How to make college basketball

Basketball Scholarships | How to Get a Basketball Scholarship

Most college basketball players currently on scholarship got started with the recruiting process very early. Basketball players should begin the recruiting process by the time they are in the 9th grade and should be continually checking-in with coaches throughout high school so that coaches can watch their development. Learn more about the steps to take to get a basketball scholarship.

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How to Get a Basketball Scholarship

Here are some quick tips on how to get a basketball scholarship:

1. Start the process early
2. Practice talking with college coaches
3. Have a great video to share
4. Visit as many schools as you can
5. Research the schools you want to attend
6. Improve your grades
7. Provide multiple references
8. Don’t miss deadlines

There are over 1 million men’s and women’s high school basketball players in the USA and thousands more internationally.

Can You Get a Basketball Scholarship from AAU?

AAU basketball teams should be treated as a required ‘step’ toward that direction (much like taking advantage of the benefits a recruiting service can provide). It’s no secret, college scouts do follow high school athletes playing AAU basketball showcases so being a part of this process can assist you in getting noticed.

There are different levels of AAU teams to consider. Those basketball teams which focus on traveling nationwide for several summer tournaments will require you pay more than those teams which focus on a more local or regional AAU tournament schedule. In addition to you paying a fee to cover the cost of team uniforms, warm-ups and practice court costs, you and your parents should also budget for the cost of gasoline, meals and lodging related to any out-of-town games/tournaments.

Can You Play Basketball Without a Scholarship?

If you are thinking of playing college basketball for a powerhouse team in NCAA Division 1 without being offered an athletic scholarship by college recruiters the chances are very slim. From time to time big schools such as these will have a tradition of having ‘tryouts’ for 1-2 walk-ons, but you must understand if you would become such a walk-on there is a chance you would never see any actual playing time.

NCAA Division 2 and NAIA colleges and universities offer partial scholarships and are more readily acceptable to bringing in walk-ons to compete for roster spots. Also, as a walk-on you could work your way into gaining partial scholarships (partial tuition payment, books or meals, e.g.) the next year as these scholarship awards are reviewed by the college coaches and recruiters on a yearly basis. You may also decide to play at a NCAA Division 3 school, which under NCAA guidelines are not permitted to offer athletic scholarships.

How Many Basketball Scholarships Are Given Each Year?

If you have a desire to have a college basketball recruiter offer you a scholarship to play NCAA Division 1 basketball, you’re not alone. Nearly 4,500 players are on scholarship at the Division 1 men’s level while there are over 5,000 women basketball players with full rides to play college hoops.

NCAA Basketball Scholarships Limits

The NCAA requires universities and colleges at the D1 level to offer only ‘full’ scholarships in men’s and women’s basketball. Men’s programs are restricted to 13 scholarships while women’s program rosters have 15 full scholarship players. An interesting point for you to know about full scholarship awards at the NJCAA (Junior College) D1 level is the total offering includes transportation costs one time per year to and from the college by direct route. NCAA D2 and NAIA may offer full or partial scholarship monies to college basketball recruits. While NCAA Division 3 schools are not permitted to offer athletic scholarships you can also benefit from earning academic and merit scholarships available to all students registering to attend those institutions.

The table above shows college basketball scholarships offered at the NCAA Division 1, NCAA Division 2, NJCAA, and NAIA levels.

Basketball Scouting: What do college basketball scouts look for in a player?

You must be aware there are several factors which college basketball recruiters consider before thinking of offering a student-athlete a basketball scholarship. Believe it or not, it all starts on the ability to find you. There are many ways to locate a potential basketball scholarship player:

• Getting players listed and profiled by recruiting services.
• Receiving recommendations from high school or club coaches.
• Searching Twitter for players of interest to competing colleges.
• Attending AAU Showcases & University-run camps.

Do YOU Fit the College Basketball Recruiter’s Player Traits?

Basketball scholarship monies are carefully handed out by college recruiters so each will carefully weigh numerous aspects involving you play. Are you tall your position at the college level? Are you finished growing? Is your body frame able to add more weight through college basketball conditioning programs? These are all ‘physically-related’ questions basketball recruiters are thinking about when they come to see you play or start watching the video your recruiting service has provided them.

To answer on-court questions, basketball recruiters and coaches will create a checklist regarding your skills. For each part of the checklist, college coaches/recruiters will score you as being Strong, Fair, or Weak. You will be rated for: Boxing Out, Offensive Rebounder, Ball Handling, 1-on-1 Offense, Penetrator, Passing Skills, Quickness, Defense (on the ball), Defense (Away from ball), Spot Shooter, Free Throw Shooter, Aggressiveness, Leadership and Attitude.

