Recruiting 101

Basketball Recruiting Timeline

Freshman Year

• NCAA recruiting guidelines stipulate that you become a college prospect by the start of your freshmen year in high school. Start Planning now!
• Prepare for your future as a student-athlete by making your schoolwork and your grades a top priority -- College coaches want to recruit "Student-Athletes" - not just athletes!
• Talk to your guidance counselor to make sure you know the 16 core courses you must take to become an NCAA Academic qualifier - Know the list of your high school's approved NCAA courses at eligibilitycenter.org by clicking "resources" at the top of the screen.
• Begin keeping a record of your scholastic and athletic achievements. This information will be vital when you start building your athletic recruiting profile.
• Focus on your offseason training and conditioning over the summer months. Taking official visits at this stage of the game is expensive and unnecessary.
• It is vital that you play summer league basketball either with your high school team or on an AAU travel club team.

Sophomore Year

• Make sure you stay on track academically - Don't let the sophomore blues put in the academic cellar. Stay focused and disciplined in the classroom!
• Begin researching colleges that you believe have your competitive level and your desired academic field. Keep your options open and think about schools from different areas of the country. Make a list of these schools.
• Put together your initial player profile. Plan on updating your profile every semester throughout your high school career.
• Get in the Game! Visits college websites that you have an interest in and complete their online recruiting questionnaire.
• If you have some good basketball highlights, now is the time to begin creating your recruiting video.
• It is vital that you play summer league basketball either with your high school team or on an AAU travel club team.
• Division I men's basketball coaches may begin calling after June 15 of your sophomore year.

Junior Year

• Continue to take course that meet your high school graduation requirement and that meet NCAA initial-eligibility requirements.
• Make sure that you have completed 10 of the required 16 core courses by the end of your junior year. If you fall behind be sure to use summer school sessions to catch up!
• Keep college programs that you have an interest in updated on your athletic progress. Your junior season is very important for college recruiting!
• Be realistic! Select programs on your target list that meet your athletic and academic abilities as a prospective student-athlete!
• Register to take the SAT and/or ACT test. When registering for the SAT/ACT, be sure to select the Eligibility Center as one of the recipients to receive your test score {Code: 9999}.
• At the end of your junior year, register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and complete the amateurism certification questionnaire (eligibilitycenter.org). A fee waiver is available for students who received a waiver for the SAT or ACT fee. Your high school guidance counselor must request the fee waiver online through the Eligibility Center.
• Create your junior season highlight video that you can send to college coaches along with your player profile that you have been updated throughout your high school career. Start sending your profile and video highlight to college coaches that match your competitive level, geographical preferences and academic interests!
• Schedule at least three unofficial visits to college campuses over the summer. Be sure to choose colleges that have shown an interest in you or schools that fit your competitive level!
• Division I women's basketball coaches may call beginning September 1 of your junior year.
• It is vital that you play summer league basketball either with your high school team or on an AAU travel club team.
• Pick two or three College basketball camps that you would like to attend. This is a great way to allow college coaches to meet you personally and see what you can do!

Senior Year

• Stay in communication with as many college coaches as possible by email and phone. If your phone is ringing you are being recruited!
• Beginning July 1st of the summer before your senior year college soccer coaches may call you once per week.
• Plan to retake the SAT/ACT test early first semester of your senior year if you need to obtain a higher score.
• Start setting your five official visits. You are allowed a total of five visits no matter what division you decide to visit.
• Many Division II, III and NAIA offers will take place during your senior year so it's important to stay in touch with as many coaches as you can with timely updates of your player profile and video highlights.
• The Early Signing Period is in November and runs for 7 days. To learn the exact dates please visit: nationalletter.org. The Regular Signing Period is April 16 and ends May 21 for Division I and for Division II the Regular Signing Period is April 16 and ends August 1st.
• Get ready for the college life... You have a great future ahead of you!

Success Stories

Caitlin Winey

Caitlin gave a verbal commitment last night to Arkansas State University for a 4 year full-ride track and field scholarship. She absolutely loves the school and I can say for sure, that it would not have been on our radar at all. Arkansas was one of the schools recruiting her that received their info on Caitlin from you. Although Caitlin did get a few partial-ride offers from coaches who saw her at the state meet, the majority of recruitments came to her through CSA. Her best scholarship offers all came from schools who received profiles from you. The fee we paid CSA-PrepStar has turned into an $80,000 gift to our family.

Nelson Spruce

I'm writing to let you know how much I appreciate all you did to help Nelson in the recruiting process. You guys were able to identify his talent and objectively relay his abilities as a football prospect to top college programs nationwide. Going into Nelson's senior year I had no idea how complex was going to be but your assistance proved to be invaluable to helping Nelson land a football scholarship with the Buffs. I highly recommend your services to any family looking to create the best possible college opportunities for their son or daughter.