Tips for players looking to earn scholarships during the live period
Before beginning with this article, please let me explain my background, strictly for credibility reasons…I am a former Pac 12 basketball player who had scholarship offers from universities around the country including the Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and just about every…
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Continue ReadingBefore beginning with this article, please let me explain my background, strictly for credibility reasons…I am a former Pac 12 basketball player who had scholarship offers from universities around the country including the Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and just about every low and mid major conference. I played junior college basketball at the highest level ahead of playing at Arizona State University and, to finish my career, earned All-American status at the NAIA level.
In addition to my playing career, I have been evaluating high school talent since 2004. Through that time I have helped to place countless players at colleges and university across the country at just about every scholarship level. Currently, I am coaching at one of the perennial powerhouse programs at the NAIA Division-I level.
Do I know everything? Definitely not. In fact, each and everyday I am humbled by the things I learn from others, regardless of their age or experience. However, with my background, I feel I have a pretty solid feel on what it takes to be recruited.
Here are three major tips for players to focus on to help put yourself in position to raise your recruiting stock:
Play Hard and Defend
10 years ago playing hard was something that was necessary to get on the floor. Nowadays, coaches look at it as a skill. The term for it is ‘motor’. Coaches yearn for players that play with motors. Great intensity, great hustle, great effort, and great energy. If you can commit to playing hard and defending ALL the time (not when it’s convenient) then you are ahead of the curb.
Play Unselfishly
A common mistake is made among players and parents as many of them think players need to score in order to showcase their abilities. That is false and, a lot of times, can lead to coaches striking your name off their list if they have you on their radar. Coaches aren’t looking for the most talented players on the floor. Coaches are looking for guys who have skills, mindsets, and abilities that translate to the next level. Your talent level will show, regardless, and-if you play the right way-you will end up at the level you are suppose to be at.
Play to Win
The more you win, the longer you play. The longer you play, the less competition there is for coaches. Think about it mathematically: If there are 64 teams in a three game guarantee tournament then there are 16 pools with 4 teams. Each team plays three pool play games which means, over the course of the first two days there are 96 separate games at that age level. Normally the top two seeds in each pool advance sending 32 teams to the tournament. That leaves 16 first round games and 8 second round games. College coaches must pick and choose where they want to go and, chances are, unless you are a key guy on their radar already then they won’t be watching you. However, if you get to the elite eight then there are only four games to watch so the college coaches are less spread. In the final four coaches will be split between two games. In the championship, everyone will be watch. The further you go, the better chances you have to get seen. Plus, EVERY COACH WANTS A WINNER! It’s an innate quality.
Good luck to each and every player during these last two weeks of the live period!