COLLEGE RECRUITING HANDBOOK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Program Director……………………………………………………....1 Introduction……………………………………………………………...2 Expectations………..…………………………………………………….3 Make First Contact...... ……….…………….………………….6 Game Plan……………………………………….…………………………7 NCAA Eligibility FAQs…………………………………..…………..11 NCAA Eligibility Requirements………………………………….14 Recruiting Definitions……...... ………………….17 Recruiting Timeline………….………………………………………20 How To Contact College Coaches……………………………….23 Get Started………………………………………………….……………24
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Keith Van Horn College Recruiting Director
Email: [email protected] Phone: 303.815.7791
Keith serves as Premier’s College Recruiting Director and Executive Director of Premier Basketball Club. He founded Premier to create a top basketball club that is based on his values of the game of basketball. Keith brings over 30 years of basketball experience to Premier providing organizational leadership, overseeing the basketball philosophy of Premier and coaching several National Teams. During his successful NBA and NCAA career at the University of Utah, he was taught by several of the best coaches ever to coach the game like Rick Majerus, Larry Brown and John Calapari. He now uses those to benefit the organization and players at Premier.
1 PREMIER BASKETBALL CLUB INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Premier Basketball Club College Recruiting Handbook
Premier is the leader in college placement for high school basketball players in the Rocky Mountain Region.
This packet has been created for your convenience to help guide you through an important time in your life. Continuing your academic and athletic career requires a tremendous amount of work. While this recruiting packet can assist you through the college recruiting and admissions process, YOU are the generating force to assure that the necessary tasks get accomplished. The coaches at Premier are always here to help. The success of this process also depends upon realistic evaluations of your ability, both in the classroom and on the court.
The keys to success are simple. First of all, you have to be proactive. Take some initiative and put yourself out there to colleges. Send emails, make phone calls, and visit schools. Don’t wait for a school to contact you first. Secondly, you have to be realistic. Not all players can play at the Division I level. Fortunately, there are different levels of college basketball. Finding the right fit for you is very important. Finally, follow the enclosed game plan. It is designed to give you the best chance to get noticed and get recruited.
Remember that this process is not a sprint, it’s a multi-year marathon and the journey starts with a common sense plan. Working the plan as a Parent/Student team and spending a little time each month can open doors you never thought possible and can lead you to a collegiate student-athlete experience of a lifetime.
2 PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS
Be realistic - Can I compete at the college level?
Let's be realistic. College sport positions and athletic scholarships aren't available to everyone. You should be aware that most student athletes will NOT be able to play Division I sports. There are too many athletes and only so many Division 1 schools. However, the vast majority of colleges or universities are not Division 1 schools and they have very competitive sports programs.
You will have to meet some important conditions to get to the next level. You may be the “star” athlete at your high school, but you will need to know how you match up with other star high school athletes around the country. You’ll need to evaluate your academic and athletic abilities and determine what division level student athlete you are so you can target the right schools where you have the best chance of receiving an athletic scholarship or incentive package.
Ask all of your coaches and others you know that will be honest and candid with you. Ask them what they think of your athletic abilities and at what division level they believe you could compete in. You may find that the truth hurts, or perhaps you’ll be surprised to find that you have underestimated your abilities. This is a critical first step in the process. You may waste your time if you focus your efforts on colleges in the wrong athletic division and with the incorrect academic requirements. You want to make sure you are targeting the right academic schools in the right athletic talent division.
To compete at the college level, coaches are looking for a student athlete who possesses the applicable academic and sport specific tools. After that, they look at character and mental toughness that make up the will-to-win attitude following failure, performance under pressure, and respect for family and teammates.
3 PREMIER BASKETBALL CLUB PREMIER EXPECTATIONS
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR PREMIER COACH?
Club coaches are a great resource for college coaches. They’re a valuable and powerful reference that college coaches will want to talk to about you. They are an excellent source for a positive student athlete recommendation letter. Work hard to keep your relationship with the coach a positive one.
• You can expect your Premier Coach and the Premier Director to help you every step of the way.
