Posted by bpielcmc on 4/12/2021 12:47:00 PM (view original):

Posted by topdogggbm on 4/11/2021 8:30:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bpielcmc on 4/10/2021 11:57:00 PM (view original):

Posted by fletch1313 on 4/10/2021 11:27:00 PM (view original):
I agree that getting to level 4 is important when scouting players of interest. I was trying to save some Scouting $ so I could search broader, but I'd much rather pay the individual player price. It saves money overall, since I can control both the specific players to scout and avoid spending money on players I can either not sign (too high for a D2 coach, like the Top 100) or players who don't have the attributes I'm seeking.

I’d really advise in future recruiting sessions to strategically plan out your scouting and then just use assistant search to do what the individual player scouting does. You’ll just end up with a much larger recruiting pool for the same amount you’re spending right now which will include what you are currently getting with individual scouting plus some bonus discoveries, even if part of it is not usable. And, in my opinion, a large recruiting pool is key because, while the first most important skill in recruiting is evaluating (both talent and “getability”- players that’ll fall to the lower divisions or battles to resources ratio at D1), a very close second is flexibility and that’s only possible with a large recruit pool.

I prefer to individually scout also. It's just a personal preference. But as a few coaches have stated, so many coaches do it so many different ways, that none are wrong or right. It's whatever you prefer.

My reasoning? Let's say at D2..... I use FSS and my private camp in my area. That gets me about 150-175 recruits to L3 at $75 each. At L3 I can tell if I would even consider a player or not. From there, I don't scout ANY more at all. Until the first cycle of RS1 processes. You mentioned talent and "getability"..... well after one cycle, you have the blueprint to figure that out now...... the considering list.

So you may spend of your budget, have hundreds of players to L4, and have to sort thru the ones that are garbage, ones you can't get, and the ones you can get. Which is perfectly normal and what most coaches do. Me, I generally have about 15k left (at D2) after that first cycle processes, and I individually scout to L4 ONLY the players with the talent I want, and have that "getability".

My technique always leaves me thousands left over to scout more players as recruiting goes on if I need to. Rather than just having a giant pool to start with and sorting thru it repeatedly. Personally I feel like it's "better" and that's why I use it. But it's just personal preference. Some coaches don't want to put in the work to look at each considering list. But if you do, I assure you it's worth the knowledge. The considering list is actually the most resourceful scouting tool in the game. It may not relate to a players talent. But the talent doesn't even matter if you can't get the player to begin with.

First things first, I have to agree 100% with how important the considering list is. Best value tool in recruiting without a doubt.

I haven't played D2 since before 3.0, but this sounds like a very solid plan. Do you use it at D3 as well? I feel like the smaller budget might make it harder to execute.

And for D1, there's so much money to throw around that a ton of strategies are viable. I do feel like the first cycle at D1 is super important in setting up impressions, so I'd want to handle that with as much information as possible going in, but I also assume that you've got a plan and are not wasting that first cycle.

I don't play D3. But the idea behind saving your budget for later would be fantastic. As far as how I get to L3 (FSS, private camp), that may be too costly for D3 but I don't really know. Haven't done it enough to really wrap my head around it.

But my previous post should help explain my mindset and my approach to what I'm trying to accomplish.

Posted by topdogggbm on 4/12/2021 4:36:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bjschumacher on 4/12/2021 3:08:00 PM (view original):
I didn't realize there was a "considering list." Where do you find that? I've been going through the recruits one by one to see if they are considering anyone, and/or filtering the recruit pool for only undecideds.

Every recruit has a considering list on the player profile toolbar. Like this.....

https://imgur.com/a/hIFVFtf

I blocked the coach names out for obvious reasons. So what I do..... when recruiting begins, I have my pool of 150-175 at L3 scouting level. If I have 80 AP, maybe I'll put 3 AP on 20 players I'm interested in the most. And 1 AP on 20 players that are a maybe for me (based off preferences and the info I have at L3).

then that first cycle process. Those 40 players I put AP on, I will look at first. Using the considering list of each player (like my imgur example above), I'll decide if each player is worthy of a scout to L4 "at this time". So for example..... as a D2 coach, if I click the first of my 40 players I put AP on, and the considering list is all D1 coaches and I'm the only D2 coach, I'm not scouting him to L4. Because I'm likely not getting him if 6 D1 coaches showed up right away. Scouting money saved. I'll move on to the next player. Say it's only me as a D2 coach, and four D3 coaches on the player after one cycle...... that's a guy I can get a lead on quickly. I'll scout him to L4 right then. Do I want him after seeing his L4 talent? Yes or no? Pursue as needed. Next guy.... let's say I'm 1 of 5 D2 A+ coaches that showed up cycle 1. He's worth a scout to L4 I'm sure, because lots of elite D2 coaches showed interest too. But if I am going to pursue, it's likely that I'm going to have to invest heavily in that player. Repeat repeat repeat.

