Student-Athlete Showcase (SAS)

2014-02-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

Lesson of the Day:

Five mistakes athletes make when creating their college list

So your dream is to play your sport in college, and someone told you that your first step should be to make a list of your favorite colleges.

It makes perfect sense. It’s never bad to start with a plan.

But did this person tell you how to compile your list? There are 4,000+ colleges in America. How in the world do you know where to start? What makes certain schools your “favorites?” Is it the uniforms they’re wearing on television?

One thing’s for sure: compiling your list of top colleges can be a daunting task. But it really doesn’t have to be if the goal is to assemble a group that matches up well with your athletic abilities, appeals to your academic interests and offers the overall experience you’re looking for in a college. That and, it’s always nice if these schools actually want you, too.

Creating a “bad” list of top schools might not seem like a monumental pitfall, but it can certainly derail your collegiate strategy and waste a ton of time if your plan gets off on the wrong foot. So to shed some light on the topic, I’m giving you five (5) of the more common mistakes. Hopefully, they’ll help you avoid them altogether and come up with a strong list instead.

Mistake #1: Division I or bust!

Athletes often feature a Who’s Who of major Division I colleges/universities in their initial college list, and the reality for many is, it’s simply not a realistic list. In fact, in many cases, the list is completely disconnected from the athlete’s “true” athletic/academic credentials.

Look, everyone dreams about the “Big Time” and you should aim high until it’s clear that the opportunity is out of reach. Just understand that only about 1% of America’s varsity athletes will put on a Division I uniform next year. And by the time you’re a junior in high school, many of these opportunities have already been offered to the nation’s top prospects.

Even if you’re not a Division I caliber prospect, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a fantastic college home for you out there.

Ball State University (NCAA Division I) Head Football Coach, Pete Lembo, says, “Parents must try to keep their expectations realistic for their children. Very few high school players have the physical tools and skill set to play at the highest level. However, there is a place for every high school player to fit in on the college level if they have the grades, standardized test scores and passion for the game.”

"High school players and their parents can get ‘caught up’ in lunch time and cocktail party talk of ‘where are you going’ rather than finding the best fit for the athlete. (Athletes need to) choose a place that really wants you, and where you can become an All‐Conference and All‐American player. You need to find a fit, not a place that looks and sounds good when telling people where you're going." - Dan O’Brien, Head Baseball Coach Santa Clara University NCAA Division I

Mistake #2: Ten schools ought to do it, right?

Wrong. Listen kids, 10 schools should be the end of the process a year or more from now. It’s not the beginning! If the goal is to have choices – to end up with multiple college offers – then targeting 10 schools is typically not going to achieve your goal. It’s certainly not what experts call “casting a large enough net.”

At minimum, you need to start with a college list that features 10-20 times this amount. That’s right, we’re talking about 100-200 schools. Why so many? Because there are too many variables out of your control: annual position needs, admissions standards, scholarship availability, coaching changes, and not to mention, you might be competing with thousands of other kids for just a few spots.

Bottom line, college coaches are constantly narrowing their lists, changing their recruiting depth charts and assessing their current needs. Remember, recruiting is the lifeblood of their success and can mean the difference between keeping or losing their jobs. So your strategy needs to be aggressive and your initial college list needs to be substantial. And if you aren’t sure how to compile a list this size, then you need someone who can help connect you with these coaches. Because at the end of the day, your “Top 10 List” is not your starting point – it’s the final outcome.

Mistake #3: It “looks” good… so it must be a great fit for me!

Of course, I’m referring to influences by the media, friends and family. Athletes, you’re going to be attracted to schools for various reasons, and while everyone has their own unique set of priorities, the most important thing to remember here is that the school you attend should be the best fit for YOU; not anyone else. This is about your future, not what sounds good when you’re talking to your friends. This is about your experience, not where your mom or dad went to school. Just because this team has flashy new uniforms doesn’t make them a great fit!

Here’s a great exercise for you and your parents. We call it an opportunity comparisons chart, and it’s basically an inventory of your interests and how each college/university compares to one another using a numerical value. Plenty of people use an Excel spreadsheet to do this because they can include as many colleges as they want and automatically add up scores, but you can scratch this on a piece of paper just as well.

Start by listing 6 to 8 “priorities” at the top of the page (each priority in its own column). These are specific, personal items of importance that will give you the absolute best college experience. It’s everything you want out of Perfect Fit U… a certain degree program, the location and size of the school, playing time, tradition, scholarship amount, facilities, job prospects upon graduation… whatever is important to you.

Down the left side of the page, you’re going to list all your colleges (each college in its own row). And you’re simply going to assign a numerical value – 1 being the lowest, 5 being the highest – to each school under each item of importance.

For example, ABC State gets a 5 for scholarship amount (because they’re offering you 100%), a 2 for location (because the school is in the middle of nowhere about 1,500 miles from home), and a 3 for playing time (because you’re chances of playing early look promising). XYZ Tech, on the other hand, gets a 3 for scholarship, a 4 for location and a 1 for playing time. So when you add up the scores in the far right column, ABC scores a 10 and XYZ scores an 8. Therefore, if you were only comparing these two schools, ABC appears to be a slightly better fit.

As you research hundreds of schools, visit campuses, interact with coaches and cultivate these relationships, this chart will allow you to organize your notes and gain a much better sense of how each college compares in each category. And this way, you’ll avoid eliminating great fit options when the opportunity may not have appeared all that great in the beginning!

Mistake #4: Home Sweet Home

When considering your college options, many student- athletes automatically elect to stay closer to home versus “going away.” And it makes perfect sense. Your support system is important. Your parents being able to watch you play in college is important, too.

Just don’t rule out your options before you absolutely have to.

For many families, a college scholarship is a significant priority – perhaps even necessary. So if your goal is to get a portion of your education paid for, then open up to the idea of spending four years out of state to complete your education. Not only will it provide a valuable experience, it will expand your lifelong professional and social networks as well.

Of course, you may still end up choosing your “perfect fit” school closer to home, which is great if it’s the best fit for you. In the beginning, though, it’s always wise to consider opportunities outside a 500 mile radius.

As a general rule of thumb, we encourage student-athletes to consider areas all across the country when looking at schools. For one, most 16 & 17-year olds change their minds, and so schools they often like from first glance are typically not schools they end up liking. And since kids don’t always know what they're looking for in a school, their preliminary college choices are often based off what they hear or think, as opposed to what they know. So the more coaches kids can interact with, the more perspective and knowledge they can gain. The more they can learn about themselves and the more the process itself reveals to them, the better they can position themselves moving forward.

