Written by Will Johnson
One of the biggest misconceptions in youth basketball is that college coaches are only looking for players who score 20 points a game.
They’re not.
Sure, coaches love talent. They love players who can put the ball in the basket. But if you’ve ever talked to college coaches, watched them recruit, or been around the process long enough, you’ll realize they’re looking at a lot more than the points column. At Between The Game Sports, we’ve helped athletes reach the college level, and one thing we’ve learned is this:
College coaches recruit people first and players second.
Can You Help a Team Win?
This is the first question every college coach is trying to answer. It’s not whether that player can score the most or if that kid has thousands of followers. Bottom line is, once I get that player on campus, can that kid fit in and help the program win? Doesn’t matter
if you are a five-star or a walk-on; you, as the player, will start from the beginning and get the job done. Let’s be honest, college coaches’ livelihoods depend on whether they can get kids to buy and have a winning program. I’ve always said college coaches have to be somewhat insane to make coaching their career, just based on that premise, but that’s a topic for another article. Some players average 20 points but dominate the ball and hurt team chemistry. Other players average 8 points, defend, rebound, communicate, and make winning plays. Guess which player college coaches often prefer? The one who impacts winning.
How Do You React When Things Aren’t Going Your Way?
Anybody can smile when they’re making shots. College coaches pay attention to what happens when you’re struggling. Do you pout when you get subbed out? Do you stop playing defense when your shot isn’t falling? Do you blame teammates? Do you roll your eyes when a coach corrects you? Something as simple as your body language can get you crossed out of a coach’s recruiting list. Accountability is hard, but it’s a must when you are trying to convince someone to take a risk on you by giving you a scholarship. Your response to adversity tells coaches more about your future than your performance when everything is going right.
Are You Coachable?
This might be one of the most important traits in recruiting. Coaches want players who can take instruction, accept criticism, and make adjustments. That doesn’t mean being perfect. The high school game and the collegiate game are not the same. To clarify, the two are not the same. The speed and the attention to detail are beyond the comprehension of the average fan. You will make mistakes, a ton of mistakes, and being able to take correction from the coaches is important; you must be willing to learn. A player who listens, works hard, and improves over time is often more valuable than a talented player who thinks they already know everything. College coaches don’t have time to fix a player’s attitude; you will either get it, or they will ship you out elsewhere.
Can You Defend?
Let’s be honest, unless you’re a player who averages 25 or more points, or the coach who recruited you told you that brought you in to be a scorer, you’d better be able to defend at a high level. We all know the old saying, ” Defense travels”, so if you want to get on the court at the collegiate level, learn to defend. Shooting slumps happen, scoring can come and go, but defense can get you a scholarship more often than most folks think. Defense is an effort thing, and if a coach sees that from you, they just might come to more of your games. When coaches watch games, they’re paying attention to who competes on every possession. College coaches are often looking for players they can trust on the defensive end.
Do You Have a Basketball IQ?
Being skilled is great, being athletic is great, but actually knowing that game can separate the player from all the rest. One thing I know for sure is that college coaches love players who understand spacing, timing, decision-making, and situational basketball. Making the extra pass, taking a crucial charge are high on college coaches’ checklists. The higher you go, the more basketball becomes about decision-making.
Grades Matter More Than Many People Realize
Here’s the reality many families don’t want to hear. A coach can’t recruit a player who can’t get admitted. You can be one of the best players a coach has ever seen, but if you can’t get into the school because you have poor grades, then they won’t waste their time with you. Good grades create opportunities, and poor grades will leave you on the outside looking in. A school doesn’t want to give you a scholarship or nil deals and worry that you’re going to flunk out after one semester. The classroom is half the battle, but all players who want to play at the next level must conquer it. If you want more options, take school seriously.
What We Tell Every BTGS Athlete
The recruiting process has become noisy. Everybody is posting highlights. Everybody is talking about exposure. Everybody is chasing rankings. But college coaches are still looking for many of the same things they’ve always looked for:
- Character
- Coachability
- Work ethic
- Basketball IQ
- Competitiveness
- Defense
- Academic responsibility
The players who focus on those things put themselves in the best position to succeed.
At BTGS, we’ve always believed in development over hype.
Because when the cameras are off, the rankings disappear, and the social media posts stop getting likes, college coaches are still asking the same question:
Can this player help our program win?
Make sure your game answers that question.
You’re Welcome
