If you’re an unsigned senior, international basketball player and are looking to find out how you can get yourself recruited to play college basketball in the USA, you have come to the right article. Here we will discuss what it means to be an international recruit and, talk about ways in which you can get yourself recruited. With the knowledge we are about to share with you and a little direction, you will be able to form a solid recruitment strategy for yourself after reading this article.
Who is considered an International Player?
An international player is any player who does not reside (live) in the United States. As an international basketball player the recruitment process still remains pretty much the same as it does for the domestic USA players. The major difference is the fact that college coaches cannot come see you play in person. Because of this, as an international player, most of your recruitment will take place online in the forms of emails, face-time etc. Depending on the level you are trying to play at, there are certain rules and criteria that will apply to all international players. This includes things such as tuition costs, admissions requirements, transcripts etc. Coaches who are interested in you will inform you about the different requirements they have for you attending their program as an international player.
Getting Your Video Together as an International Basketball Player
This might be the most important step for you, since college coaches will be basing their decision 100% on your video. This means you should put most of your time and effort into making this the best representation of you on the basketball court.
Keep your highlight video updated. You want to make sure you have all your best highlights from your previous season with your Club team. Make sure you have all of these ready to go by August entering your senior year! Make sure during the half-way point of your club season, in your senior year, make a mid-season highlight video available for college coaches to view as they will want to see your progress in your senior year.
At the end of your Club season, add all the additional highlights to your video, so you can provide this to the college coaches you are either already in contact with or new ones who are showing interest. It is in your best interest to make sure your highlight video is 100% updated. You want the college coaches to see a clear representation of what you can do as a player.
Getting Your Information Together as an International Basketball Player
In this section you want to list all the different club teams you have played for. You will also want to list all your basketball achievements such as playing for the national team etc. Make sure you organize your information clearly for the coaches to read through. You want it to be easy for them to read. Here are the basics which should always be included in your information profile: Full name, date of birth, Country and hometown, graduation year, GPA score, TOFEL (if required), stats, height, weight, wingspan, position(s) played.
Contacting College Coaches as an International Basketball Player
As an international basketball player you want to use your time wisely. The best way to do this is to contact college coaches who are recruiting your position. This way you will maximize your chances of getting picked up by a school. You should start contacting college coaches who are recruiting your position in August going into your senior year. This should be an ongoing process throughout your senior year, until you receive an offer you are happy with.
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Talking to College Coaches Who Are Interested
When you start receiving interest from college coaches the first step will typically be setting up a call to speak with the coach as they will want to speak with you on the phone or on face-time. Before you engage with a college coach on a call you want to make sure you go into the conversation fully prepared. You are still getting recruited at this point so you want to make a very good impression. Do your research. Go onto the schools basketball team page and read everything you can. If any questions come to mind, note them down for your call. Also, visit the schools website. Again, read as much as you can and note down any questions that you have. When on a call with a college coach get ready to have a lot of information sent your way. It is recommended that you take notes when on the call with a coach. This is great for you to go over after your call when you have more time to absorb everything that was said.
Considering Your Options as an International Basketball Player
The best way to get yourself recruited to play college basketball in the United States is to keep your mind open to all options. This means considering offers from all levels. You might be focused on playing NCAA division 1 which is great, but you should still consider offers from D2, D3, NAIA and even Junior Colleges. The reason for this is, you might be nicely surprised at the offers you get! Many schools from all levels have great facilities and offer a variety of subjects for you to major in. Keeping your options open means that you might get an offer that ticks all the boxes for you from a school in a division you weren’t considering as your number one option.
Taking a Virtual Tour
Before making your final decision, if it is not realistic for you to attend a tour in person, going on a virtual tour is the next best thing. You will find most schools offer this as an option. Going on a virtual tour will really help you in the decision process, here are a few reasons why … A virtual tour allows for you and your family members to see where you will be potentially going to study and live. You will get a guided tour of all the sports facilities, the grounds, the residency halls and dining. When choosing a school to attend it is important to see where you will be studying, training, playing, sleeping and eating! Now, as an international recruit, you can do this from the comfort of your own home.