How to Get Recruited for College Basketball

Your journey as a recruit in the world of college basketball is exciting but competitive. With thousands of athletes vying for a roster spot in the ever-changing world of college basketball, standing out to college coaches takes talent, preparation, and a strategic approach. This guide will walk you through how to get recruited for college basketball— everything you need to know to showcase your skills, connect with coaches, and find the right program for your future.  

How does college basketball recruiting work? 

The college basketball recruiting process is all about finding the right players who can make an impact on and off the court. Here’s a closer look at how coaches build their rosters: 

1. Scouting Players. Coaches attend high school games, AAU tournaments, and showcases to evaluate athletes. They also rely on highlight videos and online profiles from third party services like NCSA to find talent early.  

2. Assessing Fit. Beyond skills, coaches consider a player’s work ethic, coachability, and academics. The goal is to find athletes who align with the team’s playing style and culture. (Learn more about building your mental performance skills with IMG Academy+ Essentials – now free for a year with any NCSA premium membership) 

3. Building Relationships. Communication starts with letters, emails, and calls to gauge mutual interest. As coaches develop a relationship with recruits, they will invite them for a campus visit—unofficial and official—in order to meet athletes and their families.  

4. Making Offers. Coaches extend verbal offers or scholarship opportunities to recruits who meet their needs.  

5.  Negotiating Final Offer. At the Division 1 level, you may find yourself negotiating a scholarship or NIL offer and compare it to other programs. At the Division 2 and lower level, you might be able to negotiate a financial aid package and leverage scholarship offers between schools. Make sure you’re doing this with the intent to go to where you’re the best fit academically, athletically and financially – not just where your biggest NIL deal could be. When you’re ready to sign with a school, you will sign a financial aid agreement with the school.  (Learn more about building your mental performance skills with IMG Academy+ Essentials – now free for a year with any NCSA premium membership)
   

How to get recruited to play men’s college basketball

Creating a communication strategy to stand out to college coaches and making the most of your in-game opportunities will help you secure a scholarship offer. But the most important thing to remember when it comes to being recruited in college basketball is this: the amount of time and effort you put into improving your game and finding the right schools to play at the next level directly correlates to the offers and opportunities you will receive 

1. Create your recruiting profile. Showcase your skills with an NCSA recruiting profile to get seen by over 40,000 college coaches. Include key stats, game footage that highlights your strengths and your academic achievements.   

2. Compete at the highest level possible: To accurately assess a recruit’s ability to compete in college, coaches want to see you play against high-ranked athletes. In the biggest events, you want to play your best basketball. View the five biggest recruiting weekends of the year 

3. Build Your Highlight Reel: Document your competitions and performances at high-level events with full game film and consider making a highlight video you can send to prospective coaches. It’s a quick way to showcase your skills. Highlight reels should be updated quarterly and are a great way to grab a coach’s attention. 

4. Excel academically. The NCAA Eligibility Center determines the academic eligibility and amateur status for all NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 athletes. Understand the requirements to stay on track. Working hard on the court is a big part of the recruitment process, but not the only part. Academics matter so work just as hard off the court as on it.  

5. Research and build a target list. Student-athletes should scan college rosters and look at the players at their position. Are there seniors graduating? ow do your stats compare?  Has the coach recruited from a particular region or circuit? How much is a coach using the transfer portal vs recruiting incoming freshmen? 

1. Compete in the summer during live periods: Scheduling conflicts make it difficult for college coaches to watch recruits play in-person during the regular season. So, they turn to live periods. These stretches in the offseason allow college basketball scouts and coaches to hit the road and observe several players at once. Attend elite or exposure camps as well. Check out our workshops to learn how to identify the right camps and learn more about how to interact with coaches you meet there.  

6. Be proactive. Start by sending an introductory email that includes your online profile, highlight video, academic information, outstanding athletic achievements, and personal interest in the program. Be open-minded when considering the program you are reaching out to, when it comes to the division level and size of the school, until you get feedback from college coaches. 

What do college basketball scouts look for in recruits?

College coaches consider a few factors when determining an athlete’s ability.   

• Physical characteristics—height and body frame, athleticism and strength. In NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball, the average height of a college basketball player was just under 6’5” and the most common height listed was 6’7”. D1 basketball athletes range in height, and there is no height requirement to be considered for a D1 program.   

• Technical skills. Coaches want to recruit student-athletes who have mastered the fundamentals.  

• Basketball IQ. Can the student-athlete process information in real time during a game and make the right decisions?  

• Academics. College coaches look for recruits who excel in the classroom. They know that student-athletes with a solid GPA and test scores will more likely be admitted into their university and have an easier college transition. Plus, a good GPA also tells coaches that the recruit is responsible and disciplined traits they highly value.    

Of course, what coaches look for also depends on their program’s specific needs. Connecting with a college coach is the best way to understand what kind of recruit they need. Another quick way is to visit the team’s website and analyze their roster.  

How important is club basketball in the college basketball recruiting process? 

Club basketball plays a significant role in the college basketball recruiting process. Competing in club programs, particularly organizations like AAU, provides athletes with opportunities to face top-tier competition, which helps develop their skills and showcases their abilities to college coaches.  

Club basketball events often attract college coaches, offering valuable exposure that high school seasons alone might not provide. These events also allow athletes to compete in front of multiple coaches at once, increasing their chances of being noticed.  

Learn more about AAU basketball and the benefits here.  

What to know about college basketball walk ons and how to walk onto a college basketball team

What is a walk in in college basketball? 
Walk-on recruits join the team without receiving athletic aid. Roster spots for walk-ons are limited, as coaches typically prioritize scholarship athletes, making the walk-on route highly competitive. 

What is a preferred walk-on?  
While rare, some student-athletes are recruited to a program as a preferred walk-on. These opportunities often materialize for those playing at a high-level high school or club team. These athletes go through the same recruiting process as all other athletes, but they don’t receive any athletic aid with their college offer.   

Being a preferred walk-on means something different depending on the division and program, though. In Division 1, walk-ons typically don’t see much playing time and are less likely to receive an athletic scholarship in subsequent years.  The role of walk-ons may change with the new NCAA roster limits, but the exact effect is unseen – be sure to communicate with college coaches about these changes.

It is best to have clear communication with a coach to understand playing and scholarship opportunities.  

What is a redshirt?  
A redshirt is only available at certain division levels They are academic students who practice with their team but do not participate in games while retaining a year of college eligibility. Some Division 1 and Division 2 coaches will request a recruit take a redshirt season upon enrolling.  

Learn more about becoming a walk-on versus getting a scholarship offer. 

Do college basketball teams have tryouts? 

Yes, but rarely. College basketball tryouts are an opportunity for student-athletes to showcase their skills and earn a spot on the team as a walk-on, typically in open gym sessions/workouts before school starts. But they tend to be the exception rather than the rule. While Division 1 and Division 2 programs are allowed to conduct basketball tryouts, Division 3 is prohibited. .   

Men’s College Basketball FAQs 

Get Started with NCSA Today! 

Our team of former student-athletes knows exactly what it takes to navigate the recruiting journey—they’ve been in your shoes. From tackling the nerves of reaching out to coaches to building a standout profile, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Take control of your future and create a free profile today! 

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