• You can expect us to utilize our college coaching contacts to assist you in getting noticed.
• You can expect us to answer questions and provide advice.
• You can expect us to provide you with an honest and truthful evaluation.
• We will call college coaches at schools you’re interested in and answer phone calls from college coaches about you.
• We are also here to write letters of recommendation or any other letter you need for admittance.
4 COLLEGE COACHES’ EXPECTATIONS
WHAT DO COLLEGE COACHES EXPECT?
A very small percentage of high school student athletes receive college opportunities, scholarships or incentive packages because the coach “happened to find them.” Only the elite athletes, generally the top 100 nationally, receive enough media coverage and recognition that they are automatically recruited without having to make an effort. The other 99% have to take the initiative to contact the colleges and coaches where they have an interest.
Most schools’ recruiting budgets are small, and coaches rely on YOU to contact them. College coaches are very busy; they don’t have the time or budget to travel around the country to see you compete. Phone calls, emails, Captain U, stats, video and references become key tools for the coach in the recruiting and evaluating process. You might think that it’s too self-promoting to make the initial contact with a coach and to “market” yourself, however, this is the norm. If you don’t do it, other student athletes will take advantage of the opportunity, get noticed and get recruited because they have made the effort and received the attention.
College Coaches expect you to prepare academically. They expect that you understand that preparation academically is of primary importance to the recruiting process. This means preparing in the classroom as much as on the field. Failure to take care of your academic standing often means failure to achieve athletic goals. As an example, since Division III institutions do not offer athletic scholarships, academic performance is just as valued as athletic performance in the recruiting process.
5 PREMIER BASKETBALL CLUB MAKE FIRST CONTACT
College Coaches expect YOU to make the first contact
Keep in mind most coaches are working with limited budgets and very little time, staff and resources. You have to be persistent, prepared, and polite to get noticed at any division. If nothing else, every coach wants players who can enhance their program. Character is a key component of integrity. Show your character!
• Be an effective communicator. The student athlete (NOT THE PARENTS) should write or email the coach when appropriate. The student athlete should always call the coach back when they call you.
• Little things count. Be sure to review your letters and/or e-mail messages and spell their name and their school’s name correctly.
• Be honest. If you are interested in their program, tell them. If not, say so. Don’t waste their time or yours.
• Provide your contact information. Make sure to note when you are available. Share your cell phone number and e-mail address.
• Complete Applications. Follow-up; send grades and teacher recommendations to schools in which you have an interest. Get all the paperwork taken care of as early as possible.
• Be Prepared. Prepare your questions for them so when they call or when you visit you’re prepared, and have something to talk about. This shows that you are interested.
• Do your homework. Know about the athletic program, the coach’s name, the division they’re in, their current record, any program history etc….
6 GAME PLAN THE FIRST HALF
FRESHMAN AND SOPHMORE YEARS
Establish a strategy and game plan for your future!
• Establish a four-year academic plan to meet all core course requirements.
• Take a strong academic course load.
• Maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average out of 4.0 in core courses.
• Talk with your coach about other opportunities to increase your exposure in your sport.
• For exposure, select camps at colleges that you might want to attend. Attend summer camps:
• To improve skills.
• To compare your current skill with others.
• Videotape games.
• Keep records of your athletic achievements, extracurricular activities, etc….
• View college athletic web sites. Most have a simple questionnaire you may fill out and email to the coach. Also view college athletic rosters to see number of athletes graduating, as well as potential trends in recruiting (area, high schools, leagues).
• Attend 2-3 showcase events with your Premier Team.
7 PREMIER BASKETBALL CLUB GAME PLAN - START OF THE SECOND HALF
JUNIOR YEAR
• Register for and take the required standardized tests (i.e. SAT, ACT) in spring semester.
• Designate the NCAA to receive SAT & ACT scores when registering for the test. NCAA- Code is #9999 on SAT and ACT Registration form.
• Begin to visit college campuses.
• Request college applications as early as possible, preferably the summer after your junior year.
