There are a few key elements to this search

1. Target schools based on academics that you would be interested in; the ones that have the program you are interested in. Also use copilot or chat gpt to rank schools in that discipline.
2. Look for sports programs at your level. You will know this based on where older players with similar scoring averages as you have attended. Yes disciplined defence and rebounding are important but top coaches feel they can teach that. They can teach a kid to have enough confidence to shoot enough to score 30-40 points in a game. Also look at the average height by position for the conference you are lining up with. If you are sorter than the range, you better have some outstanding scoring stats to offset that.
3. Take ownership of the communication with coaches. Leverage your coach yes but don’t rely on them. Take note of coaches at your games and look them up, flip them a note before they come to your practice or game just to say high, provide them an overview of you so when they come to the gym they are looking for you not “discovering you”.
4. Work the relationships and visits before the summer after grade 11. Find ways to call, talk to players in the programs you are interested in and ask for a visit. If you wait you will need to cram them in during late summer or fall before grade 12.
5. Attend a practice: see what the coaching style and practice looks like. This is where you can tell the role of the assistants. Who are the coaches in most control of things?
6. Meet with professors or deans about your school choices. Get a tour, ask about acceptance rates, ask about grad school etc. what supports are in place to help student athletes juggle it all.
7. Meet with the players in informal settings is key. They usually hang out or have a team social when you come. Get to know them have conversations that are likely not going to be shared in front of coaches. Get their contact information.
8. Prioritize this over any existing school work you have. It is more important than that test that you have next week. Out things in perspective here.
9. Build a list of what’s important to you and compare the schools against those criteria. Weight the criteria, rank the schools and weight the ranks.
10. Listen to your heart. This is a marriage. It is not about your stats, your weighted criteria rankings, the NIL or collective deal, this is about falling in love.
11. Saying no to other schools once you have chosen should be hard if you opened yourself up enough to let them in your heart. If you feel this congratulations you have done the right thing and made the right choice.