College Recruitment Tips

Video Highlights

0:10 Perform at the level you are now.
1:02 Your energy needs to be focused on the field.
1:58 Character counts.
2:04 Communicate with your coach.
2:20 Talk to people who have gone to the next level.
2:44 Don't focus on recruitment too early.
3:40 Focus on improvement and performance.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Perform at the level you are now

Older players start to focus on recruitment and fail to perform in the here and now. You need to be aligned with the program that has your best interests at heart. Younger players sometimes miss practices to attend recruitment camps or spend money on programs that promise to get them noticed, but the key factor to success is performing on the team you are on, especially in your senior year.

Your Energy Needs to be focused on the Field

You need to focus on the team you are on, making sure you are a leader, a great teammate and a good ball player, rather than on making contacts at the schools. One of the first people recruiters will talk to are the your coaches. If you are missing practice for recruitment events and not totally committed to the team, the coaches may point that out. It's important for you to have a good relationship with, and trust in, your current coach.

Character Counts

The charater that a you show and your committment is what makes things happen.

Communicate With Your Coach

The coach is someone you need to communicate with. If you want to go to the next level you need to let your coach know that that's what you want to do. The coach is the one who can tell you what you need to do to get to that next level.

Talk With People Who Have Gone to the Next Level

Talk with friends, old teammates, etc. who have gone to the next level. Finding out what path they took and what they did is going to be crucial. It's important for you to remember to make sure that what you're doing is not impacting your current position.

Don't Focus on Recruitment To Early

If you are in grade 9 or grade 10, recruitment isn't nearly as important as in your senior years. Younger players should be focusing on honing their craft, being mentally tough, having a good character and being a good leader. That and having good stats is going to have a lot more impact than putting your name out there and talking to a lot of people excessively. Just like a company doesn't release a product until it's finished, you need to be as close to the finished product as you can be before putting yourself out there.

Focus on Improvement and Performance

Your focus for getting to the next level needs to be on improving. That includes building mental toughness and learning how to become a great leader. Those are the things that help you get noticed. Those who deserve to play at the next level will play at the next level. No one is entitled to play at the next level. The best way to prove that you are ready to play at the next level is to prove you no longer belong that the level you are currently at. That goes for the professional level as well. If you prove that you can dominate in college - or at any level - that will prove you are ready for the next level.