The Dad's Basketball Blog

What To Do When The Coach Quits and Leaves You Hanging

2009-10-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

In response to my article, "Prepare Jr. for Adversity! “a parent wrote:

Larry - let me ask you this. My son was recruited to play at a number of D3 colleges, offered spots on three teams, decided on one. We had both verbal, and written correspondence confirming his playing on the team. Coach quits, new coach starts 3 weeks before school starts. We are committed, registered, paid and ready to move in. Son starts school with all the team members like the team already exists.

Does all the conditioning (5am), open gyms, study tables with the team up to season start this past week. Finds out he is not going to be rostered, cut actually. A year of being recruited, multiple offers, a press release confirmed by the prior coach about his being on the 2009-2010 team. New coach brings one kid from prior school, of course he makes it. Add insult to injury, my son and a teammate (6.8kid) both recruited, both came, both room together. He was kept. We are beyond belief, actually crazed at this point. Kid's just destroyed, humiliated. Adversity I get this I can't. This will about kill his chances for anything next. What would you do in this case? Talking to the coach would be total BS at this point - seen enough of other coaches do the "well his or that...."

For point of reference, kid is 6.4, Starter at a 2000 kid high school, Senior Team Captain, good stats, team finished top 5 in the state, only team to beat the team that won State, and two of those kids on that team are going Marquee Level D1. Would love to hear your comments.

Dear Anonymous (and son):

Wow! Believe it or not, I feel your pain! Here are my comments and suggestions:

Run to the roar!

This IS adversity! Let it make you, not break you. This could be a blessing in disguise. Did you know that there are many kids, some even have D1 scholarships, that do not even get a sniff of the court in their freshman year?

I talked with a parent this morning whose son finished HS in 2006 and attended his first college class just a few weeks ago. This young man also played his first collegiate BB games last week. By the way, he scored 20 and 26 points in the two games he played in and is well on his way to receiving a full college scholarship. He did not give up and neither should you!

After you and your son dry the tears, I have some good news tempered with some reality. The good news is that you do NOT have to give up on the dream. The reality is that you have got some work to do if you want to achieve the dream. The only guarantee is that you will get nothing if you do nothing.

If you can PLAY and you want to play, do NOT surrender without a fight! Your resume along with the fact that multiple coaches recruited you indicates that you have some ability and that there is a market for you.

It is difficult, but forget the past!

Coaches move, that is a reality that more athletes need to consider when involved in this process. This has happen before and it will happen again (not necessarily to you). College coaching is like any other job. Coaches get fired or move on to better jobs. This can happen at anytime; there is nothing that you can do about it. New coaches bring new systems and preferences for certain types of players; and as you are now aware, sometimes they bring players with them. It is not fair, but it is a reality in college sports.

Decide to do the WORK necessary to fulfill your dream.

Work hard to get good grades; there will be no success without them). This can also help to get scholarship money later if you need it. Stay in shape and work to improve your skill level. When the next opportunity presents itself, you have to be ready! Take advantage of everything that is available to you (i.e. tutors, athletic facilities, etc.). Get over the pain and attend the BB games. Study the teams, players, and coaches. Learn everything that you can. Perhaps you will discover a team in need of your particular strengths. Who knows? If you get invited to one of these schools next spring, you can impress the coach with your knowledge of his team and his system. Who knows? Look at it this way, whoever gets you for next season will be getting a more mature, stronger, better skilled player who has proven that he can handle college level work and has four years of playing eligibility left. That gives you an advantage over some graduating HS seniors!

Expose yourself.

There is a school out there for you; this just was not the one. Start by contacting the coaches that were interested in you. Find out what you need to do to get back on their lists for next season. Contact the coach who changed jobs and let him know of your situation. You may not fit in his new situation, but he does know other coaches. He thought enough of you to recruit you; perhaps he will recommend you to a colleague. Note that you will still have to prove that you can play. Find and contact other schools similar to the ones that recruited you. Fill out their athletic interest forms.

Locate unsigned senior and Jr. College exposure events to play in during the spring of 2010. Inform interested coaches that you will be playing. If they cannot attend perhaps they will check out reports from the event and invite you for a campus visit.

You are still in the “recruiting process” mode, so, you need to follow the same rules where possible. See my article, “How to Catch a College for Jr.” for more information.

To Anonymous: If you decide to continue to pursue your dream, email me at, TheDad@TheBBConnection.com and I will help.

