You must play AAU basketball for a bigtime scholarship offer according to Bruce Pearl of Tennessee

Tennessee head basketball coach Bruce Pearl has coached at a variety of college programs at all different levels throughout the country.  And although the Vols are considered a football program, it hasn’t stopped Pearl from winning a lot of games and bringing in top flight recruits to Knoxville.

We recently found an article where Pearl talked specifically about the basketball recruiting process, the importance of AAU, marketing from an athlete, and a few other areas as well.  Considering he is a major Division I coach at the BCS level, this is advice that you may want to strongly consider.

I am going to quote parts of the article and then talk about them below.  Check out the entire article here.

If a player isn’t a top-100 recruit or is flying under the radar, what can he do to attract a college coach’s interest?
Bruce Pearl: If you’re in the AAU program and you’ve got a decent team, then the summertime is when you’ve got a chance go make a name for yourself. You can’t hunt bear in the lodge, so kids have got to go out there at these tournaments and give us a chance to evaluate them.

I love the quote about the bear.  That obviously has to be something Pearl has said before and knows the importance of being on the summer AAU circuit in order to get a scholarship offer.  I have seen very few athletes play Division I basketball who didn’t play AAU.  Even fewer of these ballers went to the major Division I level.  I can only think of one, Marcus Taylor (who signed with Michigan State years ago), who skipped AAU and that was because his dad didn’t want him picking up bad habits.  You may have heard about Taylor but he left for the NBA draft after his freshman year with the Spartans.  Not a smart move.

STACK: Besides basketball talent, what attributes are you seeking in a player at an AAU event or high school game?
BP: Certainly attitude is a factor. I want guys who are going to play with emotion and passion.

STACK: What’s the best way an athlete can conduct a self-marketing campaign?
BP: Don’t be afraid to be aggressive, and participate in the process. If there’s a campus you want to visit and [a school] you’re interested in, then make an appointment. The head coach may not have time for you, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an assistant coach [available].

I wouldn’t exactly put a ton of money into making these visits but college coaches are smart enough to consider all possibilities.  You may be a 5-foot-8 shooting guard but that doesn’t mean you can’t go visit schools.

STACK: Can a high school athlete’s persistence be perceived as “annoying” to a coach?
BP: I want to coach guys who want to play for me, so I’m always intrigued by guys who will be aggressive in the recruiting process.

I do like what Pearl is saying here but obviously he isn’t being totally honest and saying that if you are bad, then you will annoying real quick.  With two decommits from the Vols this summer, I am not surprised that Pearl would want to have players who want to be a part of his program.

Anyways, this is from a proven Division I coach.  Realize that AAU is vital to really get good looks during the recruiting process.  Also, as long as you are not going too far, it definitely doesn’t hurt to be aggressive in marketing yourself to college coaches.

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