• Develop an athletic resume and continue to update records and lists of athletic and extracurricular activities.
• Familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations governing recruiting, eligibility and financial aid.
• Meet with your coach for a thorough evaluation of your athletic ability and, hopefully, you will receive a recommendation for an appropriate level of competition. Be realistic. Also, discuss with your coach his/her involvement in your recruitment process. Ask him/ her to be proactive on your behalf by responding to questionnaires sent by recruiting coaches.
• Send a letter of introduction and phone call along with your athletic resume to coaches of schools you are interested in attending.
• Continue to attend sports camps.
• Keep a file on each college/university that shows an interest in you.
• Continue to videotape games. Send video (or preferably DVD) to prospective coaches at the end of your junior year.
• View college games, assess their level of play and compare it to your level.
• Attend 4-5 showcase events with your Premier Team.
8 GAME PLAN THE FOURTH QUARTER
SENIOR YEAR – START OF Heading into the 4th with the lead, all you need to do is focus!
• Continue to work hard in your academic courses.
• Submit NCAA Clearing-house form in the fall of your senior year.
• Take and/or retake the standardized tests as needed. Check for national testing dates.
• Obtain college applications.
• Meet with your counselor to review application materials.
• Complete Financial Aid forms early! Profile form in the fall (only needed for select colleges), FAFSA as soon as possible, after January 1st (required for all colleges).
• Continue to visit the campuses of those schools in which you are interested. It is recommended that you either call or write for an appointment to meet with a coach, admissions officer, financial aid advisor and departmental chairperson.
• Apply to several colleges. Even if you are going to apply “early decision” to one college, there is never a guarantee of admittance.
• Continue to write, call or email coaches expressing interest in their school and athletic programs.
• Update your athletic resume.
• Be prompt in your response regarding college questionnaires or other similar requests.
Students and parents must take the initiative and work on their own behalf. Please do not sit back and wait for someone to do it for you. Staying on top of all the information throughout the high school years makes it easier when the actual time comes to applying for college.
9 PREMIER BASKETBALL CLUB GAME PLAN CONTINUED
SPRING OF JUNIOR YEAR IS THE TIME TO DO THIS!
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) governs three divisions of college athletics and requires that students interested in playing on either Division I or Division II teams file forms for certification of athletic eligibility.
The form and the NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete, a publication that explains the rules and regulations that govern recruiting, eligibility, and financial aid, can be found at the NCAA website at www.ncaa.org. Students who want to participate in Division I or Division II sports should start the certification process by September of their senior year. The procedure is as follows:
If you wish to participate in Division I or Division II sports, you must submit your SAT/ACT scores directly to the Clearing-house. The Clearing-house code is 9999.
You must fill out a “Domestic Student Release Form” (SRF) in September of your senior year. The form gives your high school the authority to release your transcript, and eventually, proof of graduation. It also gives the Clearing-house permission to release all academic and testing information to the colleges that request it. If you wish to participate in Division I or Division II sports, you must submit your SAT/ACT scores directly to the Clearing-house. The Clearing-house code is 9999.
The preferred method of registering is online at:
https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/student/index_student.html
(Select Prospective Student Athletes and click on Domestic Student Release Form or Foreign Student Release Form) or by completing the student release form with which students must do the following:
Fill out and make three copies. Mail one copy to NCAA Clearing-house. Give two copies to Registrar who will, upon receipt, send it to NCAA Clearing-house with Transcript.
IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO COMPLETE THIS FORM. YOU CANNOT MAKE OFFICIAL VISITS (financed by the college) TO A COLLEGE CAMPUS, TRY OUT OR PRACTICE WITH A COLLEGE TEAM UNTIL THIS PAPERWORK IS FILED WITH THE NCAA.
10 NCAA ELIGIBILITY FAQs
FAQs about the NCAA Eligibility Center
www.eligibilitycenter.org/Student-athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to be eligible to play NCAA Division I or II sports in college. Athletes playing in Division III do not have to register.
What is the NCAA Eligibility Center?