Others: I invite you to share your comments, suggestions and experiences below.

Prepare Jr. for Adversity!

2009-01-05T11:33:00.000-08:00

So, Jr. (my term for your BB player) wants to play college basketball. Many high school players share this dream and they all need to know that the path through collegiate athletics is littered with obstacles, challenges, and adversity. Players who know that the path will not always be rosy and who get good advice during difficult times tend to have the best chances for success.

My son, who is currently a student athlete at Arkansas Tech, prepared long and hard through physical and academic adversity to be ready to play BB during the 2008-09 seasin. One week before the beginning of the season, he came down the wrong way on a knee, and that was it. Surgery quickly followed and rehab is currently under way. How will he deal with this new challenge? Will he allow his academics to slip? Will he exert the effort and hard work necessary to rehab and fulfill his dream? What will he learn from this experience? Will this situation make him bitter or better?

One certainty for every college athlete is adversity! The coaches may ride Jr. very hard. Jr. may not get the playing time he expected. The school may change coaches in midstream. The school may recruit “Mr. Basketball” at Jr.’s position. An injury could occur. Academic issues may threaten Jr.’s eligibility. The team may not like Jr. and make things difficult for him. This list can go on and on.

Adversity MUST be viewed as opportunities to develop Jr.’s character. That nasty attitude may not be discovered until pressure is applied. Jr. may have never realized that his work ethic needs adjustment if he had not been benched. The opportunity to play college ball and get a great education may have never been appreciated until it was temporarily taken away. Parents, it IS YOUR JOB to help Jr. understand that the path to success goes straight through adversity!

The distress call

As a parent, how do you respond when Jr. calls pouting about a problem? During his freshman season, my son Mike, called me concerning a coach’s decision to make him run “Stadiums” (running up and down stadium steps). Mike felt that this was unfair because the coach misunderstood the circumstances that led to the “punishment”. How did I respond? Well, though I privately agreed that the coach was a bit unfair, I asked my son, “WHY are you calling ME? I am not your coach; you can run the “Stadiums” or quit the team. This is up to you!”. I then hung up the phone. Fortunately, Mike made the right decision. Not only did he run the stadiums, but his level of play improved, including a couple of double-doubles and a 16 point effort in 14 minutes to end the season. If I had patronized him, I would have destroyed an opportunity for my son to mature as a person and a player. I have a hard and fast policy when it comes to my son’s coaches, “I allow them to coach (without interference) and I parent, case closed!

This reminds me of a scene from the movie, “Remember the Titans”. Head football coach, Denzel Washington tells one of his assistant coaches who chooses to play a player that Denzel had benched, “You are not helping these kids by patronizing them, you are…crippling them for LIFE!”.

Coach Herb Sendek of Arizona State highlighted these truths during the 2008 RCS Sports’ Parent and Coaches Recruiting Workshop when he shared “The Vinny DelNegro Story”. I have published this clip on YouTube and you can view it by clicking below.

The Dad

View video on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dcqpHJih2c

The Serious Business of Career Planning

2008-06-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

This state of recruiting address delivered by George Raveling, Nike’s Director of Worldwide Operations, at the 2007 RCS Sports Parents and Coaches Recruiting Workshop is a classic that every parent and every player MUST listen to! If Junior wants to have a collegiate basketball career then STOP…don’t pass GO…don’t sign that letter of intent until you consider this information from Coach Reveling. Invest some time to listen now and received dividends for years to come.

Here are a few topics covered by Coach Raveling:

Tips: Preparing for college
Developing a five year plan
Preparing for life, not just an athletic scholarship
Working WITH your player
Personal, academic and athletic development
Taking control of the recruiting process
Evaluating a College: The Campus Visit
Preparing questions for recruiters

View these videos when you have time to carefully consider what is being said and take good notes.

To order the entire workshop on DVD featuring six dynamic speakers along with questions from the audience,, click here;

http://www.basketballconnection.net/PCW/Order+PCW_DVD.html

You can also preview and order the 2008 workshop at the link above.

Here are the Videos:

Part 1

Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adcre7b7wdQ

Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re8CleWHDns

Part 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJDwbvsCn6I

Part 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLCNEYRVHMc

Part 6 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwAUKHtmDxA

Choosing a High School for Your Basketball Player

2007-11-25T06:25:00.000-08:00

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!

