"Be realistic" they tell you.
You've heard it before, and you'll probably hear it again.
Nearly everyone wants to play Division 1.
I get it... bright lights, a huge stadium, televised games... it's flashy.
You also may be thinking it'll set you up the best for life after basketball, or even help you play professionally.
But in some cases, it's actually quite the opposite.
Keep reading and I'll tell you how.
Most D1 caliber players are good. Really good.
The majority are lightning fast, with a long wingspan, quick feet, and can jump out of the gym.
This makes up about 95% of Division 1 college athletes.
Now most of us don't fall into that category. We don't pass the "eye test" but we're the grinders. The guys and girls that had to fight tooth and nail for everything we've ever gotten.
There's a small percentage of us that can make it to the D1 level and an even smaller percentage that we'll play.
I'm not here to kill your dreams, just to help you understand your options.
So let me ask you something:
Would you rather start for 2 years and average 18 points per game at the D2 or D3 level, or... come off the bench your whole career and average 6 points per game at the D1 level?
I've seen many players get a spot a lower level, have an amazing career, and then go on to play for a great professional team overseas.
On the contrary I've seen instances where players never got the chance to shine at a Division 1 school, and they miss their opportunity to play professionally.
Now don't let this deter you. Shoot for the moon and put in the work.
I actually encourage every player to have a handful of "reach" schools. This is a list of schools that'll make others scratch their head when you tell them.
At the end of the day, there are 3 things you can control in this recruiting process.
1. Your play on the court.
2. Your grade point average.
3. Your decision to take a pro-active approach to get on coaches radars.
If you handle these 3 things, the rest will take care of itself. You'll land at the spot that's right for you.