The coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt the lives of billions across the globe, and basketball student-athletes are not spared from its negative impact. With COVID-19 cases still rising and causing distress everywhere, the basketball recruitment process conducted by college coaches for aspiring hoopers from the high school division is forced to take a backseat. This has put the careers of countless aspirants in a limbo, leaving them no choice but to hope against hope.
As a cloud of uncertainty looms over the recruitment calendar, student-athletes, who aim to crack into the collegiate scene, must learn to rise above the challenge. How? The main decisive step lies in gaining knowledge of the situation through the guidance of Coach Donald Watts.
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Reality Check: Surveying the Current Basketball Recruitment Process
The basketball recruitment process is bound to be harder than ever. While drawing the attention of college coaches through on-court performances is already difficult in itself based on normal circumstances, the ongoing health crisis has made it even more challenging. This situation could predispose a student-athlete as yourself to pressure and cause panic. So, it is necessary to take the time to check the reality of the recruitment period amid the pandemic.
In the same boat
If ever you have noticed that there are fewer or no college offers coming your way, do keep in mind that this development should not be seen as an isolated case. Truth be told, most, if not all, student-athletes in high school are going through the same experience as you are. It is normal. Just think about it, the mere act of travelling under current circumstances is already dangerous, what more if a number of coaches from different states would reach out to multiple prospects. This could only lead to complications in light of the dreaded viral infection.
Furthermore, student-athletes are not the only ones troubled with the situation. Mentors in the collegiate division are also having a hard time dealing with the basketball recruitment process. As how Watts put it, “College coaches are actually itching to get out and see some players, recruit some guys or whatever. As soon as that is possible, they are going to be out. They are going to be on the road. They are going to be looking for players.”
Jockey for position
For every high school senior out there, slots in a collegiate roster are as limited as it gets. This could be attributed to various factors, the most impactful of which comes in the form of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) decision to grant players an extra year of eligibility. In other words, student-athletes, who were supposed to exhaust their playing years in college until the pandemic put league activities to a halt, can opt to extend their collegiate careers.
With the said development, college coaches are left with plenty of choices on the table; and prospects from high school are the ones who would likely draw the short stick.
“I actually heard it from coaches. The first thing that they are going to be doing is looking at their roster and seeing who they want to keep, who wants to stay. Guys that they’ve invested four years in, they get a fifth year with. So, that’s going to be the first round of recruitment,” Watts said.
“The recruiting game right now is going to be harder than ever when it opens up for high school players. High school players right now are going to be at the bottom of the priority list,” he also stated.
Aside from that, the recruiting portal and the transfer rule, which prevents college players from sitting out a year after transferring from one program to another and allows immediate eligibility, will also play a crucial part in the recruitment game.
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Continue to exert maximum effort
Despite the stiff competition for coveted collegiate team slots, it is important to remain steadfast. While the odds are truly stacked against high school seniors with the way cards are dealt, the possibility of securing an offer during a basketball recruitment process is still there. All you can do right now is to make the most out of the time that you have, buckle down to business, and persevere.
“This is not to discourage a high school player from wanting to play college basketball. It’s actually to say that if you want to, if you’re serious about it while things are quiet, it’s time to put your head down and get to work. And to understand that there will be opportunities, but those opportunities will be extremely limited,” Watts reminded.
He then continued, “So, it’s important for you to control what you can control.”
There may be plenty of uncertainties at this point in time, but there are things that are well under your control, one of which is your performance in the season ahead as a senior. This is where you can prove that you have the physical makings and the skills to compete at the next level, which will also be used to put together a highlight film that you can send to college coaches. So, turn your focus on the battle in front of you, and this will only lead you to great things when the live evaluation period swings in come summer.
“It’s what you are going to your season with is what you’re going to go into your summer with; and what you’re going to your summer with is where you’re going to play for the next four years. It’s where you’re going to sign. So, the time to work, and the time to get to work is right now,” Watts said.
“If you’re going through the motions to prepare for a high school season, trust me. That’s going to leak into your summer,” he reiterated.
Focus on Basketball Recruitment Process
No one will accomplish the goals and dreams that you have set for yourself but you. So, put in the work and keep developing to the point where college coaches would have a hard time not noticing your skills and talent on the court.