What is Your Recruiting IQ? - Take the Test!

2007-10-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

What is your recruiting IQ? Here is a little 7 question test that should get you to thinking about how knowledgeable you really are. The answers follow the test along with some related links that will help you to understand the answers. Can you score 100%?!

1) How many Basketball College Scholarships are awarded each year in the United States?

[ ] 700] 1,000[ ] 1,200 [ ] 1,500[ ] 1,800

2) How many Basketball College Scholarships are awarded each year to Jr. College players?

[ ] 100[ ] 300 [ ] 450 [ ] 500 [ ] 600

3) When a college scout evaluates a player, which of these characteristics is LLEAST looked for?

[ ] Rebounding [ ] Scoring [ ] Hustle [ ] Defense [ ] Passing [ ] Ability to penetrate

4) If your son is entering his senior high school season and no schools have shown an interest in him even though he has shown the ability to play college ball; what is the most important thing that you should do?

[ ] Call college coaches [ ] Tell Jr. to “Get with it” [ ] Tell Jr.’s coach to “get with it”
[ ] Learn how to market Jr. effectively [ ] Put off buying that new car

5) Most non blue-chip players who receive basketball scholarships get them because:

[ ] They make very high SAT scores [ ] they score lots of points in a game
[ ] They send out a concise resume to a school [ ] someone opens a door for them

6) Which item below is MOST important when it comes to receiving a basketball scholarship at a NCAA school?

[ ] A high SAT/ACT score [ ] A recommendation from a HS or AAU coach [ ] A clear criminal record
[ ] Being a Clearing House qualifier ] Lead the team in scoring

7) What is the MOST important thing that you can do to ensure that your athlete has an opportunity to develop into the type of [layer that college coaches will want?

[ ] Ensure he is in a winning program [ ] Get him an athletic trainer
[ ] Surround him with people of character and knowledge [ ] Enroll him in as many summer cams as possible
[ ] Put a BB court in your back yard

Answers:

1) 1,200

2) 600

3) Scoring

4) Learn how to market Jr. effectively

5) someone opens a door for them

6) Being a Clearing House qualifier

7) Surround him with people of character and knowledge

I will comment on the test soon in another blog article.. Meanwhile, here are some related links

Do you only have Division I eyes?

Basketball Recruiting?

Getting Your Kid Seen.

How to Catch a College for Junior

Should Pregnant College Athletes Lose Their Scholarships?

2007-05-21T21:14:00.000-07:00

Should pregnant college athletes lose their scholarships? KCOH sports personality Ralph Cooper posed this very question to his listeners on his 7/21/2007 talk show. The Dad attempted to call in and share his opinion, but, my cell phone dropped the call before KCOH could pickup the line. Therefore, the Dad will sound off here.

First of all, I believe that the NCAA should not enact a rule at that level, I believe that the policy regarding this situation should be left to each institution. Whatever rule or policy that they enact should be clearly stated in the letter of intent signed by the student athlete. The athlete should know “exactly” what the school requires and what the penalty is for violation of the policy.

That being said, here is my take. When a student athlete signs a letter of intent to play athletics for an institution of higher learning, it is a two-way commitment. The school agrees to pay tuition, fees, cost of books, room and board, etc., the student agrees to maintain an acceptable GPA and commits to doing everything Iin her power to aid the success of the athletic program. This includes maintaining a high level of physical fitness and abstaining from conduct that will be detrimental to the team or the university (drug use, illegalities, public disorder, and unethical behavior, for example).

A school’s investment in the student athlete goes beyond academic costs and room and board. Many dollars are spent in the recruiting process. These expenses include travel, scouting services, background checks and other costs. This money is spent not only to find good student athletes, but to locate good citizens who will honor their commitment and bring honor to themselves and to the institution. Big time college athletics is a business and losing players and scholarships can affect the bottom line.

When an athlete ‘chooses’ to engage in behavior that is dangerous to themselves or that endangers their ability to contribute at a high level to their team, in essence, they are betraying the trust that the institution has placed in them. They are also endangering the future that they have worked so hard to be positioned for. Both parties are endangered in this case.

Athletes make these decisions, unfortunately, all to often. Sometimes, no one knows and they get away with it. But sometimes they get caught. When you get caught, there is a price to pay. Pregnancy is seriously “getting caught” and carries a serious penalty. A new person is now coming into the world and many decisions and adjustments are now inevitable.

