NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Criteria of Prospects

Duke Coaches' Meeting Room (blueplanetshots.com)

In the recruiting process, there are specific criteria coaching staffs look for in student-athletes. These criteria are developed through recruiting meetings, previous experience, and personal preference. The most fundamental factors coaches look at are the student-athletes' grades, dimensions, skills, and character. Although there are exceptions on criterion in some extreme cases (even grades), coaches will quickly mark recruits off the list if there is a flaw in any of these areas.

GRADES

One of the first steps of a recruiter is to obtain the transcripts and standardized test scores of the student-athlete1. Failing to meet the Division II Initial-Eligibility Requirements imposed by the NCAA is the easiest way for a recruit to lose interest from colleges.

THE EYE TEST

Before coaches attend showcases to recruit student-athletes, they typically print off rosters of each team to view players’ measurements. Below are the typical heights, weights, and skills the NCAA Division II basketball coaches look for at each position.

Point Guard (5’10” 170lbs)2

• Very good ball handling and passing skills

• Knock down open shots from the perimeter

• Very good floor leadership

• Excellent court awareness

• Very good athleticism and lateral quickness

• Break defenders down off the dribble

Shooting Guard (6’1” 180lbs)2

• Exceptional shooter from the perimeter

• Very good athleticism and lateral quickness

• Good ball handling and passing skills

• Score from different areas on the floor

• Break defenders down off the dribble

Small Forward (6’3” 190lbs)2

• Very athletic with good lateral quickness

• Versatile all-around skills

• Ability to score the basketball from different areas on the floor

• Ability to break defenders down off the dribble

Power Forward (6’5” 215 lbs)2

• Ability to play with back to the basket, facing the basket, and shoot perimeter shot

• Very good rebounding skills

• Very Athletic

• Ability to run the floor well  

Center (6’7” 225 lbs)2

• Ability to play with back to the basket

• Very good rebounding skills

• Ability to run the floor well

• Athletic to block shots

CHARACTER

There is nothing more embarrassing for a school than having their name plastered over the internet and television for an offense committed by a member of their program.  For this reason, coaches must do thorough research on any character issues of recruits. Recruits can bolster their recruiting status by taking part in activities such as mentoring programs, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and other volunteer service.

Having good grades, dimensions, skills, and character can help recruits catch the eye of recruiters. These are the types of players that build programs into powerhouses and coaches into household names.

References

1Infante, J. (2012, October 1). Athletic Scholarships. Retrieved July 5, 2015.

2Sports Specific Recruiting Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved July 5, 2015 from:

           http://www.alamorevolution.com/PDF/NCSA_guide.pdf