Don’t forget your grades – including Overall Grade Point Average and ACT/SAT scores. Be sure you take the college entrance tests, and re-take them if you score poorly. The NCAA Eligibility Center guidelines are for prospective D1 and D2 student-athletes to follow. Strong grades are also important for D3 schools as academic scholarships are available for incoming athletes meeting the award criteria.

When Does Recruiting Begin?

Top collegiate programs will start sending basketball recruiters to watch you as early as when you are in middle school – IF YOU ARE A TOP-TIER TALENT.

How Many College Basketball Teams Are There?

Here is the total number of basketball programs at each division level.

Men’s Basketball Programs

There are approximately 1,844 men’s basketball teams in total.

• There are 344 NCAA division 1 teams in men’s basketball.
• There are 282 NCAA division 2 teams in men’s basketball.
• There are 403 NCAA division 3 teams in men’s basketball.
• There are 255 NAIA teams in men’s basketball.
• There are 560 NJCAA teams in men’s basketball.

Women’s Basketball Programs

There are approximately 1,834 women’s basketball teams in total.

• There are 335 NCAA division 1 teams in women’s basketball.
• There are 298 NCAA division 2 teams in women’s basketball.
• There are 426 NCAA division 3 teams in women’s basketball.
• There are 256 NAIA teams in women’s basketball.
• There are 519 NJCAA teams in women’s basketball.

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The Average Height of College Basketball Players

These are the general guidelines for size requirements coaches look for in a basketball player. If you fall outside of these marks it doesn’t mean you can’t play at that level only that it might be more difficult.

Men’s Basketball

The average height of a men’s basketball player is 6’3”.

Women’s Basketball

The average height of a women’s basketball player is 5’6’”.

College Basketball Camps and Showcases

Do you know the difference between a basketball camp and a basketball showcase?

Basketball camps are summer camps run by colleges at all levels which have a basketball program. If you are serious about playing for a specific team, it is a great idea to attend one or more of these summer camps. Here’s why:

• You will be learning the game of basketball from established college coaches. These coaches may teach you something you haven’t learned from your high school or AAU coaches.
• Exposure – You get the opportunity to show you basketball skills to coaches who may not have heard of you. This exposure is not just to the coaches from the college where the camp is being held. Many times, especially with larger universities, outside coaches (from NCAA D2, D3 or NAIA, e.g.) will be hired to assist as camp coaches due to the sheer number of campers in attendance.
• Athlete interaction – You will get to talk with athletes from other high schools or AAU teams. It could result in moving onto a better summer league team or gaining insight about recruiting experiences.

Showcases are events held, mostly during the summer, where you can play with other prospective college basketball recruits and display your court talents to college recruiters in attendance. While pricey this may be considered an investment for your desire to play basketball at the collegiate level. Most of these events will offer video of your games to assist in your recruiting process. Aside from possibly playing in front of college basketball recruiters, you will also get a better handle on your overall skills as you may be facing better competition than you do during your high school season.

Get more information about College Basketball Camps.

Choosing a college basketball camp can be a little difficult for you at first, but here are some tips to think about before making a final decision. You have to ask yourself the reason you want to attend a basketball camp.

When is National Signing Day for Basketball?

National Letter of Intent, or National Signing Day as it’s more commonly called, is the specific time when you as student-athlete will decide which scholarship offer you will accept from a college basketball recruiter. For NCAA D1 schools, the next signing day is April 17, 2019 through May 15, 2019. The next period is November 13-20. If you are offered a ‘letter of intent’ you will have seven days to sign and return it to the university’s basketball department. The signed agreement means you will commit to playing for that college for at least one year. The college must also let you know each year if the scholarship has been extended. Even if you sign the letter of intent, you must also be able to meet all of the admissions requirements of the school before actually attending classes. Before signing, you need to be certain this is the school you want to attend. If you request a release from the agreement it may or may not be approved by the university.

Athnet is here to help you in your desire to play basketball at the collegiate level.

Through our many resources – including our website, free online profiles and various partnerships – we will provide you, the college recruit, as well as your family, easy-to-understand advice and subsequent resources to catch the attention from college recruiters. Recruiting and scholarship advice comes to you from our knowledgeable company representatives as each of them carries the experience of a former college coach or player. Your online presence is really a great way to start your recruiting experience. Did you know the vast majority (90%) of college recruiters start the process with an online search of student-athletes?

Build your free recruiting profile today!

420 thousand coaches are in our network of college recruiters and they will be looking at your latest video and statistics included in your profile. Don’t miss out on your chance to get the ‘early’ looks from college recruiters.

How women’s basketball started

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How to Get Recruited for College Basketball

Playing college basketball is the dream for thousands of student-athletes across the country. But many families are often unsure of how to go about getting recruited by coaches. To be successful, recruits need to research their best college fit and actively market themselves to these coaches by creating an online profile and highlight video that showcases their athletic ability and leadership qualities. This section will answer the most common questions families have on how to get recruited for college basketball.

