Behind the Blue Disk

 

Division I Men's Basketball Recruiting

Does the NCAA regulate participation in non-scholastic basketball events? Non-scholastic events are competitions not sponsored by a high school or college. Prospective student-athletes may play basketball year-round at non-scholastic events. However, the NCAA prohibits college coaches from participating in non-scholastic events as administrators, instructors or coaches. Coaches may attend summer basketball events such as camps, leagues, tournaments and festivals that are certified by the NCAA.

Can a prospective student-athlete participate in a summer camp sponsored by an NCAA member school? Prospective student-athletes are allowed to participate in summer camps and engage in recruiting conversations with a school's coach. However, coaches may not conduct camps or clinics open only to elite seventh- and eighth-grade student-athletes.

When may a college coach begin to observe or recruit a prospective student-athlete? A coach may observe the basketball activity of a prospective student-athlete who has entered the seventh grade as long as the observation occurs during a contact or evaluation period.

What are "illegal benefits" and could they jeopardize a prospective student-athlete's eligibility? Accepting an illegal benefit, no matter who it is from, could jeopardize a prospective student-athlete's eligibility. Illegal benefits include, but are not limited to:

• An employment arrangement for a prospective student-athlete's relatives
• Clothing or equipment
• Cosigning of loans
• Providing loans to a prospective student-athlete's relatives or friends
• Cash or merchandise
• Free or reduced-cost services or housing
• Use of a school's athletics equipment
• Sponsorship of an awards banquet
• Academic services to help with the completion of eligibility requirements or improvement of the prospective student-athlete's academic profile

What is the NCAA's perspective on scouting services? The NCAA has developed specific rules regarding scouting services to preserve competitive equity. A school may purchase one annual subscription to an NCAA-certified service as long as the service is available to all schools for the same public fee, provides information about prospective student-athletes four times a year, reflects geographically broad coverage, provides individual analysis for each prospective student-athlete, gives access to samples and supplies video of regularly scheduled high school or two-year college contests.

Guidelines at a glance

High School Freshman/Sophomore

Recruiting Material	Questionnaires/camp brochures only
Telephone Calls/Electronic Contact	Coaches may not call or contact prospective student-athletes
Official Visits	No official visits
Off-Campus Contact	No off-campus contact with coaching staff

High School Junior

Recruiting Material	Prospective student-athletes may begin receiving material June 15 after their sophomore year
Telephone Calls/Electronic Contact	Prospective student-athletes may begin receiving phone calls and electronic contact June 15 after their sophomore year
Official Visits	Official visits may begin after January 1 of prospective student-athlete's junior year
Off-Campus Contact	Off-campus contact may occur at prospective student-athlete's school after first day of his junior year. During April, off-campus contact may also occur at his home.

High School Senior

Recruiting Material	No limit on recruiting material
Telephone Calls/Electronic Contact	No limit on telephone calls or electronic contact
Official Visits	One official visit per college or university, with up to five official visits to Divisions I and II schools
Off-Campus Contact	A coach may meet off-campus with a prospective student-athlete up to three times