2024 Boys Philly HS Live Period
The live period is one of the most exciting times in all of high school sports! The AAU hoops circuit plays a massive part in the college recruitment game but some would say that showcasing what you can do with your high school team is more important to the process. It’s a bit of a different game and it allows for some players to get exposure that they might not normally get from playing AAU. Let’s face it, AAU is a different beast and sometimes it doesn’t always serve guys in a way that it should or could. It’s a big business that expands beyond just the players. There’s something inherently pure about the live period here in Philly. Getting together with your guys, starting preparations for the upcoming season and gearing up for a run at a state title and it starts right here!
Philadelphia puts on one of the best live period events in all of the country! Philadelphia routinely pumps out basketball talent that goes on to play across the globe! The culture here is different and you have to bring your A game to make a name for yourself. One of the biggest things that I want young hoopers to understand is that they need to be able to star in their role. Sitting on sidelines and being able to talk to coaches and scouts about what they look for in a player, has been invaluable for me personally. I’m able to take this information and relay it to hoopers who might not get that one to one feedback. Talking high-level hoops with some of the best basketball minds around, is a very cathartic feeling for a hoop junky like myself.
Coaches come here with players in mind that they want to see but if you come out there and star in your role, you’ll be able to put yourself on a programs radar. I’ve seen it with my own eyes! “Do you know who that kid is?” Covering a lot of these kids across their careers have allowed me to drop some gems on coaches. It’s a great feeling for me to say “Yes that’s -insert player name -.” Names can absolutely be made during the live period. So it’s important that a player comes out and puts on the best performance he can possibly put on. It’s not just about putting the ball in the basket. Coaches are looking for guys who can come in and fill a need! Are you coachable? Are you a hard worker? Are you going to hustle back on defense? What are you doing to have an impact on the game when your shot is not falling? How are you handling bad officiating? Are you boxing out on every rebound? Are you making the right reads? There are so many things you can do that impact the game without scoring. This is the stuff that coaches are taking about on these sidelines.
So my advice to the hoopers out there is to just diversify your game. Show up to work every single day and be a good teammate. Don’t pout, be supportive of your guys. If you’re on the bench, engage the bench and bring energy! Be vocal and talk on defense. Show up in a way that helps your overall team success! You have to remember that it’s about WE out there and not ME! If you want coaches and scouts to pay attention to you, you have to do all of the little things well. Just because you haven’t heard from coach or a program, doesn’t mean that they don’t know who you are. It may not seem like they’re paying attention but I promise you they are. You also need to be proactive in how you present yourself. If you’re not a highly touted or hyped up kid, you need to be doing some leg work as well. You should be putting together highlights of you in action and emailing coaches and scouts. Use social media as a tool and show off a bit of your personality as well as your game. Sit with your high school coach and find out what he/she thinks are realistic destinations for you. Have your coach reach out on your behalf as well. Recruiting should be a collaborative effort for all involved.