Additionally, it’s important to realize that college recruiting is perception-based and in most cases, “offers breed other offers.”

The more interest kids receive from various colleges, the more leverage they ultimately possess. If college coaches around the country are legitimately interested in you, not only will it enhance your recruiting experience by opening more doors, it also validates your ability level for those coaches who may have passed on you otherwise. So if you want to improve your chances of receiving offers from schools in your backyard, make sure you’re recruited heavily by schools far away (and vice versa).

Finally, it’s important to understand some basic college demographics. Nearly 79% of all colleges in the US are east of the Mississippi. So when a west coast prospect starts drawing a line through east coast opportunities, for example, s/he starts to exponentially limit her/his college options. Simply put, there are fewer schools (and therefore fewer roster spots) for kids that want to stay in the west. If you’re not a major D1 caliber player with a spot on a Pac-12, Mountain West or WAC roster, don’t give up. There’s a number of amazing opportunities likely waiting for you out east, so take the time to learn about those schools and you might just find exactly what you’re hoping for.

Mistake #5: Smaller colleges, like Division III schools, don’t offer athletic scholarships so I’m not even going to include them on my college list.

Somewhere along the way, a grave misconception developed here. Apparently, since Division III schools cannot award athletic scholarships, these opportunities are perceived as far less prestigious and rewarding than Division I or II schools.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

As mentioned earlier, if you were blessed with the talent level to be considered a Division I prospect, then shoot for the stars! However, there are plenty of Division I-caliber players who elect to play Division III.

True, Division III schools cannot award scholarships on the basis of athletic talent. However, like all college coaches at every level, they must recruit to stay competitive and maintain job security. The fact is, Division III financial aid awards are simply packaged with non-athletic line items, such as endowments, academic scholarships, grants, loans and/or need-based aid. While their recruiting budgets are typically tighter than larger college programs, the rules governing D3's are far less stringent, so their recruiting strategies and incentives are limited only by the institutions they represent. Bottom line, you might get a better offer at a Division III school, so don’t automatically rule them out if they offer great fit opportunities.

In an article published in New Jersey's The Record, Audrey Kahane writes:

"While playing sports at a Division I or II school may be more prestigious, there are advantages to a Division III school. Athletes can still get extra consideration in the admissions office at Division III schools, and even though these colleges don't offer athletic scholarships, they can offer academic scholarships. Playing for a Division III team might mean more playing time, which is important when you love a sport, and the satisfaction of being a big fish in a small pond. Since Division III schools tend to be smaller colleges, athletes may find more personal attention, smaller classes and greater ease in socializing with the rest of the college community."

Student-Athletes, when you look at your initial list of possible college choices, ask yourself some key questions:

Q: For the most part, are the colleges/universities on my list good fits for me?

A: Try the opportunities comparison and see how many match up with your athletic abilities, academic credentials and personal priorities.

Q:Which of the coaches on my current college list are interested enough to want to know what’s going on in my life?

A: If the answer is “zero”, then your list isn’t doing you much good and you need to formulate a better plan immediately.

Q: Will I be happy sitting the bench in college, or do I want to see early & significant playing time?

A: You’ve worked hard to get to this point. You’re among the elite 5% who gets to play their sport in college. Would you be happy riding the pine at a big school or being a fixture in the starting lineup at a smaller school?

Q: How do college coaches currently evaluate me? Do I even know what they think of me?

A: If you aren’t sure how good you are, see if a local college coach will evaluate your film, or attend a couple college camps and ask for written evaluations. Knowing the truth about how you compare with other prospects will save you lots of time and ensure a much more productive college recruiting experience. Also do as University of Kentucky coach, Brian Green, suggests. “Match yourself against the top of the collegiate scale. Match your skills with a player from a major Division I school that plays the same position. See where you stand, and be realistic!”

Q: What is my action plan if the coaches on my college list don’t want me?

A: It’s likely that you’ll experience some disappointment in the recruiting process. It’s part of the game. But if you have a strong plan in place, you’ll be well-prepared to position yourself for great fit opportunities.

2014-02-12T09:04:00.004-07:00

Lesson of the Day:

Game Plan + Execution = Success!

For today’s tip, we’re leaving you with a small dose of reality...

Going to camps, attending showcases, and receiving a few letters here and there does NOT necessarily mean your son or daughter is being recruited.

When you’re getting recruited, then you’re in regular communication with coaches. You’re getting hand-written letters and personal invites to private 1-day camps. You’re on the phone with coaches. You’re receiving multiple video requests. You’re being “followed” at showcases, and you’re connecting with coaches on Facebook. In other words, you’re building meaningful relationships with coaches and developing a deeper understanding of what your perfect fit school looks like.

And so if these things aren’t happening for you, then you’re really not getting recruited yet. I know that’s a difficult reality for some athletes to hear, but it’s important that you know the truth.

The only way to make sure that you receive multiple offers is to get into as many recruiting funnels as possible. This is very much a numbers game. The more funnels you’re in, the more offers you’ll receive. And the more offers you have, the more choices you’ll have. And in the end, that’s what this is all about: having choices and choosing the perfect fit.

So you need to ask yourself one question – where am I in the recruiting process right now… am I close to getting offers or am I far from it?

2014-02-05T08:51:00.004-07:00

Lesson of the Day:

Interest Breeds Interest.

As long as we have been helping families navigate the college recruiting process, we estimate that 8 of 10 kids come to us with set preferences in mind and then end up going to a school completely counter to those preferences.

Bottom line, we do everything in our power to encourage our kids to keep an open mind from the onset. For one, most teenagers change their minds often and so schools they think they like at the start are typically not schools they end up liking two years down the road. Also, it's not uncommon for teenagers "preferences" to be inspired by what they hear from others, as opposed to what they actually experienced for themselves, and so their preferences are often based upon things that don't carry any real credibility towards their own personal decisions. It's been my overwhelming experience that many kids really have no clue what they want or what really offers them the best "fit" for the next 4-5 years in college, and indirectly, for the next 50-70 years of their life without having drawn from their own personal experiences.

The fact is, the more coaches kids can talk to, the more perspective they can personally gain towards making the right decision. They will learn not only about the process, but about themselves as well. Also, so much of recruiting is perception-based, and schools will often recruit kids they haven't even seen simply b/c other schools in their conference are showing strong interest in them. Therefore, the more interest kids can get from more schools in general, the more leverage they'll ultimately have.

