Annika Jank is off to a flying start at Colorado

I'm not sure any kid grows up aspiring to be a Kangaroo, unless they have watched too many episodes of The Crocodile Hunter. But back in the 8th grade, coaches from the University of Missouri-Kansas City – yes they are the Kangaroos – tried their best to make Annika Jank into a marsupial. Unfortunately for UMKC it didn't work out, and today Jank is in her freshman year at the University of Colorado. In this article, our latest installment in an occasional series about recruiting, we look into Jank's unusual story of commitment, de-commitment and re-commitment to play at Colorado. Starting, scoring, succeeding To say Annika Jank's transition to big-time college basketball has gone well would be an understatement. From the moment she stepped on the court last fall, the Edina graduate has been one of the best freshmen in the country. "What hasn't she done?" CU head coach JR Payne said in a recent interview. "Annika is one of the hardest-working young players I've ever had. She comes to college with a work ethic that most freshmen don't have. You combine that with skill, size and athleticism and she's had a huge impact already on our team." The 6'3" Jank has the height of a post but runs the floor like a guard. She is a great rebounder, a solid defender and has developed into an excellent shooter. There are no real weaknesses in her game. At Colorado, she is a trail forward who is now expanding her capabilities to create more off the dribble and do more with her right hand. Through January 24, Jank had started all 19 games for the Buffaloes, and was averaging 29 minutes, 11 points and 8 rebounds per game. She is shooting 45 percent from the field, 35 percent from three, and has 19 blocks and 10 steals. Many nights she has been Colorado's best player. "It has been going well. It's so much fun, and I am learning so much," she said. "It's a lot more physical than high school. The speed of the game is way faster, and the importance of the details is huge. In high school you can get away with not doing the little things but here, if you don't do the little things you don't play." Jank played five years of varsity at Edina, where she is the Hornets' all-time leader in points and rebounds. She was all-state three times. Jank also earned three letters in volleyball, and was the 2015 state champion in Ultimate Frisbee! Committing, de-committing and re-committing The Jank family vacationed in Colorado when Annika was younger, and she loved the mountains. That was a factor in making an early commitment to the Buffaloes the summer after her sophomore year. Things changed the following spring, however, when the entire coaching staff was let go after the team went 7-23. Unsure what direction the program would take, Jank re-opened her recruiting. "I wanted to see what my options were," she said, "because you never know with a new coach." Jank had no shortage of opportunities, and seriously considered a couple, but kept circling back to Colorado. Over time, she got to know the new coaching staff and eventually signed on the dotted line again. She learned a lot throughout the recruiting process, so we asked Annika to share her perspective in a way that would be helpful for players and parents. Here's her advice: <ul> <li>Pick a quality AAU program – Jank started out with the Metro Stars before moving to the Minnesota Fury. "I think you need to be in an AAU program with a good background and a good coaching staff. AAU programs have histories, and if college coaches know about the program they will want to come to more of your games."</li> <li>Watch prospective schools play – Pay attention to a team's style of play and their specific needs. Ask lots of questions. "I wanted to make sure that it was a good fit for my game… My dad and I would watch games of the teams I was being recruited by because I was interested in how they were doing and how they played."</li> <li>Look for a coach who is a good fit – Jank played for Matt Nilsen at Edina and Tim Peper of the Fury, two of the most level-headed guys around. She didn't want to work with a "super screamer" as she put it. "I didn't have a preference for male or female. That didn't matter to me. I wanted a coach who was a teacher, who would get in the gym with me one-on-one."</li> <li>Don't be in a hurry to decide – "I committed during my sophomore year. I wish I would have maybe waited a little bit longer the first time so I could see how that year played out. Players have more time than they think. If you are a good player, your time will come. The other thing to remember is that big girls get recruited early because there aren't very many players who are 6-3 or 6-4. There are a lot more guards so they're going to be recruited later. That's just how it goes. I guess I got lucky."</li> <li>Keep your options open – Too many elite players dismiss early opportunities. Jank kept an open mind, going on four official and four unofficial visits. "Even if you don't think you are interested, you should visit. Looking at pictures or talking on the phone is so much different than being there."</li> <li>Communicate with college coaches – Talk. Text. Talk some more. It is beneficial to forge relationships with coaches while developing your own communications skills at the same time. "Don't just give them one-word answers. Show that you are interested."</li> <li>Parents should take a supporting role – According to Jank, players should not be pressured to choose a particular school. "Giving kids advice is a big part of it because when you are 16, 17, 18 you don't really know what college is like. My parents went on my visits with me and we talked through it. In the end they wanted it to be my choice."</li> </ul> Practice, play, repeat Jank wasn't sure what to expect when she arrived on campus a few weeks after graduating from high school. She knew it would be hard work, but was mostly concerned about adapting to the mile-high altitude in Boulder. Those fears quickly dissipated once summer workouts began. Some freshmen struggle to adapt to the college game, and many spend their first year on the bench. Not Annika. She stepped right into the lineup on opening night and hasn't looked back. She quickly earned Pac 12 Freshman of the Week honors, and has been a key component in Colorado's turnaround. "A lot of times the mental leap from high school to college is the biggest leap," Payne said. "Everyone that comes to college is gifted and athletic enough to perform otherwise they wouldn't be recruited, She is no different, but her mental approach is one of 'I just want to work hard, do the best that I can do and be the best version of myself,' and I think that translates pretty quickly." Once the season began, Jank realized quickly that D1 ball is an all-day, everyday thing. "You don't really get much free time. Even over the break we practiced for about six hours a day," she said, "and then we have film and treatment and weights, all of that stuff. When school is in session you have class, practice, tutors, mentors and then you have your homework and go to bed. In the morning you do it all over again. But I love basketball so much that it really doesn't seem like work to me. It's fun, and I'm doing what I love."