Financial Aid Limits 127
If it is important to you to play intercollegiate basketball
(as opposed to practicing as the “scout squad” against your
school’s real team), you will want to maintain a higher level of
flexibility in your negotiations with the coach. Because of the
number of scholarships available, wise prospects have three to
four potential programs they are negotiating with in order to
ensure a roster position and a solid financial aid package.
As with football, videotape is an essential ingredient to your
successful recruitment. Create yours carefully, using the sug-
gestions provided in the videotape section.
Include in your video episodes of ball-handling drills;
demonstrate your shooting ability, using every shot you have
developed. This is especially important to centers and power
forwards as they need to demonstrate they can face the basket
and score as well as possess shots that begin with their backs to
the basket like turnaround jumpers and hook-shots. Players in
these positions must also demonstrate that they can and will
score in the face of an opponent.
As with football, participation at prestigious or elite camps
is good for creating exposure. Shoot-outs are also the best ven-
ues for basketball exposure. Many coaches attend prestigious
high-school shoot-outs. However, it’s important to remember,
they are usually in attendance to evaluate prospects they are
already recruiting. If your coach doesn’t enter your team in a
summer shoot-out, ask him or her to enter one in your area.
Coaches like shoot-outs for scouting purposes as it gives
them the opportunity to observe their prospect really playing
basketball with all its intensity and skill, demanding the best
of the players. Try to learn which coaches will be scouting the
shoot-outs you attend.