So in our experience, getting interest from schools in different parts of the country is often the best way to gain interest from schools in your backyard. Interest breeds interest and the more you have, the more bonafide prospect you become and the more options you stand to gain. It's really the classic “blinders” approach that many parents/ athletes take into the recruiting process. It’s fine if an athlete wants to stay relatively close to home, but it's actually counterproductive to initiate communication with coaches in such a confined area. By expanding your options, you expand your ability to generate maximum recruiting interest and that can directly improve your total number of options.

2014-01-29T08:16:00.005-07:00

Lesson of the Day:

The Pros & Cons of Camps.

It’s among the most frequently-debated topics in the world of college recruiting. Let’s start with some of your questions.

What’s the big deal with summer camps? What’s the point of going to a camp, or two, or three this summer? How do camps help me? Should I include summer camps as part of my college recruiting strategy? Will attending summer camps warrant scholarship offers? Do they help increase exposure? Am I required to go to a school’s camp in order to be recruited by them? How many camps should I register for? HELP ME!

The truth is, as with many college recruiting-related topics, you’re bound to find several different perspectives and various answers to questions about summer camps. So depending on your individual collegiate goals, your projected Division I or II status, your availability and your budget, perhaps you should consider the pros and cons of attending summer camps before filling your calendar with camp dates.

The Good:

Networking. Summer camps are great for networking with coaches and prospective athletes. You’re going to meet other student-athletes from around the country and be able to share your experiences with kids from various backgrounds. Plus, it’s NEVER a bad idea to build relationships with coaches, and camps are great face to face venues.

Instruction. Camps help enhance athletic development and skill levels with advanced college-level instruction. So if you’re on the cusp of starting next season, what you learn at a camp may help give you the edge!

Accurate Assessment. Gain new perspective on your abilities by performing with and against other top players your age. It’s common to overrate yourself. Camps often provide a stage for helping you more precisely assess yourself.

Unbiased Evaluation. College coaches usually don’t “sugar coat” things. So at camps, you’re likely to get the skinny about your true potential from credible sources that aren’t around you everyday.

Fun. Camps can be a blast. Sure, you can pretty much count on working hard while you’re there, but most camps reserve plenty of time for fun activities as well.

The Not-So Good:

Expensive. Camps aren’t cheap. In most cases, fees for overnight camps can range from $300-1,000, depending on the duration, format and amenities. So choose wisely.

Crowds. It’s true… tons of kids show up to these things! You might visualize a few days of 1-on-1 instruction, only to show up with 500+ other prospects who are all expecting the same thing. So do your due diligence before registering. Know how many athletes will attend and understand the teaching format. It will spare you much disappointment.

Exposure? Many camps have advertised in the past that their event was a great venue for creating national collegiate exposure. In reality, the only real exposure you should expect to receive is from the camp’s host university. In fact, NCAA recently passed rules which prohibit coaches from other colleges attending camps and combines off campus. So don’t attend a college camp this summer expecting national visibility, because it typically doesn’t happen.

Where? A common question among prospective campers… which camps should I attend? Your big name, Division I powerhouses attract the nations top prospects AND hoards of other campers every year. And it makes sense, too. Traditionally, camping at Pac 10, Big 10 and SEC-level schools were considered great resume-builders for hopeful college prospects. The problem is, most college coaches at these schools are relying on the attendance of a few key recruits. One college coach from an east coast Division I program told me recently that of the 400+ campers he is expecting to host, only about 7 or 8 of these athletes are on his staff’s “short list,” he called it. In fact, these were kids his staff had been corresponding with well in advance of the camp, and that the camp was a great opportunity for them to see these kids face-to-face. The other 290+ campers were sure to have fun and learn some important fundamentals, but they weren’t going to factor into any future recruiting plans with this staff.

Our message to high school athletes who are considering adding summer camps to their already incredibly busy schedules is this: Choose your camp locations carefully. Don’t go to a camp simply because it’s being hosted by a big-name school. Instead, camp at colleges that have already shown genuine interest in you; where you have begun building relationships with the coaching staff long before the camp date. That way, camps aren’t just a place to spend 3 or 4 days and hundreds of dollars. Instead, they become part of your active recruiting game plan.

Also, if you have your sights set on a particular college/university, and if you have the time and money to attend their camp, then do it! Go to their camp and have a blast. Hopefully, attending the camp will help solidify the coaches’ interest in you. But don’t put all your eggs in one basket, and don’t be incredibly surprised if the camp doesn’t produce a full-ride scholarship as a direct result of your attendance. For 99% of college prospects out there, several other stages of the recruiting process must occur before a scholarship offer is made.

Finally, remember that college camps are opportunities for YOU to evaluate the coaching staff in person as well. While college coaches have the daunting task of narrowing their list of prospects from hundreds (sometimes thousands) down to just a select few, you too need to position yourself for multiple college options, and you should put in the time to thoroughly research these choices. Spending time on college campuses and spending time with college coaches is among your best research tactics.

2014-01-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

Lesson of the Day:

Investing in Expertise Returns Multiple Offers, Huge Savings for Athletes

National Signing Period is a special time for student-athletes around the country. It marks the end of a stressful, overwhelming college recruiting experience, and their official acceptance of an athletic scholarship.

For many parents, this means six-figure savings and a chance to watch their child live out a dream come true.

For thousands of other prospects, many of whom approached the process with a "D1 or bust" mentality, signing day is a brutal reminder that attempting to tackle the process without professional assistance can be a costly error in judgment.

“The (SAS) program was incredibly effective and the results were astounding,” says David Waltzer, whose son Justin signed his letter of intent last week with Division II St. Anselm (NH) College.

“Everything unfolded as SAS said it would, and they never tired of taking our calls and answering our e-mails to guide us along at every turn. We had college coaches coming to us in droves. Justin received a scholarship package that far exceeded our expectations. Talk about an incredible return on investment.”

For South Dakota State-bound Trent Mason, acquiring the help of college recruiting experts also proved to be a wise investment.

“We ended up visiting 4 schools, had 6 great offers, all but one was a full scholarship offer,” says his father, David.

"In the end, Trent chose a smaller Division I school where he loved the coaches, was offered a full scholarship and an opportunity to start for the next 4 years. He could not be happier, and we couldn't have done this without SAS. The exposure Trent received from schools we did not even know existed would have never happened without their expertise."

