Most parents are uncomfortable trying to initiate recruiting communication with college coaches. Few do it well. Here’s a good example of an appropriate inquiry from parents and a well-written, honest, no BS response from a D1 coach. (If you’re curious, the coach responded in two days, which is more than appropriate.)

Dear Coach Smith,

Our daughter is Ophelia Harris and she would like to play for you.  She is a rising junior at West High School located here in Monroe Tennessee.  We are naïve to the process so we are soliciting you directly for guidance, direction and interest on how we might possibly move forward.  My wife and I hope this is not inappropriate.

Brief background: Ophelia is attending West HS because of academics.  For 2020 US News and World Report currently ranks West at 13 ^th in National Rankings.  She currently is carrying at or near a 4.0 GPA.  Humbly, she is very athletic.  Her formal basketball training is very new compared to her peers.  Her early athletic pursuits were focused on figure skating and have since transitioned to basketball.  Her basketball pursuit is currently represented by individual personal training, High School team and AAU teams.

We have attached a brief ‘Hudl Video’ from some of her high school games from the abbreviated 2020-2021 season which all are in agreement was a very challenging COVID season for all.

Again, my wife and I are attempting to drive a process we are unfamiliar with so reaching-out to you directly.  We are for certain you are very busy.  As your schedule permits, if you would be so kind to provide your feedback it would be most welcomed as deemed appropriate.

Thank you in advance for your generous response.

 

With kindest regards,

George & Astelle Harris

Mr. Harris,

Thank you for reaching out, and thanks for your patience in my response. According to NCAA rule, I am not allowed to engage with prospects or their parents via email once they enter high school up until September 1st entering their Junior year. However, I understand how difficult this process is, and I want to help you with as much information as I can without commenting specifically on Ophelia’s talent as it relates to Eastern State University (trying to stay as compliant as possible). Anyway, I truly commend you to wanting to help your daughter and for seeking help in that regard.

For some background, I’ve coached at the DI, DII and DIII levels. They are all very different. Right now, is the perfect time to begin to think about Ophelia’s recruitment as mid-major DIs and lower are just now developing their lists for her age group. As she is still a sophomore, this will be a big spring and summer for her where she will begin being evaluated and eventually recruited. Right now, though, the goal is to just get her on programs’ radars. I’d start by compiling a highlight tape, which you’ve done. I’d then have a link to a full game film that you think most appropriately shows her skill set. Lastly, I’d get her season statistics from her high school head coach. After that, I’d target programs of interest and I’d shoot them emails, attaching my summer schedule and contact numbers for the high school and/or AAU coach. I’d also encourage you to ask Ophelia’s high school and AAU coach to essentially do the same things. Tip: address each coach individually and send one email per recipient, it makes it feel more authentic and often is a separator for prospects. In addition to those things, I do think it helps to go to the Elite Camps of the programs that she is interested in. Unfortunately, due to COVID, I’m not sure how many of those opportunities there will be this year.

As far as evaluating Ophelia, from her highlight tape I can tell that her motor seems very high, she seems to play very hard and is very athletic. Based on her skill, size and athleticism that I was able to see in the highlight tape, she seems best suited for a DII level program as a quick/slashing small forward or power forward. I’ll be quite transparent, at this age, most prospects are at that DII level, so please do not take that as a slight. This summer, I’d encourage her to work on her ball skill (vision) as well as continuing to work on shooting the ball. I couldn’t tell much defensively from the highlight tape, but I could tell that she seems to be an impressive rebounder with good instincts for the ball. Based on her athleticism, I’d assume she is a solid defender, but I’d challenge her to be exceptional with those instincts and length and try to be as disruptive as possible. I haven’t seen full game film or anything, so please take this all with a grain of salt, but that’s what I could access through the tape.

Again, you all are taking good steps at the right time as far as reaching out. Ophelia is tracking as she should be talent wise. Last thing is for her to get ready and have a great summer!

Hope this helps!

 

Laurel Smith
Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Eastern State University