Junior year of high school was a really exciting time for me and my basketball peers. Years of hard work for so many athletes were being recognized by some of the top athletic programs in the country.
When that recruiting rush first hits, it’s easy to get swept away in the excitement and potential that awaits you at the next level. During that time, there are things that you should avoid, or at the very least be mindful of, as you consider what your athletic career looks like after high school. Below are a few pitfalls athletes should avoid during the recruiting process to help them land a dream opportunity as a collegiate athlete.
7 Mistakes to Avoid as a High School Recruit
Signing with a school that guarantees you NIL money. If a coach offers you an NIL deal during the recruiting process, this is a huge red flag. No athlete can be guaranteed an NIL deal during the recruiting process, as NIL deals cannot be used as an incentive in recruiting.
Letting your parents do the work. There is nothing wrong with having parents help you during the recruiting process- my parents were a tremendous help when I was a recruit. But, they didn’t do all of the work. Contacting coaches, sending highlight reels and more tasks to get noticed by schools was my responsibility.
Having an over inflated sense of self. Being practical during the recruiting process can save you a lot of regret… and money. I’ve seen first hand girls in my recruiting class who believed they were top DI-talent, to the point where they declined offers from mid-major DI schools. Long story short, those girls did not end up playing DI basketball.
There are so many amazing programs at all division levels, not just the top DI schools. Remember- athletes can earn full athletic scholarships playing for DI and DII programs. If you don’t receive a full athletic scholarship, you can also score competitive financial aid packages and scholarship offers at DI through DIII schools. Before you turn down an offer, look at the school as a whole: the team you’d play for, the courses offered, career services offerings and other programs that would benefit you as a students.
Not doing research. When a program approaches you as a recruit, they will show you all of the great things that are associated with their program. But you have to ask yourself a few questions and do your research before considering an offer. Some questions I had to ask myself included:
- What size college or university do I want to attend?
- How far do I want to be away from home? Less than an hour drive? Less than a three hour drive? A plane trip away?
- Does this school have the major I want? Do they also have programs that I can participate in during my off season?
- How is the team culture? Do I feel comfortable around my future teammates and coaches?
- If I got injured and could no longer play, could I see myself still attending the school as a normal student?
Doing your research ahead of time can help you make a better decision before accepting a scholarship offer.
Being irresponsible on social media. Do you remember seeing stories of students who’s scholarships were taken back after an offensive social media post? Keep your social profiles clean so that a bad post doesn’t keep you from earning or keeping a scholarship.
Slacking in class. Even after signing your National Letter of Intent, you still have to be academically eligible to earn your scholarship. Schools will check your complete transcript after you graduate from high school, so make sure you attend all classes, do well on tests and complete all projects before closing out senior year.
Waiting to be recruited. Many athletes should have a good sense if they are a top recruit in their sport. Don’t be that athlete who waits until senior year to take ownership of their situation. If schools aren’t reaching out during your junior year, make them notice!
I was a late recruit, so I did a lot I did on and off the court to help me get noticed as an athlete. This included applying to safety schools as a regular student, which had programs where I had a chance of being a walk on. After working years of work as an athlete, it’s important to be realistic, strategic, and if necessary, it’s crucial to put your pride aside to make sure you end up at the right school for you.