Coach K
@CoachKurzawski
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Husband • Dad • ☦️ • Pittsburgher ⬛🟨• 🏀 Coach (10 years college) • Teacher • Director @psbpittsburgh @GYMRATPT • I help out @rockteamsports
Pittsburgh, PA
Joined April 2015
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Too many kids have been taught that the goal of HS sports is to achieve an ATHLETIC scholarship - here’s the truth: the goal of HS sports is to learn how to be a better person, better teammate, better communicator & to enjoy being a teenager...something you can’t get back.
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HS football players: just as you expect the other kids who attend your school to come to your games so they should expect you to attend their musicals, band performances, track meets, softball games. A strong school is a village; a village which supports ALL of its parts.
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AAU Players: If every weekend your team is undefeated, you either play with a bunch of players who will be heading to Duke, or your coach is sabotaging you to win games. The goal is improvement - not weekend trophy hunting. Iron sharpens iron…play against BETTER players.
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Not too long ago, it was an HONOR to be ON THE VARSITY team as an underclassman / now, due to entitlement both from players & parents, being ON THE TEAM isn't enough. These people expect varsity playing time even when their skill level is barely JV.
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I’m convinced that most kids who play HS/Travel sports don’t want to PLAY in college. They want to go through the process of being recruited, doing “blessed to receive,” and then once they step on campus & realize how hard it is…
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A lot of HS players don’t actually love basketball, they love the attention they receive being good at basketball while in HS. When they run into better players, don’t get the same praise, have to raise their level of work..they “lose their love of the game.”
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In my experience…kids who have parents that are successful coaches (HS, college, or pro) are usually the easiest parents do deal with, the quietest people in the gym, and the last person causing issues…even when they often know more than the kid's coach.
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It’s easy to recruit the best players, put them on an AAU team, play in front of college coaches & take credit for their success. Real coaching/player development is working with the kid who might not get to the college level & equipping them with confidence & love of the sport.
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It sucks when a college coach calls you & you have to be honest about a player's lack of effort, honesty, commitment, parents not being good to deal with, and being a bad teammate but good coaches don’t lie to colleagues - it's terrible for future players.
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Players: the LAST person you should be listening to during a game is your parents in the stands…if they are trying to coach you, telling you to “SHOOT IT,” I would politely ask them to keep quiet or sit in the car. In a game, you should only hear your coaches & your teammates.
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Congrats to all 415 AAU teams that won a National Championship this summer!
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The vast majority of HS players have no idea what it means to play at the collegiate level & if they did, they wouldn't want to do it. The issue is the “adults” in their lives want them to do it because it fulfills the adults' lives…that's not mentoring. That's selfish.
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HS kids must learn to face & conquer adversity, & learn from failure. The new-aged concept that everything should be easy & fun hurts kids. Life isn’t easy; life isn’t always fun…sports provide an excellent forum for kids to learn life lessons with extremely low stakes.
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S/O to every high school athletic program who celebrates a kid going to a D3 program the same way they do a kid going to a D1 program. You get it.
#StudentAthlete
#FindYourFit
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If your coach is hard on you, is demanding of you, shows up early, stays late to work with you, and expects more of you than you expect of yourself…you got a coach that cares about you.
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Just a reminder - the NAIA “LIVE PERIOD” is 365 days a year and they offer FULL RIDES.
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First time this year going to an AAU tournament- watching 2 5th grade games…teams up 25+ points in the second half & still pressing. When we talk about kids LEARNING to play the game, this isn’t it.
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Quitting on your team & TEAMMATES is next-level selfish. When you commit to going to battle each night during a season, you uphold that pledge to your TEAMMATES come hell or high water & then reevaluate your desire to play or not play after the season…multiple HS & even some
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One of the biggest challenges for me as a HS coach coming from college coaching is teaching HS players HOW to play the game without plays, when things break down, recognizing mismatches, etc. Because kids don’t play as much pickup ball, they fail to recognize essential reads.
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Player: “Hey coach I really want to play basketball in college.”
Coach: “that’s great, what’s your schedule this week?”
Player: “well on Monday I have_____, Tuesday I’m tied up with_____, that weekend I’m on vacation,…”
Coach: “you don’t want to play college basketball.”
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One reason you often see large numbers on a D3 roster is due to the high turnover rate from players…most people aren’t built to play at the college level, especially when they aren’t used to consequences for failures, not getting playing but still being required to practice
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🏀 non-negotiables:
• Know the plays
• DEFEND
• Hustle…get back on defense, go after loose balls, rebound, meet passes
• Make layups - left & right
• Take care of the ball (you don't have to be a great dribbler to be a responsible ball handler)
• Have great body language
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HS kids need to learn that not everything in their lives should be approved/applauded and not everything in life is fun…the adults who sell the fun, fun, fun narrative are setting HS kids up for failure. There is a time for fun & a time to be serious; both are important.
