From a Coach's Perspective: Things to Consider in the Recruitment of Players for Collegiate Basketball

One thing is certain: Collegiate basketball in the Philippines is engrossed among fans as evident by the growing popularity of the players and teams from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). And while collegiate basketball has been popular, one aspect of the college ball that makes it more exciting is the recruitment of future players while they are still in high school. And that's one of the main topics in last night's episode of "Bull By the Horn" by Benny Benitez.

Among the guests in last night's episode is returning De La Salle Green Archers Derrick Pumaren whom Benitez regarded as a coach who found success in every league that Pumaren has coached in. And coincidentally, La Salle is picked as one of the winners of this year's recruitment wars both from the UAAP and NCAA as the team from Taft Avenue is set to have Kevin Quiambao, as well as another pair of brothers in Michael and Benjamin Philips. Still, not everyone knows how a player is being recruited from high school. 

Speaking from a perspective as a coach, the man many refer to as "Manong" Derrick Pumaren said that having continuous working relations with fellow coaches not just in the country but, in other countries as well, plays a big role in the recruitment of talented basketball players in their respective areas as the said network of coaches or scouts is the one who recommends players to a coach such as Pumaren. For Pumaren, he is not the type of coach who would go on to YouTube and watch the highlights of a player who has been recommended to him. What he asks are game tapes of the players because according to the former coach of the now-defunct Sunkist team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the game tapes will show how a player actually plays the game and as Benitez said, "It's where the nuances and the behavior of a player can be seen". More importantly, Pumaren added that the game tapes can also show the attitude of the player who is being recommended to him as the coach also reiterated on the importance of a player's attitude in the recruitment process as Rick Olivares, who was also among the guests last night, said, Coach Jong Uichico once told a high school player that having a "good attitude will make you coachable especially in the PBA".

Another important factor in recruitment of a young gun from high school that Derrick Pumarem takes into consideration is whether or not that player will fit into the system that he plans to run for the Green Archers come Season 83 and that is something that Olivarez agreed in as recruitment is all about what you need for your team and that, what is good for your team. Ultimately, Olivares went on by saying that you would want to get that talented player for two good reasons: it will make your team stronger and, you will deny your opponents the opportunity to recruit him.

There are other things that should be looked into consideration before recruiting a high school player into the collegiate ranks as Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Region Seven Director Rico Navarro, another guest in last night's episode, said, "College basketball is a different level" Among the things that are needed to be looked out is the maturity level of a player especially those who are coming into Manila to determine whether or not they can survive in a big city. And while some high school big shots have been big shots in high school, the only way to see if the recruitment is indeed success is to see the player play an actual game in the preseason then, in the actual season. At the collegiate level. 

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