Navigating College Athletic Recruiting

Some high school athletes dream of being recruited to top colleges. Others actively explore Division II, Division III, and options that may lead to substantial long-term opportunities. But what is truly involved in college athletic recruiting? Do D1 college coaches really recruit athletes from lesser-known high schools? And if students get invited to play with the college team, does that mean they’re guaranteed to be admitted? 

The Ivy League approach to recruiting

The Ivy League has historically taken a different approach to sports recruitment because it does not award athletic scholarships or guarantee admission to recruited athletes. According to Harvard spokesperson Jonathan Palumbo, the institution is committed to “attracting high caliber student-athletes, without financial inducements, and adhering to the Ivy principle that athletics is aligned with the educational purpose of the institution, remains unwavering.” So, what does this mean for the high school student athlete?

Competition is fierce

According to the NCAA, about 7-8% of high school athletes play at the NCAA level. For D1 specifically, this percentage is even smaller, sitting at around 2.5-3%. That means that just because a student is the best player on their team, does not mean they are going to play for a D1 college team. Likely, student athletes will need to be the MVP of their teams and be ranked either regionally or nationally to even be considered. 

Student athletes should reach out to coaches

To stand out, or at least to make their presence known to coaches who are focused on the top athletes in the fields, high school athletes need to proactively reach out to coaches. Whether through personalized emails, social media engagement, or through recruitment surveys, students will want to actively communicate with university sports teams. This is especially important for students who play more popular sports (lesser known sports like crew and fencing won’t need to be as proactive because they aren’t as competitive). To find this information, look to the college website. Universities like Cornell, post recruitment eligibility for student athletes to read. 

Coaches typically reach out junior year

Coaches are more likely to contact athletes after the summer before or fall of junior year as per the NCAA recruitment regulations which prevent D1 and D2 coaches from contacting student athletes before then. Don’t take that to mean that coaches are not actively scouting underclassmen. In many cases coaches have a potential recruitment list prior to the athlete’s junior year. However, for D3 colleges, coaches may reach out at any time. 

Verbal commitments are positive, but not a guarantee for admission

During NCAA contact periods, students will likely receive calls, text messages, and emails from coaches and university teams, with the most promising recruits even receiving an invite to join paid “official visits.” The purpose of these experiences is for coaches to see if the students fit well into their program. From there, coaches may present an offer, but even then, coaches will send student academic statistics (usually transcript and test scores) to admissions for a pre-read to see if the potential student is admissible.

Grades and test scores matter even for the best high school recruits

Student athletes must complete the college application the same as any other student. This means grades and test scores, essays, and letters of recommendations matter. Ultimately, the decision is up to the admissions team.  

Key Takeaways

• The Ivy League approach to recruiting is holistic.
• Competition is fierce.
• Student athletes should reach out to coaches.
• Coaches typically reach out junior year.
• Verbal commitments are positive, but not a guarantee for admission.
• Grades and test scores matter even for the best high school recruits.

[image from NY times]