Home » Misc » How to make your own basketball mixtape
How to make your own basketball mixtape
How to Make a Basketball Highlight Video for Men’s Basketball
In a perfect world, basketball coaches would be able to evaluate all their top recruits in person. But unfortunately, they just don’t have the time or budget to see every prospect this way. Cue: basketball highlight videos. A well-crafted highlight video can put a recruit on a coach’s radar and secure them a second in-person evaluation. Follow these guidelines to create a video that stands out.
Quick Links
The importance of video in college basketball recruiting
How to make a basketball skills video
College basketball recruiting video tips
What do coaches look for in a basketball highlight video?
What are some good basketball highlight video songs?
How long should a basketball highlight video be?
Center highlight video
Point guard highlight video
Power forward highlight video
Shooting guard highlight video
Small forward highlight video
How to make a basketball highlight video on hudl
Basketball recruiting video services
The importance of a college basketball recruiting video
Here’s the hard hitting truth—most coaches don’t simply “discover” recruits. They don’t have the budget or time to see every prospect play in-person. And with high school and college basketball games being more staggered throughout the week compared to other sports, traveling is nearly impossible when coaches are in season. That’s why highlight videos have become essential in the basketball recruiting process. In a matter of minutes, they can garner coach interest and help student-athletes get an in-depth, second evaluation. Think of it as the first step toward getting on a coach’s radar and securing an opportunity to be evaluated in person later.
Related Articles
How does Illinois basketball recruiting work?
Basketball College: Offering Scholarships and On-Court Glory
How are NCAA basketball teams organized?
How to make a basketball skills video
One of the best parts of shooting a men’s basketball skills video is that you don’t need all the bells and whistles of a traditional highlight video. Whether you miss a shot or don’t have the best angle, your basketball skills video doesn’t have to be perfect—it’s more important to go game speed at all times and showcase your athleticism and technical abilities.
In the video below, former D1 and pro basketball player Eric Vierneisel explains that coaches want to see multiple reps of drills that showcase your skills, including:
Ball handling and shooting drills
Change of speed and direction
Jumping and leaping
Strength training and conditioning workouts, like box jumps and speed ladder work
Shooting range and consistency
College basketball recruiting video tips
For some student-athletes, a basketball highlight video might be the reason they secure an in-person evaluation. Creating a highlight film is not as complicated as it sounds. Follow these straight-forward tips to create a video that truly stands out:
Before you set out to film, ask your high school coach if they have footage already available. Online video services for high school coaches, like Hudl, are popular resources.
Choose games against your best competition, such as varsity level, high-level AAU games or any nationwide tournaments. College coaches want to see how you stack up against top talent. Typically clips from two or three games is enough, but you can use more if needed.
Focus the camera from mid-court while making sure the student-athlete is easily recognizable. The camera view shouldn’t be obstructed by the crowd, other players on the court or people walking by.
Use a tripod to avoid a shaky camera.
Don’t zoom in and out.
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.
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. ”
Stack your best clips first. Typically, you’ll start your video by highlighting your shooting ability.
Focus on your three or four strongest strengths and organize your clips to highlight them. For example, if you’re an excellent three-point shooter, showcasing six straight threes is much more effective than one three-pointer, a pass, then a free throw, and then maybe another three, etc.
Cap your video at 20 to 30 clips and keep it under four minutes.
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.
What do college coaches look for in a basketball highlight video?
A well-edited highlight video gives student-athletes a chance to show college coaches their strongest skills, athleticism, versatility and basketball IQ—all in just a few minutes. Coaches look for recruits who have the right technique and can execute on the fundamentals. They want to see footage against high-level competition where the recruit was truly tested—think varsity high school games, national tournaments, showcases and elite camps. If the highlight video does its job and captures the coach’s attention, then the coach will also want to evaluate performance from an unedited full game, which provides further insight into the recruit’s basketball IQ and game awareness. That’s why we always recommend sending a brief and impactful highlight film, as well as one full game.
What are some good basketball highlight video songs?
Music can set an energetic tone, but it shouldn’t take away from an athlete’s performance. For that reason, we typically don’t recommend including music in a basketball highlight video. And to be honest, coaches don’t care too much about the frills; they just want to evaluate the recruit. In fact, if there’s excessive background noise, like yelling, it’s best to mute the sound completely.
How long should a basketball highlight video be?
