More on D1 Options: How DO D2, D3 and NAIA Coaches Recruit?

When formulating a marketing plan for Junior, it is important to understand how college coaches find and sign players. Most of these schools do not have the money to scout a lot of High School, and AAU games. They have to be very selective. Because of this, the closer a kid lives and plays to a particular school, the more likely he/she will be scouted. How do you get the attention of coaches not in your area?

In a recent blog entry from The Crossover Movement, Brian McCormick gives insight on how these coaches recruit.

“…DII, DIII and NAIA coaches do not recruit at all the AAU Tournaments; they simply do not have the budget to get to every tournament. These coaches rely on a network of high school coaches, players contacting them, recruiting services, the local papers, the Internet, friends, colleagues and some AAU Tournaments/exposure events.”

Armed with this info, you should develop a plan that includes contacting schools that you are interested in and ensuring that they can find information such as newspaper/internet articles statistics and games schedules for your player. You might also locate some “Exposure” events like Cedar Valley’s College’s Unsigned Senior Showcase. You will need to contact Cedar Valley directly for event scheduling and registration. Also, if you can find events that college coaches will be attending, try to get your kid registered for the event and let the coach(es) know that “Junior” will be playing.

Here is one final note. Ensure that any event that you select is sanctioned by the NCAA! If the event is not sanctioned, NCAA college coaches cannot attend. Events of this type should cost less that $80, be suspicious and ask lots of questions if the cost is higher!

Here are example advertisements of this type of event. To find other events, try searching the web with keywords such as “basketball unsigned senior event”.

Houston Area: http://www.centercourtbasketball.com/grassroots_files/Page347.htm

Chicago Area:
http://www.chicagohoops.com/showcases/unsigned07showcase.html

You can read Briam’s entire article which also discusses the need for rest after the high school season here: Rest is not a Four Letter Word .

THE DAD

CCB has left a new comment on your post "More on D1 Options: How DO D2, D3 and NAIA Coache...":

Dear The Dad and Mike,

I don't know whether to thank you for posting our event or feel insulted. But here is a bit of info to add to your details regarding Unsigned Senior events: There are not any open periods or sanctioned events in the spring anymore. NCAA D-1 schools can attend camps that are running during their viewing period though. July is really the only month for "certified" events. With that said, our camp in Houston has already gotten a committment from over ten college coaches and we are not through with conference play for D-2 to JUCO colleges. Center Court Basketball in its short existence has helped place over 40 student athletes directly and countless others indirectly into colleges. Unlike most camps, once the camp is over, the camp really starts. If you look at our website we videotape everything. The things we don't videotape we cover extensively with write ups that are sent to colleges with phone numbers and our evaluations. If you can find another camp that ensures that the student athlete gets a shirt, evaluations, video and continued support after, not to mention a longstanding presence on the web for less than 75 dollars, with a success rate around 50 percent for placing players then by all means attend that event. See we spend the entire year watching players then we select players for our events. We don't just admit anybody. We are big on character and we feel that there are great athletes who are good kids who get overlooked so we pinpoint players. You just don't send money and play. You actually have to speak with us before being selected and we have to confirm that your student athlete has good character.

With all of that said, I don't know if your placing our link should offend or if it is in support of what we do, but I felt that your short report was a little unresolved so I posted this message.

As a note for being careful about events we agree. Those camps that charge coaches for "packets" in the spring or admit 25 5-10 PG's to fill up the camp, or if they don't post the names attending the camps prior to the event then you should beware. If there is not evidence of previous camps on the site, beware. If there is not proof of player placement then beware. Just because an event is not sanctioned does not mean it is "bad". All kids can't play D-1, but they do deserve looks from D-2, D-3, NAIA (D1 and D2), COA, and NJCAA schools and that is what Center Court Basketball brings to the table.

Chris Burns
www.centercourtbasketball.com


THE DAD replied on 5/12/2007...

Chris,

Thanks for straightening me out on viewing periods and certified events for D1 coaches. I applaud what you are doing. A camp which provides a competitive environment, exposure, letters to college coaches, a web presence and service after he sale for $75, seems to be a great deal!

This type of event should be a win-win-win. The sponsor the kids and the coaches should all benefit from it. I will attend your event in Houston and write up my opinion for parents to review.

