High school athletes face tough college choice during pandemic

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — High school athletes nationwide are making decisions on which college best suits them.

Typically, when weighing the pros and cons of each university, the campus tour sets a foundation for what campus life is truly about, but for Jack Connolley, a senior power forward, visiting colleges has come to a halt due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. 

Connolley plays for Croton Harmon, which is located in Westchester County. He has grabbed the attention of five different college coaches. Connolley has interest from SUNY Fredonia, Keystone College, Mitchell College, Pratt Institute and The College of Mount Saint Vincent.

Choosing which campus fits him the most can be hard without physically being there, Connolley said. He is grateful for virtual tours, but he thinks the COVID-19 virus has taken part of the college-search experience away from him. 

“ I always hear people say, ‘you’ll know what college you want to go to,’ just like the feel of when you get there. So that experience is taken away for me,” Connolley said. 

With the help of coaches reaching out to Connolley, it has made him feel a little bit more comfortable making his final decision. He plans on making his commitment by late April.