Student-athletes need to quickly capture a coach’s attention—with an emphasis on quickly. Basketball highlight videos should be under four minutes with 20-30 great plays that demonstrate the athlete’s strongest skills. In addition to a brief highlight film, student-athletes should separately provide full game film. If the coach is interested after watching the highlight reel, they’ll want to evaluate the recruit in one unedited game.
Center highlight video
College coaches want to evaluate the strongest parts of a center’s game. They look for technique and the ability to overpower players. Height and wingspan are key physical tools that will stand out, as well.
Shooting ability (range) and ability to finish around the rim
Ability to score against traditional post defense
Rebounding
Shot blocking and defensive ability to disrupt flow and passes (even when not blocking shots)
Successfully guard multiple positions
Quickness and footwork
Properly executed pick and roll plays and defensive stops
Game awareness—ability to process in game time and make the right decisions
In the video below, Team Edition Coordinator John Pugliese—a former NCAA Division 1, 2 and 3 college coach who’s watched hundreds of highlight/skills videos—breaks down what college coaches want to see from potential men’s basketball recruits competing for a center roster spot.
Point guard highlight video
Scoring and shooting ability is the most important aspect for perimeter players. Point guards who can take control, possess leadership skills and have a take-charge attitude will stand out.
Shooting ability (range) and scoring
Ability to penetrate and finish at the rim
Ball handling and passing (making the right pass, knowing when to pass—and when not to)
Court vision and controlling pace of the game
Good decisions in transition
Quickness
Defense rotations and ability to guard bigger players and multiple positions
Game awareness—ability to process in game time and make the right decisions
There are a few key skills student-athletes should include in their point guard highlight videos. In the video below, former NCAA D1, D2 and D3 college coach John Pugliese says potential recruits should make sure their video shows that they’re a great leader, highlights how they respond to and perform under pressure and showcases their ability to process and make decisions during games.
Power forward highlight video
Power forwards need to have a dynamic skill set and be able to demonstrate their ability to shoot, especially at mid-range.
Shooting ability (range) and ability to finish around the rim
Rebounding
Shot blocking and defensive ability to disrupt flow of the game (even when not blocking shots)
Successfully guard multiple positions
Quickness and footwork
Game awareness—ability to process in game time and make the right decisions
College coaches expect a lot from power forwards, and potential recruits interested in landing a men’s basketball roster spot should be prepared to showcase that they’re a jack-of-all-trades. Coaches want student-athletes to display their strength on the court, from rebounding, running, and transitioning the ball to their ability to guard, block jump shots and adapt to the opposing team.
Shooting guard highlight video
Coaches obviously want to evaluate a shooting guard’s ability to score, and they’re also looking at their technique and whether they can execute the fundamentals.
Shooting ability and range
Ability to make shots when moving off the dribble (catch and shoot movement)
Defensive ability to stop penetration
Active hands and touches on the ball
Ball handling—this is a must for shooting guards
Court vision
Quickness
Defense rotations and ability to guard bigger players and multiple positions, as well as help defense when opponent is driving by
Game awareness—ability to process in game time and make the right decisions
In the video below, former men’s basketball coach John Pugliese breaks down what shooting guards should include in their highlight videos. Recruits interested in competing at the next level need to display more than their shooting and scoring abilities to land a roster spot—they also need to show college coaches what separates them from their competition.
Small forward highlight video
Versatility is important among small forwards. Similar to shooting guards, small forwards need to be exceptional shooters, especially at the short-to mid-range scoring area.
Shooting ability and range
Ability to make shots when moving off the dribble (catch and shoot movement)
Defensive ability to stop penetration
Active hands and touches on the ball
Ball handling
Court vision
Quickness
Defense rotations and ability to guard bigger players and multiple positions, as well as help defense when opponent is driving by
Game awareness—ability to process in game time and make the right decisions
Student-athletes interested in landing a small forward roster spot should highlight that they have a variety of skills on the basketball court. College coaches look for recruits who can use their size and strength to guard and defend multiple positions, are multi-level scorers and can play defense, finish and transition.
How to make a basketball highlight video on hudl
Online video services for high school coaches, like Hudl, are becoming more popular in basketball. Student-athletes should follow the standard guidelines when creating a highlight video using Hudl:
Choose games against your best competition, such as varsity level, high-level AAU games or any nationwide tournaments. College coaches want to see how you stack up against top talent. Typically clips from two or three games is enough, but you can use more if needed.
Make sure the student-athlete is easily recognizable and the camera view isn’t obstructed by the crowd, other players on the court or people walking by.
Don’t zoom in and out.