THE DAD

The Dad Interviews the “Best Unknown Guard in Houston”

The Dad finally got a chance to see Lee Boykin Jr., “The Best Unknown ZGuard in Houston” live and in living color. After watching “the kid’ on what he called an “off night” (only 39 points), the Dad was definitely impressed.

Lee is a senior at Sweetwater Christian School, in Houston, Texas. He leads the basketball team in most offensive and defensive categories, averaging about 30 points per game. He is a good student and wants to study accounting and playcollege basketball. In addition to playing basketball, Lee runs track, plays baseball, soccer, football (a TAPS All-State selection), tennis and golf. Lee wants to join a major accounting firm after he completes a professional basketball career.

College coaches are not exactly breaking down the Boykin door to sign this kid. The doorbell and the phone have been pretty quiet. Sweetwater Christian School is a small Private Tap 2A school. Lee’s graduating class will have less than 30 students marching across the podium. Many parents, having a kid as talented as Lee, would have worked overtime to place their “player” at a very visible basketball school. The Dad applauds the Boykin family for biting the bullet and keeping education and character development on the front burner.

When Lee moved from public school, he had a 3.8 GPA. At Sweetwater, the grade began to plummet. “I was not used to the amount of school work that they gave us at Sweetwater”, said Lee. “It took a while for me to make the adjustment”. Lee has worked hard to push his GPA back over the 3,0 level. And is on pace to finish in the top 25% of his graduating class (2007).

Lee Steps Up Against 4A Galveston O’Connell

Last week, Lee had an opportunity to play a TAPS 4A team, Galveston O’Connell. “The boys were bigger”, said Lee, “But that did not make a difference for me. I just went out and played MY game”. The boys from Sweetwater did not fair well in this game, but Lee was nearly unstoppable, finishing with 48 points. Watch the highlight video for a coast to coast drive that leaves one hapless O’connell defender flat on his face! He also placed a defensive clamp on his man who scored over 30 points in O’Connell’s previous game. On this night, he could not escape single digits. The Dad has secured some of Lee’s highlights from this game, you can view them here:

Click here to view video highlights vs, Galveston O’Connell


The Dad Assesses the Kid

On Thursday night, I watched Lee play a Boy’s Home team from the NASA area. The kid slashed and dashed his way to lots of buckets. He missed a number of open shots, though. These were the same shots that I saw consistently falling in the game tapes that I previewed. “I had an off night”, said Lee. He finished the game with 39 points.

Even on an “off night”, there is a lot to like about Mr.. Boykin. After watching Lee go to work on the court, The Dad noticed that despite being double and triple teamed all night, “the kid” continued to get off good shots as he split defenders and out-quicked them to get space. Crossover dribbles left defenders helpless as they recovered too late to defend shots. This kid is also a great passer who might average 15 assists per game if he had a better supporting cast. I saw quite a few fumbled passes and missed open shots that were setup by Lee.

What is Lee’s best quality? The Dad believes that it is his character. Despite playing many levels above his teammates, he is constantly encouraging them; lifting them up instead of putting them down. It must be frustrating at times to watch your teammates miss open shots and occasionally miss lay-ups. But you would never know it by watching Lee. This is a kid who just walks away from a bad call or a “no call” and calmly goes back to work. Lots of guys with Lee’s talent would have blown-up or quit out of frustration long ago. This kid handles himself well. He does not showboat or show up kids that struggle to defend him. The funny thing is that Lee THINKS that he is a hot-head. I guess I need to take the kid for a ride up I-10 and expose him to some real hot-heads. You can get a glimpse of Lee’s character by listening to my interview with him (below).

What are the kid’s weaknesses? You can also hear him talk about this in the interview. From The Dad’s point of view, Lee has to get stronger. He works out with a weight vest and pumps in the gym. He will have to continue this work with a passion to excel at the next level.

My Video Interview with Lee Boykin Jr.

In The Dad;s interview, Lee talks about:
- How he fells about being “unknown”
- What he is learning on the blacktop “park ball”
- Plans for the off season
- College preferences and who has contacted him
- Being afraid to give up the ball
- His Basketball weaknesses
- The seven “other” sports he has played
- His worst moment on the basketball court
- What a college coach can expect from him as a player

Click here to view The Dad;s interview with Lee Boykin Jr.




Here is more action footage of Lee Boykin Jr.
"The Best Unknown Senior Guard in Houston?"