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@overtime
@ShamsCharania
Now show footage against actual NBA talent instead of guys at the YMCA
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One of the most significant issues I've seen in HS/AAU level sports is the lack of appreciation from ADULTS for the ADULTS who have made tremendous sacrifices FOR THEIR kids! Many players would have NO SHOT at playing at the next level if it wasn't for their HS/AAU coaches.
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HS coaches: if a kid comes back to you after the summer & they have improved immensely due to the work they have put in with an AAU team, trainer or both...You need to call that AAU team / trainer & thank them while applauding the player.
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College coaching has become chasing the better job, more money, better resources, better this, better that…in HS coaching, parents run out great coaches because they run their programs with discipline & expectations. It’s becoming rare to see coaches at any level last.
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Common questions college coaches ask HS/AAU coaches:
What are their grades like/GPA?
Do they practice hard?
Are they reliable?
What are their parents like?
Are they self-motivated?
Do they love the game or just like it?
What type of teammate are they?
Will they defend?
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Parents: if you have a teenage athlete and they don’t want to go to / don’t appreciate extra training…don’t pay for it. It’s not your job to get your kid better…desire & hunger by the ATHLETE (not the parent) are essential pieces in the process.
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This is 100% true…most HS coaches who sacrifice hundreds of hours a year away from their families for pennies on the dollar can count the thank you’s on the one hand and can put the complaints and criticisms in an Olympic-sized pool.
@beaver_bball
Former player on your staff!
HS Coaches don’t hear it enough - Thank You for everything - the 6:00 A.M.’s all summer long, the time away from your family, and everything that goes unnoticed! Huge things coming your way!
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Parents: College coaches recruit you too. I always watched what the parent of the kid I was looking at was doing in the stands. Coaches want parents who are supportive of the TEAM and their child and not openly criticizing coaching, officials, other players.
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Parents: if your kid plays youth sports you don’t need to stay and watch every single practice. Kids need to learn how to be coached and not constantly be looking for your affirmation and approval. Drop them off, pick them up...support them at the games.
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We had a parent ask us who was on our 4th/5th grade AAU team because they wanted to compare “the talent” & if it was on par with their kid.
1) we never want parents like that in our program
2) I feel bad for that kid
At the youth levels lets KEEP IT FUN & TEACH the game!
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Advice from a college basketball coach who is also a certified trainer & strength coach: If you just played a ton of basketball this past week you shouldn’t be in a gym this weekend, you should take the week off & allow your body to recover, you will thank yourself later.
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In reality - AAU teams do very little when it comes to getting a player “signed” - if a player is talented enough to play at a particular level of college they will have multiple opportunities. The “we got this player this offer” statements in most cases are laughable.
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Kids are a lot softer than in the past…but it’s not the kids who have created their softness…it’s their parents & other adults in their lives who refuse to prepare them for the rigors of the adult world. As the old saying goes, “Tough times don't last; tough people do.”
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Hate seeing players play for years for what people believe are elite AAU orgs only to end up at schools they could have ended up at if they had never played AAU. Make sure the return on your investment matches what you are being sold.
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Pursue coaches & teachers who are willing to give you hard truths rather than coaches & teachers who give you soft lies.
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Tip to parents: college coaches talk to AAU/HS coaches - so when you have a temper tantrum when your kid doesn’t get their way...we hear about it, when you decide to storm out of the gym...we hear about it. Why would any college coach want YOUR negative energy around a program?
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HS Players: If the only time you touch a ball during the summer is at team workouts and some summer league games…don’t complain when you don’t get the playing time you want.
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When parents/players look at HS sports as an activity, there is nothing wrong with that. When those same people demand playing time over players who treat the sport as their passion, that’s when an issue arises. Playing time is USUALLY dictated by dedication time.
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This summer has shown me that I do way too much for players who aren’t as committed to the next level as I am to helping them get there. If you want to know why good coaches get out of coaching it’s because they get tired of dealing with players/parents who waste their time.
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The coaches who push you the hardest are the coaches who care the most….players who want to be GREAT, want to be challenged, want extra reps, and want to be held accountable.
Greatness isn't organic; it's made.
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One of the best ways to fix youth sports is by stressing fundamentals & improvement over winning. One of the biggest issues in American youth sports is that we would rather win cheaply than lose richly.
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Just because someone coaches at a perceived “higher level” does not mean they are a better coach. Some of the best coaches I’ve been around coach HS ball or small college because it fits their philosophy of using athletics to teach the game of life.
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Let’s say a HS coach makes 4K a season. Practices start in October, season ending in March. 2-3 hours a day 6 days a week JUST for practices. That’s about 18 hours a week for about 24 weeks. 432 hours of practice. 4,000 ➗ 432 = $9 an hour.
