During my time as a Prep School coach, I came to an important realization a few times a year. As I spent hour upon hour working to place good players in college programs, I found that often the players themselves became their own worst enemy. Usually, that was my primary obstacle. Recently, it has been the transfer list too. Instead of simply needing to convince players that the offer in front of them is a good one, that they'd be crazy to pass up despite the fact it is not the level they want, high school coaches are now dealing with a smaller window for true freshmen due to unhappy transfers leaving their current situations. I came to the conclusion that the issues that I faced with my own players are the same as many of those transfers are facing. The problem is self perception and an inability to see reality. The problems that come of this are two fold. First, it has created a log jam at the low major level as transfers who realistically realized they can't play where they were try to drop to a smaller school, and as a result, are taking spots from those that are waiting until the spring to sign because they believe they are Division 1 players, and just need a shot at a small school. The low major schools now have many more choices.
The problem has led me to this conclusion: Unrealistic self perception is an epidemic, a disease, a major problem in amateur basketball. It also is a result of human nature; it is natural to think that we are better than we actually are. Its natural to think that those who give us their honest opinion or evaluation, if its not what we want to hear, are 'haters' or don't believe in us. But what if they're right?
In working at a prominent prep school, I came to work with players who are "D1 focused." They're at prep school because they're "D1 Focused" and they "Just need to be seen," just lacking "exposure." My natural response is, 'That's probably not going to happen,' which is also why I was never the best prep school recruiter. I believe that more players are flocking to Juco's and Prep Schools for one main reason. They "know" they're good, they just haven't found the right person to agree with them. Parents can be biased in this way too, and shell out thousands of dollars to prep schools because they can't believe no one has 'discovered' how good their son is. Eventually, they find their way to a prep school (that has a good recruiter, unlike me), who tells them that their son is the greatest player they've ever seen, and is going to 'blow up' this year and get a D1 scholarship........ if you pay $15-25,000 dollars for one year of 'prep school.' What ends up happening is the schools that didn't recruit the 'hidden gem' are ultimately right, and that player finds themselves in the same position they were in before their family shelled out all that money for prep school. That prep school recruiter? He or his school pocketed the money and played the guys that already have D1 offers. The paying player sat on the bench all year, again ending up with maybe a D2 or NAIA scholarship that they stick their noses up at because its 'not D1.' Thus, the player who refuses to look at themselves realistically completes the cycle and again, ends up with nothing.
Sound familiar? It happens all the time. This is because many prep schools make money based on the fact that you believe you are better than you actually are. My advice? Look at what you have in front of you. If you are a senior or a post grad and you have a scholarship offer, then be as grateful as is humanly possible and sign that letter of intent before someone else at your position does. You are getting a college education, for FREE. Take that, because it means you've used basketball the right way and will graduate with no debt. Not a bad deal. Otherwise, if you pass it up and pay for a 25k/yr prep school then you are letting adults who know better use basketball to use you for your parents' money.
Now think about what happens if you actually are right, and everyone has misjudged you? This does occasionally happen. If you're at a small school and develop into a pro-caliber player, do you know what happens? The pros still find you. Look no further than examples like Damian Lillard (Weber State), Scottie Pippen (Central Arkansas), and Ben Wallace (D2's Virginia Union). These players took advantage of what was presented to them, put in the work necessary to improve and succeed, and the pros took notice. This proves that it ultimately doesn't matter where you play, as much as what you do with the opportunity you're given. So don't stick your nose up at the small schools, look at your current situation realistically, and move forward with the options in front of you.
Now, on to the transfers. If you do wait on a few smaller school offers and a big school offer comes in very late, then know this, you were not their first choice. They are taking a gamble on you, and if you don't work out, its not a big deal to them. Instead of playing right away at a smaller school, you will be sitting all year, using up eligibility as it becomes obvious you can't play at that level. Maybe you just needed to try, and using a year was worth that gamble. That's OK. I understand that. But if you're frustrated by the situation and believe that your coach doesn't believe in you, then you're starting the same cycle all over again. Please learn and go to the level you can play at. I recently had a former player transfer from a D2 and ask me to get him some D1 looks. If you're not a D2 starter, averaging 20 points/gm, and you don't have D1's knocking down your door the second your transfer paperwork is in, then you can't transfer up. Generally, the rule is unless you are the league POY, then you transfer down, to where your real level is. And if you play marginal minutes as a freshman, perhaps your real level is right where you are.