The NCAA Eligibility Center certifies whether prospective college athletes are eligible to play sports at NCAA Division I or II institutions. It does this by reviewing the student-athlete's academic record, SAT or ACT scores, and amateur status to ensure conformity with NCAA rules.
What are NCAA Divisions I, II, and III?
The NCAA is the governing body of many intercollegiate sports. Each college regulated by the NCAA has established rules on eligibility, recruiting and financial aid, and falls into one of the three membership divisions (Divisions I, II and III). Divisions are based on college size and the scope of their athletic programs and scholarships.
When should students register?
The NCAA recommends that student-athletes register at the beginning of their junior year in high school, but many students register after their junior year. There is no registration deadline, but students must be cleared by the Eligibility Center before they receive athletic scholarships or compete at a Division I or II institution.
How do students register?
Students must register online at the NCAA Eligibility Center. They will have to enter personal information, answer questions about their course work and sports participation outside of high school and pay a registration fee.
11 PREMIER BASKETBALL CLUB NCAA ELIGIBILITY FAQs CONTINUED
Can students have the registration fee waived?
Students who have received a waiver for the SAT or ACT are eligible for a waiver of the registration fee. The student's counselor must submit confirmation of the student's test fee waiver. Go to the NCAA Eligibility Center High School Portal for more information.
What records does the Eligibility Center require?
Students should arrange to have you send their high school transcript as soon as they have completed at least six semesters of high school. The transcript must be mailed directly from their high school. They must also arrange to have their SAT or ACT test scores reported directly by the testing company to the Eligibility Center. Students can arrange this when they register for the tests. You are responsible for sending in students' final transcripts and proof of graduation at the end of their senior year.
How often can students update their athletics participation information?
Students can update the information on the athletics participation section online as often as they want (and should update it regularly), up until the time when they request a final certification of their status. At that point, usually three to four months before enrolling in college, students must finalize their information.
What are core courses?
This is the name that the NCAA gives to high school courses that meet certain academic criteria specified by the association. Students must complete a certain number of core courses for NCAA Division I and II eligibility.
How are high school courses classified as core courses?
All participating high schools submit lists of the courses that they offer that meet NCAA core course criteria. If approved, the courses are added to a database that the NCAA Eligibility.
12 NCAA ELIGIBILITY FAQs CONTINUED
What are the NCAA amateurism eligibility requirements?
To play sports at an NCAA Division I or II institution, the student athlete must follow NCAA amateurism rules about receiving salary or prize money for athletic participation, playing with a professional team and other areas. For more information, see the Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.
Keep in mind…
The best way for students to prepare for a future in college athletics is to complete the approved core courses and earn appropriate grades in them. Indeed, more students fail to qualify to play NCAA sports because of lack of appropriate course work than for low-test scores.
Make sure your athletes are enrolled in the courses on your high school's core-course list, and also know the eligibility requirements of the NCAA Eligibility Center. Then make sure your athletes are taking the necessary courses, earning the necessary grades and doing anything else they must to stay on track for NCAA eligibility.
13 PREMIER BASKETBALL CLUB NCAA DIVISION I
NCAA DIVISION I CORE-COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Initial full-time collegiate enrollment before August 1, 2016:
• Sixteen (16) core courses are required. (see course requirements on page 16)
• Ten (10) core courses completed before the seventh semester; seven (7) of the 10 must be in English, math or natural/physical science.
• These courses/grades are "locked in" at start of the seventh semester (cannot be repeated for grade-point average [GPA] improvement to meet initial-eligibility requirements for competition).
• Students who do not meet core-course progression requirements may still be eligible to receive athletics aid and practice in the initial year of enrollment by meeting academic redshirt requirements (see below).
Test Scores: (ACT/SAT)
Students must present a corresponding test score and core-course GPA on the sliding scale (see Page No. 16).
• SAT: critical reading and math sections. Best sub-score from each section is used to determine the SAT combined score for initial eligibility.
• ACT: English, math, reading and science sections. Best sub-score from each section is used to determine the ACT sum score for initial eligibility.
