hey there, 
1st time recruiting at the D1 level, and even worse with D prestige.  Id appreciate any advice you can offer.

thanks
Tim

1) You should rarely (if ever) fill all your scholarships.  Go big or go home, that's the only way you're going to improve.  Don't just take a guy because you don't want to come away with nothing.  Most of the time, nothing is better than a crappy big man because that big man is on campus the next four years and a walk-on is only there for 1.

2) You shouldn't ever come away with a well rounded recruit because that probably means he's not good enough anywhere to be effective.  Find guys with extreme strengths and try to set off their weaknesses.  

3) Find the low-rated guys with high-high potentials because taking a big man with 20 LP but  high-high is a lot better than taking a big man with 45 LP and low-high potential because only one of them has a chance at being an elite scorer.  Low D1 in all about high-high potential because that is where your studs come from.  

4) GO INTERNATIONAL!!!!!!  These guys are the high-risk high-reward players and that's exactly what you need.  The bigger schools don't want to deal with most unranked and seemingly untalented international guys because it's a risk they can't really afford to take.  They can find these same types of lowly ranked guys locally, except they know the local guys have great potential and so they take them.  As a lowly ranked D1 school, it's very hard to get a local guy with a bunch of high potentials, but it is SO MUCH EASIER if you go overseas.  Yea, most international guys you scout are going to be ****, but once in a while you find a guy that has high-high potential EVERYWHERE.  Normally, this guy would go to a big 6 school, but since they have no idea of his potentials, you can scoop up this international gem and dominate your conference.


I'd be happy to share some Nevada tips, I loved coaching there, sitemail me.

Check out my NC A&T team in Wooden if you want an idea of the kind of players you'll want to grab. I'm actually at a D- prestige so you can pull a little more than I could, but in my 3rd season with the team we had our first 10 win conference season in 20 seasons and at least 17 wins for the first time in 19 seasons.

Granted I"m still 111 RPI and not making the NT yet, but it is a very slow process in D1 at a prestige that low.

The advice tkimble gave was right, understand when to battle and when you have no chance.

Prestige matters much more in D1 and so does conference money. 

Find yourself the best rebounders and athletes at big men, having a big advantage there over similarly bad teams that you should be scheduling will help you win close games.

Biggest mistake I think I made my first 3 seasons was not schedling enough wins. I was used to D2 and D3 and used to being successful. I could schedule a top 10 schedule and go 6-4 and be in great shape to make the NT, that does not work in D1. Your best bet is to schedule yourself as many wins as possible each year to raise your prestige. You probably are not going to be a NT team for a few seasons, so the best thing you can do is win 15+ games every year.

Posted by tkimble on 8/14/2012 5:54:00 PM (view original):

1) You should rarely (if ever) fill all your scholarships.  Go big or go home, that's the only way you're going to improve.  Don't just take a guy because you don't want to come away with nothing.  Most of the time, nothing is better than a crappy big man because that big man is on campus the next four years and a walk-on is only there for 1.

2) You shouldn't ever come away with a well rounded recruit because that probably means he's not good enough anywhere to be effective.  Find guys with extreme strengths and try to set off their weaknesses.  

3) Find the low-rated guys with high-high potentials because taking a big man with 20 LP but  high-high is a lot better than taking a big man with 45 LP and low-high potential because only one of them has a chance at being an elite scorer.  Low D1 in all about high-high potential because that is where your studs come from.  

4) GO INTERNATIONAL!!!!!!  These guys are the high-risk high-reward players and that's exactly what you need.  The bigger schools don't want to deal with most unranked and seemingly untalented international guys because it's a risk they can't really afford to take.  They can find these same types of lowly ranked guys locally, except they know the local guys have great potential and so they take them.  As a lowly ranked D1 school, it's very hard to get a local guy with a bunch of high potentials, but it is SO MUCH EASIER if you go overseas.  Yea, most international guys you scout are going to be ****, but once in a while you find a guy that has high-high potential EVERYWHERE.  Normally, this guy would go to a big 6 school, but since they have no idea of his potentials, you can scoop up this international gem and dominate your conference.


I'd be happy to share some Nevada tips, I loved coaching there, sitemail me.

this is really good advice, across the board. the well-rounded part is lost on so many coaches, so just to reiterate, its all about getting guys who are good enough to compete in some areas, where you can tolerate their weaknesses. go take that 65 ath, 90 reb, 90 def, 1 lp/per/bh/pass big that many schools won't look for. but dont take a 50 ath, 85 reb, 85 def, 85 sb, 85 lp guy, with decent bh/pass, because he sucks at everything.

one other note. usually in d1, people say, recruit locally - you cant win battles at distance. that is basically true, but you aren't going to be battling the big boys anywhere. you have a LOT of money in d1, so make sure to use a lot of it for scouting (FSS) and evals (to find high/highs and on internationals). its perfectly reasonable that on a 4 scholarship budget, 60K, you could use 30K in FSS and evals, and use 4K to sign one recruit, 26K another, and take 2 walkons.

You consider 85 REB, 85 DEF, 85 SB, 85 LP to suck at everything? Especially at a D level D1 school?

I would consider that a great get for a bad D1 team, but maybe thats why I don't win more games at low level D1.

but dont take a 50 ath, 85 reb, 85 def, 85 sb, 85 lp guy, with decent bh/pass, because he sucks at everything.

BillyG, usually agree with you across the board --- but the guy you describe here would be a VERY good player for a D prestige D1 team.

I think he meant it to be something about high/high potential.  Although Id rather not have a sr with those ratings over a guy with 65 ath, 90 reb, 90 def, 1 lp/per/bh/pass big  as a sr.

50 ath is not acceptable at any level of DI

maybe i was over estimating the quality of lower end players. let me rephrase then, dont take a 40 ath, 85 reb, 85 def, 85 sb, 85 lp guy, with decent bh/pass, because he sucks at everything.

really what i was trying to do was compare those 2 players, who might look to be around the same talent level (or even the 2nd guy is better to some people). but to build in d1, 65 ath/90reb/90def/1/1/1/1 is way better than 50 ath, 85 reb/def/sb/lp, with some bh/pass. even though the second guy is more well rounded, he really can't keep up in any category, so its all wasted. its gonna be tough to make the NT with him, where as that 65 ath guy, he can hold his own against all but the most elite bigs, and really you can easily make the NT with guys like that. so, you want to go with players with great strengths and great weaknesses, you just have to pick the weaknesses right. a big who is a horrible rebounder, obviously is not going to work. so yeah, maybe that 50 ath guy is good for low d1, im somewhat skeptical, but regardless my comment was really about the well rounded guys vs guys with solid strengths and manageable weaknesses.

I'd rather take a walk-on than a guy who would finish at 50 ath and 85 everything else, that guy is not going to do anything for your low D1 team.  No D1 team should take bigs with athleticism that low.  

Posted by pjbrankin on 8/16/2012 3:50:00 PM (view original):
50 ath is not acceptable at any level of DI

I recently had a 3rd Team All-American with 48Ath. (98lp/99blk/98def/99rbd).  Your blanket statement is inaccurate.

Yep, your one in a thousand player is proof that 50 ath is acceptable at DI.