Accepting an offer from small-Division I St. Peter's in New Jersey will mean plenty of adjusting for Cortez, Colorado's Brian Grubbs. But with a scholarship package that figures to amount to more than $150,000, his father Brett is glad he sought assistance.

"I know for a fact that without SAS, we would not be in this position. Because of the exposure and the numerous schools interested in Brian, he was able to negotiate the best deal."

www.student-athleteshowcase.com

2014-01-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

Lesson of the Day:

Evaluations from College Coaches are Critical to your Recruiting Success

Letters of recommendation and reference letters from your high school coaches are important, especially when it comes to making an impression on college coaches. But are you seeking evaluations from the college coaches themselves?

One of the best ways to stay in control of your college recruitment is to seek honest feedback from the coaches who are studying your highlight/game videos. Not only is their assessment vital to your collegiate opportunities, but it helps strengthen relationships with these coaches, too.

Some athletes may be apprehensive about receiving evaluations from coaches because the report may not be what the athlete (or parent) wants to hear. Nevertheless, college bound athletes must be realistic about their college futures, and accepting what college coaches have to say can be critical to executing a plan that positions you for great fit college options.

Here is an actual evaluation that one of the country’s top Division III football coaches provided SAS on one of our 2012 prospects. Are you getting specific feedback like this from college coaches? If not, you could be missing a fantastic opportunity to really know what college programs think when they view your films.

This young man is an above average D3 football player. He would not be one of our top QB prospects for the 2012 class. I am sure he is a terrific athlete, but he appears to go down with little contact.

Positives: great speed, agility (would be a great D3 WR). Negatives: under-throws most of his passes on film (has some good WR’s). Has poor feet, shot- puts the ball, and falls every time he is touched. Also does not step into his throw when he has pressure.

We grade on a 0-4 scale, for how many years a player would “start” for us at our school. I would grade him as a 1 or 2.

2014-01-06T08:23:00.002-07:00

Lesson of the Day:

Highlight Films Do NOT Need Music.

We were recently contacted by a family that was searching for some recruiting expertise, or more specifically, some answers. They just could not understand why their son hadn't received any college replies despite sending his information out to a number of schools, and now in April of his senior year, they’re facing the possibility that his football career may soon be over.

After some in-depth discussion, we learned that this particular athlete has been a 3x Varsity starter at one of the top HS teams in the state, and not only does he have great size, but he also has tremendous speed. His stats and honors are impressive and his HS coaches consider him to be one of the best players in the conference. I wasn't 100% convinced that all the facts were straight, so I asked to see his bio so I could personally review his information. After my preliminary examination, not only did I agree with his coaches in their evaluation of him, but his grades and test scores were also well above average. On paper, he was a legitimate college prospect and one that could definitely warrant interest from the Division 1 level. Before making any final recommendations, however, I asked for a copy of his highlight film.

What I discovered next was appalling, and it gave me everything I needed to know about why this athlete wasn't being recruited by a single school in the country. As if nothing was amiss, his father enthusiastically emailed me a link to his son’s YouTube video, posted for the entire world to see. I immediately clicked the link, watched and listened with horror, as the film was accompanied by a rap song that used no less than three profanities in the first 20 seconds. It was all I needed to hear and now seeing this as often as I do, what prompted me to write this blog.

As a student-athlete, you’re recruiting journey should be considered one of (if not the most) important job interviews of your young life. You’re competing against tens of thousands of other candidates for the same position, for a roster spot, and for a school and coaching staff to invest both their lives and hundreds of thousands of dollars in you to build a winning program. Your stats, speed, strength and athletic ability certainly play a role in your evaluation. But your character, personality, integrity, and moral fiber make the real difference. Would you ever use profanity on a job application? Would you ever curse in front of a supervisor during a job interview? Why then would you ever decide that using violent and offensive music to accompany your highlight film would create anything but the same type of reaction?

I decided to send the YouTube link to several D1 football coaches to get their take on it, and this is what they had to say:

Coach #1: ZW, did not even need 30 seconds to make a decision. 20 seconds was enough to make me not want to watch or recruit this young man, ever.
Coach #2: Zack, I have had to start muting my computer during highlight tapes be-cause it puts a really bad taste in my mouth about the player.
Coach #3: I personally would NEVER recruit that kid just based on that music. I seriously not only question the kid, but the coach, the parents, the person that made that video or anyone else involved in that. I don’t care how good the kid is, I don’t care how smart the kid is, we would never recruit that kid. His character would certainly be called into question making a decision to send that to a college football coach, it’s just totally out of line. Just as a side note, it’s a shame because watching that video he looks like a heck of a player, but again, we would never recruit him based on his decision to use that music.

Next time you think about posting something online to represent yourself - a picture, a song, a conversation, a comment or remark – take notice, it will at some time be scrutinized by the very people you’re trying to impress.

Carry yourself as a professional always, and you’ll be treated as one in return.

2013-12-17T08:30:00.003-07:00

Lesson of the Day:

When will I start receiving scholarship offers?

FACT: Today’s Division I coaches want to complete their recruiting classes by summer’s end.

And in case you aren’t sure which summer I’m referring to, it’s the one before your high school senior classes begin.

OK, coaches recruit early. So what?

Well, how soon coaches begin offering you scholarships might actually depend on the “level” of Division I prospect they think you are.

Yes, for many Division I college coaches, there are four (4) levels, or tiers, of recruits and depending on which tier you fall under just might determine your time frame for receiving scholarship offers. Here is a breakdown of the “four levels” of Division I prospects.

Level 1

You have already proven that you can play your position in college. You already have the size, speed, strength & grades to play at the major Division I level. You are a nationally ranked ‘blue-chip’ prospect, and will likely find yourself among the ESPNU 150 Watch List with a high rating on Rivals.com.

Level 1 Division I prospects can expect to begin receiving offers before Christmas of their junior year in high school.

Level 2

You aren’t a "can't-miss" D1 prospect like Level 1 recruits, but you’re close. Coaches probably need to come by the school to see you practice in the fall or spring of your junior year before making an offer.

Level 2 Division I prospects can expect to begin receiving offers in April-June of their junior year in high school.

Level 3

You are on many college recruiting depth charts but not at the top of anyone’s list. College coaches may want to see you in their camp and spend some time with you before offering a scholarship.

Level 3 Division I prospects can expect to begin receiving offers by summer’s end following their junior year in high school.

