Getting it together for July

What an athlete needs to do in July in front of the college recruiters is actually pretty simple: Play your game, play hard and offer only your best every time out. There's no guarantee that formula will produce the results and scholarship offers that a prospect is looking for, but it puts them in the best position to let coaches know what they can do on the floor.
There are also several things an athlete should avoid doing; things that will quickly dampen the enthusiasm any recruiter might have had. "Thou shall not" might be a little heavy handed for recruiting advice. But consider the Ten Commandments. Seven of them have the word "not" in them. So we offer the following advice:
• Don't play outside of your game. We see it time and again. When college coaches are in the gym, point guards suddenly aren't giving it up; forwards and posts think they're ball handlers and wander around on the wings; while the shooting guards completely forget any definition whatsoever of "good shot selection." Probably the quickest way to lose the attention of any coach is to try and impress them. So forget they're there and do what you do and do it well. They know what they're looking for; they certainly don't need you to go out of your way to try and prove something.
• Don't coast or quit. Probably nothing ever stunned me more than to see athletes who take plays off or roll over when the score has gotten out of hand. Actually, one thing has opened my eyes more and it's that there are athletes who are actually willing to shift into cruise control while there are college recruiters watching. First off, if you really want to be the best player you can be and get the most from your potential and hard work, you play one way. Sure, you get tired and often the games get frustrating. But never forget that recruiters are looking to see how you handle that situation and if you're the kind of player who they can count on when the going gets tough. The best players only know how to go all out and they don't understand any other way. Up 20 or down 20, third game of the day or even final day of your fifth tournament in July; play as if it's the most important game of your life. Depending on who's watching, it just may be.

• Don't fail Communication 101. Whether it's with teammates, coaches, the officials or even opponents, your communication skills are going to say something to college coaches about you.


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Getting it together for July
Courtesy of Mark Lewis (Hoopgurlz.com)