Choosing a High School for Your Basketball Player

Recently, a parent sent me this email…

Hi,

In terms of getting recruited by any college (small or big), how important is the High School a kid attends?

Is it better to play for a small, unknown, Div 3A High School but where a kid will get plenty of playing time and run up his stats or should he transfer and play for a very well known Div 5A High School that has a reputation for producing good players, faces much better competition and is more well known?

Thanks in advance for any input you may have!

Blake

Here is my reply...

Blake,

This is a great question and I believe that the answer is “it depends”. How good is your player right now? How much potential does he have for improvement (always get a second opinion on this)? What college level do you intend to target (High D1, Mid-Major, D2, NAIA, JC, D3)? Top level talent will generally be discovered and recruited despite the high school level. For other players, “getting seen” and “being recruited” is more about developing your kids playing ability and marketing than being at a particular school. I believe that the selection of a school however, is very important. The school should be one that helps to develop your player’s academics, character and playing ability. All of these elements are important to college recruiters. Low ratings in any of these areas could cost you up to $100,000 in college scholarship money (or more depending on the school)! Here are some additional factors that should be considered when selecting a high school.

The Right School Values Academic Preparation

In an era when many of today’s schools do not give students homework, attention must be given to a schools academic history. If “Jr.” (my term for your BB player) is fortunate enough to receive a college scholarship, it is not worth much if he cannot keep it because of academic deficiencies. Some schools are better than others at college prep. Test score histories do not always paint an accurate picture. I know of one school destruct that actually moves “slower” and/or “problem” kids into a special program so that the district’s test score averages look better. Talk to parents that are familiar with the school that you are considering. Talk to counselors about special SAT/ACT preparation offerings.

Academic achievement is very important! If Jr. does not receive a full athletic scholarship, academic money may open up other playing opportunities. Some schools have the option to offer partial scholarships. If Jr. can get the other required monies via academic funding, he becomes more attractive to certain schools. You will still have the benefit of a full scholarship in this case.

Some of the better academic schools are in NCAA Division 3. These schools cannot offer athletics scholarships, but they do offer academic, leadership and grant monies. Schools like Hanover College in Indiana play an excellent brand of basketball. If Jr. earns a degree from a school like Hanover, his financial future is pretty much secured! Do not overlook the value of academic preparation!

One more note on D2, D3 and NAIA schools. The best players in these divisions DO get opportunities to display their skills to professional scouts in events like the Collegiate Basketball Invitational.

The right school = the right coach!

It is important to find a HS coach who cares about kids and is willing to work for them. Some coaches just want to play and go home. Look for a “teacher” who cares and who will contact schools that you may become interested in. A good teacher will help to develop your player. If Jr. is not a tier 1 player or is not “lucky” enough to “be seen”, you are going to have to do some marketing work. A cooperative and concerned HS coach is invaluable to this process.

Jr.’s high school coach could have a huge impact on his recruitment. The opinion of high school coaches is highly valued among many college coaches. If the coach has a low opinion of a player’s ability or character, it will negatively impact recruiting.

It is important to surround your kid with the best people possible. A good coach will ensure that a kid with the ability to play at the college level will have opportunities to play and develop even if he is behind a “superstar” on the depth chart.
Find out what others are saying about the coach at the school you are considering.

The Value of PT

When D1/D2 coaches attend a high school game, it is usually to see a kid that they already know about. Occasionally, they will spot someone else that is playing well. So, if your kid is getting minutes, he has a chance to be seen, no matter how slight. Playing time (PT) IS important to recruiting. A kid has no chance of “being seen if he is not on the court. Placing Jr. at a school where he will get a legitimate shot at PT (he has to earn it) enhances his recruiting possibilities. If there are numerous players with Jr.’s skill set that play the same position, you may want to consider another school.

The Value of Competition

If Jr. is a highly skilled player, he should have no trouble getting playing time at a 4a or 5A high school. Good competition usually helps a player to get better. Coaches do consider the level of competition when evaluating a player, although it is just one factor. If two kids grade out equally and one kids plays 5A and the other kid plays 3A, the 5A kid will likely get the nod. Note also that 4A and 5A teams tend to get more media coverage.

Strong competition will prepare Jr. for the next level where he will compete against even better players. As a matter of fact, there are several college freshmen players that are already impacting their teams. Many attribute their readiness to play to the fact that they frequently played against good competition in HS and on the summer ball circuit. See these recent ESPNU articles about freshmen who are ready to play and are having an immediate impact.

Rose, Griffin are comfortable as the focus of their teams

Hickson scores 31 on 12-for-12 shooting to power NC State

Take Advantage of Recruiting Services

No matter which school Jr attends, ensure that the recruiting services in your area know about him. Make sure that Jr’s stats along with any published articles about Jr. are available to these services. In the Houston area, we are fortunate to have RCS Sports and the incomparable Jim Hicks. If Jim hears that your kid can play, he will find a way to evaluate him. Many colleges subscribe to these services. A good report can open some doors.

Do not overlook the value of “Summer Ball”

Summer basketball nay actually play a bigger role than the HS in recruiting because coaches have more time to watch players during the summer. Use the same care when selecting a summer team as you do for HS.

Conclusion

Work to place Jr. at the highest level that he has a realistic opportunity to compete for playing time. The school should value academics and have special college prep offerings. The school should have a head coach who cares, teaches and will work with you in the recruiting process.
.
The Dad

Parents/Coaches: If you have an opinion on this subject, please submit a commen!