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.
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.”
Stack your best clips first. Typically you’ll start your video by highlighting your shooting ability. Post players should include: shooting ability, ability to finish around the rim, rebounding, shot blocking, footwork, and defensive abilities (guarding multiple positions). Perimeter players should include: scoring ability, ability to penetrate and finish at the rim, ball handling, court vision, and defensive abilities (guard bigger players and multiple positions).
Focus on your three or four strongest strengths and organize your clips to highlight them. For example, if you’re an excellent three-point shooter, showcasing six straight threes is much more effective than one three-pointer, a pass, then a free throw, and then maybe another three, etc.
Cap your video at 20 to 30 clips and keep it under four minutes.
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.
Basketball recruiting video services
While coaches generally prefer simple, no-frills editing, a professional videographer can quickly turn disorganized raw footage into a cohesive sequence of highlights. Plus, they know exactly which plays to showcase first. That’s why many families choose to call in help when creating their highlight video.
As part of NCSA’s recruiting service for student-athletes, our full-service video editing team offers professionally edited video. In fact, they edit more than 40,000 highlight videos each year. And, depending on the membership level, they’ll produce multiple highlight videos for the athlete and help them identify the best schools to send it to. If you’re interested in learning more about NCSA’s video offerings, call our Video Team at 866-495-5172.
Get Started for Free!
A profile only takes 60 seconds
Athlete Information
First Name *
Last Name *
Email *
Check if you reside outside of the United States
Sport *
Select SportBaseballCheerleadingEsportsField HockeyFootballMen's BasketballMen's DivingMen's GolfMen's Ice HockeyMen's LacrosseMen's RowingMen's SoccerMen's SwimmingMen's TennisMen's TrackMen's VolleyballMen's Water PoloMen's WrestlingSoftballWomen's BasketballWomen's Beach VolleyballWomen's DivingWomen's Flag FootballWomen's GolfWomen's GymnasticsWomen's Ice HockeyWomen's LacrosseWomen's RowingWomen's SoccerWomen's SwimmingWomen's TennisWomen's TrackWomen's VolleyballWomen's Water PoloWomen's Wrestling
By submitting, you agree to receive personalized follow-up and marketing messages from NCSA by email, phone and automated text. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Standard rates apply.
Get Started for Free!
A profile only takes 60 seconds
Athlete Information
Athlete's First Name *
Athlete's Last Name *
Check if you reside outside of the United States
Sport *
Select SportBaseballCheerleadingEsportsField HockeyFootballMen's BasketballMen's DivingMen's GolfMen's Ice HockeyMen's LacrosseMen's RowingMen's SoccerMen's SwimmingMen's TennisMen's TrackMen's VolleyballMen's Water PoloMen's WrestlingSoftballWomen's BasketballWomen's Beach VolleyballWomen's DivingWomen's Flag FootballWomen's GolfWomen's GymnasticsWomen's Ice HockeyWomen's LacrosseWomen's RowingWomen's SoccerWomen's SwimmingWomen's TennisWomen's TrackWomen's VolleyballWomen's Water PoloWomen's Wrestling
By submitting, you agree to receive personalized follow-up and marketing messages from NCSA by email, phone and automated text. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Standard rates apply.
How to Make a Basketball Highlight Video
Having a solid basketball recruiting video is essential if you want to play in college. Coaches receive dozens of highlight tapes everyday and if yours doesn’t stand out from the rest you probably won’t receive a response back. On top of that, coaches don’t have the time to see every recruit play in person making it of the utmost importance to have a strong highlight video.
The nice thing is they aren’t difficult to make and this guide will help you understand exactly what coaches are looking for. Let’s get to it!
Before we start: If you want a professionally-made highlight tape click here as we can help.
The college recruiting process can be complicated at times. There are so many things to know about and do correctly. A solid highlight tape is certainly one of those things. After reading this post I’m 100% positive you’ll know what your basketball highlight video should look like.
Whether you decide to make it yourself or have us create it, you’ll be a step ahead in the recruiting process.
The main use of a highlight video
Your basketball highlight video is an all-in-one recruiting package that shows a coach what you are about as a player. When you are contacting coaches the first thing you should be providing them with is your highlight video.
Hundreds of kids every year receive offers from coaches who have only watched their tape. That is why having a well put together highlight video is so important in the college basketball recruiting process.
If a coach likes what he sees from your tape then he will most likely request more clips, a full game footage, or find a time to come see you play in person. At the very least, it will encourage the coach to strike up a conversation with you so he can learn more about you as a recruit and a person.
