Jennie Rintala played four years of Division I basketball at South Dakota State and has played professionally for 13 years across Australia, Germany and Luxembourg. In a recent Platform webinar, she sat down with Miguel Da Silva to talk through the whole pathway, including the parts that never make it onto social media.
Recruited for how she acted on the bench
Jennie started playing at ten and spent years feeling like she was catching up. College basketball was not on her radar. Her goal at her Minnesota high school was to make the varsity team. Coaches and people around her started telling her she had potential, and she was a ninth grader on a varsity roster, which helped her stand out at summer tournaments in front of college scouts.
She points to one game in particular. She played badly, went to the bench, and decided to be the best teammate on it. She cheered the whole way through. Looking back, she believes that is how she got recruited, because coaches were watching who she was as well as how she played.
Her reason for chasing a scholarship was practical. She wanted to go to college, did not think her parents could afford it, and used basketball as her platform. Her parents sacrificed to get her to tournaments across the country every summer.
Twelve hours from graduation to the first class
Jennie graduated high school on a Sunday evening and had a class in South Dakota at 9:30 the next morning. Her program required summer classes to lighten the course load during the season, so she was thrown in straight away. In her first year she wanted to quit. Her parents asked her to finish the year first. The team won its conference tournament and reached the NCAA Tournament, losing to Baylor and missing the Sweet 16 by two points. That was enough to make her want to do it again. South Dakota State went on to win the conference tournament all four years she played, and she was named Summit League Tournament MVP in her senior year.
A barn, middle seats and 6AM sessions
Jennie describes preseason training at 6AM, sending in pulse readings, two or three sessions a day on top of coursework, and rushing to the dining hall before it closed. Her first home gym was an old facility the team called the barn, with a dusty wooden floor. The team flew economy, middle seats included. She says being part of the move to better facilities made her appreciate them more.
Miguel added that facilities vary a lot between programs. Some athletes start at a junior college, NAIA, Division II or Division III school and work their way up, so researching the coaches, culture and facilities of each program matters.
What the athletes who thrive have in common
In her work in the education space, Jennie sees the same traits in athletes who do well. They are organised, they care about school as well as basketball, they look people in the eye, ask questions and welcome newcomers. Miguel described his own approach at a junior college in Kansas: arriving early, staying late, doing extra sessions, eating well and choosing sleep before games. He finished that year with a 4.0 GPA and All-American honours.
Going pro without a plan
Playing professionally was never Jennie's goal. Many of her senior teammates said they were done with basketball. She felt she had more left. In a local rec league with former college players, she kept hearing that people were playing overseas. Then her former college coach emailed her about a club in Western Australia whose coach knew the U.S. college system. Six months after graduating and getting married, she and her husband moved to Western Australia. She had no agent and found the change in resources hard, from having athletic trainers on hand to taping her own ankles. She still plays in Australia and now works as a coach, mentor and Pathways Advisor.
Her advice to high school athletes
Jennie says to do your research. Every college roster and coaching staff is public, so you can see where players came from and what they have done. She also says to say your goal out loud to people you trust, because it makes it real, and to find people who have been through the process. Her biggest lesson, in her words: "The only thing that's stopping you is you."
Miguel added that starting early matters. He did not know the academic requirements when he began the process at 19, which cost him a direct route into the NCAA.
Key Insights
Watch the full replay or book a free consultation with the Platform team to talk through your own pathway.
How do U.S. college coaches find basketball players?
Jennie was first noticed at summer tournaments in front of college scouts. She says coaches look at character and potential as well as ability, including how you act when you're sitting on the bench.
What is a day in the life of a Division I basketball player like?
Jennie describes two or three sessions a day on top of coursework, early morning training, and fitting in meals around a tight schedule. She says the reality is far more demanding than social media suggests.
Do you have to start at a Division I program?
No. Miguel explains that some athletes start at a junior college, NAIA, Division II or Division III program and work their way up. Facilities vary a lot between programs, so researching the coaches and culture matters.
Who pays for injuries and rehab in U.S. college sport?
Jennie says that for student-athletes the athletic department usually covers rehab and surgery. She used this when recovering from her ACL injury.
How does college basketball lead to a professional career?
Jennie did not plan to play professionally. Her first pro opportunity came through an email from her former college coach about a club in Western Australia, and she has played professionally for 13 years since.
What advice does Jennie give to high school athletes?
Research every program you are considering, talk to people who have been through the process, and start early.