Quick Links

How does college basketball recruiting work?

How to get recruited to play college basketball

Men’s basketball recruiting timeline

What do college basketball scouts look for in recruits?

What percentage of high school basketball players play in college?

How important is club basketball?

How to join a AAU basketball team: how does AAU basketball work?

What to know about college basketball walk ons

What is a preferred walk on in college basketball?

Do college basketball teams have tryouts?

How to prepare for basketball tryouts: What coaches look for in basketball tryouts

How tall are men’s college basketball players?

Attend basketball recruiting camps

What does redshirt mean in college basketball?

Learn how to make a college recruiting video for basketball

Research schools and create your target list

Contact coaches on your target list

How your high school coach can help you in your recruiting process

How does college basketball recruiting work? 

Basketball recruits who are successful in their recruiting journey do the leg work: they build a list of realistic schools, create an online profile and highlight film, contact college coaches and compete in front of coaches at tournaments and camps.  From a coach’s perspective, here’s a quick overview of how they find student-athletes:

• Identify potential recruits. At any point in high school, coaches can send general materials, such as recruiting questionnaires, to student-athletes, and they usually send them out to a large number of freshmen and sophomores to gauge their interest in the program. Respond promptly to these materials.
• Second, in-depth evaluations. At this point, coaches focus on ranking their prospects and narrowing down their list. This is the stage where most families think the recruiting process begins. However, athletes who’ve made it this far have already passed an initial evaluation and shown some interest in the school. Tournaments, camps and highlight film are the most common ways coaches evaluate basketball prospects.
• Verbal offers and visits. After coaches have their list of ranked prospects, they extend offers and lock down verbal commitments. Many recruits who are being seriously recruited will partake in unofficial and official visits during their junior and senior years. 

How to get recruited to play men’s college basketball

Recruiting isn’t a linear, clear-cut process. You could be nearing the end of your conversations with one coach, while simultaneously just beginning with another. But knowing what steps you can take to create a communication strategy and market yourself will help you secure a scholarship offer.

1. Research and build a target list. Student-athletes should visit college rosters and look at the players in their position (are they seniors who are graduating?), athletic stats (how do they measure up?) and backgrounds (does the coach recruit from a particular region or tournament?).
2. Compete at the highest level possible: To accurately assess a recruit’s ability to compete in college, coaches want to see them play against high-ranked athletes.
3. Compete in the summer during live periods: Scheduling conflicts make it difficult for college coaches to watch recruits play in-person during the regular season. So, they turn to live periods. These stretches in the offseason allow college basketball scouts and coaches to hit the road and scout several players at once. Attend elite or exposure camps as well.
4. Excel academically. The NCAA Eligibility Center determines the academic eligibility and amateur status for all NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 athletes. Understand the requirements to stay on track.
5. Create a highlight film. The best way to secure an in-depth and in-person evaluation is by sending coaches a highlight video and a full game film. It’s a quick way to show a snapshot of the recruit’s skill set.
6. Be proactive. Start by sending an introductory email that includes your online profile, highlight video, academic information, outstanding athletic achievements and personal interest in the program. Then follow up with a phone call. 

Men’s basketball recruiting timeline broken down by year in school

Here is a general guideline you can follow year-by-year to ensure your family is on track.

Freshman year

• Fill out questionnaires online and respond to coach materials. College coaches can send recruits general materials, such as questionnaires, camp information, non-athletic information about the school and materials published by the NCAA at any time.
• Meet with your guidance counselor and set academic goals for the year to keep your academic eligibility on track.
• Research colleges from all division levels.
• Create an online profile and if you have varsity or high-level competitive film, post your highlight video.
• Be proactive and call Division 1 and Division 2 coaches or athletics staff and talk to them on the phone.

Sophomore year

• Post your highlight video to your online profile, if you haven’t already.
• Aug. 1—Recruits can begin taking unofficial visits to Division 1 schools.
• Check that your sophomore year classes meet NCAA academic eligibility standards and register for the NCAA Eligibility Center.
• Send introductory emails to college coaches at your target colleges, if you haven’t already. And follow up with a phone call.
• NCAA Division 1 and Division 2— Student-athletes can receive personal contact and recruiting materials starting June 15 after their sophomore year. Coaches can call athletes, send text messages, direct messages and emails, as well as make verbal offers. Top Division 1 and Division 2 athletes are getting offers from college coaches at this time. Most Division 1 rosters are finalized before the start of junior year.
• NCAA Division 3—Off-campus contact is allowed after sophomore year. 