Level 4

Coaches must evaluate you in your senior year before making an offer. You may lack the size or speed or skill to play your position at the Division I level, but the potential may be there, and coaches want to see senior-year video to determine your prospects of perhaps playing another position in college.

Level 4 Division I prospects can expect to begin receiving offers after coaches have evaluated them in their senior year in high school.

If you are a high school junior without any scholarship offers yet, don’t panic. You might be severely under the radar, and acquiring professional help to both market you and manage your college recruitment can mean the difference. If you are a senior without any offers, still don’t panic.

Contact SAS today for a free phone consultation to see if there’s still time to open college doors.

www.student-athleteshowcase.com

An Injury Does NOT Mean The End

2013-12-10T08:19:00.001-07:00

Lesson of the Day:

A serious injury does NOT mean the end of your college dreams!

There is nothing more frustrating than an injury that limits your ability to play the sport you love. Hundreds of hours of preparation in the off-season all of sudden feel like a complete waste of time when you’re sidelined with a serious injury.

Despite the setback, the biggest mistake you can make as a parent is to assume that a blown knee, torn ligament or broken bone ends any hope of your son or daughter competing in college. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.

Injuries are a part of sport. Times are different. The advances in medical technology mean athletes with serious injuries often come back better than ever. In fact, injuries that require several months of rehabilitation can teach young athletes valuable life lessons.

And according to several college coaches we’ve spoken with on the subject, if a relationship was in progress prior to the injury, the courtship will likely continue.

So if you sustain an unlucky injury, don’t automatically assume your goal of playing college sports is squelched. Instead, here are some things you can do to stay focused on the athletic recruiting process even if you are sidelined:

1. Make sure to attend practices and any team meetings. Some athletes get disconnected because they feel they aren’t part of the team when they’re injured. While you may be unable to play, attending practices and staying in the loop are critical to your frame of mind.

2. Don’t let your academics slip. An injury can lead to depression. As a result, grades can slide. The last thing you want to do is dig yourself an even greater hole. In fact, utilize this time to work even harder in the classroom.

3. Spend more time researching schools. Your goal of finding the perfect fit hasn’t changed, so spend the time educating yourself about different schools. If your injury might derail hopes of playing Division I, then start to familiarize yourself with Division II, III and NAIA schools. Remember, there are plenty of Division I-level athletes competing at these levels!

4. Gather film. If your injury occurs early in your senior year, then you may not have much film to show coaches. But your junior film, or any footage taken during the summer, may be just as valuable. Be sure to get with your coaches and/or any parents who may have some film on you.

5. Don’t stop communicating with college coaches! Again, coaches understand that injuries occur. And if you were in communication with coaches prior to your injury, then stay with it. Don’t be afraid to tell them what happened either. Coaches who are genuinely interested you won’t abandon you because you’re hurt. Speak freely with coaches about how they’ve handled this with past recruits.

6. Listen to your doctors. They are your greatest advisor when you’re injured. Don’t rush back before you’re ready either. You’re more valuable to college coaches when you’re healthy, and if you come back too soon and re-aggravate your injury, then college coaches may reevaluate their interest in you.

7. Be realistic. If you have no Division I offers and have no senior film, then it may be time to become more realistic about your collegiate options. Smaller colleges may be a better fit for you, and in the end, finding the perfect fit is the most important thing.

*Source: Recruiting 101

Stop Marketing. Start Nurturing.

2013-12-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

Lesson of the Day:
Stop Marketing, Start Nurturing.

Let’s face it. People want to do business with those they trust. And it’s no different in college recruiting. Coaches recruit prospects with talent and grades, but they offer scholarships to the ones in which they’ve built confidence and trust. And trust is becoming more and more a factor nowadays. The numbers of coaches publicly voicing their frustrations about recruits who commit and then de-commit is likely to increase before it subsides. So as a student-athlete who dreams of landing scholarship offers, how do you build confidence and earn trust with college coaches?

Here’s an idea: Stop marketing and start nurturing.

EXAMPLE: Let’s say 20 college coaches are currently sending you mail.

- Your 10 “A-list schools are showing the most genuine interest and they seem to match up best with your athletic & academic priorities.
- The other 10 B- and C-list schools continue to show warm, frequent interest but aren’t as attractive to you.

What Happens Now?

Most student-athletes with this level of recruiting activity make the costly mistake of becoming a spectator. After all, coaches are interested and they’re going to stay interested, right?

Not necessarily.

FACT: coaches evaluate and court hundreds of prospects for every one “offer” they extend.
MEANING: to sustain interest, you must engage coaches on a more personal level than those with whom you’re competing. And I don’t mean telling coaches how great you are or sending them newspapers articles that feature you. I’m talking about cultivating relationships. I’m talking about communicating on a level that separates you from others.

Think of your college recruitment as a 2-year job interview. To land your dream job, you can’t just send in a resume and expect the offer to follow. Sure, introducing yourself is an important component, but again, the competition is stiff. You must assume that everyone in contention for the same opportunity is equally (or more) qualified than you; that every recruit on a coach’s depth chart can play as well (or better) than you. So to get the “job offer,” you have to take it upon yourself to earn the coach’s trust, and no amount of marketing will accomplish this.

Instead, you must nurture the opportunity.

Here are 5 ways to start nurturing relationships with college coaches.

1. Recognize a gem when you find one.
If a coach is sending you quality, personal emails, and they seem genuinely engaged with what’s going on in your high school career, then chances are you have a gem of an opportunity. Sometimes it’s merely a connection you feel with a particular coach. Whenever you have this feeling, it’s good to recognize that this is a coach that you should focus your efforts and energies on. Go out of your way to let them know how honored and appreciative you are in their efforts to recruit you. Mention the coach and his/her school on Facebook. Tell others what a great experience you’re having with this coach. Coaches are human like the rest of us, and they are drawn to people who openly appreciate them.

2 Send handwritten thank-you notes.
I know it sounds rather archaic. Taking pen to paper and writing someone a note, in this day and age, is a lost art. And that’s exactly why you should do it! A simple hand-written card can be incredibly nurturing, especially because nobody bothers to take the time anymore. And it doesn’t have to be a lengthy letter either. Two or three sentences on a blank card, expressing your gratitude for taking time to speak on the phone last night, will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression. Sure, personal emails are great. But a thank you card in your own writing might just find its way around the entire athletic department. Make the commitment to send every coach who recruits you a thank-you card or two before you make your final college decision.