What should the institution do? The player has violated (except for the case of rape) her commitment to her team and athletics program. There should be a “penalty” for this violation. Others should know that if they make the same choice and they “get caught” that there are consequences.

This is a difficult situation to deal with. Fairness, compassion, and the needs of the individual and the institution will be impacted by the schools policy.

Here is the policy that I would implement. I would allow the athlete to retain her scholarship for 1 additional semester following the current one. At that point, the scholarship would be revoked. After the birth of the child and a reasonable time for physical recovery, I would give her an opportunity to prove that she can still earn a spot on the team. If she is willing and puts in the work and earns her position, her scholarship would be renewed for the remainder of her athletic eligibility.

This solution can cost the school a scholarship position for up to two years depending on when the athlete has to withdraw from playing. The athletic program has to absorb this loss in addition to losses it normally has due to injury and other reasons.

The athlete loses a scholarship but can continue her education during her period of pregnancy (if health permits). The remainder of her education may be in jeopardy, but she has an option to earn an athletic scholarship again if her health permits and she chooses to make that sacrifice.

I believe this should apply whether he athlete is married or not. In either case, the athlete knows that pregnancy is not compatible with their commitment to the institution. Married athletes certainly face a higher risk as there are no 100% foolproof methods to prevent pregnancy. I assume many coaches shy away from married female athletes for this reason.

Is the student athlete left at the mercy of the athletic department at this point? Yes. If the coach does not want her back for some reason other than playing ability, she will not be offered that scholarship again. Unfortunately, this is a reality in college athletics today. The 1 year “renewable” scholarship gives schools some leverage when it comes to retaining athletes. In this case, the athlete placed herself in a dangerous situation scholarship wise. I have to believe that in most cases, if the student is otherwise a good citizen, a good student, a hard worker, and a good team player, she will get a legitimate shot at renewing the scholarship. Otherwise, she will tend to reap what has been sown.

There is a lesson to be learned here. If you have worked hard to obtain an opportunity that will benefit you for the rest of your life, you should work harder to keep what you have earned and not throw it away. There are many decisions that are made BEFORE the decision that leads to pregnancy. Other than rape, the sex act is a choice. The quality of our lives is generally a result of the choices that we make.

Wait! I can hear those who say that the student did not choose to get pregnant. That is technically correct. However, the student DOES choose to risk pregnancy by participating in the sex act. The person who plays Russian roulette does not choose to die, but he does choose to risk the possibility of death even though the odds are in his favor.

Our culture teaches us that premarital sex is normal and should be accepted when engaged by consenting adults. Very rarely are the negative personal, physical, and emotional consequences that can accompany this choice portrayed in the vast array of media and entertainment options available to our kids.

Parents, educate and prepare your children to the best of your ability BEFORE they leave home!

THE DAD

Here is what others are saying:

Reports prompt NCAA to review pregnant athletes policies – From ESPNU

Schools Should Hold Line on Pregnant Athletes

Should pregnant athletes lose their scholarships?

NCAA Dootle A-Zone

Pregnant athletes deal with loss of scholarships

Pregnant College Athletes and Athletic Scholarships

Jai Lucas: Opportunity and Hard Work Equals Success

2007-05-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

The Dad highly recommends viewing the May 14, 2007 Web broadcast of “Nothing But Net” featuring a one hour interview with Jai Lucas and his High School coach, Bruce Glover. Jai signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Florida at a Bellaire High School press conference earlier in the day. This show was my personal favorite in the improving “Nothing But Net: (NBN) series. This broadcast may have been the most watched show to date as excited Florida fans and jilted coaches tuned in to see the newly signed McDonald’s All-American. (I do not know if NBN tracks viewers.)

Why did I like the show? Why do I recommend it? Because, Jai Lucas is an over-comer! I found myself rejoicing with this kid. Many people will say that with his Dad’s (former NBA star and coach John Lucas) influence, success was inevitable. But, there are hundreds of kids who have successful and influential parents who have failed in their pursuits. Most kids in Jai’s position will tell you that following big footsteps leads through a mine-field of potential pitfalls.