Junior year

• Take the ACT or SAT and submit your scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center. Upload your transcript to the Eligibility Center as well.
• Update your highlight video.
• NCAA Division 1—Off-campus contact is allowed beginning your opening day of classes.
• NCAA Division 1—Official Visits are allowed Aug. 1 of your junior year through completion of junior year (5 total visits).
• NCAA Division 3—Official visits allowed starting Jan. 1 of junior year.
• Offers continue to roll in for Division 2 prospects, as well as Division 3 and NAIA athletes.
• If you’re not getting interest from coaches at the schools you’ve been contacting, take a new look at your college list and find new opportunities.

Senior year

• Update your highlight video.
• NCAA Division 1—Recruits can take an additional five official visits during their senior year. They may re-visit a school from a junior year official visit.
• Nov. 13-20—Early signing period for NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 schools begins.
• Nov. 1—NJCAA Signing Date.
• Apply for the FAFSA on Oct. 1.
• Register with the NAIA Eligibility Center.
• Request final amateurism certification beginning April 1 in NCAA Eligibility Center account.
• April 15-May 20—Regular signing period occurs for Division 1 and Division 2.
• Division 3 and NAIA teams are finalizing their rosters during senior year. JUCO programs are also recruiting student-athletes at this time. Consider these schools if you haven’t secured a roster spot yet. 

What do college basketball scouts look for in recruits?

College coaches consider a few factors when determining an athlete’s ability. 

• Physical characteristics—height and body frame, athleticism and strength. In NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball, the average height of a college basketball player was just under 6’5” and the most common height listed was 6’7”.
• Technical skills. Coaches want to recruit student-athletes who have mastered the fundamentals.
• Basketball IQ. Can the student-athlete process information in real time during a game and make the right decisions?
• Academics. College coaches look for recruits who excel in the classroom. They know that student-athletes with a solid GPA and test scores will more likely be admitted into their university and have an easier college transition. Plus, a good GPA also tells coaches that the recruit is responsible and disciplined—traits they highly value. 

Of course, what coaches look for also depends on their program’s specific needs. Connecting with a college coach is the best way to understand what kind of recruit they need. Another quick way is to visit the team’s website and analyze their roster.

What percentage of high school basketball players play in college?

There are 551,373 high school men’s basketball players. Of that number, 18,540 —or 3.4 percent—go on to compete in the NCAA and less than one percent move on to the NAIA. Just less than one percent compete in NCAA Division 1 where there are 353 teams; one percent compete at the NCAA Division 2 level, which has 313 programs; and 1. 4 percent compete at NCAA Division 3 with 109 teams. There are 430 JUCO programs rostering 6,352 basketball players. 

How important is club basketball in the college basketball recruiting process? 

AAU, which stands for the Amateur Athletic Union, can be a valuable tool in gaining exposure to college coaches. It allows recruits to compete against top tier athletes and offers coaches an extended look into their abilities. Elite Division 1 basketball players are often recognized in middle school through their AAU experience. But even though AAU provides several competitive opportunities, it isn’t a requirement to obtain a college basketball scholarship. Several prospects have foregone the AAU circuit and moved on to successful college and professional careers.

How to join a AAU basketball team. How does AAU basketball work? 

AAU is a youth sports organization and stands for the Amateur Athletic Union. Athletes form independent teams and compete in AAU tournaments against other teams. Teams are assigned based on geography. To find out which district you belong to and which team is best for you, you can visit the AAU website.

Many athletes value AAU as it provides an opportunity to compete against top-level talent that you typically wouldn’t find by solely playing locally. There are various levels of competition within AAU and as players develop and get better, they’ll switch to a higher competitive team. As a result, many AAU tournaments, especially NCAA-certified tournaments, often attract scouts, giving athletes a chance to play in front of college coaches. However, participating in these events can be costly. The AAU membership fee is $14 per year, but families can end up paying $400 to $4,000 dollars per year depending on how many tournaments they travel to. Many programs, however, offer financial assistance to help cut the high price tag associated with AAU.

Do college coaches recruit at AAU or high school games? The answer is, both. But joining an AAU program and competing during the off-season gives recruits the advantage to be seen by college scouts year round. It can be difficult for college coaches to attend many high school games during the regular season because of their competing schedules. AAU tournaments provide college coaches the opportunity to evaluate many recruits at one time. 

To get a membership or start a club, you can visit AAU’s website.

What to know about college basketball walk ons and how to walk onto a college basketball team

The first thing you should know about becoming a college basketball walk-on is that it is rare. Basketball rosters are not that big—there’s an average of 17 players per team across the divisions. Coaches aren’t going to give up spots to walk-ons if they don’t have to. Some student-athletes, though, are recruited as a preferred walk-on. These athletes go through the recruiting process and are offered a roster spot, but they don’t receive any athletic aid as the coach doesn’t have any scholarship opportunities available. 

