Nothing is scarier than going from playing high school sports to playing the same sport when you go to college. College sports are played at a completely different pace than high school sports. It's almost like it's a whole different game.

Recruiting visits can be a pretty intimidating time when you go to your top schools. You're meeting people who could be your future coaches and teammates for the very first time. It can even be nerve-racking because you don't want to be known as that "annoying freshman."

Whatever people tell you won't prepare you for the huge changes you are about to make in your life.

First of all, every game is played at a faster pace. College athletes are expected to be in much better shape than high school athletes. Games get more intense, and you have to be able to keep up with your teammates and opponents.

Second, you make automatic friends. Your new teammates love the sport you are playing just as much as you do so it makes it easy to find those few that you'll get super-close to. And trust me, you will get super-close with them. You literally spend every day with them at practice, games, team dinners. Eventually you'll start to see them more than you see your roommate(s).

Third, you learn so much more when you play a sport in college. Every coach is different, and your college coaches may know a little bit more than your high school coach. (This isn't a dig at high school coaches. We know you teach us everything you know.) Also, you grow up playing on a junior varsity and varsity team with one or two coaches, new coaches can give you a whole different perspective on the game.

Finally, playing a sport in college gives you a lot to do. During my freshman year of college, I hated that time before basketball season started and after the season ended. I didn't know what to do with all of my free time. Going to practice and games is part of your routine and continuing that after high school will make you feel more comfortable transitioning to college.

Every day people tell me that college was the best four years of their lives. After my first year, I can already tell I will be saying that in the future and playing a sport will be the number one reason why I loved it so much. It may not be the same as high school, but things change and that can be a good thing.

Thank you to all of my high school coaches, you got me where I am today!