Lewis: Generating Interest

[glenn]

Mark advocates, then explains how to be proactive in your recruiting:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/womens/columns/story?columnist=lewis_mark&id=3522171

[intelligenthoodlum]

Great stuff as usual, Mister Mark. But:

- there are 73 major-D-1 programs;
- in any given year, there will be about 20-24 other D-1 programs that matter.

At the same time:

- between the five national scouting services and pundit sheets, there will be a consensus top 100 players in a senior class;
- because of the hyped-up summer events and the colleges that follow them like these events were New Religion, there will be another 50 players from those events who the colleges, scouts, and pundits anoint.

This means that these approximately 100 colleges are recruiting these same 150 players IN AUGUST!
So if you are truly as talented, if not more talented, than most of these 150 players--specifically, the consensus top-75--BUT YOU AREN'T ONE OF THESE 150, FOR WHATEVER REASONS, then ain't nobody gonna holler at you FOR REAL until late August/early September; AND, the colleges are most likely gonna tell you they need to see you again in the Fall Evaluation Period...

When those 24 girls commit to those perennial Elite-Eight programs in the 90-day period from the beginning of August through the end of October--and those other 48 girls commit to those other 16 programs that "just missed" the Elite-Eight of last year's NCAA's--THEN everything falls in place for those talented ones of you who ain't in that 150.
Especially if you're patient and diligent, about the process...

So, for example, if a bottom-feeder major-D-1 program/high-mid-major-D-1 program tells you TODAY, AUGUST 6, 2008, that they're looking at two other girls at your position, and they want to see you in the Fall Evaluation Weekend, but you can still come on campus for an unofficial visit this month, there's a probably a 50/50 chance that you'll be hearing from them by mid-October ABOUT THAT OFFER.

That is, of course, if you are really one of those as-talented-as-those-150 players; and, if you show out, as expected, OCTOBER 3-5, 2008...

[CoachLewis]

I appreciate your thoughts.

While your points are well taken, I just wanted to make the observation that recruiting really isn't a math equasion. Coaches don't recruit on the basis of any rankings, no matter who may put them out there. They go after the kids that they like, ranked or not. Also, every year there are quite a few kids that you and I would both agree "oversign" and just as many that "undersign".

If we were able to see the current recruiting lists of some of the top programs, I promise you we would see some kids we don't even know or wouldn't think of on that level. At the same time some of the lower level programs have some big fish on their lists. It could be mom or dad's alma matre or a home town school or even just the first school to show them some love. They'll stay in the game till the recruit says no, but believe me they've got themselves backed up.

The mid level schools and players are actively talking and setting home and campus visits right now. Sure, some of the athletes are hoping to still hear from the big dogs, but they're getting involved with the ones at their door right now if they're smart.

While I realize ranking have absolutely no meaning, if you could somehow identify the top 200 to 250 players in the 2009 class you can bet they're all getting attention right now. Nobody's waiting for the big guns to take theirs and then get involved. Oh, there's hope in back of some minds, but since they've been recruited since September !st of their junior year, they've got an idea of where they stand.

If someones's waiting until October to get an offer they're skating on thin ice.
Coaches know who they want and who their next two back ups are. They'll do more than offer an unofficial to keep someone in the mix. That's why in one of my previous columns I encouraged recruits to ask now, "are you offering?". Put them on the spot and get an answer. Make your plans from there.

[OCHoopFan]

The most important line of Mr. Lewis's article:

Don't lose sight of the fact that you're looking for a place to get an education first and foremost.

[Hoops2ya]

Nice article and great comments:

It is wonderful for the top 100 kids that have multiple college options.

However for the players that have limited options: should the general message to the recruit be stay patient OR get a move on and continue to market yourself?

Is it a deal breaker for the recruit when the college coach that’s been calling all summer now starts saying I want to see you one more time, I want to come to your high school open gym, etc etc…. Should the recruit take this as a hint and move on to their next choice or wait around and possibly not get picked up by their first choice?

What role now should the club coach play (if any)?????

[CoachLewis]

If the coach who has watched all summer is not looking to set up a campus visit or even a home visit (which are less and less common) they're doing those things with another prospect. The fact they want to see you play again means the jury is still out. It doesn't mean they're not interested, but July or other past performances have not convinced them totally.

I would suggest that you still make efforts to accommodate that school but really begin to get busy with others who may have called and shown more interest in getting you on campus. If any school has put an offer on the table I would be giving them my utmost attention. Waiting around on that first choice could pay off, but it's a big gamble. And I can tell you this, if you're a back up in their minds, you're not the only one.

At this point the club coach can help touch base with the different schools that have been in contact with the recruit and try to get as much information on their status with each program. However, the majority of the communication should be between the recruit and her family and the schools recruiting her. A large part of recruiting is building relationships and you don't do that through a third party. I've known of recruits in the past who have even allowed their club coaches to "narrow" their list for them. The coach isn't the one going to school and that kind of input is way over the line. Even if asked, the coach should help by asking them questions about the different programs and letting them ultimately pick their own top schools they want to look at.

Club coaches play a great role in the development and exposure of athletes, but when it becomes August of the prospects senior year, it's time for the families and the schools to be the main players. The club coach’s main focus at this point should be his or her players who don't have schools knocking on their doors.

[moto]

This series on recruiting from Mark Lewis is enormously helpful to us player/families going through it for the first time. Thank you!! and keep em coming. When the raffic clears from the post-July madness, I hope you will do a piece on the nuances of class of 2010 recruiting, too. Particularly the pros and cons of committing early.

[CoachLewis]

I appreciate your kind words. We'll be sharing different insights and ideas on recruiting throughout the year and I hope they'll continue to be helpful. I'll be touching on the junior class (2010) and what's what for them soon. Their mailman is about to get busy as well as their e mail accounts come September 1st. Thanks again.