There are about 400,000 female high school basketball players, & approximately 3-5% play any level College Women’s Basketball. (NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, NJCAA). There are additional opportunities at the NCCAA level as well. Boys who get recruited to play college level are about 3%.
If you have a college reaching out to you – be grateful, stay humble, & treat all options with the same level of respect & attention.
PROCESS
Warning – do not chase the hype! Explore each one to find your fit. Your journey is yours!
- First and foremost, relationship building is essential. Start by reaching out to colleges and universities that you desire to attend. Include in your well written introduction letter, a highlight video or two. *Do not skip this step! A note on videos: College coaches advised NOT to put music on highlights. They also don’t want to see foul shots and players lacing up their sneakers — no time for it.
- Secondly, participating in the college’s elite camp on or about 9th or 10th grade is another way to visit the school and showcase your skills while competing with other potential athletes.
- Third, I believe in a four leg approach to development: weight training, skills training, game play and study. If you love skills but don’t play many games or play games too much and skip getting stronger and faster in the weight room, it will not work out for you. The competition is great. Do not skip any part of the process.
- Next, involvement in AAU basketball is essential in today’s culture. Yes they all charge exorbitant fees and seasons can drag on and on, but find a good one, with a respectable reputation, and dive in by 7th or 8th grade. Before that, we played and supported our 3-7th grade feeder program often beating multiple AAU programs and for a fraction of the cost. Keep these youth games in perspective and realize no one ever saw a 4th grade banner hanging from a gym ceiling. It’s about development, not trophies or banners.
- Take the time to visit the college in person. I knew of one athlete that took an offer because his family were sports fan of this particular university. After being at the school one year, it was completely different and a horrible fit.
- When you visit, explore the area of academic studies (talk to professors department heads), and stick to your academic goals when picking a college. Academics will ultimately outlast your basketball. You’re a student-athlete, in that order. Visit the admissions office as they will help you wrap your head around real costs. Spend time at the sport facilities and talking with coaches, even current players. Looking people in the eye at a sit down meeting is worth the drive alone.
- College coaches watch parents. Parents don’t intentionally sabotage their kids. But there are some red flags coaches see during the recruiting process. Are you a helicopter parent, complaining about officials or coaching your athlete from the sideline? Stop it. Also, don’t talk playing time up front, do not bad mouth previous coaches, and do not write emails on behalf of your athlete. They want to know if your athlete really wants to be there, not you. Instead be gracious, polite, thankful, respectful and let your athlete talk.
- Finally, their are many recruiting sales services out there. Stay away from them. They fall under the “don’t chase the hype” advice. I know way too many that have fallen for the trap and ended with no real return on the pricey investment.
Some things are out of your control. You may not be tall enough. You may have good skills, or at that given time, they simply don’t have room on their roster. There are things you can control such as relationship building, good grades, coachability and having a respectable skill set. These are all areas you can work.
PATIENCE
Someone once said, “Patience is power. Patience is not an absence of action; rather it is “timing” it waits on the right time to act, for the right principles and in the right way.” You’ll need patience through the recruiting process. It may only take one game watched by one coach that can spike interest in your game, but there is more to actually sealing the deal.
As coaches reach out to you be grateful, listen, ask questions, be patient and stay humble. There are little nuggets to be gained from every conversation. Do not overlook the ones that are first to the recruiting process. They saw something in you before anyone else did. Appreciate a personal visit if you get one. It demonstrates a level of care from the head coach. When you get close to school visits and an offer, know that there is a coach who authentically appreciates your skills and what you bring beyond what you can do on the court! They believe in you and back it up. You’ll know it!
SUMMARY
In your journey exercise patience, pray for wisdom, keep working your plan, persevere through challenges and training. Never forget that people matter (the naysayers, those you loved, those who encouraged your journey, even the manipulators). They all helped fuel you!
It is an honor and it’s hard work to play at the next level. The work doesn’t stop when you do get your scholarship. Enjoy!
David is a father, husband, business owner, and ministry leader. He is Founder and Director of a Hope 2 Offer, an Iowa non-profit, focused on counseling and public speaking and a Basketball Skills Development Instructor, since 1994.
Unmasked with David Charleston 