Recruiting: It’s About More Than “Just The Numbers”

I recently saw a tweet from a recruiting service about a basketball recruit that said:

“What are you waiting on coaches? [Athlete’s name] is putting up big numbers! Who else needs to tell you numbers don’t lie?”

When I see something like this on social media, I feel the urge to call it what it is – totally misleading!

If you have a recruiting service telling your son or daughter that “It’s all about the numbers that you put up” my advice would be to walk away instead of paying the fee that the recruiting service will charge you.

• Many college coaches – especially in team sports like baseball, basketball or football – aren’t overly impressed by just “the numbers” because your numbers can vary greatly depending upon the level of competition you were playing against when you put up those numbers.
• There is much more that coaches take into consideration, such as recommendations from high school or club coaches, academic performance, work ethic, and how a recruit handles adversity.
• Coaches will also evaluate a recruit’s natural ability and their technique (example: how does an offensive lineman run block compared to their pass blocking technique). Is the athlete versatile enough to play multiple positions for us?

To prospects and parents who are managing their own recruitment, I often recommend that the athletic profile they send to a coach should include examples of their leadership skills, their work ethic, and how the recruit sees themselves helping that college team compete for championships!

Do You Have Questions?

Most of you who come to our website and receive our newsletters know that we’re not a recruiting service, meaning we don’t promote prospective student-athletes to college coaches.

Our focus is ONLY on what is in the best interest for the student-athlete and their family.

To do this, we provide confidential consultations and services regarding recruiting strategies, athletic scholarships, freshman eligibility rules and requirements, and more so that athletes and families are fully informed and can make the best decision for their particular situation.

If you have questions about the recruiting rules or are interested in tips to improve your recruiting opportunities, schedule a confidential Recruiting Rules Consultation online, send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or call us at 913-766-1235.