“I would never recruit a player who yells at his teammates, or scores 30 and his team goes 10-10.”
– Dean Smith, UNC Basketball
5 Recruiting Tips for the Live Period:
- Show your Basketball IQ
- The best way to stand out is to do things that others don’t do. Very few young players know HOW to play the game of basketball. Making the right play all the time. Letting the game come to you. Anyone can shoot and string baskets together, but can you show that your game translates to the next level?
- Do the Little Things
- Most coaches are looking for players that are doing the little things that help their team win. Taking charges, being coachable, having positive energy on the bench, communicating on the floor, playing defense, and getting on loose balls. Again, there are only so many opportunities to stand out – take advantage of each one.
- Winning Matters
- College coaches want to see that you can contribute to winning basketball. Winning isn’t always in your control as a player in a team sport, but the further your team advances, the more opportunities you will have to get noticed. A college coach would rather recruit a role player on a great team than the leading scorer on a bad team, so do whatever your team needs you to do to win.
- Connect with as Many College Coaches as Possible
- The more interaction you can have on the front end the better.. Getting noticed and recruited is difficult and you must cast the widest possible net in as many ways as possible. In the end you need to play well, but give yourself the best possible chance by being relentless on the front end to get your name out there.
- Have Fun and Trust the Work
- The Live Period Games are just a test that shows how much you have studied. If you have done the work on the front end, then relax and have fun. Often players end up playing worse because they put too much pressure on themselves. Trust your work and win games. The rest will work out in the end.
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