Highlight videos aren’t just for flash, but a real tool to help boost your recruiting and catch the attention of college coaches.
What footage should a basketball player use in their highlight video?
All good basketball highlight videos have the same types of footage per position. You are going to want to use clips from real games. Varsity games are what coaches want to see, but if you are a younger player, then JV highlights will be fine for now.
Many players want to put highlights from AAU games, but I recommend not putting that in your high school video. Be sure to have separate basketball highlight videos for high school and AAU.
Most college coaches are going to prefer to see your high school highlight video anyway. If they want to see more of you then they will most likely come see you play at an AAU tournament.
The angle of your film should be from high up in the bleachers, using a wide angle so you can see at least half the court in the same shot. Sometimes, behind the hoop footage is used as well. Both types of film are acceptable as long as they are clear, well focused, and accurately show your abilities.
Checklist:
Legitimate game, preferably varsity
Limit clips from scrimmages, only include if they are spectacular
Bleacher view primarily, some under the hoop clips are fine
No AAU clips, unless its a play that could make SportsCenter
How long should a basketball highlight video be?
An ideal basketball highlight video should be about 3-5 minutes long. Many athletes make the mistake of having a super long video that spreads out their best plays. Keep it short and sweet with your best plays at the beginning.
Be sure to show off all your different skillsets and athletic abilities. The more versatile you are, the more recruitable you are.
How to edit a basketball highlight video
Once you have gathered all of your film you will need to edit it down to your best offensive and defensive plays. If you need help deciding which plays to use and the order they should be in then feel free to send us a message.
The guide below will break down each position and what coaches want to see in the film so that should be helpful as well.
At the beginning of your highlight video you should have a real quick segment that includes:
Full first and last name
Height/Weight
Position(s) you play
Phone number/Email address
Cumulative GPA
ACT and/or SAT scores if you have them
Your head coach’s name
Head coach’s phone and email address
On each play make sure to show the initial setup and have a drop down arrow to identify where you are. You want the arrow before the play so the coach can watch the whole segment in full speed.
Stay away from special effects, the speed of the film, and disrupting music. Make sure to put your best plays first and show the coach what you’re made of!
The College Recruiting Guidebook
The college recruiting guidebook is the ultimate manual to earning an athletic scholarship for student-athletes and parents.
How would a $50,000/year athletic scholarship change your families life?
Inside the guidebook you’ll have access to:
step-by-step instructions freshman through senior year
every single college coaches email in the country (broken up by division and school)
sample email/dm/text templates you can use
a manual for parents on how to negotiate scholarships/financial aid with college coaches
access to an array of bonuses you won’t find anywhere else
Parents will pay $20 just for admission in to their kids game. You can get this guidebook for the same price.
The college recruiting guidebook could literally change your families future!
Download the Guidebook
Where should you upload your basketball highlight video?
You should upload your highlight video to as many places as possible. The more eyes it reaches the better off you will be. Here are the top places to upload your video:
Hudl
YouTube
Vimeo
MaxPreps
Exposure Sites
Hudl will be your go-to option so be sure to learn how to use the platform effectively (drop shadows, arrows, cutting down plays, etc). After uploading your highlight video you can then take the link and share it on your other social media platforms.
You should have the link on your Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and any other social media websites you use. Tell your family and friends to pass the link along as well.
What a highlight video for point guards should look like
Point guards should show off the skills that most represent their game. Are you a pass-first player that gets your teammates shots? Are you a scoring PG?
No matter what type of point guard you are there are still certain things coaches will be watching for:
Ability to handle pressure
Get shots for teammates
Create opportunities for yourself
Finish in the paint
Defend and cause havoc to other PG’s
The point guard is the extended coach on the floor. It is an extremely important position and one coaches will critique more than the others. Make sure your highlight video represents this.
How a shooting guards highlights should be set up
There are different types of players at the shooting guard/wing position so make sure that is clear in your highlights. Are you a knock down shooter? An athletic slasher? A combo guard?
College coaches are going to want to see your ability to score first and foremost. If you aren’t an elite scorer at the high school level then getting buckets in college is going to be a struggle for you.
Make sure you show off your athleticism whether it’s through some blocks, dunks, or transition opportunities. The college game is full of elite athletes. No matter how good of a shooter you are you still need to be able to defend and get yourself open.
Center most of your clips around your best offensive ability, but also show some versatility and all the different ways you can score.
