Lotte Sant

Growing up in the Netherlands, basketball was everything to me. I had the honor of representing my country on the National Team, competing at multiple European Championships and winning a National Championship the year before I made the move to the United States.

My recruitment story started in an unexpected way: after a European Championship, someone posted a highlight video of my play. That's when college coaches began reaching out, mostly through Facebook and email. Among all the schools that contacted me, Louisiana Tech University stood out. They were the most consistent in staying in touch, and when I visited campus, I just had a great feeling about it. Sometimes you just know.

The paperwork and visa process was definitely challenging, and adjusting to being so far from home wasn't easy. But I was determined to chase this dream.

From 2019 to 2023, I gave everything I had to Louisiana Tech. The competition at the college level was something I had to get used to, but that's exactly what makes you better. Being able to spend so much time on the court, getting shots up whenever I wanted, was valuable for my development. One of my proudest moments was becoming regular season champions with my team. Unfortunately, we couldn't win the conference tournament to go dancing in March Madness, but the journey taught me so much.

By the time I graduated, I had carved out my place in program history, finishing 6th all-time at Louisiana Tech for career three-pointers made. Academically, I graduated magna cum laude with a 3.87 GPA, something I'm incredibly proud of. Beyond basketball, I served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as head of the Community Service committee, which allowed me to give back to the community that welcomed me.

Looking back, it's the people who made this journey so special. Teammates who became lifelong friends. Families who opened their homes and treated me like their own, even though I was an ocean away from mine. I came to Louisiana Tech to play basketball, but I left with so much more, a degree I'm proud of, memories I'll never forget, and a version of myself I didn't know I could become.