Hoop Mom: Getting Scouted

Teresa offers some steps to follow for high-school players to be noticed by colleges.

My daughter plays high school girls’ basketball. She plays point and shooting guard. She has been on varsity since she was a freshman, and has been playing behind a senior the whole time. These are her last two years in high school – two years where she can show what she can do.

I want to know: How do I go about getting her scouted? I do have some film on her, and I'll have a lot after this year. Can you help me?

Ryan

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Dear Ryan:

Because I’m not a coach, I often rely on experts for advice on these questions. So I asked Chris Bown, varsity girls basketball head coach at Seattle’s Lakeside School and assistant coach of the HoopGurlz select team, for his suggestions. Here’s a summary:

1. Make sure to include your high school coach in any discussions you have with your daughter about being scouted or what schools she may want to attend. "I have seen a couple of kids of late who left their high school coach out of the loop. In one case, we think this person may have tried to derail this player’s chances at a school she wanted to go to," Bown says.

2. When it comes to making a video of your daughter’s basketball skills, he advises that a game tape is actually better than a highlight tape. Scouts "will want to see how a player bounces back when things don't go well.”"

3. Fill out and return ALL the recruiting questionnaires that you get and be sure to provide contact information. "You don't want to burn any bridges before you realize that you may need them if another path falls through," he notes.

4. Have your daughter go to summer basketball camps or clinics at colleges that she is interested in attending. This will give her more direct exposure to the coaches and how they interact with players, and also will allow her to become familiar with the school’s style of play.

5. Be open to playing different positions and working on the skills to play other positions. "A lot of players play different positions in high school than they do in college," Bown says. "The ability of a 1 or 2 guard to post up is a plus."

6. Get in top physical condition. "Strength-train hard, play hard, practice skills hard, rest hard," he added.

Hoop Mom

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Teresa Wippel is team manager of the Warriors Basketball Club, a 7th Grade girls' team from the Seattle area, and mom to Warriors post player Amanda Waldron. In her other life, she is a freelance writer and editor. To ask Teresa a question, email her at

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