Forwards/Centers and how their highlights should look
The game of basketball is changing so coaches look for different things in forwards these days. It’s not just about being a good post-scorer. They love bigs that can stretch the floor and knock down some three-pointers.
Your highlights at this position should have a few main things:
Finishing around the rim
Shot-blocking
Ability to catch passes and lobs
Shooting (whether 3’s or mid-range)
Running the floor in transition
Don’t overcomplicate your highlights at this position. Show what you do best and that you have room to grow as a player. Coaches love players with potential, you’ll hear them say that all the time.
My Experience:
Having a good highlight tape is critical in the college basketball recruiting process.
I made my highlight tapes on Hudl, but also uploaded them to YouTube.
From there I would post it everywhere including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
So many of my opportunities (even some offers) came purely off my highlights.
Conclusion
I hope this guide helped you understand what your highlight video should look like, how to make it, and where to upload it.
It was meant to be fairly straightforward so you can start to take action.
Tagged Getting Recruited
From AND1 to Zion. Mixtapes Changed Basketball - I Fucking Love NBA - Blogs
Editor's Note: You are in the "I fucking love NBA" user blog. Support the author with pluses, subscribe - and there will be more such posts.
Zion Williamson beats the defender in one motion and approaches the basket. Approaching the penalty area, he jumps and pulls his hand with the ball so far that it seems that his hand is parallel to the floor, and hammers hard from above.
The moment with this throw was one of many highlights that the EliteMixtape project included in a mixtape published on YouTube in March 2017. And the hype went up.
ESPN, SB Nation, Bleacher Report and other sports media started spinning Zion moments on their Instagram, Twitter and Facebook calling him the Next LeBron. The Ballislife project began posting other Williamson mixtapes, each of which received millions of views, and in the comments people admired his unreal athleticism.
When Williamson's team played LaMelo Ball in an Adidas-sponsored game, the hall was so crowded that security guards had to hold the doors to the hall to keep people out. The game was attended by Damian Lillard, Lonzo Ball and Andrew Wiggins, and over 80,000 people watched the live broadcast.
Williamson's popularity led him to Duke University, where he went as one of the most promising freshmen in college basketball history.
With the era of smartphones and the ubiquitous internet for amateur players, the golden age has come, although this phenomenon began almost 20 years ago during the heyday of streetball videos and mixtapes of the AND1 project. Now we can say for sure that without AND1 and the culture that it spawned, we would have looked at basketball in a completely different way.
Just ask social media star Grayson Bucher aka The Professor, one of the first stars of the AND1 mixtape era.
“[That AND1 tour] literally created me and everything I do now,” Bucher says. “In all my videos and broadcasts, I want people to feel exactly the energy that was in those mixtapes.
Back in the days before smartphones and fast internet, basketball highlights were hard to come by. Until the 2000s, studios like 20th Century Fox released VHS tapes of NBA highlights, and ESPN showed basketball much like SportsCenter does now. What was the innovation of AND1? They shifted their focus from specific NBA players to pure playful basketball creativity by overlaying these videos with a hip-hop vibe.
B 19In 98, as part of a campaign to promote its clothing and footwear line, AND1 began distributing cuts with the best moments of famous streetballers such as Philip Champion aka Hot Sauce or Wally Dixon aka Main Event. These recordings became very popular, after which AND1 began organizing competitions in which streetball stars traveled all over America to play against local players. Highlights were made from video materials from these games and everything that happened around, and then they were sold on VHS cassettes.
These videos were special and one of a kind. AND1 gave basketball a fresh take on local basketball, while introducing new heroes and faces to television along the way.
This AND1 tour was the highlight of the 2000s basketball product. Fragments of mixtapes were regularly shown on ESPN under the heading "Streetball", the tour itself became international, and fame - worldwide. The tour and its mixtapes even inspired the creation of a video game called AND1 Streetball, which was released on Playstation 2 and XBOX.
Among the hottest players on those mixtapes were the Professor and former NBA player Rufer Alston, who had his streetball name Skip 2 My Lou. By the end of 1999, AND1 Mixtape Vol.1 had sold over 100,000 copies, with Alston making frequent appearances. And while Alston, who had a long pro career, didn't really need mixtapes to become a famous player, The Professor showed by example how basketball highlight videos can build a reputation and a career as an amateur player. The professor became a legend of streetball, and he still enjoys this popularity today. He has over three and a half million subscribers on YouTube.
