INFORMATION IS KING: THE RECRUITING PROCESS HAS CHANGED, AND FAMILIES BETTER WAKE UP!
There has never been a time in recent years when understanding the importance of preparation has been more critical. If a player doesn’t understand what lies ahead, they are already putting themselves behind.
I’ve witnessed some real mistakes by players this fall. Unfortunately, some of those decisions may come back to haunt them in the most unforgiving way.
I’ve been telling players as often as possible: AAU CAN NO LONGER SAVE YOU!
The recruiting process no longer revolves around AAU basketball for most high school players. Today’s college landscape is dominated by the transfer portal, JUCO players and international talent. That puts tremendous pressure on families and players to make informed decisions.
The days of thinking recruiting happens during your junior or senior year are OVER. If a player wants to be recruited at the Division I level, they need to establish their presence long before becoming an upperclassman.
Look at schools like Fairfield and Le Moyne now have hundred and thousands dollars of NIL. Even mid-major programs now have NIL resources available. If they’re going to invest in a high school player, they want someone who can contribute NOW, not three years from now.
That’s a difficult concept for many families to understand. Quite honestly, I think it will take a few more years before parents and players fully adjust to the new reality.
THE MISTAKES ARE ADDING UP
Some of the decision-making by players today is shocking.
Players choose AAU programs because of the brand name. They worry more about winning than showcasing their individual abilities. They believe being a role player on a big-name AAU team is better than being a major contributor somewhere else.
I disagree.
Being a role player on an AAU team can be just as damaging to development and recruiting opportunities as playing in an uncompetitive high school environment.
And let’s talk about the gap between Division I and Division III recruiting. I’ve never seen it this wide. Players who might have been considered Division I prospects just a few years ago are now finding themselves looking at Division II and Division III opportunities.
The landscape has changed. Pretending otherwise doesn’t help anybody.
FOUR WEEKS THAT CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING
We are now four weeks away from the start of the high school season.
There will be players living in the gym every day. There will be players doing everything possible to prepare. And then there will be players who simply do what they can.
Unfortunately, that old formula is officially outdated.
If Division I is your goal, being good enough is no longer good enough. Improvement alone isn’t enough. Your improvement must be DYNAMIC. You must separate yourself. You must become memorable.
Recently, I started putting together my early Bird D1 List — THE GOLD STANDARD.
The number of players who have fallen off that list is shocking. Not necessarily because they aren’t good players, but because the recruiting landscape has changed so dramatically.
Today’s Division I prospects need to establish themselves early. Eighth grade, ninth grade and tenth grade have become incredibly important years.
That’s a tall order, but it’s the reality.
And here’s something that bothers me: Coaches and trainers continue telling families that they have time.
THERE IS NO BIGGER LIE IN THE RECRUITING PROCESS FOR A PLAYER WHO HAS DIVISION I ASPIRATIONS.
THE GOOD NEWS
Not every player needs to play Division I basketball.
There are some outstanding academic institutions outside Division I that offer tremendous educational and basketball opportunities. For many players, those schools will be a perfect fit.
Those doors are still open. And that’s important to understand.
But families need to understand the difference between having options and waiting too long to create them.
THE FINAL FOUR WEEKS
The next four weeks are going to determine futures, whether players and parents realize it or not.
December and January have become two of the most important months of the entire year for high school basketball players. This is when players must show what all their preparation has produced.
By the time coaches get to July and August, for many high school players, it’s already a wrap.
I don’t say this to scare anybody. I say it because families deserve the truth.
The recruiting process has changed. The competition has changed. The opportunities have changed.
Players who understand that will have an advantage. Those who continue operating under yesterday’s rules are going to be disappointed.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:
INFORMATION IS KING!
And it’s time players and parents started acting like they understand it.
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