Building a Basketball Player’s Resume – Guards
*Editor’s Note – We are fortunate to have Mark Bialkoski helping us out and providing a great outlook on recruiting. Bialkoski has been on a college staff for the last 8 year, doing everything from video, to dobo, to assistant. In this series he will go through what coaches look for, from players, in specific positions. Today he talks about guards. Tomorrow Wings. Friday Posts. This is GREAT, must read, insight.
Playing in front of college coaches for a prospective student-athlete is about building your basketball resume. Within every action, every play, every communication on the court (verbal and non-verbal) coaches are forming their own personal opinion of your personal basketball resume. How does your resume read, what are your individual pros and cons, what makes you a college player' Knowing what coaches are looking for and what they hold valuable can be the key to transforming your personal basketball resume to read what you would like it to.
The two most important skills you can possess to promote your resume regardless of position or skill level are the ability play with a high motor and having positive body language. Yes, I said SKILLS. This is an important part of every basketball resume. How hard do they play, is he a competitor, what is his willingness to get on the floor, does he generate tips, deflections, energy. Your non-verbal communication is vital. Are they coachable, how do they handle the refs, handle winning, losing, what type of body language do they project to their coaches and teammates. These are all SKILLS any player can consistently display to college coaches that will enrich their resume.
Below is a breakdown of individual player attributes that coaches are steadily evaluating to form their opinion on your basketball resume. Use these as a guideline to enhance your resume and figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are.
GUARDS
Transition
- Can they start the break
- Do they get the ball ahead early in transition putting immediate pressure on the Defense
- Can they get to the rim and finish with athleticism
- Do they have a tendency to bring the ball up the same side every time or do they “slice” the court making the defense shift in transition
- Do they make the right decisions effectively in 4 on 3, 3 on 2, & 2 on 1 situations
Half Court
- Communication skills – echoing the coach both within the play and during deadballs
- How do they read ballscreens & are they multidimensional off of them
- Do they need a ballscreen to get into the paint
- Can they handle the ball in traffic, with pressure, and can they get open with pressure off of the ball
- Passing ability – makes the extra pass on the perimeter, accuracy, make a post entry
- Can he play under control and under two feet at a frenetic pace
- Are they better shooting off of the dribble or the catch' Can they do both' Can they shoot off of screens (Flares, pin downs, staggers)'
- How many dribbles do they need to get to the rim
- Are they primary ball handed dominant
- Do they prefer the ball in their hands in late game situations or are they passive
- Do they have more than one speed with the ball
Defensively
- Can they move laterally quick enough to stay in front of the ball
- Are they under control on their closeouts
- Do they contest shots
- Can they defend the ball full court – turning the ball handler
- Can they make plays off of the ball
- Are they in a stance away from the ball – talking, communicating, pointing
- How do they defend a ballscreen – do they “die” on a screen or fight to get back in front
- Do they get involved with the Bigs to rebound
This is just a snapshot of what college coaches are evaluating when deciding whether or not a player has their type of “DNA” for their program. Take this as a guide to help your game and develop a basketball resume that is deserving off a college scholarship.