As you can see, an unrealistic self perception can be a dangerous thing. Take a look in the mirror and realize that it is OK that your level isn't where you always hoped it would be. A college scholarship is a terrible thing to waste... take it from someone who is still paying his college off. Thinking you are better than you actually are, and being too stubborn to admit your level could end up costing you and your parents a lot of time, money, and positive memories. It could leave you bitter, and upset. Please be realistic, embrace what you have, and do your best to be the best wherever you are.
For more information, follow me on twitter @coachdesautels
The problem has led me to this conclusion: Unrealistic self perception is an epidemic, a disease, a major problem in amateur basketball. It also is a result of human nature; it is natural to think that we are better than we actually are. Its natural to think that those who give us their honest opinion or evaluation, if its not what we want to hear, are 'haters' or don't believe in us. But what if they're right?
In working at a prominent prep school, I came to work with players who are "D1 focused." They're at prep school because they're "D1 Focused" and they "Just need to be seen," just lacking "exposure." My natural response is, 'That's probably not going to happen,' which is also why I was never the best prep school recruiter. I believe that more players are flocking to Juco's and Prep Schools for one main reason. They "know" they're good, they just haven't found the right person to agree with them. Parents can be biased in this way too, and shell out thousands of dollars to prep schools because they can't believe no one has 'discovered' how good their son is. Eventually, they find their way to a prep school (that has a good recruiter, unlike me), who tells them that their son is the greatest player they've ever seen, and is going to 'blow up' this year and get a D1 scholarship........ if you pay $15-25,000 dollars for one year of 'prep school.' What ends up happening is the schools that didn't recruit the 'hidden gem' are ultimately right, and that player finds themselves in the same position they were in before their family shelled out all that money for prep school. That prep school recruiter? He or his school pocketed the money and played the guys that already have D1 offers. The paying player sat on the bench all year, again ending up with maybe a D2 or NAIA scholarship that they stick their noses up at because its 'not D1.' Thus, the player who refuses to look at themselves realistically completes the cycle and again, ends up with nothing.
Sound familiar? It happens all the time. This is because many prep schools make money based on the fact that you believe you are better than you actually are. My advice? Look at what you have in front of you. If you are a senior or a post grad and you have a scholarship offer, then be as grateful as is humanly possible and sign that letter of intent before someone else at your position does. You are getting a college education, for FREE. Take that, because it means you've used basketball the right way and will graduate with no debt. Not a bad deal. Otherwise, if you pass it up and pay for a 25k/yr prep school then you are letting adults who know better use basketball to use you for your parents' money.
Now think about what happens if you actually are right, and everyone has misjudged you? This does occasionally happen. If you're at a small school and develop into a pro-caliber player, do you know what happens? The pros still find you. Look no further than examples like Damian Lillard (Weber State), Scottie Pippen (Central Arkansas), and Ben Wallace (D2's Virginia Union). These players took advantage of what was presented to them, put in the work necessary to improve and succeed, and the pros took notice. This proves that it ultimately doesn't matter where you play, as much as what you do with the opportunity you're given. So don't stick your nose up at the small schools, look at your current situation realistically, and move forward with the options in front of you.
Now, on to the transfers. If you do wait on a few smaller school offers and a big school offer comes in very late, then know this, you were not their first choice. They are taking a gamble on you, and if you don't work out, its not a big deal to them. Instead of playing right away at a smaller school, you will be sitting all year, using up eligibility as it becomes obvious you can't play at that level. Maybe you just needed to try, and using a year was worth that gamble. That's OK. I understand that. But if you're frustrated by the situation and believe that your coach doesn't believe in you, then you're starting the same cycle all over again. Please learn and go to the level you can play at. I recently had a former player transfer from a D2 and ask me to get him some D1 looks. If you're not a D2 starter, averaging 20 points/gm, and you don't have D1's knocking down your door the second your transfer paperwork is in, then you can't transfer up. Generally, the rule is unless you are the league POY, then you transfer down, to where your real level is. And if you play marginal minutes as a freshman, perhaps your real level is right where you are.
As you can see, an unrealistic self perception can be a dangerous thing. Take a look in the mirror and realize that it is OK that your level isn't where you always hoped it would be. A college scholarship is a terrible thing to waste... take it from someone who is still paying his college off. Thinking you are better than you actually are, and being too stubborn to admit your level could end up costing you and your parents a lot of time, money, and positive memories. It could leave you bitter, and upset. Please be realistic, embrace what you have, and do your best to be the best wherever you are.
For more information, follow me on twitter @coachdesautels
