What qualifies a high school female bb player to be considered for a full ride college scholarship?

Question

My 10 year old daughter plays bb each season with community programs. She has played for 3 years. I am going to encourage her to play thru high school. She loves it and is good at it etc., and getting better each year.

I am clueless however about how to groom her so that come college time, recruiters will notice her. I am not nor have ever been athletic or into sports. I am a single parent. I am hoping that with some prep that maybe someday she can go to college free on a sports (basketball) scholarship. But I don't know if thats something a kid can prepare for or is it more luck? What do we need to do to prep? Am I just dreaming here? Can anyone provide me some insight.

Answer 1

Your daughter needs to play year round and join a few AAU teams if she hasn't already

she should also go to basketball camps and practice as much as she can

depending on her estimated final height she should determine what position she would most likely play if she made it to college point guard, wing, post etc

she should then focus her game on what she will eventually be best at regardless of her current height

AAU teams get scouted before kids even enter highschool and the more attention a team draws the better chance your kid has of getting noticed and if she catches the right eye they will follow her career through highschool as well and keep an eye on her

Send her to local college camps that are being put on by college coaches so that if she impresses they already have their eyes open to her and her AAU teams should travel

Good luck, if she's good enough she will be noticed

Answer 2

That's great that she seems to love the game and really great that she's getting better every year.

Baskeball camps are excellent places to learn "skill drills". There she would learn how to improve her shooting, ball handling, defensive and rebounding skills, and would be taught by professional and/or high level college coaches and players.

Most basketball camps last a week, and they'll often have 2-3 professional players come to the camp to talk to the kids. It's a great experience.

Basketball camps are not always cheap though... find out the costs up front so you won't be shocked. But for someone like your daughter who seems to really love the game, it can be money well spent.

You might want to also talk to your local high school girls basketball coach, who might be able to hook you up with some videos for your daughter which can teach her how to improve her game.

And of course, it's up to you and your daughter as to how much of her life you want to devote to basketball. It may help if she has other interests/hobbies as well... colleges like a well-rounded student with more than one interest. And it's extremely important that she keep her grades up (but you knew that!) :-)

All the best to you and your daughter! Good luck to both of you!

Answer 3

I'll jump on with that first answer, as it has a lot of good points...

Other things that I'll add: Try to get her into some speed/quickness workshops. I know they'll teach your daughter a lot of drills for that at the general basketball camps, but I think it will be very beneficial for her to get specific help with the speed/quickness aspect of the game.

And you probably know this part already, but at her young age, do what you can to "teach" her the love of the game. Maybe it's as simple as positive comments after a good game or practice. Also, trying to find time (I know it's hard) to attend some games and letting her know how proud you are of her. It's amazing how the LOVE of a sport will lead to all the qualities of success in sports: hard work and dedication. Good luck!

Answer 4

her coaches will know.

During your daughter's junior year, she should start writing to coaches at Division One schools, mentioning that she is interested in their school and the sports program. She should mention her athletic accomplishments (i.e., championships, individual awards such as being captain or MVP, personal statistics). Of course, she needs to have good grades.

I am assuming which are Division One schools (Notre Dame, UCLA, Penn St., Florida, BYU, Texas, et al.). I mention Division One because they have the most scholarships available, and thus the chances of your daughter gaining a scholarship are better.

Good luck.