#perspective
#coaching
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Parents - if your kid plays for a winning & effective coach, instead of creating issues for that coach, I highly recommend showing that coach appreciation throughout the year before that coach goes somewhere that does. Good coaching isn't easy to find.
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HS Level: There is a different type of feeling for players/coaches/teams who have legitimately won/earned a title as opposed to those who buy/recruited it. A group of kids who grew up together & turn years of friendship into a championship for their hometown is extraordinary.
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Parents & AAU coaches: if you are going to take the time to tweet about your kid dropping 20 points, grabbing 12 boards & dishing out 6 assists...make sure you also add they have a 2.1 GPA, a 15 on the ACT & don’t qualify. Priorities matter.
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Players: coaches aren’t miracle workers…throughout a game, the PLAYERS have to step up, make stops, grab rebounds, get a bucket…coaches can prepare you & refocus you…but you decide the outcome of a game.
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HS Players: Don’t believe your own hype. Many players in your shoes have had adults telling them how good they are (papers, HS/travel coaches, trainers etc.) only to get to the next level and be severely humbled. Go about your business quietly knowing there is more work to do.
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Kids today need to learn that it’s okay to fail…they have been conditioned to think they are great & talented at everything when they aren’t. If you worked your tail off & earned a C…GOOD! If you aren’t the best player but earned a roster spot…GOOD! Work with what you have.
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Something I see WAY TOO MUCH OF in AAU - Players: MAKE THE RIGHT PASS!!! Pulling up for a contested jumper when your teammate is WIDE open one pass away is not impressive even if you make the shot. College coaches don’t see a nice jumper - they see a selfish player.
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Someone recently asked me why I chose to coach girls' basketball over boys' basketball. I answered, “I didn’t. I applied for men’s / women’s coaching jobs and whoever hired me first is where I coached.”
Basketball is basketball. Coaching basketball is coaching basketball.
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I feel bad for parents and players today. There are so many con artists in youth sports just looking to make a buck, whether it’s running a team, doing training, etc., it’s nearly impossible for parents to figure out who knows what they are talking about.
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Players: if your coach makes it about you, invests in you, cares about you, & wants to see you successful...make sure you do the same for your coach. The time coaches spend away from their families to coach you is incalculable - make sure your coach knows you appreciate them.
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Question from fellow college coach:
“What do you think of this kid?”
Answer: “Good kid but the parents are unbearable.”
College Coach: “That’s what I hear, we don’t want that around our program...I’ll find someone else.”
Happens all the time.
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Got a recruit
No offers - has played AAU her whole HS career
HS coach calls and asks for us to look at her
We invite her to our last elite camp
Says she can’t make it because she’s resting up for last AAU tournament 🤔🤷🏼♂️
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As a college coach I recruit: MOTOR, ATTITUDE & EFFORT. Way too many players/parents think we are only looking for scoring - I recruit winners: Winners always have a high motor (defend & rebound), always have a GREAT attitude & you NEVER question their effort.
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If you want to be a GREAT HS/College athlete than get used to saying NO.
NO - I can’t go out tonight
NO - I can’t eat/drink that
NO - I can’t stay up that late
NO - I can’t skip my workout
NO - I can’t slack in class
NO - I don’t want to be like everyone else.
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So you’re going into your senior year of HS, you have been playing AAU for the same squad for three years, and you have no college offers or interest…that’s an issue; your club has failed you.
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Great read - legendary HS coach, over 500 career wins says I’m done and at the core is ungrateful parents:
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This is probably very tough for some people to understand, but if your travel team consistently is going undefeated - it's not because of your talent - it's because you're playing the wrong competition.
Iron sharpens.
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BREAKING: Contrary to common millennial belief - basketball CAN be played outside.
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Parents: when your child struggles with a sport, or their team struggles with a sport…that’s not the time to voice your concern with the coach. It’s a time to support your kid & the team to continue to work hard and get better. Sports can be humbling…and that’s a good thing.
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HS Players: don’t get too high & too low with post season awards. A number of players who really can’t play receive awards when others who can play are not recognized. What matters is you keep working hard on your game for the success of the TEAM. The most valuable stat are W’s.
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PARENTS: If you ever wonder why “that kid” is going off to college when your kid scored more points per game in high school 🤫 it’s because scoring is just a small aspect of what college programs look at. Stop yelling SHOOT IT!
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Players: a lot of your peers posting their offers will commit to a D1 school, transfer 3x, finish at a D2, and average 5.3 PPG for their career.
While another kid will get a few D2 offers, average 20 PPG for their career & be an all-American.
College coaches miss A LOT!
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Seeing a lot of non-D1 players going to D1 games, wearing D1 t-shirts & being sold the D1 dream by their AAU teams when in reality these kids should be checking out D2, NAIA, D3 games. Parents: if you are paying to play AAU make sure you are also getting realistic advice.