Jai was labeled too small and too short to ever become an All-State player at the 5A level, much less a McDonald’s All-American. During the summer following Jai’s 8th grade school year, Poppa John asked Bellaire High School BB coach Bruce Glover if Jai could make his varsity squad as a 9th grader. After watching the “too small”, “too short” kid play, the candid coach responded, “No, but perhaps he can make it s a 10th or 11th grader”. Apparently, Jai did not accept “No” as a final answer, he just went back to work in the gym. History tells us that Jai started at point guard for 4 ears at Bellaire. Did Poppa John’s influence help to kick in the door? Well, let’s just say that it did not hurt. Coach Glover says that once he gave Jai the ball to run the point, he never gave it back.

Opportunity may open a door for you, but you must be ‘prepared’ to take advantage of it. The pressure to perform in a situation like this is enormous. Just imagine what you will have to endure if you do not produce! Imagine the ire of parents whose budding young superstar will have to take a back seat to this ‘little’ kid or find another bus. Some Bellaire parents have done just that; the Dad has talked with them. Their situation may not have been ‘fair’, but it was very real.

Jai Lucas cannot change the fact that he is john Lucas’ son. He has to live with that reality. He has to deal with the expectations. He has to deal with the legacy. He has to deal with the haters. The one’s who do not think that it is fair that he is Jai Lucas. Jai has had to deal with on court taunting, unnecessary rough stuff as insecure players feel it necessary to ‘prove’ that they are better.

Opportunity is a wonderful thing, but it can seem like a curse if you are not prepared to walk into the doors that open for you. Jai prepared himself with a work ethic that few can maintain. Jai decided to use the pressure and taunting to motivate him instead of allowing it to make him angry and bitter. Jai continued a workout regime that includes three or four sessions per day beginning at 6 a.n. This schedule has evolved from a regime to a lifestyle for Jai. Most kids Jai’s age find it too difficult to maintain a schedule like this for more than a few weeks. When Coach Glover expressed doubt about Jai’s ability to make the varsity as a 9th grader, Jai improved his game so dramatically over the summer, that he reversed Coach Glover’s words. Most kids see rejection as a message to give up. Jai on the other hand has learned to turn doubt and hating into what Bobby Bouche (The Waterboy) would call “tackling fuel”. (By the way, if you have never seen ‘The Waterboy’, go out and rent it today!)

Jai has risen above his critics, doubters and haters to become a high school All-American and has signed a letter of intent to play with the two-time NCAA Champion Florida Gators. He has an opportunity to compete for the starting point guard position as a freshman. I like the fact that Jai is not gloating but rather thanking everyone who doubted that he could make it. This is truly a remarkable story about a remarkable kid. I just rejoice with Jai and look forward to watching him on TV next season.

If kids would take the time to consider Jai’s obstacles and not just look at his opportunities, they would learn some helpful secrets about life. The most important principles include:
o Hhard work produces results
o hating produces nothing
o Doubters are generally blind to the potential inside of you

Go Jai, you just sold a subscription to he ESPN NCAA Baskeball Game day (or whatever it is called). The Dad will be watching!

THE DAD

Here are some internet references to Jai’s signing:

Gators Sign Point Guard Jai Lucas

Jai Lucas chooses Fla., informs Patterson via text

Gators beat Kentucky for prized recruit

UK loses top prospect to Fla.

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

2007-02-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

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”

2007-02-24T17:16:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-11T17:48:00.000-08:00

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!

Does “Junior” Need a Personal Trainer?

2007-01-03T21:07:00.000-08:00

Does “Junior” Need a Personal Trainer?

Hey parents, before you go and spent that hard earned cash on an expensive personal trainer, here are some things to think about.

A personal trainer will NOT guarantee that Junior will get a scholarship
A personal trainer will NOT guarantee that Junior will get better
An effective personal trainer is not always easy to find
If your kid is not motivated to excel in BB you are probably wasting time and money

Let me say right out of the box, I am not against personal trainers. As a matter of fact, I believe that in most cases, Junior WILL become a better player if he has one. The benefits will actually be greater if the trainer is skilled at detecting physical and skill weaknesses such as tight muscles or a weak off hand and prescribes drills and exercises to address them. Trainers provide motivation, structure and oversight during workouts that Junior may not be currently getting. This helps establish good patterns for future development. A good trainer can also provide additional motivation to practice between training sessions. Typically, a good trainer will focus on areas not being addressed at school or by AAU coaches.