Student-athletes have a better chance of walking on to a college team as a preferred walk-on compared to going to a tryout and making the team. Preferred walk-ons take all the necessary steps in the recruiting process to capture a coach’s attention: they proactively contact coaches and send their online resume; they attend camps and tournaments to gain exposure; they reach out to schools that are the right academic and athletic fit for them; and they take unofficial visits to the college.

Learn more about becoming a walk-on versus getting a scholarship offer. 

What is a preferred walk on in college basketball? 

After college coaches have handed out all of their scholarship opportunities, they may still continue to recruit student-athletes. In this scenario, a student-athlete is guaranteed a roster spot without receiving any athletic aid. These are known as preferred walk-ons. The recruit still goes through the recruiting process and joins the team—the coach just doesn’t have an athletic scholarship available for them.

Being a preferred walk-on means something different depending on the division and program, though. In NCAA Division 1, walk-ons typically don’t see much playing time and are less likely to receive an athletic scholarship in subsequent years. At the NCAA Division 2 and JUCO levels, however, some walk-ons earn playing time and a scholarship going into their second season. It is best to have clear communication with the college coach to understand playing and scholarship opportunities.

Do college basketball teams have tryouts? 

While NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 programs are allowed to conduct basketball tryouts, Division 3 cannot do so. Tryouts are limited to prospective student-athletes who are seniors in high school, junior college transfers or four-year transfers who have completed their basketball season. Tryout participants also must be on an official or unofficial visit to the campus. 

Typically college coaches only recruit one to two players as walk-ons. In Division 1, walk-on athletes don’t receive athletic aid and usually don’t get any playing time. Division 2 and JUCO programs more commonly give walk-ons a chance at competing for a roster spot and because these divisions offer partial scholarships, there’s also a chance to earn athletic aid after the first year.

How to prepare for basketball tryouts and what coaches look for in basketball tryouts 

When making roster decisions, college coaches consider a recruit’s physical characteristics, like height and body frame, athleticism, ability to execute the fundamentals and basketball IQ, which showcases the athlete’s ability to interpret what is happening at game speed, as well as their ability to make the right decision based on instinct and experience. These players can anticipate what will happen next, making their game more automatic. 

Securing a roster spot at a tryout is extremely rare. Student-athletes will improve their chances of walking on to a college team by establishing a relationship with the college coach ahead of time. Send them an introductory email with highlight film, game film, academic information, and contact information.

How tall are men’s college basketball players? 

The height of men’s college basketball players vary slightly from division to division. Generally, men’s basketball players are between 5’9” and 6’9”. Keep in mind that this should be used as a helpful guideline and not something set in stone. Players who don’t fall within these ranges are recruited every year by college coaches. The best way to understand a coach’s recruiting needs is to establish a relationship with them early on and analyze their current team roster.

View the average height of men’s basketball players by position across each division level.

Attend basketball recruiting camps to get noticed by college coaches 

Here are a few factors to consider when choosing the right camp: 

• College basketball camps are run by the college’s basketball program. Student-athletes have an opportunity to sample campus life and compete in front of the coach.
• Basketball exposure camps are designed to evaluate players and obtain a player ranking. Although they are not tied to a specific university, many basketball exposure camps offer players an opportunity to play in front of college coaches, especially at NCAA DIII men’s basketball coaches. Many of these camps are invitation-only, so the talent level is high – and excellent for player development.
• Lastly, there is a level of “elite camps.” These are typically invitation-only events that bring together the top recruits from each graduate class to compete against each other at a national level. They’re run by college coaches on the school’s campus, so they’re a great way for athletes to get exposure to coaches. 

If you want to get recruited at a college basketball camp, remember that most coaches attend events only to see players with whom they’ve already made some kind of connection.

Learn more about basketball camps and search for the best camps.

What does redshirt mean in college basketball?

The term “redshirt” is used to describe a student-athlete who does not participate in outside competition for an academic year. They’re allowed to practice and train with the team, but they don’t see any playing time. By doing this, they gain an additional year of eligibility, so technically they play four seasons in five years. Some coaches offer redshirt scholarships to freshmen who don’t meet the academic eligibility requirements coming out of high school, or as a chance to physically grow and prepare to compete as a collegiate athlete. In some cases, student-athletes redshirt for a year as they recover from an injury.