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@TheHoopHerald
@HoustonTopgunss
@TheFieldOf68
My thoughts are 282–122 (.698)
Tough coaches create tough players, who become tough people.
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If you play a HS sport and your coach loves, lives & is immersed in that sport - you are already at an advantage if you TAKE ADVANTAGE.
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PLAYERS/PARENTS: This is your daily reminder that an
#NAIA
offer IS a D2 offer (in some cases it’s a D1 offer) AND that not all NCAA D2 offers are full scholarships...do your homework - stop listening to people who don’t know how the recruiting process works.
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1000 points at the HS level is becoming less and less impressive due to the fact that so many players are playing varsity as freshmen. Not too long ago a freshmen on varsity - let alone playing on varsity was unheard of. Now a freshmen team is unheard of.
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One of the most significant issues I see with AAU ball is the lack of qualified coaches mixed with parents/players who sign up for the perception of the name on the front of the jersey rather than the coach's credentials who is with your kid all summer.
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Ever notice that certain AAU programs always have their players offered by the same bad D1 programs - there is a reason for that.
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Kids shouldn't have to travel all over the country to have a chance at a college basketball scholarship.
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Parents: get this through your head. The value of your son or daughter on a HS basketball team is NOT MEASURED on how many points they score. Stop yelling SHOOT IT, SWING IT & other selfish phrases & support what the team is doing to WIN the game.
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Players did you know
#NAIA
coaches (many of whom offer FULL RIDES) can come watch you play 365 days a year? They are ALWAYS in an OPEN PERIOD & they can talk to you whenever.
@NAIAHoopsReport
@NAIAWomensHoops
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One of the problems in the perception recruiting game is the fact that in many markets the local media praises ANY D1 offer but doesn’t say a word about D2/NAIA offers or what these players are doing. Let’s not forget only 2 years ago IUP women beat Pitt at Pitt...(continued)
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Man, serious basketball players are hard to come by. A program that has 12-15 SERIOUS players - kids who love the game, want to sacrifice their time to work on it, want to make the drive to get better, have parents who get behind winning coaches, those are special programs.
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Heard about a player who said if they don’t get a D1 offer they won’t play in college. If that’s your mindset you should stop thinking about college hoops now because you really don’t love 🏀.
To play at the college level at any level, especially D1 you better ❤️🏀!
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Players: if a college invites you to campus for a visit or to their elite camp (because they are very serious about you playing for them) “I have AAU practice” or “I have high school open gym” usually aren’t what college coaches want to hear.
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The amount of bad basketball training events & “showcases” with minimal to no college coaches at them seems to be at an all-time high.
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“Do you want to build basketball players? Or do you want to tell everybody you won your youth league?”
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HS Players: a lot of the coaches, teammates, peers that you are overly interested in pleasing now won’t even be a thought in your mind in 4 years. Invest in your faith, invest in your family, invest in yourself & if you find 1 or 2 TRUE friends along the way, you are blessed.
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HS Players - just as important as working out/improving this summer - make time to be a kid - spend time with friends - enjoy being a teenager. You only get to do it once - time management is key. Don’t regret not being a kid when you become an adult.
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Players: keep in mind, most kids posting a D2 offer are not telling you that that offer is only for a few thousand bucks…good for them, but many players would be better off going to a good D3 or NAIA & saving more money.
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Recruiting tip: Parents DO NOT run twitter accounts posing as your kid. You can help your kid answer questions that college coaches have but pretending to be the student athlete is a great way to end your kid’s recruitment before it even begins.
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Players: if the best players you play against go to D3 schools & don’t play much…what does that say about you and going D3?
The reality is - D3 is not where the leftovers go…D3 is PACKED full of exceptional players.
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People would be shocked how much college coaches say “heard the kid is great but not sure I want mom/dad around for 4 years.”
Don’t sabotage your kid’s hard work by being an unbearable parent.
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As a college coach (I’ve coached men & women) & a current trainer of men’s & women’s players - I feel very strongly that there needs to be way more female coaches/directors involved in girls summer basketball. Far too many men are involved for financial & self serving reasons.
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High School Players:
• Keep your grades ⬆️ a 3.0 or above is preferred
• Showcases & Recruitment events are a great way to be seen
• Little to NO college coaches read recruitment services
• It’s more important to be seen then who you are seen with
• Have a GREAT ATTITUDE
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Players: it’s okay to take some time off, rest, recover and train. The endless cycle of play is not a recipe for success rather it’s a recipe for injury.
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Players: if you don't like the idea of 6 hours a day of some type of team-related activity (lifting, practice, individual work, film study, rehab, therapy, study hall) 6 days a week…college sports aren’t going to be for you.
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Please stay away from AAU clubs run by parents who have their children on the team & only tweet out and promote their kids.
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