The Next Level
Every season is full of transfers at almost every level of college basketball. Coaches at the college level may gamble on a kid that might not have the game for their level by taking the best of what is left at that position. Some players are given higher rankings and value than what they really are and that is also part of the problem. Some recruits never even visit a campus before they commit to a college program. These are all problems as to why we have such a high transfer rate over the last few years in the college basketball world.
Transferring has been around since the beginning of basketball. Medical issues, homesickness, playing time and just plain not getting along with teammates were some and still are some of the causes. I think today the main cause is not finding the right fit. You, as a recruit, are making a decision on where you are going to spend the next four years of your life, unless you are a top-20 recruit nationally and have a future in the NBA. For the rest of you that are probably not going to get drafted, you need to make this decision like a person would make out of college with picking the right company to work for.
Some things to consider before choosing a school. Location has to be one of the biggest factors in this decision. Are you willing to be 500 miles from home? Are you willing to be in a place away from home where you probably only know the coaching staff at said university and a few of the players? Is it somewhere that you feel is going to have some of the same restaurants and extra-curricular activities that your own home town has? These are all good questions to ask yourself before you decide on a college.
Another key factor has to be the coaching staff. Is the staff you are picking going to be there for the next four years? Has the staff made you a priority during the recruiting process? Do they stay in contact with you on a daily basis? If the answer to any of those question are no then I would suggest taking a stronger look at other schools. Talking with the staff and understanding what kind of minutes may be available to work for at the next level is something to try and figure out. How well can you handle adversity when another player may end up getting the minutes that you were promised after you signed your letter of intent to play at this university? Understanding the plays that a team runs while watching games either at said college or on TV. Does the school have the major or even the classes of some of the things that you are interested in becoming after basketball is over? What kind of relationship do you have with the assistant coaches? They are the people that will be having the biggest daily impact on you when you arrive on campus and are getting adjusted to the college basketball life.
These are all questions a recruit should ask themselves before signing any piece paper binding you to a University.