Commitment Profile
Kaitlyn McCarthy stays in-state with Blue Devils
by
Ali Jones, 16 September 2014
| Share: |  |
|  | |
|
|
When thinking about colleges, Kaitlyn McCarthy, the top-ranked senior of the Class of 2015, shortlisted four of the country's outstanding schools: Florida, North Carolina, Stanford and Duke.
After visiting campuses, she narrowed her list to two - Duke and Florida.
"It was a tough decision, both schools are really great," said the blue chip recruit. With lots of family in the area, including a sister and brother-in-law expecting twins in the fall, location dictated her outcome.
"I wanted to be closer to my family, so that made the decision easier," she said.
Home is Cary, North Carolina, a 20-minute drive to Durham, flagship campus of Duke University, where McCarthy will enter in Fall 2015.
She joins fellow blue chips Jessica Ho and Ellyse Hamlin in what may be this year's top women's recruiting class.
"We definitely have a shot at a championship," McCarthy said.
While the 5-foot-9 senior has lofty athletic aspirations for herself and her team, she also emphasized the importance of the academic experience.
The Laurel Springs student has been homeschooled since sixth grade, sacrificing traditional school and its social aspects so she could fully train and compete as a top-flight tennis player.
"I love homeschooling, but I'm ready for a new phase in my life," McCarthy said.
Because she had enough credits to reclassify as a senior, she jumped up a grade.
"I'm really excited to get back in to the classroom," she said. "It hit me when I sat in on some classes during my college visits."
