One More Season: Sara Santimaw on Recruiting, Resilience, and Betting on Herself

Sara Santimaw has already made the decision that keeps most recruits up at night. The Taft School senior from Halifax has committed to St. Lawrence, and she still has a full season ahead of her.

Her road to that commitment ran through Halifax, the Bay State Jags, Kia Nurse EYBL, Team Northeast, Atlantic Academy and now Taft, and she's a dual citizen (Canadian/American). Prep Girls Hoops has called her a premier two-way wing who has grown physically and reads the game faster. She was also overlooked for years, and she says so plainly.

The Maple Minute caught up with Santimaw about the college search, the miles behind her, what's changed in her game, and the stretch when she wondered if she was good enough.

You committed to St. Lawrence with a full season at Taft still ahead. What made the Saints the right fit, and what was the moment you knew?

I don't think there was one big moment—it was more that everything started falling into place. My mum and I visited probably 25 schools across D1 and D3, and along the way, three things really shaped my decision: the NCAA "Five-for-Five" rule, understanding what the different divisions actually offer, and figuring out what I wanted from college beyond basketball.

Recruiting was way more complicated than I expected! For the Class of 2027 (my class), the Five-for-Five and transfer portal added another layer of uncertainty. When coaches have the option of keeping experienced, proven players for another year, it can feel harder to get your foot in the door as a high school recruit. And honestly, I get it!

The biggest eye-opener was realizing D1 isn't automatically the goal. I thought it was at first, but the divisions aren't just about skill. They come with different rules, financial realities, cultures and academic-athletic time commitments—and those things shape your whole college experience. Also, being recruited by a school is exciting, but it doesn't automatically mean you can afford to go.

So ultimately I want to be a dentist and I know how much work that will take for me academically. I wanted competitive basketball alongside the time and support to pursue that goal. That's where St. Lawrence really stood out. SLU was the perfect sweet spot: competitive basketball, driven teammates, coaches I loved and strong academics. The campus also has this beautiful Ivy League feel that reminded me of Taft. I could picture myself being challenged in the classroom and on the court, while still having time to enjoy everything else college offers. After visiting that many schools, you just start to know when somewhere is different.

You've played for the Bay State Jags, Kia Nurse EYBL, Team Northeast, Atlantic Academy and now Taft, and you're a dual citizen. How did that path shape you as a player and a person?

It's honestly been a pretty crazy journey when I look back at it. Growing up in Halifax, I don't think I really understood how many opportunities basketball could give me. I've been lucky enough to play with and against some incredible players, travel all over, and have a lot of coaches who pushed me in different ways.

Every team also taught me something different. Playing US prep and AAU opened my eyes to the level of competition out there. You go from being one of the best players where you're from to playing against girls who are just as good and usually better than you, every single game. It humbles you pretty quickly.

Coming to Taft was probably the biggest adjustment, though. Moving away from home, living at school, balancing academics and athletics, and having to figure things out on my own made me grow up a lot. I think the biggest thing I've learned is how to adapt. I've had to find my place on new teams, make new friends, and prove myself in new environments. It's made me more independent and confident, not just as a basketball player but as a person too.

Prep Girls Hoops called you a premier two-way wing who's grown physically and reads the game faster. What changed most in the last year, and what did it take to get there?

The biggest changes have definitely been in my confidence, my technical understanding of the game, and truly buying into the fact that doing the little things matter as much as putting up the numbers. I'm thinking more through the mechanics of the game instead of just reacting to what's happening. I've learned when to attack, when to slow things down, how to read defenders, and how to make an impact beyond scoring.

I've also gotten stronger, which has made a huge difference when I'm playing against bigger, more physical girls. I still have a lot to work on and I'm always learning what I need to do to keep becoming a more complete player.

You posted "one more season to get it done" after your commitment. What does "done" look like at Taft, and does being committed feel like pressure off or pressure on?

Honestly, a little bit of both. Getting committed is definitely a massive relief. Recruiting is exciting, but it's super stressful and there's so much uncertainty.

It's nice to know where I'm going and be able to enjoy my senior year without constantly worrying about what's next but I'm definitely not treating this season like a victory lap.

When I said "one more season to get it done," I mean that I want us to accomplish something special at Taft.

Last year we made it to the semis for the first time in something like 8 years but I want to win a NEPSAC championship. I want to leave knowing I gave everything I had to the team and the school that's given me so much.

In your AAU farewell, you wrote about setbacks, injuries, and moments when you questioned everything. What was the hardest stretch, and what did it teach you that basketball alone couldn't?

Honestly, I think one of the hardest things was feeling overlooked back home for so long. I would watch my teammates getting really great opportunities and recognition and I was happy for them but I couldn't help wondering why I wasn't getting those same looks.

I never made a provincial team. I was never on a national watch list. And when you're young and working just as hard as everyone else, it's really easy to start thinking that maybe you're just not as good. That was probably the hardest part for me because when you're young you assume the adults making those decisions are always going to get it right.

Things started changing when I realized that this whole process isn't always just about how good you are and I can't control any of that. I set my sights higher and got the opportunity to play at Taft in one of the most competitive prep circuits in the US. It introduced me to new coaches and people who had never heard of me.

They just watched me play.

All of a sudden I was hearing things I'd spent years hoping to hear. That I was a really good player. That I had a ton of potential. That I could compete at a high level. Having that kind of honest feedback, without all the other stuff that can sometimes come with youth sports, completely changed my confidence.

I also know I'm not the only player who's experienced this and there are so many talented girls who don't always get the recognition they deserve early on. So if there's one thing I'd want younger players to take from my experience, it's please don't let someone else's opinion of you become your opinion of yourself. Not making a team or a list doesn't mean you're not good enough. Sometimes you just need a different opportunity, a different coach, or someone who's willing to see what you can become instead of what you haven't accomplished yet.

I spent way too much time questioning myself because of things I couldn't control. Once I let that go and started believing in myself, everything changed. And honestly, I think that's been one of the biggest lessons basketball has ever taught me.

The Last Word

Santimaw's story doesn't fit the usual recruiting storyline. She visited about 25 schools, learned that D1 wasn't automatically the goal, and picked the place that fit the dentist she wants to become as well as the player she is. Along the way she moved away from Halifax, adapted to new teams and new rooms, and kept getting better.

The most striking part is how she got here. Years of wondering why the looks weren't coming, no provincial team, no national watch list, and then a new setting where coaches who had never heard of her simply watched her play. She says that changed everything.

Now the recruiting stress is behind her, and she's not coasting. Taft reached the semis last year for the first time in something like eight years, and Santimaw wants the NEPSAC championship. One more season, and she's planning to leave everything she has on the floor.