**Note: You need Real Player to view the videos.

Click here for a free download of RealPlayer

How to Catch a College for Junior

So Junior is a senior in High School and is playing pretty well, but he has not been recruited by any Division 1 (D1) colleges. This means that Junior is not playing well enough to attract interest from D1 coaches or he does not have the ability to play at that level right now. In either case, you need to consider the non-D1 options. D2, NAIA and some Jr. colleges offer athletic scholarships. D3 schools offer academic and leadership scholarships that can greatly supplement the cost of a college education. Many of these colleges cannot afford to find Junior, so you have to go fishing.

Get Your Fishing License

First things first. You MUST register Junior with the NCAA Clearing House! According to the NCAA, “All prospective student-athletes intending to enroll in an NCAA Division I or II institution for the first time on or after August 1, 2007, must complete the NCAA Amateurism Certification questionnaire”. SAT/ACT scores must also be posted to the clearing house. Check the Clearing House website for other special requirements.

What Kind of College Do you Want to Catch? (Build a list of prospective colleges)

How good is Junior? Which level is the right one for him? You need to know this or at least have a good idea about where he fits. You want to get a free college education if at all possible. This means D2, NAIA or D1 Jr, colleges. Is Junior good enough to receive a scholarship at this level? You need to know if this is a possibility. Get some help, check out my article, Get a Second Opinion! What does Junior want to do with his life? What will his major be? What is his GPA? SAT\ACT scores? All of these factors play a part in deciding what kind of school you go fishing for.

Selecting potential colleges to market is not a simple task. You must consider many factors, not the least of these is what Junior wants to pursue as a career and what schools are a good fit for his aspirations. You can obtain lots of information via the internet. Most colleges have websites with general information about the school, degree programs, academic focus and accreditations. US News and World Report ranks colleges based on academics and other criteria. Take some time and do some research. Talk to co-workers, friends and relatives. The bottom line is you need to develop a list of schools that fit your needs. If Junior wants to be a civil engineer and play college basketball, you will need to identify schools which match his needs in both areas.

Baiting the Hook (Create an Info Sheet and a Video Tape)

You need to develop a comprehensive but concise information sheet and a video tape, if possible. This “press pack” will be sent to prospective schools on your list. I have talked to several college coaches to identify the information that they want to see. Be brief on your info sheet, but also be thorough. Bullets are better than paragraphs. Here is what your “press pack” should include:

Personal vitals
Name, Parent(s), Address, DOB, Class, School, Phone #s, eMail Address

Athletic Vitals
Height, weight, time in the 40, vertical leap, etc.

Basketball vitals
Team(s), Position, current year stats, previous year stats, names of Junior’s coach
(es)/trainer contact info, extraordinary accomplishments/awards

Academic vitals
Class Rank, GPA, SAT/ACT scores, extraordinary achievements/academic scholarships received, clearing house status

Game schedules
Where can you see Junior play? Web links to articles/info about player (if any)
Personal statement: why you want to go to this school, personal goals and aspirations

Other Activities
Hobbies, civic and/or community activities/awards

Video tape:
Highlights, continuous play footage, personal greeting from Junior talking about his aspirations

The Other Activities section could be very important. Academic and leadership scholarships can help in the absence of a full athletic scholarship. Remember your goal is to get the education paid for!

Going Fishing!

Most of these schools probably do not know that Junior exists! You will have to market the schools that you are interested in. Here are some things that you can do:

1) If the schools you are interested in have online athletic interest forms, fill these out and submit them.

2) Have one of Junior’s coaches contact the school for you. Be sure to have an information package ready to send to coaches when requested.

3) If you know people who know college coaches or athletic directors or just have enough influence to cause a coach to take a look at your “press pack”, ask them for help! A number of kids get a foot in the door because they know somebody that knows somebody!

4) You will probably have to send out some unsolicited “press packs:. Start with he schools on the top of your list. Contact the assistant coach directly (most head coaches delegate this job) via email and/or direct mail. Addresses can usually be found on the schools website. Inform the coach of your interest. Include an info sheet with a video if possible. Don’t be discouraged if your response is negative or non-existent. There are lots of schools out there, and there is probably one that is a fit for Junior. You just have to keep plugging.

Be aware that most “unsolicited mailings” will not be fruitful. Be patient and continue to cast out your bait. You are looking for a few good strikes! You just need the right ONE to reel in.

OK. Now it is time to go fishing to catch that college for Junior!