Learn how to make a college recruiting video for basketball

Creating a basketball highlight video is essential to garnering coach interest. Follow these straight-forward tips to put together a video that truly stands out: 

1. Choose games against your best competition, such as varsity level, high-level AAU games or any nationwide tournaments.
2. Focus the camera from mid-court while making sure the student-athlete is easily recognizable.
3. Use a tripod to avoid a shaky camera.
4. Don’t zoom in and out.
5. Make sure the person filming the match isn’t cheering. If there is excessive and distracting background noise, mute the video completely. Don’t add music to the video either.
6. Put a title card at the front of your basketball highlight video that includes your name and graduation year, such as “John Doe Basketball Recruiting Video Class of 2021.”
7. Stack your best clips first. Typically you’ll start your video by highlighting your shooting ability.
8. Focus on three or four strengths and organize your clips to highlight them. For example, if you’re an excellent three-point shooter, highlighting six straight threes is much more effective than showcasing one three-pointer, a pass, then a free throw, and then maybe another three, etc. 
9. Know what coaches are looking for in your position. In short, post players should showcase their shooting ability, quickness, ability to finish at the rim, rebounding, shot blocking, footwork and overall basketball awareness. Perimeter players should focus on scoring ability, quickness, ability to penetrate and finish at the rim, athleticism, basketball awareness and court vision. 
10. Cap your video with your best 20 to 30 clips and keep it under four minutes.
11. Send college coaches your highlight video, as well as one unedited full game video. If they’re interested in a recruit after watching their highlight film, they will want to evaluate the full game next. 

See the full list of tips for creating a basketball highlight video.

Research schools and create your target list 

The very first step in the recruiting journey is often the one most overlooked—research. Here are the most important factors to keep in mind:

• Academics: Visit the school’s website to see the average grades and test scores. Plus, consider which majors are offered and remember to ask the coach which majors are popular among athletes on the team.
• Athletics: Student-athletes can use their high school or club coach to help them assess where they can make an impact, or they can visit a team’s roster and analyze the athletes’ key stats.
• Cost: How much can your family afford and how much aid is the student-athlete eligible to receive at each school? NCAA Division 1 schools offer full ride scholarships, while Division 2, NAIA and JUCO programs offer partial scholarships. Many coaches, including NCAA Division 3, work with the admissions department to create financial packages that include need-based aid, grants, academic scholarships, work study and merit-based scholarships.
• Personal Preferences: Think about housing options, school size, social aspects, distance from home and even the weather.

As families start to find programs they’re interested in, we recommend sorting them into three categories: target schools, dream schools and safety schools. Most of the schools on a student-athlete’s list should fall into the target category.

Get a head start on your list by viewing NCSA’s list of Best Colleges for Student-Athletes.

Contact coaches on your target list

Once a recruit has done the research and built a realistic target list of colleges, they’re ready to contact coaches. Remember—never wait for a coach to reach out. Be proactive to get on their radar. Here are a few steps to take:   

1. Send an introductory email: An introductory email serves two purposes—to get an initial evaluation and establish a relationship with the coach. Make sure this email includes highlight film, academic information, contact information and key stats. Student-athletes should also personalize their email and explain their interest in that specific program. Never copy and paste—it’s almost guaranteed to get skipped over.
2. Tailor the subject line: Avoid generic subject lines, such as “Top basketball recruit,” and tailor the subject line to the school instead. For example, a recruit might want to include their GPA and test score in the subject line for high academic colleges, while highlighting key stats or awards to Division 1 schools.
3. Call coaches. Basketball coaches are allowed to talk to athletes on the phone when the recruits are the ones initiating contact. In other words, if a recruit calls an NCAA Division 1 coach, the coach is allowed to talk to them. Typically, they’ll want to email them letting them know what time they plan on calling so the coach can be prepared
4. Follow up. Whenever there is a noteworthy update to share, like a new ACT or SAT score or athletic achievement, email the college coach again to touch base. Because if they missed the first email (and coaches tend to be pretty busy), following up can help keep you top of mind.

See the full list of tips on contacting coaches.

How your high school coach can help you in your recruiting process

High school or club coaches are there to support student-athletes along their recruiting journey—and help them connect with college coaches. Here are a few ways: 

• Find the right college fit: Use their expertise and insight to create a college list of realistic programs. Plus, they probably have connections in the college network.
• Connect with college coaches: There’s a loophole in the NCAA basketball recruiting rules that allows student-athletes and college coaches to talk on the phone. If a student-athlete initiates the contact and calls the college coach, the coach is allowed to answer the phone and talk to the recruit. High school coaches can help facilitate this contact by acting as a liaison.
• Character reference: Men’s basketball coaches want to learn as much as they can about their top recruits, including their leadership qualities, attitude and talent. So, they call the recruit’s high school or club coach to get a better understanding of the athlete’s mental toughness, work ethic and behavior both on and off the court. 
• Video help: Don’t hesitate to ask your coach for help when creating a highlight film. Plus, they probably have full game footage already available.

Insider tip: Despite the impact that coronavirus had on college sports, as of June 1, 2021, the NCAA resumed its regular recruiting rules and activity! Coaches are actively working to fill their rosters, so student-athletes should be proactive in reaching out to coaches. Read up on how the extra year of eligibility granted to athletes who were most affected by the pandemic in 2020 will impact future recruiting classes.

