Jackson Rhodes - Founder & CEO
Founder and CEO of Elevate Recruiting. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, Jackson has competed at the NCAA Division II and Division III levels, whilst pursuing a Business degree in Finance. Jackson is passionate about helping others along their recruiting journeys, having placed several others at the NCAA Division II and III levels. He understands the modern-day recruiting process and what is needed - especially as an international student, providing connections and guidance to turn college basketball dreams into reality. Jackson is committed to making the college path clearer and more accessible for talented athletes worldwide.
My Story
Since I was 15, I've always had the dream of playing college basketball in the United States. Coming from New Zealand, I quickly understood that chasing this dream of mine wasn't going to be easy. The recruiting process felt overwhelming, and getting noticed by American coaches seemed stressful without the right connections or exposure. Despite the challenges, I stayed committed to my goal. Over time, I cracked the code to getting noticed and recruited by college coaches as an athlete from New Zealand. I learnt how to market myself, and build genuine connections with coaches. Due to this, the recruiting process became smoother, opportunities started coming in, and I was in a position to choose from multiple schools out of high school. Now, I'm using everything I learned to help the next generation of athletes do the same. That's why I founded Elevate Recruiting, to give international athletes the support, knowledge, and network they need to navigate through the recruiting process and play college basketball in the United States.
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2022/2023 - West Virginia Wesleyan College (NCAA Division II)
2023/2024 - Earlham College (NCAA Division III)
2024 to Present - Waynesburg University (NCAA Division III)
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John Ibukunoluwa - Recruiting Advisor & Operations Manager
Born in Perth, Western Australia, John has competed at the NCAA Division II level for West Virginia Wesleyan College. John has recently graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration. Throughout his own journey navigating the U.S. college system, John understands what it takes to get recruited in the evolving landscape of college basketball. His experience, both as a player and mentor to others, has fueled his passion for helping aspiring athletes achieve their goals. Now, John is committed to guiding international players through the recruiting process with knowledge, strategy, and firsthand insight.
