Elite level prep hoops: WGAF?

[Starman]

Well, ever since the older OLDEN days of the 50s and 60s, the elite level hoopsters have built their reps in offseason play, in summer camps or summer leagues, and in playground games back in the legendary heyday of the Rucker and the like.
But at least in those days how you played for your high school team mattered: coaches could see how you would react and adapt in game situations.
Basically now we're at a point where actually playing high school basketball means nothing-- all that matters is how you perform at the combines and skills camps.

 

[Webster]

How many of the top 50-100 hoops recruits for the past 30+ years have played for their local zoned public HS? I’m guessing its very small number. And the college coaches like it that way — they get to make fewer recruiting trips and know that the best players are facing real competition

 

[Batman]

How many of the top 50-100 hoops recruits for the past 30+ years have played for their local zoned public HS? I’m guessing its very small number. And the college coaches like it that way — they get to make fewer recruiting trips and know that the best players are facing real competition

We had a local girl a few years ago who signed with a mid-major DI who, to the best of my knowledge, never played any high school ball after her sophomore year.
She had a great freshman year at one local school, but was already a total attitude nightmare for the coach. She transferred across town to the other big school as a sophomore and pretty much flaked out there, too. She shut it down the last six weeks of the season and that coach wasn't sad to see her leave.
Next time I saw or heard from her was on signing day. Her story was she focused entirely on AAU ball and got the attention of college coaches on that circuit.
Not surprisingly, I think she flamed out pretty quickly in college as well.

 

[Batman]

Well, ever since the older OLDEN days of the 50s and 60s, the elite level hoopsters have built their reps in offseason play, in summer camps or summer leagues, and in playground games back in the legendary heyday of the Rucker and the like.
But at least in those days how you played for your high school team mattered: coaches could see how you would react and adapt in game situations.
Basically now we're at a point where actually playing high school basketball means nothing-- all that matters is how you perform at the combines and skills camps.

I think you can make the argument that the only sport where high school ball is more important than the club teams nowadays is football.
In my state, high school soccer is just a way to kill time and stay in shape between club seasons. Basketball still matters a bit, but as has been discussed on this thread, it's becoming less so. Same with baseball and softball, where tournament ball is both a scourge and important.
Since there's no real organized club option for football, high school ball is still it. And even there, going to on-campus camps at various schools is probably as important as what you're doing on the field on Friday night.

 

[rtse11]

My kid walked on at a MAC school for baseball. I never saw one scout at a high school game. They all congregated at the summer tournaments.

 

[HanSenSE]

I think you can make the argument that the only sport where high school ball is more important than the club teams nowadays is football.
In my state, high school soccer is just a way to kill time and stay in shape between club seasons. Basketball still matters a bit, but as has been discussed on this thread, it's becoming less so. Same with baseball and softball, where tournament ball is both a scourge and important.
Since there's no real organized club option for football, high school ball is still it. And even there, going to on-campus camps at various schools is probably as important as what you're doing on the field on Friday night.

Add volleyball to the list too, both traditional and beach. A lot of colleges are mentioning club and high school experience in their media guides.

 

[justgladtobehere]

College hockey has changed. No more prep schools for the guys.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

Baseball is one sport where scouts will still congregate for preps, mainly for flamethrower pitchers.

I got my best pic from one scout with the 91 on the radar gun and the stud in the background.

 

[Starman]

Add volleyball to the list too, both traditional and beach. A lot of colleges are mentioning club and high school experience in their media guides.

The only people in Michigan who pay any attention whatsoever to HS volleyball are community colleges and NAIA outfits. Anybody going D1 or even upper level D2 has to build their reps in club ball or camps. The B1G schools recruit globally.