Academics

Anyone who has played collegiate athletics will tell you there is no comparison between high school and college from a competition standpoint but also academics.  Balancing athletics and academics can become a rather tough task especially during the season.  Going to class is half the battle but going to class, paying attention, and taking notes are what separates the average student-athlete and the above average student-athlete.  A coach once told me, "the player who works hard in the classroom is the same kid that works hard on the field."
It took me four semesters to really grasp this idea.  Every player can work hard when coach is watching although the guys that you want behind you are guys that you can trust.  The teammates that can be trusted are the guys who are working hard when no one is looking or when they don't have to.  Although it might seem as though school is second to athletics, in reality it is always first.  There will be a time that your athletic career will come to an end, whether you get the chance to play professionally or not, you will have to do something other than play a sport.