Once I'm done viewing all 40 players, I pick the best couple players to target heavily that next cycle and get them unlocked and a ship on them. (At this point I've still got maybe $8k-$10k left of my scouting budget). Once I get enough guys that I feel comfortable with lined up (roughly 4 or 5 players for 3 openings), it's around day 4 in RS1..... that's when I REALLY start snooping around. I'll start looking around for players that maybe only a low D1 team leads on, all alone. Scout him up with my extra money? Is it worth trying to invest heavily to steal from a D1? Yes or no? Pursue as needed.

The last benefit of sprinkling AP around on that first cycle, is that the players i DON'T go after early on, they still have my name on them. So if I pay attention to everything going on around me, I can see that a player I didn't target early may still be within my reach. So while I'm unlocking his other recruiting tools, the leading coach doesn't see my name pop up as a red flag that I'm starting to pursue. He just sees me sitting there at very low, thinking I've moved on. 20 HV on one cycle, and all of a sudden I'm the leader now, with a greater chance to sign the player.

Scouting/Recruiting 101, my style! Just talking out loud. Hope it helps someone in need!

Got it. I thought you meant there was a master considering list that shows all the schools under consideration for all of the recruits, all in one big list. I already look at the considering list when I open up each player card, so I guess I'm doing something right.

Posted by bjschumacher on 4/12/2021 4:36:00 PM (view original):

Posted by topdogggbm on 4/12/2021 4:36:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bjschumacher on 4/12/2021 3:08:00 PM (view original):
I didn't realize there was a "considering list." Where do you find that? I've been going through the recruits one by one to see if they are considering anyone, and/or filtering the recruit pool for only undecideds.

Every recruit has a considering list on the player profile toolbar. Like this.....

https://imgur.com/a/hIFVFtf

I blocked the coach names out for obvious reasons. So what I do..... when recruiting begins, I have my pool of 150-175 at L3 scouting level. If I have 80 AP, maybe I'll put 3 AP on 20 players I'm interested in the most. And 1 AP on 20 players that are a maybe for me (based off preferences and the info I have at L3).

then that first cycle process. Those 40 players I put AP on, I will look at first. Using the considering list of each player (like my imgur example above), I'll decide if each player is worthy of a scout to L4 "at this time". So for example..... as a D2 coach, if I click the first of my 40 players I put AP on, and the considering list is all D1 coaches and I'm the only D2 coach, I'm not scouting him to L4. Because I'm likely not getting him if 6 D1 coaches showed up right away. Scouting money saved. I'll move on to the next player. Say it's only me as a D2 coach, and four D3 coaches on the player after one cycle...... that's a guy I can get a lead on quickly. I'll scout him to L4 right then. Do I want him after seeing his L4 talent? Yes or no? Pursue as needed. Next guy.... let's say I'm 1 of 5 D2 A+ coaches that showed up cycle 1. He's worth a scout to L4 I'm sure, because lots of elite D2 coaches showed interest too. But if I am going to pursue, it's likely that I'm going to have to invest heavily in that player. Repeat repeat repeat.

Once I'm done viewing all 40 players, I pick the best couple players to target heavily that next cycle and get them unlocked and a ship on them. (At this point I've still got maybe $8k-$10k left of my scouting budget). Once I get enough guys that I feel comfortable with lined up (roughly 4 or 5 players for 3 openings), it's around day 4 in RS1..... that's when I REALLY start snooping around. I'll start looking around for players that maybe only a low D1 team leads on, all alone. Scout him up with my extra money? Is it worth trying to invest heavily to steal from a D1? Yes or no? Pursue as needed.

The last benefit of sprinkling AP around on that first cycle, is that the players i DON'T go after early on, they still have my name on them. So if I pay attention to everything going on around me, I can see that a player I didn't target early may still be within my reach. So while I'm unlocking his other recruiting tools, the leading coach doesn't see my name pop up as a red flag that I'm starting to pursue. He just sees me sitting there at very low, thinking I've moved on. 20 HV on one cycle, and all of a sudden I'm the leader now, with a greater chance to sign the player.

Scouting/Recruiting 101, my style! Just talking out loud. Hope it helps someone in need!

Got it. I thought you meant there was a master considering list that shows all the schools under consideration for all of the recruits, all in one big list. I already look at the considering list when I open up each player card, so I guess I'm doing something right.

