Southern California is one of the most talent-dense basketball regions in the country. That’s an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity: you’re playing against elite competition every day, which raises your game. The challenge: coaches have seen thousands of SoCal players and their filters are calibrated accordingly.
Build Your Foundation (Freshman and Sophomore Year)
Most athletes and families think recruiting starts junior year. Programs are tracking players from 8th and 9th grade. What you do, and how you present yourself, in your first two years of high school sets the table for everything that follows.
- Play for a reputable AAU program with tournament exposure (Nike EYBL, Adidas 3SSB, Under Armour)
- Build a relationship with your high school coach, their endorsement matters to college coaches
- Create a basic recruiting profile with your stats, GPA, and contact information
- Start attending college camps and showcases
- Begin a target school list at three tiers: reach, target, and likely
Create Your Recruiting Materials (Early Junior Year)
Before June 15 of your junior year, when D1 coaches can legally contact you, your tape, profile, and outreach materials should be complete.
Make Direct Contact with Programs
You can contact coaches at any time, it’s only the other direction that has restrictions. Send your tape and profile to every program on your list before the contact period opens.
Understanding Your Level
D1 is the goal for most players, but the right D2 or D3 situation will advance your development and life prospects more than the wrong D1 situation.