3 Stay connected with coaches using social media.
Tune in on Twitter and pay attention to what coaches are posting. Create a Facebook feed that simplifies the process and creates a list of coaches. Much like with Twitter, a dedicated coach group allows you to filter out only their updates and get a quick snapshot of their activity, rather than having to visit each individual profile/page. Jump in. Comment on their latest game, event or news. Tag coaches/schools in your status updates. If appropriate, tag the coach in a status update or wall post. Tagging is extremely useful as it allows you to link directly to coaches’ pages or places a link to their page. For more on this, download this Free Report.

4 Take an active interest in their program.
Subscribe to their blog. Bookmark their web pages and check in at least once a month. Research the schools that are showing interest in you and reach out to these coaches monthly. A simple congratulations email after a big win, or referencing a newsworthy topic about their school, can do wonders for a coach’s confidence and trust in you.
Be relentless in your communication. Go out of your way to let a coach know how honored you are in their efforts to recruit you.

5 Don’t let the opportunity fade away.
Be relentless in your commitment to follow up and stay connected with coaches. Even if you don’t receive immediate responses all the time, don't allow the communication to lose momentum and don’t stop doing your part to keep the opportunity alive. Coaches are extremely busy. They travel constantly. Recruiting is a 365-day job and many things can temporarily impede a coach’s ability to communicate. Don’t get discouraged if their interest appears to decline either. Set up a follow-up calendar for each school, and be persistent with your communication until the coach blatantly tells you s/he won’t be recruiting you anymore. If that happens, stay humble and show your warmest gratitude for the chance to correspond. Just because you aren’t a good fit for one school doesn’t mean that the impression you leave won’t result in another (better) opportunity elsewhere.

Why Twitter is changing the recruiting world for college-bound athletes

2013-08-21T08:34:00.000-06:00

Great article about TCU Football Coach Gary Patterson and how he has reinvented himself with the help of Twitter.

Full article here

In summary...

Why is Twitter is such an integral tool for college coaches?

College coaches must recruit every day. It’s that simple. If they don’t, they lose. Twitter is an easy, effective way for coaches to gain a great advantage over those who don’t use it to recruit players.

Twitter allows coaches to relate to people, and at the end of the day, recruiting is purely about people.

Twitter is a vehicle to show others the “real” you, and never before has this been more vital for college coaches when it comes to recruiting players.

How can student-athletes incorporate Twitter into their recruiting efforts?

If you aren’t communicating with coaches, then you aren’t being evaluated by coaches either. Twitter is a great platform to gain an advantage over other recruits. It’s not like email (not yet at least), where coaches have to sift through hundreds of emails per day and may never get around to replying to them. If you send a coach a direct message via Twitter, not only is s/he likely to follow you, but your chances of getting a direct message back are much higher.

Twitter allows people to relate to one another. It allows coaches to relate to you and you to coaches. Ultimately, you will choose your perfect fit school based on multiple personal factors. And the better you get to know that coach, the more s/he is going to play a major role in your final decision.

Twitter is one of the easiest ways to help college coaches get to know the real you. The other prospects on a coach’s recruiting board are just as talented as you are, so your ability to develop meaningful relationships with coaches throughout the courting process is critical to your success. Twitter allows you to follow coaches, ask coaches to follow you, send them direct messages and create a simple solution for them to message you back. Not to mention, it gives you valuable insight into the person behind the whistle, and it allows you to showcase the real you as well.

Know someone who can benefit from this info? Please pass it on! Need help enhancing your own collegiate opportunities? Call me.

Rex Grayner

SAS President

(303) 841-9345

2013-07-11T18:12:00.002-06:00

Former Stanford University Head Women’s Golf Coach Joins Student-Athlete Showcase

Caroline O'Connor

Student-Athlete Showcase (SAS), the nation’s premier College Recruiting Management Group and trusted advisor for high school student-athletes & parents nationwide, announced today that former Stanford University head women’s golf coach, Caroline O’Connor, has joined the company as Director of Worldwide Golf Recruiting.

Read full article

D-III Reaps Benefits From D-I Early Recruiting

2013-01-24T07:32:00.000-07:00

For as much consternation that is caused by the early recruiting currently done by Division I coaches, it has produced the unintended consequence of aiding Division III programs. "I hope they continue to do what they're doing," said one head coach...

FULL ARTICLE

Lesson #1 for Recruits: Choose the school, not the Coach

2012-12-13T12:58:00.002-07:00

To say that the coaching profession is fluid is a drastic understatement.

In fact, the average tenure of a Division I college football coach is 3+ years. Which means, if you're a major college prospect, there is a pretty good chance that the coaching staff who courted you won't be there to see you graduate from that university.

Translation: Make your final college decision based on the experience of the university as a whole; not based on the current coach.

This way, no matter how many coaching changes you survive (and you can bank on at least one), you're attending a school that was the best choice for you overall, regardless of who recruited you.

This recent story about former Texas Tech football coach, Tommy Tuberville, pretty much spells it out. In reality, a college coach is one better offer (or one losing season) from heading out the door.

Although, most won't depart as abruptly as Tuberville did.

Tommy Tuberville reportedly ditches recruits in the middle of dinner to take Cincinnati job

We got a Bear here!

2012-12-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what actually occurs on an official visit? Wide receiver Marvin Jones was kind enough to enlighten us. Here’s his journal entry from his trip to Cal-Berkeley back in 2007 (article by George Dohrmann).

SATURDAY, 5 AM: Jones and his father, Marvin Sr., depart their house in Fontana to catch a flight out of Ontario International Airport.

9:30 AM: They are met at Oakland International Airport by Cal recruiting assistants Andrew McGraw and Kevin Parker and driven in a Suburban to the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley. After checking into his room, Jones is taken to the Doubletree Hotel near the Oakland marina, where the Cal players stay the night before home games.

10:15 AM: Jones meets wide receivers coach Dan Ferrigno, and they walk along the marina. “We were looking across at the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge, and Coach Ferrigno was just telling me about himself and where he’d coached before,” Jones recalls.

11 AM: After a brief chat with a wideout, Jones joins the Bears for their pregame meal in one of the hotel ballrooms. “Man, it was a lot of good food,” Jones says. “Chicken and pasta and potatoes.”

NOON: At a team meeting, coach introduces Jones, the only visiting recruit, and shows a video. “It was meant to get everyone hyped,” Jones says. “It was all the big plays and big hits from the season.”

1 PM: Parker drives Jones to Memorial Stadium. On a balcony above the entrance, they watch fans greet the players as they walk from the bus into the stadium, a tradition at Cal known as the March to Victory.

