Many years ago — like, in the previous century — high school recruiting was done through high schools. College coaches would reach out to their scholastic counterparts, establish contact with players and their families, attend games through the winter season and try to lock down commitments. The transition to the summer started in the 1980s and accelerated in the 90s with the advent of Sonny Vaccaro’s ABCD Camp and other sneaker-powered showcases. That ignited what has come to be known as the “AAU Circuit” (which is a misnomer, since very few of these programs are affiliated with the Amateur Athletic Union), where college coaches can come to a gym and eyeball hundreds of Division I prospects in a single setting.
NCAA rules limit the windows in which college coaches can watch high school prospects play, and once again several of those windows will take place this month. Nike, Adidas and UnderArmour will lead the way with camps and tournaments, but there will be dozens more around the country (including junior college events) that will attract college coaches. That means lots of airline miles and very little sleep, but it’s all worth it in the chase for players.
To set the table for what lies ahead, our recruiting insider Sam Lance breaks down some of the main storylines you need to track this month. Krysten Peek also has a report from the U19 FIBA World Cup in which she breaks down the top performers at that event, including internationals who will play in college next season. Consider these a first taste of the mammoth feast that will be served up this month.
Needless to say, Hoops HQ will be there through all of it to keep you up to date and in the know. Where we live, there is no off-season, especially in the heat of July.
Have a great Monday. And thanks as always for your support of Hoops HQ. —Seth
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