Attitude and character are two extremely important characteristics when it comes to recruiting basketball prospects. Student-athletes need to be aware of how these intangible attributes affect college coaches’ perceptions and ultimately affect their decisions. This awareness and understanding will help each student-athlete become more attractive throughout the recruiting process.
Performance on the court is very important. Initially, a basketball player’s skills help determine if a college coach will be interested in making him or her a part of their team’s future. Once a student-athlete passes that first step, there are other steps that college coaches must evaluate before making an offer. Basketball skills alone don’t land a scholarship.
A student-athlete’s attitude and character are carefully evaluated by college coaches. Attitude and character often determine if a scholarship will be offered or not. I’ve seen many student-athletes who have been very talented, but did not receive an opportunity to play at the next level due to their inability to stay out of trouble, lack of respect for their coaching staff and teammates and tendency to blame others for their faults. I have also seen many student-athletes who were not as talented as their peers, but were rewarded scholarships for their work ethic, ability to motivate others and leadership on and off the court.
Your attitude and character is a personal decision. It doesn’t take skill, but it does reflect who you are as a person. Building these admirable traits could open doors and may create opportunities you didn’t think were possible.
