Real Life Recruiting Stories
I write this to inform coaches, parents, and players, not to complain or criticize, as I am very happy with the group that we have this season. Nevertheless, these are some behaviors and actions that cost players scholarships this spring. Maybe these players found better opportunities elsewhere, but I know at least two have not signed yet.
- Opting not to attend an open tryout.
- Having a recruiting profile without video.
- A coach not sending video.
- A player unable to find video.
- Not coming to campus on any of three different opportunities to work out.
- Not responding to text messages in a timely manner.
- Unwillingness to pay the school's application fee.
Moral of the story, if you are interested in playing college basketball, you should have video ready to send to a coach or already posted online somewhere for a coach to find. When a coach contacts you, if you are interested, you should respond; if you are busy, explain that to the coach. Trust me, I do not text recruits daily, often not even weekly. The lack of response to which I am referring occurred late in spring when decisions needed to be made. If you are interested, go to a tryout, show up for a work out when asked (also, be in shape; last summer, a coach asked if a player could work out as a try out. I said yes. The player did not last 15 minutes; she asked for a water break during our warmup. That's just not someone who understands what it takes or who wants to play college basketball).I will admit wholeheartedly that I have at least one player on the team who primarily is on scholarship because she responded quickly to every message and completed every task almost immediately. She showed that she wanted to be here: she completed applications, set up accounts, etc. She took responsibility for herself and showed initiative. Ultimately, that type of player is more likely to succeed in my situation than a player who has to be told repeatedly to do something or needs her coach or her mother to do something for her.