School basketball: 6 tips for young snipers

Many kids love team games with the ball — football, volleyball, basketball. These sports are included in the school physical education curriculum. Perhaps the easiest way to equip a gym for basketball is to have a couple of rings fixed at a suitable height and a few balls.

Unlike professional basketball, not every player in school basketball can boast of good ball dribbling, passing accuracy and most importantly - scoring shots.

But it is for hitting the ball into the basket, as you know, points are awarded. Of course, the team that has more tall guys has an advantage, but this is not the main indicator, because almost everyone can learn accuracy. So, what needs to be done for this?

1 Exercise regularly

It is easy to guess that the path to success lies through hard training. In physical education lessons, the ball can generally touch your hands a number of times, so train accuracy is better after hours, before or after school, slowly - on any sports ground where there is a basketball hoop. At the same time, the student must be rested, full of energy: after a particularly difficult school day or immediately after eating, it is undesirable to train.

2 Start with light drills

First you can stand a couple of meters from the basket (left or right) and try to send the ball into it bouncing off the backboard. Despite the fact that many pros consider such hits to be "childish", one can recall that such a throw became "gold" at the Olympics-1972: this is how Alexander Belov brought victory to Soviet athletes in a match with the US team.

3 Practice clean throws

The ability to hit the basket without rebounding off the shield or ring is a useful skill and an indicator of a certain skill. Moreover, this is a great challenge to yourself: you always want to make a beautiful and accurate throw, even in training. The trajectory of the ball in this case must be high, so that it can descend in an arc exactly on the target.

4 Work on free throws

Free throws are rare in high school basketball if it's not officiated, but it's still useful to learn this skill. But only trained guys get free kicks: after all, it is necessary that the ball not only hit the basket, but also fly to it, given that such throws are made from afar. Before each attempt, you need to take a deep breath and exhale: in no case should you rush, but it is useful to concentrate and imagine that the fate of the match depends on your hit.

5 Practice long shots as well

As a rule, in high school basketball no one blocks such shots (and blocking is a rarity in general), believing that it is possible to hit only by chance. Of course, a player without experience can only rely on luck, and one who trains hard knows that this can also be learned. Therefore, if such an opportunity presents itself, you should try to use it. A 3-point shot is always beautiful and sure to give you and your team confidence.

6 Control more than just the throw

Having made the throw, keep your hands in the air and mentally accompany the flight of the ball. Practice has shown that those who remember this (seemingly!) little thing are more productive and control the ball better.

Remember that even natural abilities without labor and hard training can remain undiscovered!

Therefore, devote more time to basketball or other outdoor games - of course, not virtual, but real. The skills acquired in them will also allow you to cope with tasks that, at first glance, have nothing to do with physical education and sports.

Photo: pixabay.com/ru/users/KeithJJ-2328014/

Tags: basketball, team sports, sports

Teaching basketball in elementary grades.

Prepared by the teacher of physical culture Rylkov G.V.

Since the 2002-2003 academic year, along with the current comprehensive program, several alternative physical education programs have been introduced for students in general education schools. And so, working on a comprehensive program, I decided to use one of these alternative programs,

which is based on one of the most massive and popular sports among schoolchildren - basketball, but can only be used in elementary school starting from the 2nd grade, since the comprehensive curriculum for teaching this sport does not provide for elementary school, although passing the section "Outdoor games" schoolchildren master some skills in possession of the ball. A certain role in my decision was also played by the fact that our elementary school works according to experiment 1-4, and therefore I, as I work and in grades 2-3, have to look for and solve something different, new.
Their program material of the alternative program, I used in my work two educational sections "basic knowledge" and "Special training", and included them in the section "Outdoor games" for grades 2-3. And now in my work in this direction began to include three stages in teaching this sport:
Stage 1 - 2-3 classes
Stage 2 - 5-8 grades
Stage 3 - 9-11 grades
Why this sport and not another I chose in my work. Firstly, basketball has become a traditional sport at school for a number of years. Secondly, I myself used to be engaged in game types and basketball is more familiar to me.
And thirdly, the technical and tactical actions inherent in basketball are fraught with great opportunities for the formation of vital motor skills and the development of children's physical abilities.
But I will dwell in more detail on teaching basketball in elementary grades.
Starting from the 2nd grade, students master throws, catching, passing small rubber balls to a partner, stopping in motion on a sound signal and various exercises that develop motor qualities. We study all these elements in different ways, but the most acceptable one is through games, for example, “Ball to a Neighbor”, “Passing the Ball in Columns”, “Ball to a Neighbor”, etc. Also in the lessons I use small sports equipment, mostly for personal use, these are small rubber balls , cubes, weighted bags.
Performed exercises with these objects in walking and running, on the spot, in the lid, throws and catching in pairs, students develop the skills that they need later when handling a basketball.
Starting to study some techniques, I introduce the guys to the markings of the basketball court and give them various tasks “Walking along the indicated lines”. To do this, I prepare for them the pace of movement "Hourglass", "Reel", "Snake", etc.
In the class II program, I included the player’s stance, the player’s movement in the stance, stop on a sound signal and various sets of exercises with small and large balls. For the harmonious development of the body and coordination of movements, we perform exercises with both the right and left hands, perform jumps on both the right and left legs, and then we complicate the exercises.
I start training from the player’s stance, explain why a stance is needed in the game and show what position should be in the stance: legs half-bent, arms in front of the chest, and I give exercises for training.
1. Line up. Crouching to jump out and land on half-bent legs, legs shoulder-width apart, one set forward.
2. Sit down in a line, jump out and land in a standing position. Immediately after landing on bent legs, run to the opposite sideline. Use the rack in outdoor games "Sparrows and Crows", "Day and Night", etc.
Movement. There are many varieties of movements, but first we learn running facing forward in a straight line, then we master running with a change in direction and speed. After that, we learn running sideways, backwards and their varieties. The basic element is the position on half-bent legs and balance, which is ensured by the half-bent legs of the arms in front of the chest.

