sports. Each coach brings their unique philosophy, methods, and approaches to training and competition. Experiencing a variety of coaching styles allows athletes to learn from different perspectives, adapt to various teaching methods, and develop a more well-rounded approach to their sport.
Different coaches may emphasize different aspects of training, such as technical skills, mental toughness, or teamwork. By working with a range of coaches, athletes can gain a more comprehensive understanding of their sport and discover new techniques and strategies. Additionally, exposure to different coaching styles helps athletes develop adaptability and resilience, as they learn to thrive under varying expectations and communication styles.
Furthermore, athletes who engage with multiple coaches can build a diverse support network. These relationships can provide valuable mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for growth. Learning to navigate different coaching styles also fosters critical thinking and self-awareness, as athletes reflect on their experiences and determine what works best for them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, being a multi-sport athlete offers numerous benefits that contribute to overall athletic development. By learning game strategy from various sports, athletes gain a broader understanding of tactics and decision-making. The physical development gained through diverse sports participation enhances strength, agility, and coordination. Finally, exposure to different coaching styles enriches an athlete’s training experience and fosters adaptability. Encouraging young athletes to engage in multiple sports can lead to more well-rounded, resilient, and versatile individuals who excel both on and off the field.
Here’s an overview of athletic scholarships available across NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III:
Division I
Sports Sponsored: Division I schools offer the most scholarships due to the larger athletic budgets and higher revenue sports like football and basketball.
Athletic Scholarships: Approximately 138,500 full or partial athletic scholarships are available in Division I.
Division II
Athletic Scholarships: Approximately 36,500 scholarships are awarded in Division II.
Sports Sponsored: While scholarships are fewer compared to Division I, athletes often receive partial scholarships combined with academic aid or need-based grants.
Division III
Athletic Scholarships: None (officially).
Key Notes:
Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but athletes often receive substantial financial aid packages, including academic scholarships, grants, and need-based aid.
Many Division III athletes receive support comparable to what is offered in scholarship-granting divisions.
Key Notes:
Headcount sports (e.g., football, basketball, women’s gymnastics, tennis, and volleyball) provide full scholarships.
Equivalency sports (e.g., baseball, track and field, soccer) allow coaches to divide scholarships among multiple athletes.
All sports in Division II are considered equivalency sports, meaning scholarships are often split among team members.
Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but athletes often receive substantial financial aid packages, including academic scholarships, grants, and need-based aid.
Many Division III athletes receive support comparable to what is offered in scholarship-granting divisions.
Elite Athletes Recruiting 