1:45 PM: Jones visits the equipment room, where a manager has laid out on a table all the gear that a Bears player receives – and each piece of this equipment is branded with a 3, Jones’ number. The manager describes to Jones the new jersey design that Cal will wear next year. “A mix of old school and new school,” Jones says. “Real nice.”

2:30 PM: Parker gives Jones a tour of the library, then brings him to the stadium in time to hear the coach’s pregame speech. The coach’s message: Don’t underestimate Oregon State.

5:15 PM: Jones watches the first half from the 6th row of the stands opposite the Bear’s bench. At halftime he visits the coach’s private skybox, where he meets athletic director Sandy Barbour and eats -in order- chicken, steak, a chicken kabob, steak, shrimp, cupcakes, and candy. He returns to the stands for the second half.

7:45 PM: After the unranked Beavers hold off a last-second attempt by Cal to send the game into overtime, upsetting the #2 Bears 31-28, Jones visits the locker room to hear the coach console his team. Jones then meets his player-host, freshman wide receiver Michael Calvin.

8:15 PM: Jones and Calvin relax in the player’s dorm room. “It’s important that the rooms aren’t too small,” Jones says. “These rooms were big. It was more like an apartment.”

10 PM: The two meet a group of Calvin’s friends at a dorm party with the theme All Black, meaning that everyone had to be decked out in that color. “I was wearing a black shirt, which was just luck,” Jones says. “It wasn’t a big party, but it was cool.”

SUNDAY

1:30 AM: Jones arrives back at his hotel and goes to sleep.

9:20 AM: Ferrigno wakes up Jones and takes him to the stadium. They go to the coach’s video room and review footage of Cal’s pass routes and talk about how Jones would fit into the offense “Coach Ferrigno talked about things I could do now to make myself better,” Jones says.

10 AM: Jones and his father meet the coach in his office. He speaks about the value of a Cal degree; they talk about what Jones is looking for in a school. Afterward, the following conversation occurs.

Tedford: “When are you thinking about making a decision?” Jones: “In my mind, I know the decision. I want to come here.” Tedford: “So, when are you going to make a final decision?” Jones: “I just made it.” Tedford: “Is this a commit?” Jones: “Yes.” Tedford: “Wow, That just made this weekend a whole lot better.” 10:30 AM: Tedford leads Jones out of his office and announces to the waiting Farrigno, “We got a Bear here!”

11 AM: Jones returns to the hotel, eats brunch (“Seven hours later I was still full from that meal,” he says) and meets with Mark Jensen, director of football student-athlete development. “We went over my grades and talked about what I needed to do to make sure I could get admitted to Cal,” Jones says. “Mark played at Cal, so he could answer questions I had about being a student and a football player there.”

1:30 PM: On the way to th airport, Parker stops at a Cal university store, where Jones buys 3 sweatshirts, 3 t-shirts, sweatpants, and a bumper sticker.

2:05 PM: Jones boards his flight, arriving home at 5 pm.

Lasting Impression: “I visited Oregon and I like it, but it rains a lot there and it’s farther away from my family. Cal just felt like home. It was where I felt like I could have a good relationship with my teammates and with Coach Ferrigno.”

Whose job is it to get your child noticed?

2012-11-28T13:10:00.002-07:00

This is one of the great myths of college recruiting! I read about this very subject in a book called Put Me in Coach, and I thought it would be helpful information for you and your family.

Full article here (PDF)

What Should I Expect from AAU and Club Teams?

2012-11-28T12:59:00.001-07:00

Excerpt from the book "Put Me In, Coach" by Laurie Richter (from Chapter 12: Marketing Your Child)

For many sports, such as basketball, volleyball, baseball, soccer, and ice hockey, club and AAU participation has been migrating to mandatory as opposed to optional.

Here is a list of the things I can guarantee will happen if you and your child choose to participate... Full article here (PDF)

How many scholarship offers are made by D1 coaches?

2012-11-28T12:33:00.002-07:00

Ever wonder how many prospects Division I schools are targeting?

Below is a snapshot of the recruiting depth charts for several major Division I programs, and it shows how many players these programs were actively recruiting (targets), how many recruits were offered scholarships, and how many have verbally committed already.

For many, it's pretty shocking to learn that so many offers are extended to juniors AND sophomores. The reality is, this trend is not just limited to college football. Coaches in all sports at every college level are offering prospects early. So if you're getting letters while others are receiving offers, then you need to find out WHY.

School	Targets	Offers (JR)	Offers (SOPH)	Verbal Commits
	244	139	4	6
	244	116	2	5
	213	114	9	10
	212	41	1	2
	204	117	6	4
	184	95	13	9
	163	116	2	2
	155	73	6	5
	152	63	2	6
	123	72	0	4
	95	70	0	6
	84	30	0	16

If you aren't sure where you stand with coaches, don't panic. You just need to understand how the process works, and you need to have a good plan.

Take care, and please call us if you would like to request a consultation.

Changes in Recruiting Rules

2012-11-28T11:47:00.004-07:00

Rule changes in the world of college recruiting are rampant.

And while we're seeing some drastic rule changes for Division I coaches, among the most significant rule changes implemented by the NCAA recently are at the Division II and III levels. In case you haven't heard, this might interest you!

Division II. With little debate, Division II institutions approved legislation that will ease recruiting restrictions on multiple fronts. To make better use of new technology and to put athletes on a more level playing field with non-athletic recruits, colleges supported a number of changes.

D-II coaches can now visit with players as many times as they want beginning June 15 following the prospect's sophomore year in school.
D-II coaches can now send unlimited correspondence and make unlimited phone calls beginning June 15 following the prospect's sophomore year in school.
D-II coaches can now send unlimited instant messages and text messages beginning June 15 following the prospect's sophomore year in school.
As long as the correspondence is private, a Division II coach can send a recruit a direct message on Facebook, but s/he cannot write on the recruit's "wall."

Division III. Coaches in Division III can now use unlimited text messaging to communicate with recruits, which will ease communication with students who increasingly prefer texting to e-mail or phone calls.

If you have any questions or if you need direct assistance to improve your collegiate opportunities, please contact us right away.

The Perfect College Recruiting Lifecycle

2012-11-28T11:28:00.004-07:00

Few things are certain about college recruiting, but this we do know: It's an incredibly complicated project. It's easy to make costly mistakes. It requires hundreds of hours of work.

