+1 This advice would have been accurate in 1996. |
| Evolution basketball |
| Basketball teams are small and the talent level is crazy in this area. Go to a game and see some of the WCAC teams play. We've seen really strong travel basketball/AAU players not make high school teams. If your kid loves basketball make sure they are headed to a school where they can play. |
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It’s tough with basketball. The coaches have their own connections to get players, usually through AAU, but they could have other connections to particular families, other coaches, and so forth.
I tried emailing coaches cold when my DC was applying to private schools. That really did not work. My kid was a very good AAU player, but coaches are not going to take my word for that! And they had no interest in actually getting out and watching him play. It kind of worked out in the end. I had also cold emailed in a second sport, and one of those coaches was incredibly responsive. |
STA does not recruit for any sports. You have no idea what you’re talking about. |
Yes, they do. I know plenty of kids who have been recruited there, including my son. They aren't going to beg you or constantly call you, as some of the other schools might, but they do find a way to let it be known that they are interested in your kid for their particular sport. |
For us the first step was the St Alban's parents and alums that knew our sons were strong athletes. Some had sons that played on the same youth teams or on opposing ones. Some of these people sounded out the coaches and then if the coach seemed positive they suggested to us that the school would be interested. Their purpose was to get us to make the "first contact" that's required before any coaches could be involved. It's possible that coaches spoke to the parents first and encouraged them to talk to us. (That may have happened.) There's nothing technically illegal about this and the "boosters" of all these schools do it. The other parents were legitimately trying to help both the school and us. This idea of "We don't recruit" always tickles me. It depends on what you mean by "recruit". |
| St Jerome academy and then De Matha |
Ha. You have no idea. |
This is very much true. Signed, parent of a kid they absolutely recruited. |
+1. Why do people think this makes the school sound so superior? |
When I have heard it it's generally an explanation for poor results. As in, "well, of course that team beat us. They recruit and we don't". It's generally right alongside "Their players are older" "They have more students" "Their academics aren't as good" "What isn't said, "We could be more competitive if we wanted, but we just won't stoop to that level." I will say this. That many, if not most, of the IAC schools have steadily improved the strength of their programs, if only to remain competitive. STA has got to be looking at this "arms race" and wondering if they want to do what might be necessary. The Prep basketball team was on TV yesterday with two 7'1" guys on the court at the same time, one of which can actually play. He's going to Oregon to play in college. |
| oh yeah, those tough kids at dematha $$$$$ |
That's irrelevant...PVI, O'Connell, SJC and Sidwell would all beat STA by anywhere from 10 to 40 points. STA is a perfectly OK basketball team, while PVI is the #2 HS team in the country with at least one likely NBA player. |