Can you actually evaluate yourself?
The first step is the one nobody wants to do honestly: evaluate yourself.
The first step is the one nobody wants to do honestly: evaluate yourself.
If you don't know where you are, it's going to be very hard to get where you want to go. This isn't a one-time thing. After every step that follows in this course, come back here.
Are you undeniable?
For us at Hoops College, being recruitable means being undeniable. If you're undeniable, coaches have to have you. They'll do whatever it takes to get you to come to their school. If you're undeniable for a level, you'll get a phone call. If you're not — you can either get there, or you can't. You're the only one who can answer that.
Five things to hold in your head before you evaluate.
- Where you are today will change tomorrow. Better or worse, it's going to change. You have to know where you stand right now.
- It's all relative — to your level of competition, and to where you're trying to go.
- What's important to you matters. (We get into that in lesson 5.)
- Recruiting is not just about your athletic ability. It starts there. It doesn't end there.
- Timing is everything.
Where you are today can change tomorrow
Working hard is the start. Focused, intentional, structured work is what actually moves the needle. We see a lot of athletes putting in time on things that don't translate. They feel like they're working. They aren't getting better.
You might have to look in the mirror today and say you're not good enough to play at the level you want. That's fine. Just don't waste time. Get to work.
It cuts the other way too. You might look at yourself today and be honest that you are good enough — that you've put in the work. Pat yourself on the back. Then get back to it. Someone else is always working. Someone else is hungry to get to where you are.
It's all relative
Just like there are different levels of players, there are different levels of schools. Your evaluation has to be relative to where you're trying to play. Your true evaluation is where you get recruited.
Are some players overlooked? Of course. Just as many are over-recruited and don't pan out. You might be talented enough to play at the worst Division I school in the country and not get recruited at the best Division II. Don't compare yourself to where you wish you were. Compare yourself to where you're realistically trying to go.
It's not just your athletic ability
You can be the best player at someone's elite camp and still not have a roster spot — because they already have four people at your position. Or your grades aren't where they need to be to get into school there. Athletic ability is the front door. Everything else has to add up too.
Timing is everything
Your talent has to show up when it matters. You have to be playing — if you're not playing, you can't be evaluated. You have to be playing with and against the level of competition that matches where you want to go. And once you're on the court, you have to actually have an impact. Scoring is great. It's not the only thing.
The questions
Before you go anywhere else in this course, answer these honestly. The honesty is the whole point — if the answer is you, say so. If the answer is your worst enemy, say so. Tell yourself the truth.
- Who is the best athlete on your team — biggest, fastest, quickest, best vertical, strongest?
- Who is the best ball handler on your team?
- Who is the best passer?
- Who is the best shooter / scorer?
- Who is the best defender?
- Who is the best rebounder?
- Who is the best leader?
- Who has the best basketball IQ?
- Who loves basketball the most?
- Who is the best player you've ever played with or against? Are you better than them? If not, why not?
- Who is the best player you've ever watched in person? Are you better than them? If not, why not?
- Who is your favorite college player? Are you better than them? If not, why not?
- Who is your favorite pro player? Are you better than them? If not, why not?
- What player do you want to model your game after?
Now answer all of those again, comparing yourself to the best players in your conference. Your district. Your region. The country. The world.
If you're the best player at every level, you're getting recruited at the highest level — promise. If you're not, what are you going to do about it?