It’s that time of the year again. 

Tournament time.

March Madness is here. 

Who better to talk about it than a former “one and done” college athlete? 

Over the next month or so, brackets will crumble, hearts will break and bets will be lost. 

On the other side of things, buzzers will be beaten, stars will be born and teams will dance longer than Kyle Beckerman’s autograph line at "Meet the Team" day.

It’s a beautiful time of the year. One that’s as unpredictable as any sporting event in the world. 

The road to the NCAA tournament however starts long before March. 

With the current situation unfolding in relation to Louisville’s basketball program, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the recruiting process. Something I know all too well. Schools and coaches will go to unspeakable lengths to attract the best possible talent to put their program on the map. 

And to be honest, I don’t blame them. 

The amount of money associated with college athletics, basketball and football in particular, make the stakes almost too high.  Everyone feels the pressure. Players, coaches, staff, deans, universities, NCAA board members, TV networks … EVERYONE.  

College coaches at top programs are getting paid serious money, and the only way to justify their salaries is by consistently being a Top 20 program. To do that they have to consistently convince the best players in the country to come play for them. 

It’s not the easiest thing in the world to attract employees without being able to offer them a salary, and that’s essentially what college recruiting is at it’s core (Yes, I know. A free college education is very valuable and easy to sell … yada yada yada).

As soon as the NCAA permits, schools get in contact with their targets in every way possible.

It starts with the letters. Then the emails come. Then the phone calls, and then suddenly your mom is invited to make the trip to tour campus alone, without you, so that the real decision maker can be wooed (this happened/happens all the time). 

Looking back on it, my favorite recruitment memory was having a coach lock my dad outside outside of his office while trying to convince me to call other schools and cancel my upcoming visits. 

It gets crazy, and from time to time lines are going to be crossed. But for the spectacle and end product it feeds into, i.e. March Madness, my outrage is at a minimum. 

After attending a camp at Maryland my freshman year of high school I spent two full years convinced that I was going to be a Terp. 

Along the way, I visited plenty of schools. But after receiving my scholarship offer from Maryland, I went as far as telling their coaching staff that I was 95% sure I was going to commit. 

That all changed when I visited the University of Virginia and fell in love immediately. 

From the moment I stood on grounds (that’s what we call campus, because we’re UVA and we’re better than you), I knew I wanted to be a Cavalier.

Within a couple months I had given UVA my verbal commitment and I was set to be a Hoo. 

Given that Virginia and Maryland were ACC rivals at the time, I was no longer the Terp coaching staff’s favorite person.

The decision of whether or not to play in college is a unique one for soccer players. Unlike most other sports, the global norm for a soccer player is to turn pro by the age of 18.

In America, where education is valued and the possibility of making millions is a little less guaranteed, it’s a tough choice to make.

Do you risk giving up a free education in hope of chasing your dream or do you play it safe and take the scholarship?

My decision was made a little easier. The University of Virginia offers a degree completion program, so I’ll be able to get a UVA degree at any time with the scholarship I was originally awarded.  I got the best of both worlds. By committing to UVA and spending a season there I would be able to sign professional by the age of 18 and still get my education paid for.

It was the best decision I’ve ever made.

From the first day I stepped on grounds at Virginia in August of 2013, I had my eye on the national championship. 

The season came and went and before I could blink, it was tournament time. 

Knowing that it would be my only season/only opportunity to win a championship at the college level before I turned pro, I was more excited for soccer than I had been in a long time. 

In my mind, winning a national championship and then dipping out to the pros would be the ultimate tale. Ever heard of Carmelo Anthony? 

I almost had my own legend to cling onto as well. If it wasn’t for one terrible, terrible, school. 

My legendary story was ruined by guess who?

The University of Maryland.

Twice. 

Not only did we lose to them in the ACC Conference Final due to a last-minute own goal, BUT THEY KNOCKED US OUT AGAIN in the NCAA College Cup Semi-Final, 2-1, thanks to a last second, ESPN Top 10, save from my boy Zack Steffen. 

Karma right?

And just to make sure the bruise hadn’t faded from the slap in the face in 2013, Virginia won the national championship after I departed the following year (maybe I was the problem). 

But that’s sports. 

And that’s the NCAA tournament. 

You never know what you’re gonna get. 

I’d like to wish all the athletes competing this month the best of luck (unless you’re playing UVA). Make the most of it and enjoy the ride while you can because it will forever be one of your favorite memories to look back on.

For all the fans, you know what to do.

And if you don’t, ask our RSL bracket expert Jeff Attinella.     

(Oh - You can stop smiling now, Sasho Cirovski; everyone knows, you won.)

-JA70