• All ACT and SAT attempts before initial full-time collegiate enrollment may be used for initial eligibility.
• Enter 9999 during ACT or SAT registration to ensure the testing agency reports your score directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center. Test scores on transcripts will not be used.
14 NCAA DIVISION I CONTINUED
Core Grade-Point Average:
Only core courses that appear on the high school's List of NCAA Courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center's website (www.eligibilitycenter.org) will be used to calculate your core-course GPA. Use this list as a guide.
Initial full-time collegiate enrollment before August 1, 2016:
Students must present a corresponding test score (ACT sum score or SAT combined score) and core-course GPA (minimum 2.000) on Sliding Scale A (see Page No. 2). Core-course GPA is calculated using the best 16 core courses that meet subject-area requirement.
Initial full-time collegiate enrollment on or after August 1, 2016:
Students must present a corresponding test score (ACT sum score or SAT combined score) and core course GPA (minimum 2.300) on Sliding Scale B (see Page No. 2).
Core course GPA is calculated using the best 16 core courses that meet both progression (10 before seventh semester; seven in English, math or science; "locked in") and subject-area requirements.
Core Course requirements for division I schools:
DIVISION I DIVISION I – 2016 DIVISION II – 2016
4 of *Athletics aid and practice (no competition)
3 of or 16 core courses 16 core courses
2 of y Ten (10) core courses completed before the No grades/credits “locked-in” (repeated courses (1 of Lab if start of the seventh semester. Seven (7) of the after the seventh semester begins may be used 10 must be in English, Math or Natural/Physical 1 of English, for initial eligibility) y Science “Locked-in” for core course GPA calculation. Corresponding test score (ACT sum score or 2 of Social SAT combined score) and core course GPA (min 4 of y Corresponding test score (ACT sum score or 2.000) on sliding scale B SAT combined score) and core course GPA (min v y) 2.300) on sliding scale B Graduate from High School
Graduate from High School
15 PREMIER BASKETBALL CLUB NCAA DIVISION II INITIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
DIVISION
3 of li 2 of l I i 2 of i (1 of if by 3 of i i l li i 2 of i 4 of i i l i li il
• The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of the SAT is not used.
• The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the following four sections: English, mathematics, reading and science.
• When you register for the SAT or ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 to ensure all SAT and ACT scores are reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used.
Grade-Point Average:
Be sure to look at your high school’s List of NCAA Courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center's website (www.eligibilitycenter.org). Only courses that appear on your school's approved List of NCAA Courses will be used in the calculation of the core GPA.
• The current Division II core GPA requirement is a minimum of 2.000. Division II core GPA required to be eligible for competition on or after August 1, 2018, is 2.200
• The minimum Division II core GPA required to receive athletics aid and practice as a partial qualifier on or after August 1, 2018, is 2.000
• Remember, the NCAA core GPA is calculated using NCAA core courses only.
1616 RECRUITING DEFINITIONS
Academic Year Evaluation Period:
Evaluations during the academic year may occur at regularly scheduled high school, preparatory school and two-year college contests/tournaments and practices; regular scholastic activities involving PSAs enrolled at the institution at which the regular scholastic activities occur; and evaluations at non-scholastic events during the PSA’s academic year during the last full weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) of the fall contact period and the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the spring evaluation period. Evaluations at non-scholastic events and non-institutional camps or clinics that occur on a Division I campus are prohibited.
Coaches Attendance at Basketball Events:
During prescribed evaluation periods, institutional coaching staff members may attend regularly scheduled high school, preparatory school or two-year college contests/ tournaments and practices; regular scholastic activities involving PSAs enrolled only at the institution at which the regular scholastic activities occur; institutional basketball camps; and non- institutional organized events (e.g., camps, leagues, tournaments, festivals, showcases) that are certified, including events that are approved, sponsored or conducted by an applicable state, national or international governing body but are organized and conducted primarily for a recruiting purpose. Evaluations at non-scholastic events and non-institutional camps or clinics that occur on a Division I campus are prohibited. It is permissible for coaches to attend organized team practices in preparation for a certified event only if the organizer as part of the event has designated such practice time. The basketball event certification program is not applicable to non-institutional organized events that are approved, sponsored or conducted by an applicable state, national or international governing body and are not organized and conducted primarily for a recruiting purpose (e.g., intrastate and interstate high school basketball games, state high school all-star games, international competitions and practices associated with such contests).
