THERE IS NO SURPRISE WHAT PLAYERS WILL BE READY FOR COLLEGE NEXT!!

This time of year more than ever coaches wonder and ask if the kids they recruited are ready to play as freshman in college. That’s because things in the world of basketball has changed. We now live in the “NOW” era of College Basketball. The days of players learning on the job are no longer a option for many. These days as in the past, that is reserved for the 6’4″ players, the very special shooters. These days coaches do not have the luxury of waiting for a player to develop. It also the reason so many players are in the transfer portal. Some are their because they were asked to leave and some saw the writing on the wall and hit the road. Well the truth of the matter is most of the time, if you really paying attention. You know or at least I know when a young lady is going to make a impact or began that long struggle.

When a kid arrives on a college campus, it’s important for them to show up prepared. That’s because if a player is not in the rotation as a freshman. Their odds of playing major minutes in their career shrinks dramatically. Playing early in one’s career creates confidence in both the players and the coaching staff. So arriving prepared is very important. The problem is that most players who enter college these days are unprepared. It’s not the level of play (every level is a challenge), it’s not being misevaluated, it’s not injury that gets a player off to bad start in college. It’s lack of understanding and yes their work ethic. If there is one major reason college coaches are living in the portal. It’s because kids who have been in college are less work and more prepared. Meanwhile high school kids are hit and miss because the NCAA only allows a college coach to see what they see… not what they need to see and know.

There are kids, I can flat out tell you right now that will not play in college next season. How do I know you ask? It’s simple, because history does not lie. I know their history, they are few D1 players in New Jersey for example, I don’t know their real history. There is no kid in the Shore whose history and background I don’t know. Folks their are not a whole lot surprises. Their past is the biggest predictor of the future. Every year I sit with a friend of mind and we make a list of who will have break out seasons in high school and who will be a disappointment. We make a list of who is going to play in college and who is not. We are right about 95% of the time. For example we both predicted Eli and Kayden Clarke would be stars at a Lemoyne University as a freshman. We knew that while many were trying to minimize her talent. They could not minimize their proper work ethic and ability to prepare properly for the next level. Meanwhile last year a player everyone said was going to be a star went to a high profile school and rode the bench and is now in the portal. We both predicted that one as well. How do you know a kid will play or not at the next level? Start with the high school they attend

Are they in competitive practices daily, if not they will get stats. They become box score junkies, not improve and trick you, if your not careful.
Does their school have a history of players being successful at the next level? They is a reason why kids from certain programs don’t play. It’s not a mistake, it goes to their culture and inner circle.
Does their school have a history of over achieving or underachieving players? Was that kid predicted to be a star become a good player not great. Become 2nd team instead of 1st Team. Do the stats drop against better or equal competition.

Next here are the things you need to ask about that player off to college this fall!!

Did that kid train August prior to their senior year or was that vacation time (this is beyond big)
Did that kid have a strong fall prior to the start their senior year
Did that kid meet expectations in their senior or did they and the team underachieve (never listen to their coach in this matter, they will spin it 100% of the time…GO TO THE FILM)
WHAT IS THEIR IMPROVEMENT CURVE…. ALWAYS THE MEASURING STICK

Now many WILL try to run from these factors. But newsflash, history proves they cannot and in 90% of the cases. There is no coming back from these factors. A kid either handled their business or they didn’t. But it’s the spring after a players senior year, where the picture gets clear. Remember when a player finishes their senior year and has earned that scholarship. They rightfully feel they earned a vacation, a break, time with friends. Four hours are no longer the norm but the exception in the gym. Now it becomes 90 mins. Competitive play now becomes who is in the gym, not who cares who is in the gym. The ego is alive and well. Then it becomes about drilling, no 1 v 1…no 2 vs 2…no 3 v 3 … just 5 v 5 and CONSTANT drilling and drilling. Now it becomes about conditioning and weight training. What they do not understand every high school kid off to college are doing this….EVERYONE EXCEPT THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO COLLEGE PREPARED. The ones who watch the tape, the ones who do target training, the ones who understand the conditioning matters but on court conditioning matters most. The ones who understand the weight training is a must. But understand that weight training has to personal now. The ones who get in the gym vs any level of player to get that controlled competitive environment work in. The ones that work on the shooting but understand to practice shooting from the spots that will shoot from in college. These things all go to….PREPARATION, BUT CORRECTLY.

In a month or so most D1 players will be off to college. They will be surprised to see other freshman who play their position, some who are more prepared. Underclassmen who are seasoned and fighting to earn more time than a year ago. Some kids understand this and are going to be prepared but most will not be. MADISON KOCIS, for example is getting totally prepared. She is maybe the most prepared senior off to college right now. Hopefully some other kids will see the big picture and step it up the next few weeks. But what every kid in high school on to college next year must understand. Every kid currently in college, since their season end, has been training at a high level with your future coaches. They are improving since the season ended. Now the question to every high school kid is this, HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS? High School players must understand the coaching and scouting and game and practice planning in college is light years ahead of anything their have seen in high school… so I wish all the seniors good luck but you may want to think about stepping it up and understand their is time but the truth of the matter is…YOU GOT A PROBLEM AND A BIG GAP TO FILL!