If you are reasonably certain that Junior is headed to college and one of your goals is to maximize Junior’s skill set and athleticism before he graduates high school, you should definitely consider a personal trainer (if you can afford it – they do this for a living!). If money is an issue, consider locating someone in the BB community that has enough knowledge to help. There are some ex-players that really want to be helpful – ask around! As the old but true saying goes, “you have not because you ask not”.

What is that you say? Junior is a self-starter, he reads nutritional, bodybuilding and basketball development resources and works out like a mad man. Wow! Too bad more kids are not like Junior. Can I bring my kid over so that he can rub shoulders with him? Junior may not need as much help as others, but I imagine that there are some blind spots that someone else can see. At any rate, you have to decide what is best for Junior and proceed accordingly.

If you decide to utilize a trainer, I believe that it is important to maximize your investment. Collaborate with Junior’s coaches and develop a plan. Ensure that the trainer chart’s Junior’s progress and provides reports. Ensure that “outside” workouts complement the training plan. Use the feedback from the trainer to help you assess where Junior fits on the college level (D1, D2, D3, NAIA, JC, etc.). This will help when you are marketing Junior. Also, if possible ask your trainer to help you market Junior (he may have some college contacts that value his opinion).

My Personal Experience

My son Mike, spent several months with a personal trainer between his Jr, and Sr. high school seasons. Mike’s trainer, Richard Ashton, identified his major areas of need and designed a program to strengthen these areas. Mike added about 12 pounds of muscle, worked on flexibility, running technique, free throw mechanics, pos moves and more in this short time frame. The improvement in his game was obvious to most observers. We considered the time and money invested to be very much worthwhile. Here is a look at this work from Mike’s perspective.

Does Junior need a personal trainer? You have to be the judge of this. However, a good trainer combined with a good plan will most likely pay dividends and will generally make Junior a better player,

More Good Information

Here is a perspective on personal training from coach and personal trainer Brian McCormick.

Here is a general article on “Why You May Need a Personal Trainer” from About.com.

THE DAD

:52 AM, Brian said…

The irony of the situation is typically the kids who benefit the most from personal trainers are also the ones who could succeed without a personal trainer because of their level of commitment, focus, effort and concentration. The problem is few are able to tell from a web site or one look at a guy if the trainer is good or not and most of the successful money-makers are better talkers and salesmen than they are trainers.

At 10:12 AM, THE DAD said…

As parents, we MUST investigate and learn as much as possible. We must also get recommendations from others if possible and not jump on the firstthing that sounds good.We can ask the potential trainer for referencesand talk to prior clients. I actually had the unique opportunity to watch our trainer in action before we selected him.

I also gota opportunity to spend time with him at an out of town tournament. I was privy to the impact of his work on another player.I believe that in most cases, we will get benefits if we put in the work upfront. The sad thing is that many parents cannot or will not do this.

Get a Second Opinion!

2006-10-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

So, you think Junior (your kid) is one of the best basketball players in the city. He can handle the ball like Steve Nash, he can shoot like T-Mac, and he rebounds like Benn Wallace. Guess what? College coaches do NOT care what you think! They cannot afford to trust your assessment of Junior and neither should you; at least not until you get a second and third opinion from qualified basketball people who do not have a personal interest in Junior! In other words, take Uncle Joe and Grandpa’s opinions with a grain of salt. Of course, Uncle Joe played college ball at Weese State and you trust him. The point here is that you NEED an unbiased opinion. These opinions may be accurate, but most parents and close relatives are biased. In many situations, the livelihood of a coach is dependent on recruiting the best possible talent. They cannot afford to trust you or Uncle Joe – their kids need to eat too!

It is important that you KNOW how good your kid really is and how much potential he has for improvement. Why? If your child has the potential to play college basketball, YOU need to know at what level he is capable of playing. You need to know this in order to market your kid effectively! Yes, I said market. There are many colleges that have scholarships to offer that cannot afford to “find” Junior. Many deserving athletes do not receive scholarships because the schools that need them simply have no idea that they exist. The one exception to this rule is if your kid is an exceptional top level player. Generally, high level coaches (i.e. Division 1) will find your kid. Especially if in addition to playing in school, he or she plays in a summer basketball program (i.e. AAU). Even in this case, you may need to market in order to be considered for scholarships at schools your child wants to attend.

