Allow me to reintroduce myself…
This is Atlas Recruits and I’m Alex. Please forgive me as this doesn’t come naturally to me…
To write about, well, anything. So I’m giving it a shot.
No matter where you go, you are what you are player…
I love the game of basketball. From the very start. Now I wasn’t blessed with the physical skills to truly be competitive – 6 foot nothing and a 10 inch vertical – but don’t for a second think I won’t J you in your face. Instead, I learned the game – by watching, reading, listening, score-keeping, scouting, and teaching. I think it’s easy to appreciate the beauty of the game at the elite levels – I could watch Marvin Bagley highlights all day. As painful as this is for me (I’m a double UNC grad), he is exhilarating to watch (1:14 mark is beyond words). But what thrills me more is the slow, plodding, day-in day-out, 1% at a time improvement grind that comes with hard word and dedication from a player throughout a season. Unseen by anyone but his teammates and coaches.
For years, I was lucky enough to coach basketball at several high schools. My last stop was for four years. While there, we won four straight conference championships and made it to two back-to-back Final Fours in the state tournament. That was a special group of young men and the best coaching staff I’ve had a chance to work with. Since, then, I’ve had a little time and distance to reflect on my experience. What keeps nagging me is what happened to my players after they left our program. Several moved to mid-major D1 and another couple made it there after two years of JUCO. Still a few more play D2 and D3. But watching that process was often frustrating from the outside – I’m sure my players felt a great deal of anxiety. Especially those not receiving D1 scholarships.
So here I am, today, asking why do I and my players feel this way?
I don’t have the answers…yet. But little by little, Atlas Recruits will bring clarity and democratize recruiting. Our journey together is just starting.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled program