“Not only was it a basketball revolution, the AND1 tour was the most influential process of bringing basketball and hip-hop together,” Bucher says. “And for the first time in the video, we saw the reaction of the crowd to these highlights. Watching everyone jump and go crazy with beautiful basketball was awesome.
Inspired by AND1, other basketball projects like Hoopmixtape and Ballislife started making their own compilations and posting them on YouTube, which was just gaining momentum. Thus began the next era of mixtapes, where the ball was no longer ruled by AND1, which did not notice the wave of social networks.
In 2006, Ballislife published the first video of their channel, in which high school prospect Derrick Rose topped a defenseman. Within a few hours, the video gained more than 20,000 views, which launched a wave of popularity for Rose. This was one of the first times that a single dunk from a young player made a splash in just one day.
According to Nils Wagner, then at the Ballislife project, the video became so popular that it crashed their site. The hype around this video inspired Wagner and other enthusiasts with Ballislife and Hoopmixtape to make mixtapes of other young players in the style of AND1.
Meanwhile, the number of companies producing such content has grown significantly since 2005. Media companies began to upload not only short cuts with dunks or dribbling, but also long videos with key moments in attack and defense, and already without background music. This saved a lot of time on meticulous editing and gluing, which made it possible to lay out player highlights before competitors, plus attracted the attention of scouts of large clubs.
“When Ballislife first launched, content was collected for a long time, throughout the season, and then made into three or four minute videos,” says Tyler Toobridy, founder of HoopDiamonds. “These were very cool videos that put a lot of resources and energy into, but the production of such mixtapes took a very long time.
But if such videos usually showed the highlights of the season or the career of some player without any context, then the usual “raw” material from a specific game gave more information about the overall output from the game of a particular player. And for many players, these videos have become preferable.
Of course, a real true mixtape with bright dunks or blocks will be much more "viral" than just cutting the routine actions of the players during the game. Therefore, today, medical companies are trying to strike a balance between bright performance and fundamental elements so that fans do not have to choose what to watch.
While mixtapes allow young players to get noticed, some critics worry about the downside of such explosive growth at such a young age.
“These guys are under a lot of pressure,” says Ballislife co-founder and president Matt Rodriguez. Especially if they have social media accounts. They need to grow up very quickly and stop making even the most harmless mistakes. They are always under cameras, and any oversight will instantly scatter over the Internet.
Many schoolchildren and students, however, have proven that they can stand up to constant attention. Zion Williamson became nationally popular after videos of him topballing during high school games. All the sports media focused on him, which did not knock him down at all. On the contrary, he began to play better and better than he earned an invitation to several of the leading universities in the country, as a result of choosing Duke University.
The increased attention doesn't seem to bother Mario McKinney, University of Missouri player, number one in the 2019 Missouri Best Young Players rankings.model year, according to 247 Sports.
“I think I'm good at handling the spotlight,” McKinney says. “I just try not to take it for granted. And every day I get a lot of criticism. People are like that, they will always hate someone. It just makes me work harder and go towards my goals.
Thanks to highlights, today's students can act much more actively in the context of further studies at the university than their predecessors. For players who are graduating from school and who have not received much public attention, highlight videos are an opportunity to declare their abilities to the world. So, many players take the initiative in their own hands and send their own videos to university scouts.
- I certainly don't think mixtapes can secure a place in a university for a player, but they can allow a coach to remember your name. Tubridi says. - Then the coach himself or their scouts can come to some game and see what you are like.
"Viral" basketball videos can also create opportunities for those who for some reason can't play in the NBA, WNBA or NCAA.
This was the case, for example, with Aquill Carr, a player at the Patterson School in Baltimore, who received a $750,000 contract offer from the Lottomatica (now Virtus) club from Rome, a professional team from Italy. The fame that the 168-centimeter Carr earned on social networks allowed him to sign one of the biggest contracts (at the time) with a European club for a player who had just graduated from high school.
A few years ago, University of Minnesota quarterback Isaiah Washington launched a concept called "Jelly" - a creative approach to layup, when you do not just put the ball into the basket, but during the jump to the ring you shift the ball to the other hand, spread your legs to the side like Jordan, plus you do a couple more feints in the air, you pass the ball behind your back, and only after that you throw it around the ring. The passion for such shots grew into the Jelly Fam movement, and its echoes reached the NBA.
University of Ottawa player Tristan Jass has over a million followers on Instagram where he posts his trick shots. Jass adds elements of his own to the rolls, but the Jelly Fam and AND1 influences are clear. Many of his moves and throws were shown by the same Professor.
