The Recruit-Me Athletic Scholarship Podcast with Brent Hanks · Brent Hanks

Epi 460 College Sports; A Worthy Goal

·15 min·1 clip

Parker's Northwestern recruiting class included players from seven different states, creating a national network for his family.

This episode outlines the personal and familial benefits of pursuing college athletics, hosted by recruiting expert and father of two college athletes, Brent Hanks. Hanks draws from his own experience as a college basketball manager and the journeys of his two sons to illustrate his points. The episode serves as a motivational resource for student-athletes and their families considering the recruiting process. Hanks details the college baseball career of his older son, Parker, who pitched for the NCAA Division I Northwestern Wildcats from 2018 to 2022. He notes Parker's recruiting class included players from seven different states, including Missouri, Texas, California, and Georgia. The family traveled extensively for games, visiting states like Arizona, Alabama, Florida, and California, and missed trips to Maryland and Rutgers only due to COVID-19. Hanks describes specific family gatherings tied to games, such as spending Easter 2019 in Ann Arbor with relatives and visiting an aunt in Rochester, Minnesota. His younger son, Sutton, is an outfielder for the NAIA Columbia Cougars, which recently completed a record 43-win season. Hanks' own experience involved being a manager for the Southwest Missouri State Bears basketball team under coach Charlie Spoonhour. A key insight is that the college sports experience extends beyond the athlete to enrich entire families through travel and community. Hanks argues the social bonds formed with teammates from diverse backgrounds can be as valuable as the athletic competition itself. He reveals that two of Parker's teammates later stood in his wedding, showing how these connections endure. The episode claims the shared daily grind of workouts, travel, and pressure creates lifelong relationships distinct from typical college friendships. Hanks contends that the skills developed—like teamwork, discipline, and performing under pressure—becate a significant advantage in the job market. He specifically advises student-athletes to highlight this experience on resumes and in interviews as a key differentiator. A surprising claim is that for many athletes, the most memorable moments occur off the field, on buses or at team dinners, rather than during games. Hanks points out that most seasons end with a loss, making the emotional bonds between teammates the more lasting takeaway. He acknowledges that most college athletes, including his son in the Big Ten, do not play in front of massive crowds or receive NIL money, shifting focus to less visible benefits. The episode suggests that the networking from sports can directly lead to job opportunities, as it did for both Hanks' nephew and his son Parker. The tone is conversational, motivational, and heavily anecdotal, drawing on personal family stories. The style is educational, offering a parent's perspective on the intangible rewards of college sports. This episode is ideal for parents and high school athletes seeking inspiration about the non-financial value of playing sports in college. Listeners primarily interested in the tactical steps of the recruiting process or scholarship negotiation might find the content too narrative and personal.

As heard by us

A personal case for seeing college sports as a family and life experience, not just a game result.

Brent Hanks treats college sports less like a scoreboard story and more like a family choice. He stays close to the lived details: his sons' baseball paths, the travel that came with those seasons, relatives in the stands, and the friendships and job contacts that followed.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a clear case for why the college sports grind can pay off beyond the field, the season, and the stress.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Recruit-Me Athletic Scholarship Podcast with Brent Hanks