--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My high school class was the first one to…" description: "\"My high school class was the first one to know, during the college recruiting process, to know there was the option to play professional basketball, to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/sue-bird-4568_basketball_my-high-school-class-was-the-first-one-t_2476119.jpg" --- # My high school class was the first one to know, during the… ![“My high school class was the first one to know, during the college recruiting process, to know there was the option to play professional basketball, to know that the WNBA was there, and to know I better pick a school that is going to help me get to the next level.” quote by Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/sue-bird-4568_basketball_my-high-school-class-was-the-first-one-t_2476119.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/sue-bird-4568_basketball_my-high-school-class-was-the-first-one-t_2476119.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/sue-bird-4568_basketball_my-high-school-class-was-the-first-one-t_2476119.jpg) > “My high school class was the first one to know, during the college recruiting process, to know there was the option to play professional basketball, to know that the WNBA was there, and to know I better pick a school that is going to help me get to the next level.” [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She recognized early that professional basketball options existed, influencing her college choice to maximize future success. **In simple terms:** Early awareness of opportunities guides better decisions. Key Takeaway Seek information early to shape your path. Themes career planning women in sports opportunity decision making Mood motivational empowering Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - high school athletes - college recruitment - career counseling Key Concepts strategic foresight role modeling Questions to Reflect On - What resources can help athletes discover all pathways? - How does early knowledge affect confidence? A Different Perspective Opportunities may be limited by systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-know-813196/) [College Recruiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-recruiting-813195/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Know Wnba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-wnba-813193/) [Next level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-level/) [Pick School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick-school-813192/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Wnba Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wnba-know-813194/) ## Related quotes > [When I was 15, I used to pick the school football team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kamara/when-i-was-15-i-used-to-pick-the-school-football-team/) [Chris Kamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kamara/) > [We know the WNBA is not making billions of dollars like the NBA, but we want to be in a place where we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/we-know-the-wnba-is-not-making-billions-of-dollars-like-the-nba-but/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [I don't think I'll average 20 points in the WNBA. I know that will disappoint some people. But if I'm winning and I'm playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-plum/i-don-t-think-i-ll-average-20-points-in-the-wnba-i-know-that-will/) [Kelsey Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-plum/) > [In the NBA, there's always a guy who is only around because he can jump. He doesn't have a clue about the fundamentals. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/in-the-nba-there-s-always-a-guy-who-is-only-around-because-he-can/) [Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/) > [The college recruiting process shouldn't be about how many schools have interest in you or how many offers you get, it should be about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-kennedy/the-college-recruiting-process-shouldn-t-be-about-how-many-schools/) [Billy Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-kennedy/) > [College recruiting is a business and I would really tell parents and athletes, alike, to treat it as such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-kennedy/college-recruiting-is-a-business-and-i-would-really-tell-parents-and/) [Billy Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-kennedy/) > [It’s kind of like, I would say, maybe college recruiting. I’m pretty sure a lot more goes into it in the NBA. A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajon-rondo/it-s-kind-of-like-i-would-say-maybe-college-recruiting-i-m-pretty/) [Rajon Rondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajon-rondo/) > [Anytime you have a Pat Riley running things, calling the shots, you are not going to question things because he has been through it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udonis-haslem/anytime-you-have-a-pat-riley-running-things-calling-the-shots-you-are/) [Udonis Haslem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udonis-haslem/) > [Some people say that I need to take a break and relax a little bit, but basketball is all that I know. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-harris/some-people-say-that-i-need-to-take-a-break-and-relax-a-little-bit/) [Tobias Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-harris/) > [My job is to just focus on basketball and you know, I don't really get a chance to really pick and choose who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-drummond/my-job-is-to-just-focus-on-basketball-and-you-know-i-don-t-really-get/) [Andre Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-drummond/) > [I know the game well. I'm a student of basketball; I know what it takes to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenyon-martin/i-know-the-game-well-i-m-a-student-of-basketball-i-know-what-it-takes/) [Kenyon Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenyon-martin/) > [I just play basketball. That's me: all I know is basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-just-play-basketball-that-s-me-all-i-know-is-basketball/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [There are ups and downs in basketball, we all know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caris-levert/there-are-ups-and-downs-in-basketball-we-all-know-that/) [Caris LeVert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caris-levert/) > [A lot of times I'll show someone a technique I got really good with, but I didn't put all the hours in. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-bravo/a-lot-of-times-i-ll-show-someone-a-technique-i-got-really-good-with/) [Eddie Bravo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-bravo/) > [I've always been very hard on myself, and I never want to get to a point where I'm like, 'Alright, I'm kicking butt,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sauerbrunn/i-ve-always-been-very-hard-on-myself-and-i-never-want-to-get-to-a/) [Becky Sauerbrunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-sauerbrunn/) ## More by Sue Bird > [I'd love to have another chance to represent my country in the Olympics. If I'm healthy, absolutely... I'm very realistic when it comes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-d-love-to-have-another-chance-to-represent-my-country-in-the/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [In my mind, women's basketball players are an untapped resource.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/in-my-mind-women-s-basketball-players-are-an-untapped-resource/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [In the past, I've told people to get me DVDs: like, the box sets of entire series. When you're overseas and there isn't much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/in-the-past-i-ve-told-people-to-get-me-dvds-like-the-box-sets-of/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I've never felt as nervous as I did before a track meet - literally, stomach going crazy - 'cause it was just so difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-ve-never-felt-as-nervous-as-i-did-before-a-track-meet-literally/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I've been on extremely talented teams that just don't click, and I've also been on team with a little bit less talent, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-ve-been-on-extremely-talented-teams-that-just-don-t-click-and-i-ve/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [Something I've been starting to use almost every day is a blood flow restriction system for my legs. It's good for recovery and strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/something-i-ve-been-starting-to-use-almost-every-day-is-a-blood-flow/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [A lot of my friends loved Pearl Jam, so whenever I'd hang out with them, that was usually what CD - not album -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/a-lot-of-my-friends-loved-pearl-jam-so-whenever-i-d-hang-out-with/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I think, overall, the name 'The Storm' in Seattle has just continued to grow. It has now become not just an afterthought that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-think-overall-the-name-the-storm-in-seattle-has-just-continued-to/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [There's something about dominant teams that draws fans in. People like to see this; they like to witness dominance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/there-s-something-about-dominant-teams-that-draws-fans-in-people-like/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I always thought front office work, being with the team day in and day out, that was something I wasn't going to get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-always-thought-front-office-work-being-with-the-team-day-in-and-day/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I can be quiet and a little shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-can-be-quiet-and-a-little-shy/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [There was no professional basketball for me in the United States when I was in grade school and middle school. I could look to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/there-was-no-professional-basketball-for-me-in-the-united-states-when/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [When you have teammates just as talented as you, it's kind of weird to get all the attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/when-you-have-teammates-just-as-talented-as-you-it-s-kind-of-weird-to/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [Be a gunner? Me? I don't think I can do it. But I'll go for whatever the assist record is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/be-a-gunner-me-i-don-t-think-i-can-do-it-but-i-ll-go-for-whatever-the/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [When you're a point guard, man, if you're not up to par, you're in a lot of trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/when-you-re-a-point-guard-man-if-you-re-not-up-to-par-you-re-in-a-lot/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) [Explore all 109 Sue Bird quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My high school class was the first one to know, during the college recruiting process, to know there was the option to play professional basketball, to know that the WNBA was there, and to know I better pick a school that is going to help me get to the next level.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sue Bird" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/my-high-school-class-was-the-first-one-to-know-during-the-college/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/my-high-school-class-was-the-first-one-to-know-during-the-college/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/sue-bird-4568_basketball_my-high-school-class-was-the-first-one-t_2476119.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/sue-bird-4568_basketball_my-high-school-class-was-the-first-one-t_2476119.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/sue-bird-4568_basketball_my-high-school-class-was-the-first-one-t_2476119.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My high school class was the first one to know, during the college recruiting process, to know there was the…” — Sue Bird", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sue Bird", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My high school class was the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/my-high-school-class-was-the-first-one-to-know-during-the-college/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/my-high-school-class-was-the-first-one-to-know-during-the-college/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```