Beyond The Game More Stories | Featuring Shanay Howard (Former D1 Basketball Player at Fairleigh Dickinson and Eligibility Consultant) Talent can get a coach’s attention — but understanding the academic side of college athletics can determine whether you ever get the opportunity to step on the field or court. On this episode of Beyond The Game More Stories, Duane Lightfoot Jr. sits down with Shanay Howard, M.Ed., Ed.S., a licensed school counselor, educational consultant, and NCAA eligibility and reclassification specialist who has spent more than 15 years helping students and student-athletes navigate academics, scholarships, eligibility, and the path to college. This is an important conversation for student-athletes, parents, coaches, counselors, and anyone trying to understand the college recruiting process. IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: -What NCAA eligibility actually means — and why families need to understand it long before senior year -The difference between being talented enough to play college sports and actually being academically eligible to compete -Why a student can meet high school graduation requirements but still have issues with NCAA eligibility -Understanding transcripts, NCAA-approved core courses, core-course GPA, and why every class matters -Some of the common eligibility mistakes Shanay sees families make — and how many of them can be prevented with proper planning -Why student-athletes and parents should start thinking about academics and eligibility earlier than they may realize -Reclassification — what it means, why athletes consider it, and why families need to understand the academic implications before making the decision -The role parents should play in helping their student-athlete navigate recruiting, academics, and eligibility -Why communication between athletes, parents, coaches, counselors, and schools is so important -Scholarships and understanding that opportunities can come from more than athletic ability alone -Helping young athletes look beyond simply saying, “I want to play Division I,” and finding the academic and athletic opportunity that truly fits them -Why preparing for college athletics means preparing for life beyond athletics as well -Shanay’s passion for helping student-athletes achieve their dreams both on and off the field Whether your athlete is already being recruited or is just beginning to dream about playing at the next level, this conversation is a reminder that you can't wait until an opportunity arrives to start preparing for it. Parents and athletes: don't assume you know — educate yourself, ask questions, and start planning early. WATCH THE FULL EPISODE NOW! If this conversation helped you: LIKE the videoCOMMENT with your biggest takeaway or a question you wish you had known to ask earlierSUBSCRIBE to Beyond The Game More Stories and turn on notificationsSHARE this episode with a student-athlete, parent, coach, counselor, or teammate who needs this informationFOLLOW Beyond The Game More Stories on your favorite podcast platform CONNECT WITH SHANAY HOWARD Follow Shanay on Instagram (@Shanay.Y.Howard) and connect with her on LinkedIn for more information and education surrounding NCAA eligibility, reclassification, academic planning, and the student-athlete journey. Visit BTGMS.com for more episodes and information. #BeyondTheGameMoreStories #ShanayHoward #NCAAEligibility #NCAAEligibilityCenter #StudentAthlete #CollegeRecruiting #CollegeAthletics #Reclassification #NCAARecruiting #AthleticScholarships #CollegeScholarships #StudentAthleteLife #ParentsOfAthletes #YouthSports #HighSchoolAthlete #CollegeBoundAthlete #AcademicEligibility #RecruitingProcess #StudentAthleteDevelopment #BeyondTheGame