Like any other project, the college recruiting process is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end. The project involves extensive planning, organizing, securing, and managing resources to achieve specific goals. And like most projects, attacking it without a well-conceived plan will drastically minimize your chances for success.

And yet, most parents and athletes who embark upon a project of this magnitude do so without a well-constructed plan. They might have a goal, but no real understanding of what needs to unfold in order to achieve it.

And that's why we came up with The Perfect College Recruiting Lifecycle...

... to give college-bound athletes & parents a simplified diagram of the architecture - or "lifecycle" - of the college recruiting process; a way to understand exactly what needs to happen from the time you first get noticed by coaches to the day you sign your Letter of Intent.

Take a look and let us know what you think!

NCAA Scholarships - Headcount vs. Equivalency Sports

2012-11-28T11:10:00.002-07:00

You may be wondering why some of the figures in this chart are not whole numbers. There are two different designations: headcount sports and equivalency sports.

For a headcount sport, each athlete on scholarship counts toward the maximum headcount the school can have on scholarship, so whether a player is given a full athletic scholarship or given only one dollar, s/he is counted toward the headcount for that sport. Since a men’s basketball team can only have thirteen scholarship athletes in their headcount, a school might as well offer thirteen full scholarships so it can attract the thirteen best players possible. For headcount sports, full scholarships are more common. The list is not long. Men’s headcount sports are basketball and football, and women’s headcount sports are basketball, gymnastics, tennis, and volleyball.

For an equivalency sport, coaches have a certain total dollar amount in the “scholarship pot,” but can split it up among multiple athletes in any proportions they want. They can carry more athletes on partial scholarships and this provides the opportunity to develop more players. It is harder to get a full scholarship in an equivalency sport because it is in the coach’s best interest to use the allotment of scholarship money to get as many high potential athletes on the team as possible. Every other sport offered at the collegiate level not mentioned above as a headcount sport is an equivalency sport. Look back at the chart for a minute. You will notice that D-I men’s soccer allows 9.9 scholarships and D-I men’s volleyball allows 4.5. With eleven soccer players on the field at a time, and six volleyball players on a court, even all of the first string players can’t be awarded full scholarships. And don’t forget all the other players waiting on the sidelines. For most sports, partial-scholarship athletes, walk-ons, and non-scholarship athletes are an important part of the mix.

SPECIAL REPORT: College Recruiting Goes Viral

2012-11-28T10:57:00.001-07:00

There may be no clear definition of College Recruiting 2.0 (CR 2.0).

One thing is for certain though: CR 2.0 marks a fundamental change in how college coaches recruit, and how prospective athletes connect with them..

Full article here (PDF)

Five mistakes athletes make when creating their college list

2012-11-28T09:18:00.004-07:00

So your dream is to play your sport in college, and someone told you that your first step should be to make a list of your favorite colleges.

It makes perfect sense. It’s never bad to start with a plan.

But did this person tell you how to compile your list?

Full article here (PDF)

Know The Rules: College Visits

2012-11-20T10:27:00.002-07:00

Official visit. Any visit to a college campus by you and your parents paid for by the college. The college may pay all or some of the following expenses:

-Your transportation to and from the college;

-Lodging and three meals per day for both the prospect and the parent or guardian; and

-Reasonable entertainment expenses, including three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest.

Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have to provide the college with a copy of your high school transcript (Division I only) and ACT, SAT or PLAN score and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

How many? In Division 1, you may only take a total of 5 official visits (one per school). In Division 2 and Division 3, you may take an unlimited number of official visits.

When? In Division 1, for every sport other than Men’s Basketball, you may not start taking an official visit until the opening day of classes your senior year HS. In Division 1 Men’s Basketball, you may start taking official visits January 1 of your Junior year HS.

In Division 2 and Division 3 for ALL sports, you may not start taking official visits until the opening day of classes your senior year HS.

Unofficial visit. Any visit by you and your parents to a college campus paid for by you or your parents. The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest. You may make as many unofficial visits as you like and may take those visits at any time. The only time you cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead period.

Junior Days – Genuine interest or false hope?

2012-04-18T12:21:00.000-06:00

The college recruiting process is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And for many college-bound prospects, the junior year is the defining period of a long, complex journey.

Junior Days have become a common recruiting component for coaching staffs, especially in college football. In short, these are invite-only events whereby a program extends to a junior prospect and his/her parents an invitation to come visit their campus, meet the coaching staff, tour the campus and learn more about their program. In short, Junior Days are opportunities for coaching staffs to gauge the prospect’s interest in their program, personally interact with families, and “sell” their program.

Like camps, travel expenses for Junior Days are the responsibility of the families themselves. Coaches are allowed to provide a meal and tickets for the family to attend a game, but the family must cover the costs of getting to and from the college/university. So naturally, this begs many questions for prospects:

Should I accept every Junior Day invitation?
How much do Junior Days really say about a program’s interest in me as a prospect?
Is a program really going to offer me if I show up to a Junior Day without any offers in hand already?
How much interaction can I expect a coaching staff to really have with me if I’m there with 100 other prospects?

In short, Junior Days are an important part of the recruiting process for both player and coaching staff. If you receive a Junior Day invitation, it’s a very positive thing. In fact, it’s safe to assume that you have exceeded “mailing list” level interest at that school and are part of a much shorter list of scholarship candidates. That said, players shouldn’t gain a false impression of the staff’s interest in them either. Understand that a program’s list of prospects might be anywhere from 100 to 500 players. They may extend Junior Day invitations to a few hundred kids and well over 100 might accept. And when the dust settles, only a handful of prospects who attend Junior Days may actually receive offers from that school.

So while receiving a Junior Day invitation is a genuine sign of interest, Junior Days aren’t too dissimilar from camp invitations. While they offer coaches an opportunity to more closely evaluate you, Junior Days should not be interpreted as a stage for receiving a guaranteed offer.

My advice for juniors is, attend as many Junior Days as your family can afford to attend. Get as much out of the recruiting process as you can, as it only happens once in your life. Don’t take Junior Days lightly. Use them as opportunities to impress coaching staffs. Dress appropriately and come armed with questions that will perhaps set you apart from other prospects. Nevertheless, don’t expect to come away with a scholarship offer either. Treat Junior Days as research opportunities. Learn from these events about what’s really important to you in your college experience. If you don’t have any offers in hand when you attend your first Junior Day, don’t panic. Offers breed other offers, so once you land one, others will likely follow.

Rex Grayner
SAS