I assumed this would be your response. But I just wanted to add a little more detail anyways. Maybe for a new coach looking for an alternative method

It would be nice if they changed the considering list on the broad screen from "multiple", to "Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Louisville" for an example. Like the bottom of the ESPN screen will say "choosing between....." and it will list a few schools. That would be neat

I very rarely recruit SFs at D3. I play guards or growing PFs at the 3. For the most part, I have found the sign-able SFs at D3 (and largely, D2 too) to contribute the least to my team building. A combination of starting a scoring/passing guard with a rebounder second in the lineup at the 3, or vice versa is working well for me.

For this reason, I love the assistant search. To conserve your budget you can get crafty with the assistant search to target specific needs. (In my case, for example, I only search PG, SG, PF and C.)

Posted by craigaltonw on 4/12/2021 6:58:00 PM (view original):
I very rarely recruit SFs at D3. I play guards or growing PFs at the 3. For the most part, I have found the sign-able SFs at D3 (and largely, D2 too) to contribute the least to my team building. A combination of starting a scoring/passing guard with a rebounder second in the lineup at the 3, or vice versa is working well for me.

For this reason, I love the assistant search. To conserve your budget you can get crafty with the assistant search to target specific needs. (In my case, for example, I only search PG, SG, PF and C.)

Ha, I go the exact opposite on this one. Rarely do I look for a PF. I'll take them if they are nearby and talented and fell through the cracks, but I would much rather have two SFs with two guards and my center. Also, SFs are way easier to find a good combo of ATH, D, and potential PE which I love for my wings. Plus they sometimes have bonus REB when compared to similar guards. So, the only time I am really looking at PFs is when I am trying to find a mislabeled C.

I'm D2 in NJ. If I'm looking correctly, none of the public camps are suitable to search a 400-500 mile range in my area. If I'm wrong could someone point me to the right public camp to use to search for D1 players in my general area? Maybe NYC Ballers Elite? I've tried to sign up for NYCBE, can't seem to figure out how to do so on the site, any suggestions?

Posted by fletch1313 on 4/12/2021 9:32:00 PM (view original):
I'm D2 in NJ. If I'm looking correctly, none of the public camps are suitable to search a 400-500 mile range in my area. If I'm wrong could someone point me to the right public camp to use to search for D1 players in my general area? Maybe NYC Ballers Elite? I've tried to sign up for NYCBE, can't seem to figure out how to do so on the site, any suggestions?

Public camps are considered a weak scouting option and need to be buffed in a patch before they are viable. The exception is the elite california camp which is supposedly useful for western D2 coaches, but that’s all.

Posted by fletch1313 on 4/12/2021 9:32:00 PM (view original):
I'm D2 in NJ. If I'm looking correctly, none of the public camps are suitable to search a 400-500 mile range in my area. If I'm wrong could someone point me to the right public camp to use to search for D1 players in my general area? Maybe NYC Ballers Elite? I've tried to sign up for NYCBE, can't seem to figure out how to do so on the site, any suggestions?

That 400-500 range would be your private camp. Also, the public camps run once early in the season and that's it. Since you're in Naismith, all the public camps already happened for this season.

Posted by craigaltonw on 4/12/2021 6:58:00 PM (view original):
I very rarely recruit SFs at D3. I play guards or growing PFs at the 3. For the most part, I have found the sign-able SFs at D3 (and largely, D2 too) to contribute the least to my team building. A combination of starting a scoring/passing guard with a rebounder second in the lineup at the 3, or vice versa is working well for me.

For this reason, I love the assistant search. To conserve your budget you can get crafty with the assistant search to target specific needs. (In my case, for example, I only search PG, SG, PF and C.)

I don't play D3, but I'm with you on this one..... kinda. At D1, some of the SFs are the best players in all of HD it seems. In D2, I'm not a fan of players that are 65-70 in most areas. And I'd rather have a player that's an 80/90 in cores, than a player that's average to above average in everything.

At the lower levels, my SF slot is used for my first spot to start a freshman basically. And nothing more. And it's because of process of elimination.... PG is my most important position. I'd never let a freshman run my offense at lower levels. At SG, I want my best shooter, that isn't going to be an incoming freshman. At PF/C I'm looking for basically the same things. That leaves my SF as a throw away position somewhat, and I ALWAYS have at minimum 1 promised start. So SF gets it. I usually run 3 guard lineups anyways. (I'm not a fan of the 85 ATH, 85 DEF guys that don't have many other skills. They can hog a roster spot anytime, no problem. But unless they have other skills as well, I'm usually moving them down the depth chart).

I said "kinda" at the beginning because I know we're talking D3 here. And I only play D2. But I look at the team building fairly similar for both ddivisions. A true SF that can contribute isn't as common as having a 3rd guard there that contribute more in my opinion. (Or a freshman promise alot!)