Following in the footsteps of Jelly Fam, McKinney launched his own movement called Hoodie Fam. McKinney began calling himself Hoodie Rio after playing in the Bradley Beal League, in which he took to the floor wearing a jersey over a hoodie. This nickname stuck with him, and now the video with Hoodie Rio is gaining hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.
“I did an Instagram poll asking people if I should start my own movement,” McKinney says. — How many there are already: there are Jelly Fam, and Jam Fam, Unicorn Fam... so I was wondering if I could create something of my own.
All these Fam-movements create an atmosphere of recognition and unity from other students. On Instagram, players who see a basketball trend or a player at the center of the trend can ask each other for confirmation or approval to join the respective movements, and entire communities are created around these movements and ideas.
Basketball fans have the freedom now more than ever to create basketball content that can inspire followers.
“Players now have huge opportunities and the potential to fall short of professional expectations,” Toubridy says. “Even if you don’t reach a certain level, you can always create something that will attract followers, with whom you can then do whatever you want.
Boucher, for example, has made a career out of creating unique dribbling videos and created his own Global Hooper brand. Basketball entertainment company Dude Perfect started out as a group of friends known for their stunts and trick shots on YouTube. Semi-professional player Brandon Armstrong has become a social media sensation with his parodies of NBA players.
“I was born and sustained by the online movement,” says Professor Bucher. — Here, of course, there are pluses and minuses... I think it's all about how to use it. It is important to understand who you are and just go about your business.
Viral basketball videos not only gave players the opportunity to express themselves. Together with the players, millions of fans around the world have received many ways to watch and play their favorite game.
It probably doesn't matter what the basketball highlights genre will become in the future. Because a spectacular dunk or uncle breaker will never go out of style.
--
Sourced from SB Nation
Interview with New Jersey Nets NBA Head Coach Avery Johnson
League News
September 28, 11 9010
1. Tell us about your childhood. What kind of child were you?
- I was a very athletic child. I played many sports: basketball, American football, baseball, tennis, track and field. There have been many sports in my life. All I wanted to do was play sports and go to school.
2. At what age did you first pick up a basketball?
- I was six years old when I started playing basketball. At first I just played in the yard. Conscious, organized basketball entered my life when I was already ten years old.
3. When you started playing basketball purposefully, how many practices per week did you do?
- I trained every day except Sundays. On Sundays we went to church.
4. What did you enjoy doing most during training?
- I've always wanted to learn the basics of the game. You know, I used to play in the streets. It's very common with us. Many of us play on the streets and everyone dreams of achieving something more. In coaching, it is also very important to know the basic principles. Basketball isn't just about throws and slam dunks. Basketball is, first of all, the basics. For me, basketball is about strategy, assists, defense, balance in everything.
5. How did you manage to lead your team to victory in high school?
- I had to wait a whole year for the chance to prove myself on the court. At first, I didn't have much playing time. I trained a lot, got myself in shape. I trained alone when all my teammates went home. I didn't have playing time, but I practiced a lot on my own. By the playoffs, I got myself in great shape. And I played very well.
6. Which basketball player was your role model in your youth? Basketball wasn't on TV that often at the time, was it?
- Yes, there were a few players I followed. In those days, there were really not many opportunities to watch basketball games on TV. Probably only one match was broadcast a week, which, of course, only those who had TVs at home could see. After all, when I was growing up, TVs were not in every home.
7. You have played for different basketball clubs. Tell us about your experience.
- I played for six different teams. But I had the most success with the San Antonio Spurs. During my career, I happened to play in teams where the players tried to stand out with their individuality, emphasizing only their own merits. In the Spurs, we had a real team. We worked as a single and well-oiled machine. All worked equally well in defense and in attack. We had players like David Robinson and we were all on the same team.
8. Which trainer is an example for you?
- I call coach Gregg Popovich my teacher. I played under him at San Antonio. I really like his coaching style. He is direct and honest. He loves discipline. Under his leadership, the players work hard. There is always a working atmosphere in his team. I really like his coaching philosophy. In fact, several of my former teammates are now head coaches on NBA teams. Vinny Del Negro coaches the Los Angeles Clippers. Doc Rivers is the head coach of the Boston Celtics and Nate McMillan is now the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.
9. What do you know about basketball in Russia?
- About two years ago I didn't hear much about him. But now that I'm working at a club owned by a Russian, I've started to get interested in your basketball. I think that Russian basketball has come a long way and has made great progress in its development. I know that football and hockey are very popular in Russia. Basketball is also developing very fruitfully in your country. Your players are on NBA teams. Interest in this sport is growing in your country.