Training exercises:
1. Running around the hall on half-bent legs with a sliding touch of one, then with both hands of the floor along the whistle.
2. Oncoming relay races with touching lines and objects on the floor.
3. Running circles with hand touching the line of the circle. Relay races with running circles.
When conducting games and exercises of a technical nature, I use lighter balls, and heavier balls in general educational exercises.
While walking at an average pace, and then when running, we execute the “Stop” command after which the students stop in a wide step position. With the help of various general developmental exercises with small and large balls, we study movements with balls. The same exercises are for the children a means of developing motor qualities.

To master the techniques of the game I use lead-up exercises:
1. Large ball in both hands at chest level. Throwing the ball up and catching it, you can clap your hands behind your back.
2. The same as exercise 1 but with catching after the ball bounces off the floor at different heights6 at the level of the knee, waist, head.
3. Ball on the floor in front of the student. Bend over and put your hands on the ball. Repeat several times.
4. Same as exercise 3, but put your hands on the ball, grab it with your fingers and press it to your chest, straighten up, bend over again, put the ball on the floor, straighten up.
5. Exercises in pairs with the ball.
6. Throw the ball over your head, straighten your arms and catch the ball, pulling your arms to your chest.

In the third grade, students learn to move in a standing position, stop by jumping, catch and pass the ball with two hands from the chest from a place, with a reflection from the floor and backboard.
The main task of teaching basketball in grade III is to study the basics of the game technique and consolidate the acquired skills in outdoor games and special exercises. In the course of basketball lessons, I use various types of walking in a squat and half-squat position on the entire foot, on the toes and lateral arches of the foot, jumping with a push of both legs (in a squat and half-squat), changing the direction of movement (straight, back, left, right), alternating them with walking. Then I give a run from various starting positions, sitting, kneeling, alternating slow running with accelerations and stops in the position of a wide ball. After that, we perform various exercises for the muscles of the arms and legs.

Jump stop. By stopping, the student must cancel the forces of inertia and take a position from which he can start in any direction. The basic element is the position on bent legs with a variable body weight on the back standing leg.
Exercises for learning.
1. Building in 1 line. Alternately in the line, jump in place with a stand with the leg extended forward, squat on the standing leg behind with the hand touching the floor next to it, also on the other leg.
2. In a column, one by one, moving around the hall, make stops on sound signals.
3. The game "Tag" (in pairs, or in groups) performing stops with the arrival. The driver catches up with them and tries to overpower them.
Catching and passing the ball with both hands from the chest while standing still. The main element during catching is the position of the hands, reproducing the shape of the ball. Exercises with passing and catching the ball are performed in the player's stance.
Exercises for learning.
1. In ranks of 4-5 people. In front of each line is a driver. The players take a stand. Hands at face level, brushes reproduce the shape of the ball. The driver alternately puts the ball into the hands of the players, having received the ball, the player lowers his hands to his chest and holds in the position from which the transfer is made.
2. Standing in line. The driver alternately throws the ball to the players, doing this from 2-3 m with one hand from below so that the ball flies at face level. The player extends his arms and catches the ball with a step towards.

Dribbling with the right and left hand in a straight line.
The main element is the position of the forearm and elbow of the hand leading the ball, which, as if trying to take a position below the hand, are ahead of the hand. This makes it possible to follow the ball far down and meet it early with a brush, as well as control the ball.

Exercises for learning.

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