Many parents waste precious time and money writing letters, sending tapes and email, filling out athletic interest forms on the internet and bugging coaches to recommend their kid to a school when the kid does not possess the ability to play basketball at that school’s level. If Junior has the ability to play ball at the Division 2 or Jr. College level, Mom and Dad are wasting their precious time, money and hopes contacting all of those high Division 1 schools. If no one is responding, could it be that you are advertising to the wrong market? This is why you need an accurate assessment of Junior’s ability and potential. While you are wasting time in the wrong market, others are getting those scholarships that may have been just right for Junior. Division II, NAIA and some Jr. Colleges offer athletic scholarships. It is important to find the right market for Junior.

The first step is getting an unbiased assessment, how do you do this? Start with Junior’s coaches, high school and AAU or summer ball program. Check with local and national scouting services. Do they know about Junior? What are they saying? Take some time to study Junior’s stats. Statistics are not always an accurate indicator, but if Junior does something well, it should show up in the stats (i.e. scoring, rebounding, steals, shooting percentages, etc.). You may have to look at some of these numbers and average them by minutes played, if possible. The key here is that the numbers do not know Junior personally.

More about numbers

High school stats can be tricky for many reasons. Sometimes inexperienced or biased students are recording these numbers. Playing time is generally not reflected in high school stats. Game situations and strong or weak opponents can also skew the numbers. Just remember, the numbers do not know your kid and generally, they treat everyone the same. When my son was a senior in High School, he had great numbers during the first half of the season. In my opinion the numbers were a good indicator of his ability and potential. During the second half of the season the numbers took a major drop. When I took a closer look I had to consider a number of factors including injuries, playing time due to inferior opponents and the human tendency to “rest on our laurels”. Yes, numbers are not prejudiced; they just reflect what was or was not done. Take the time to take an honest and close look at the numbers to help you assess talent and potential.

Basketball Camps

Another way to get other opinions is by sending Junior to one or more basketball camps. Camps can be a great way of getting unbiased input about Junior. It will be worthwhile to investigate and get recommendations before selecting a camp though. Look for camps that provide thorough skills assessment and will provide you with a report. If you can actually get to talk with coaches during or after the camp, this would be great feedback. One of your goals would be to get an honest assessment of ability and potential. You may want to ask (take a deep breath). “Do you think that Junior has thee potential to play college ball? At what level?”. The answer you get may or may not be accurate or honest, but at least you have one more opinion! The camp might even be helpful when you are ready to market Junior. If their opinion is positive, ask them to help you contact schools that you may be interested in or schools that they have a relationship with that might fit Junior’s abilities.

After my son’s junior high school season, I selected a camp for him to attend. The camp requested that his high school coach fill out a skills assessment form prior to attendance. By the way, this was good feedback for my “unbiased” assessment project. The camp personnel assessed my son and provided a report of their assessment (you can view it here). This assessment was actually better that I expected. I attempted to balance the report by asking my son what he thought the level of competition was at the camp. My point is this, your assessment will only benefit you if it is as accurate as possible, Remember, this is “Junior” and you are biased.

I actually called the coach who signed the assessment on the carpet! I felt that if he really believed his own report, then he would help get us in some doors with college coaches with whom he had a relationship. I sent this coach some tapes and he DID pass them around! Everyone will not do this for you, but it does not hurt to ask. Camps can be a big help when it comes to marketing. At the minimum it is an opportunity for someone else to “see” Junior and for you to get another opinion.

I would like to point out one benefit of an overnight camp which houses attendees in college dorms. When my son attended one of these camps, it represented the first time he had been away from home, family and friends for an extended period. The first night he called me and wanted to come home. After encouraging him to “hang in there”, he persevered. By the third day of dorm life with a complete stranger, he was OK. I believe that this turned out to be an experience which helped to prepare him for college life. We were not aware of this before hand but we recognize it now.

Take advantage of every opportunity to learn what others think of your athlete. If Junior is a “super” (college coaches use this term for exceptional players) the top schools will find him, in most cases. If not, you are going to have to do some work. How much time and effort you expend in the marketing process will be directly proportional to how focused you are on your target market. In order to maximize your efforts you must know which schools to market. In order to know which schools to market, you must have an accurate assessment of Junior. OK, now get busy. Get those opinions!

Want to know what coaches really think about recruiting? Check out this preview of RCS Sports Parent/Coaches Workshop. A complete tape is available for purchase. Note: You need RealPlayer to view this clip.

Here is a great blog entry on “Getting Your Kid Seen.