Anyone who has read my long winded ramblings over the past four years knows that I love to make analogies between the recruiting process and the never ending political campaigns that we’re forced to endure as part of the democratic process. The comparisons are actually pretty easy. You’ve got politicians and recruiters both seeking out votes or a commitment from their constituency or a prospect. Together recruiting and politics provide some of the most inundating, targeted, and creative marketing approaches you’ll ever find. All in an effort to focus someone on their long term vision and influence them to commit to a program or candidate’s way of thinking. In both situations it’s possible to hear the answer no and still end up a winner…just don’t do it too often. Eventually, it does tend to lead to unemployment.
Possibly the common ground shared most by both endeavors is the perpetual nature of both processes. This Tuesday (the 6th) we’ll elect a new president and on the following Wednesday (the 14th) the Class of 2013 will get their first opportunity to sign a National Letter of Intent. And then, without missing a beat, Democrats, Republicans and recruiters will shift focus to the next campaign and class. Of course all of us know that underclassman are actively recruited from earlier and earlier ages and anyone who doesn’t think the next presidential candidates were among this year’s convention speakers still believes in Santa, the Easter Bunny and professional wrestling. In that light it’s probably more accurate to say that the efforts surrounding the 2014 recruiting class and the next presidential circus will simply intensify following both of this November’s finish lines.
For an underclass prospect it’s important that they understand a timeline and the beneficial opportunities that are currently in front of them in the decision making process. Without a proactive effort they’ll end up like so many of this year’s registered voters who up to the very last moment still find themselves in the “undecided” category. (Seriously, if you’re still undecided after four years of public appearances, debates, primaries, commercials and media coverage, odds are that you haven’t been paying attention or simply don’t care) While recruiting is a constant and consistent necessity for coaches, there are times that it’s important for the athletes to ramp up their own efforts and seek out specific answers.
The tip off of the new season provides the chance to take a close look at a key part of a college choice that can make or break an individual’s entire experience, the basketball element. Looking at campus, academic programs, and facilities as well as building relationships should be an undertaking that is continual throughout the entire process. However, it’s hard to take in a full practice or experience a game setting in April or May. Even now it will get more and more challenging to check things out first hand as an athlete’s own season gets underway and available time becomes much more limited.
When taking in a practice or game it’s important to know when to go and what to look for. All too often it’s easy to get caught up in the setting or the player’s performances and forget to really examine closely the things that could impact just how comfortable the fit of a specific program might be. This is the one campus visit where you really don’t want coaches or student hosts interpreting, defining or explaining every little thing going on. If you’re a high caliber athlete with college potential you know the game and are perfectly capable of scrutinizing what happens on the floor and what it might mean to you.
When To Go
For practices it’s usually more revealing to go earlier in the season when more teaching and development is going on. In good programs it takes place every day all season long but further into the schedule game preparation takes up a bigger percentage of practice plans for all programs. Specifically it’s also important to catch a practice that is not the day before or after a game. Sure it would be great to combine a trip to see both a practice and a game but generally the day before and the day following are not what the “norm” would be. The day prior is usually light and opponent oriented and quite often the day following is either off or film sessions.
When it comes to games it’s important to avoid temptation. Everybody wants to see the big match up or high profile games but if you’re truly looking to observe and learn, aim a little lower. Pick a challenging game that doesn’t have the star power of a rivalry or ranked opponent. Avoid the bottom feeder match up as well. There’s not much to take away from a 20 point blowout. Also, steer clear of special promotion nights and double headers if you want to get the everyday feel for a program.
What To Look For
Go in with a game plan. Know what you want to find out and look well beyond just the play on the floor. Sit low in the stands where you can hear but high enough where you can see the entire floor. At games you may not have a choice but in practice you want to get the vantage point that will help you see it all.
Coaching Style
First and foremost you want to see if the head coach and staff teach and coach in the style you’re looking for. Over four years you’ll be in considerably more practice settings than games and if it’s a bad fit…things can get uncomfortable. Look at how they address the team. See how they respond to mistakes or poor play. Take note of their individual interaction with players. Watch how they sub in and out and the instruction that comes when leaving a drill, scrimmage or game. Look for any personal aspect to their coaching. Is it all business or is there an occasional “loose” moment? At the same time, keep your eyes open on the atmosphere lacking in structure where it may seem as though the inmates are running the asylum. Being the proverbial “player’s coach” isn’t always a good thing.
