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