My college sports recruiting story:

Like many of you, I was confused, had no guidance and wish there was someone to help through this process. Going into my Junior year of high school I started to send some highlight tapes that my friend made, I emailed a few college coaches and went to a few showcases but only garnered a small level of interest. I was going off what my friends were saying because I had no college athletes in my family and this was all new to my mom and myself. It wasn’t until my principal, who was a semi professional basketball player, reached out to some college basketball coaches to come and check me out at a few games that I got my scholarship. In track and field I was significantly better. I was top 20 in the country for High jump, but missed out on going to nationals because my high school didn’t want to pay for me to go, so didn’t tell me how to sign up for nationals. As a result, I was too late to be recruited for Track and Field because it was already Spring of my senior year and I had accepted my basketball scholarship, I never realized I had any options, so just went with it.

The Recruiting College Athlete Process: (Coaches perspective)
1) College coaches gather a list of prospect athletes through software to have access to thousands of athletes around the world and can use filters for what they are looking for. Getting on these lists is your first step.

2) Once coaches have their prospects, they send out recruiting letters, questionnaires or will invite the prospects to attend a showcase or camp their scouts will be at.

3) Now that the coaches have 20-50 athletes they like, they will start reaching out to the prospects coaches, club coaches, come and watch them play at competition and try to learn as much as they can about the prospect as a whole person.

4) Scholarship offers and sign letter of intent.

Timeline for recruiting process: (Athletes perspective)

8th grade and freshman year - Athletes should start researching colleges and create a list of schools they like both athletically and academically. Can start sending videos, emails, and stats to coaches but they can not respond to you.

Sophomore year - June 15th -(depending on the program) coaches can start proactively reaching out. Student athletes should be ready to be recruited, have their highlights updated, be ready for a campus visit and know about the college, have your grades up.

Junior year - contact coaches, make calls, write letters, learn about colleges or coaches already interested in you so you can make a form decision on your future.

Senior year - offers come in and make your final decision. If you have not received an offer, lower the division you are looking for or expand your search and outreach for different colleges with opportunities for you.