Teaching and Development
Nobody knows themselves better than the athlete herself. Evaluate the staff in your own eyes for their potential to push you to your limits and bring out your best. Be careful not to confuse liking a coach personally with their ability to help you reach your goals. This one is personal. Just because they’ve had All-Americans doesn’t mean that they’re the ideal fit for your career nor does it mean someone who hasn’t sent players to the WNBA can’t help you make your dreams come true either. Watch the staff closely and see if their coaching is always specific X’s and O’s or are they looking to develop and refine their player’s skill sets. Go a step further and see if they’re teaching the “why” aspect of the fundamentals as well as the “how”. Its execution may be effective but without the understanding of a skill’s application it won’t be the tool or weapon that it has the potential to be.
Playing Style
This ranks up there with being a conservative or a liberal politically. If this fit isn’t right, the rest pretty much won’t matter. If they’re walking it up and taking the shot clock below ten every time but you love to run…it could be a bad sign. If you’re a guard and all you hear every possession is “get it inside” or “see the post” you might need to ask some questions. The same goes for the bigs. If you see the threes flying and shots going up before their posts cross half court time after time you may not be looking at the right place to call home. See for yourself if what they’re doing on the floor goes hand in hand with what they’ve told you their style is and how they see you fitting in their future plans.
Talent
Bring a roster with you to practice or get a program at a game. Know who the younger players are that might be your future teammates as well as the older players who will have finished or play just one season once you’re on campus. See if they play as well as advertised in your recruiting letters and phone calls. Look at the potential on the floor and combine that with the additions they’ll make starting the 14th and later this coming spring. Just as you would with coaching, ask if these players will help get the most out of you and challenge you to reach your potential. Be objective and judge for yourself whether you would be an impact player, a key contributor, a role player or a project. Is it the same in your mind as what the staff has been telling you? If not, it’s time to talk some more.
Chemistry
Any experienced athlete can recognize good and bad chemistry on a team. The good is usually very obvious and easy to pick up on. The bad, however, stands out like a sore thumb and is a red flag not to be ignored. Watch the interaction between the players when they’re off the floor. Evaluate their communication not only in game situations or drills but on the bench and the sideline as well. Read the positive and decide if it’s genuine or just contrived cheerleading. Do the coaches have to fire them up or encourage them to support each other? See if there’s healthy competition on the floor or just jealous battles for positions and playing time. This one is on you. Few coaches are going to tell you they’ve got their own version of Family Feud going on, but it’s still a situation you’ll need to find a way to get a grasp on.
Visualization
For the most part recruiting is real world interpretations of how a university and what it has to offer fits your needs. Unfortunately some elements, particularly on the basketball end, require a little imagination and visualization to see if a specific aspect might be the right fit. As you watch practice or a game see if you can picture yourself in that setting. Can you see yourself playing with and competing alongside those players? Would you respond to those coaches and their approach? Will it be it still be a positive situation when you’re struggling? (Even LeBron has his bad days!) Would this be a situation that would wear on you over four years or one you would embrace as a senior as you would as a freshman?
While politics allows us to vote our ineffective choices out of office every two, four or six years, an athlete is essentially stuck with their poor decision. Sure, they can transfer but the price paid is bigger for them than the program that recruited and ultimately lost them. In the recruiting process, to get it right, you have to be a little paranoid in your approach. Evaluate things for yourself and compare what you’re seeing first hand to what college coaches have been telling you along the way.
Just like politicians, recruiters can and will show you a rosy picture and make lots of promises. From the honest ones you’ll get a photograph that depicts their program exactly as it is. Others will give you a painting that resembles what they have to offer but with a few added creative strokes to spruce things up a bit. Painters and photographers both create art; you just need to decide which one looks best to you.
And by the way, 14 through 17 year old underclassmen will be voting for president next time around. Avoid being in the ranks of the ill prepared and undecided in 2016 and start listening when the candidates start talking…next week!