10. Tell us a little about your children. They play basketball?
- I have two children: a daughter and a son. My daughter is a freshman in college. She studies international business and Chinese. Avery's son Junior looks a lot like me at his age. Now he plays basketball and tennis. He started with boxing.
11. Do you think he will become a professional basketball player?
- Not sure about this. I try not to impose my opinion on this matter. I just want him to go to school and get a good education.
12. Player, coach, analyst, coach again. In which of these hypostases did you feel most comfortable?
- In all three. All these hypostases make up three aspects of my life. I have been a player for sixteen years. It was one period of my life. It's over. After that, coaching became the next and very important stage for me. Sports analyst… What I especially liked about this job was that it was completely different from everything I had done before. I have a lot of fans who have loved me since I was a player. There are those who support me, seeing my work now as a coach.
Whether you miss a shot or don’t have the best angle, your basketball skills video doesn’t have to be perfect—it’s more important to go game speed at all times and showcase your athleticism and technical abilities. 
Online video services for high school coaches, like Hudl, are popular resources. 
”
They want to see footage against high-level competition where the recruit was truly tested—think varsity high school games, national tournaments, showcases and elite camps. If the highlight video does its job and captures the coach’s attention, then the coach will also want to evaluate performance from an unedited full game, which provides further insight into the recruit’s basketball IQ and game awareness. That’s why we always recommend sending a brief and impactful highlight film, as well as one full game.
Basketball highlight videos should be under four minutes with 20-30 great plays that demonstrate the athlete’s strongest skills. In addition to a brief highlight film, student-athletes should separately provide full game film. If the coach is interested after watching the highlight reel, they’ll want to evaluate the recruit in one unedited game. 
College coaches want to see how you stack up against top talent. Typically clips from two or three games is enough, but you can use more if needed.
In fact, they edit more than 40,000 highlight videos each year. And, depending on the membership level, they’ll produce multiple highlight videos for the athlete and help them identify the best schools to send it to. If you’re interested in learning more about NCSA’s video offerings, call our Video Team at 866-495-5172. 
S. Grad Year *
S. Grad Year *
That is why having a well put together highlight video is so important in the college basketball recruiting process.
Be sure to have separate basketball highlight videos for high school and AAU.
Many athletes make the mistake of having a super long video that spreads out their best plays. Keep it short and sweet with your best plays at the beginning.
You want the arrow before the play so the coach can watch the whole segment in full speed.
You can get this guidebook for the same price.
Are you a pass-first player that gets your teammates shots? Are you a scoring PG?
Show what you do best and that you have room to grow as a player. Coaches love players with potential, you’ll hear them say that all the time.
The game was attended by Damian Lillard, Lonzo Ball and Andrew Wiggins, and over 80,000 people watched the live broadcast. 
Until the 2000s, studios like 20th Century Fox released VHS tapes of NBA highlights, and ESPN showed basketball much like SportsCenter does now. What was the innovation of AND1? They shifted their focus from specific NBA players to pure playful basketball creativity by overlaying these videos with a hip-hop vibe. 
He has over three and a half million subscribers on YouTube. 
“These were very cool videos that put a lot of resources and energy into, but the production of such mixtapes took a very long time. 
Especially if they have social media accounts. They need to grow up very quickly and stop making even the most harmless mistakes. They are always under cameras, and any oversight will instantly scatter over the Internet. 
People are like that, they will always hate someone. It just makes me work harder and go towards my goals. 
The fame that the 168-centimeter Carr earned on social networks allowed him to sign one of the biggest contracts (at the time) with a European club for a player who had just graduated from high school. 
On Sundays we went to church. 
In those days, there were really not many opportunities to watch basketball games on TV. Probably only one match was broadcast a week, which, of course, only those who had TVs at home could see. After all, when I was growing up, TVs were not in every home. 
Under his leadership, the players work hard. There is always a working atmosphere in his team. I really like his coaching philosophy. In fact, several of my former teammates are now head coaches on NBA teams. Vinny Del Negro coaches the Los Angeles Clippers. Doc Rivers is the head coach of the Boston Celtics and Nate McMillan is now the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. 
My daughter is a freshman in college. She studies international business and Chinese. Avery's son Junior looks a lot like me at his age. Now he plays basketball and tennis. He started with boxing. 