Contact:
A contact occurs any time a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face contact with a PSA or his or her parents off the college’s campus.
17 PREMIER BASKETBALL CLUB RECRUITING DEFINITIONS CONTINUED
Academic Year Evaluation Period: Contact Period:
During a contact period a college coach may have face-to-face contact with a PSA or her parents, watch student-athletes compete and visit their high schools, and write or telephone student-athletes or their parents.
Dead Period:
During a dead period, a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with a PSA or their parents, and may not watch student-athletes compete or visit their high schools. Coaches may write and telephone student-athletes or their parents during a dead period.
Evaluation Period:
During an evaluation period a college coach may watch a PSA compete, visit their high schools, and write or telephone student-athletes or their parents. However, a college coach may not have face-to-face contact a PSA or their parents off the college’s campus during an evaluation period.
July Evaluation Period:
During the July evaluation periods, all communication with a Prospective Student Athlete (PSA), PSA’s relatives or legal guardians, the PSA’s coach or any individual associated with the PSA as a result of the PSA’s participation in basketball, directly or indirectly, is prohibited unless the PSA has signed a National Letter of Intent or institutional written offer of admission and/or financial aid or the institution has received a financial deposit in response to the institution’s offer of admission. During the July evaluation period, a member institution’s basketball coaching staff may attend institutional basketball camps and non-institutional organized events (e.g., camps, leagues, tournaments and festivals) that are certified. Evaluations at non-scholastic events and non-institutional camps or clinics that occur on a Division I campus are prohibited.
18 RECRUITING DEFINITIONS CONTINUED
National Letter of Intent:
A National Letter of Intent (NLI) is signed by a PSA when the student-athlete agrees to attend a Division I or II college or university for one academic year. Participating institutions agree to provide financial aid for one academic year to the student-athlete as long as the student-athlete is admitted to the school and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules. Other forms of financial aid do not guarantee the student-athlete financial aid. The National Letter of Intent is voluntary and not required for a student-athlete to receive financial aid or participate in sports. Signing a National Letter of Intent ends the recruiting process since participating schools are prohibited from recruiting student-athletes who have already signed letters with other participating schools. A student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent may request a release from his or her contract with the school. If a student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent with one school but attends a different school, he or she will lose one full year of eligibility and must complete a full academic year at their new school before being eligible to compete.
Official Visit:
Any visit to a college campus by a PSA or her parents paid for by the college is an official visit. During an official visit the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for the prospect, lodging and three meals per day for both the prospect and the parent or guardian, as well as reasonable entertainment expenses including three tickets to a home sports event.
Quiet Period:
During a quiet period, a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with a PSA or their parents, and may not watch student-athletes compete or visit their high schools. Coaches may write or telephone a PSA or their parents during this time.
Unofficial Visit:
Visits paid for by college-bound student-athletes or their parents are unofficial visits. The only expenses a PSA may receive from a college during an unofficial visit are three tickets to a home sports event.
19 PREMIER BASKETBALL CLUB RECRUITING TIMELINE
SENIOR YEAR
NCAA Division I Coaches can begin calling September 1st after your Junior year – Coaches can now begin calling recruits once per week with unlimited phone calls allowed during the contact period. This means a coach can now call you instead of you having to call them. The rules still allow a coach to speak with a recruit anytime you make the phone call. If you are not talking to DI coaches on the phone by this point in your senior year it is time to re-evaluate your recruiting options.
Off-Campus contact is allowed – This means coaches are allowed to begin visiting (talking to you) off of their campus. This rule is misleading because coaches are always allowed to go watch you play in tournaments; they are just restricted in the interactions they can have with you. Also, you can always go visit a coach on their campus and talk with them there (you should have been doing this since your Junior year at least).
