Junior Niya Danfort, a starter for the Pattonville varsity girls’ basketball team, is excited about the start of the winter season. But for her, thinking about the future of playing basketball has already started.

Sept. 1 marked the day Division I colleges could officially contact the junior class to begin recruiting student-athletes to play at their schools.

Student-athletes at Pattonville are anxious for the new opportunities to come.

“It’s so exciting, it’s a new experience, and it’s good to know that colleges are interested in you and want you to play for them,” Danfort said.

Indiana State University and Southeast Missouri State are both interested in Danfort.

There are several stand-out athletes on Pirates sports teams that are attracting college scouts’ interest.

For Kendall Battle, a soccer and field hockey player, this day marks relief.

She has been reaching out to schools she is interested in letting them know she wants to play for them.

“Today being the first day college coaches are able to communicate with me first makes the process easier.”

Arizona State University, the University of Cincinnati, Cleveland State University, and many more are all interested in Battle.

She also said that more than 40 schools are looking at her as a possible addition to their rosters.

Past athletes have moved on from Pattonville to the Division I level. Marquis Hayes, a 2017 graduate, is now playing football at Oklahoma University, and Richard Henderson (2017) is on the basketball roster at Austin Peay University.