Coaches can bring you in on Official Visits starting the first day of classes – This means a coach can now pay to bring you in on a visit, host you on campus and pay for meals and game tickets. Given the fact many coaches are getting verbal offers from recruits in the Sophomore and Junior years, official visits are more of a treat and not essential recruiting tool. You should have already been making Unofficial Visits to the campus you are interested in.
NCAA Division II The only thing that changes for DII recruiting is that coaches can now bring recruits in on official visits. Coaches at DII schools have been allowed to call and email recruits for over a year.
NCAA Division III DIII coaches can now bring you in on official visits. They have been allowed to call or email you since your Freshman year.
NAIA No restrictions.
20 RECRUITING TIMELINE CONTINUED
JUNIOR YEAR
NCAA Division I
You can begin receiving recruiting materials starting September 1st coaches can begin sending recruiting materials, basically this means they can begin sending you letters or emailing you. The rules do not prevent you from emailing coaches, something you should have been doing since your sophomore year at least.
Coaches can begin making one phone call per week starting September 1st - You should still be calling coaches outside of this time period because coaches are allowed to talk to recruits on the phone if you call them; these rules only limit when coaches can call recruits.
There is no Off-Campus contact allowed Women’s Basketball Coaches can have off- campus contact at the start of classes in the month of September.
Official Visits are allowed for Women’s Basketball recruits only - For women, they can begin making visits the Thursday after the NCAA Women’s Final Four.
NCAA Division II There is no change in the recruiting rules, coaches have been allowed to call or email you for several months.
NCAA Division III At the end of your Junior year coaches can begin having off-campus contact with you. They have been allowed to call or email you since you started high school.
NAIA No restrictions.
21 PREMIER BASKETBALL CLUB RECRUITING TIMELINE CONTINUED
FRESHAN AND SOPHMORE YEARS
NCAA Division I For the most part, Coaches are restricted in initiating contact with recruits - They are not allowed to call, email or send letters to recruits in their freshman or sophomore years. However, they can speak to you if you call them. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be doing anything; you should be emailing coaches, attending camps and playing in tournaments and showcases to get your name out there and get on the coaches recruiting boards. You can always make an unofficial visit to the college campus.
NCAA Division II Coaches can begin calling, emailing, sending letters to and having off-campus contact with recruits starting June 15th after their sophomore year. This means there is no excuse for a coach not to be responding to you unless you are contacting the wrong coaches or not contacting them in a way where they will respond to you.
NCAA Division III Coaches are allowed to email and call recruits at any point once you begin high school. Many DIII coaches shy away from beginning the recruiting process too early because a lot can change with a recruit from their sophomore year and senior year. You should still be emailing and calling these coaches if you are interested in their school.
NAIA No restrictions.
22 HOW TO CONTACT COLLEGE COACHES
Contacting a College Coach isn’t as scary or hard as you may think!
Many of them list their email addresses directly on the school’s athletic website
• The first step is to send an email address to the head coach or recruiting coordinator.
• Include the following: your name, high school you attend, year of graduation, club team you will be playing for, tournaments you will be attending during the evaluation periods, your contact information, paragraph with a little bit about you, reason you are contacting them, reason you are interested in their school/program, and some highlights from your high school season.
• Always read over and spell check and proof read your email. Have a parent or friend help you with this.
• 48 hours following your email, call the coach your emailed. Their office numbers are listed on the same website you found their email address. The best time to call is between the hours of 10-2.
• Before you call, do some research and have a few questions ready for the coach.
• Highlight the items in your email.
23 PREMIER BASKETBALL CLUB GET STARTED!
There are 3 steps that you need to take NOW!
• Fill out the Premier College Questionnaire Form and send it to Keith at: [email protected]
• Begin looking at colleges online that would be a good fit academically and athletically. Look at schools that are close to home and far from home.
• Contact the coaches at the schools you are interested in. Notify Keith of the colleges you have contacted so he can follow up with those coaches.
24
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