Can I Use X (formerly Twitter) to Get Recruited to Play College Basketball?

As you are aware, the X social media platform is very popular amongst college basketball coaches and players alike. Almost every basketball (you included I bet) has an X (formerly twiter) account. College basketball coaches are fans of X because it allows them to easily promote their basketball program and speak with fellow college coaches and players. Let’s take a deeper look into X as a recruiting tool to see if it is effective and something that you should continue to dedicate time to.

WHAT DOES X (FORMERLY TWITTER) DO FOR BASKETBALL PLAYERS?

X allows you to increase your visibility as a basketball player. You do this by making your online presence known through posting videos, pictures and interacting with posts. X makes it quick and easy to make direct connections with college coaches and other people which has made it very popular in the world of basketball.

CAN COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACHES FIND ME ON X (FORMERLY TWITTER)?

Yes, it is quite easy for college coaches to find you on X, especially if you are active and posting about yourself. This is also within their recruiting rules too, so college coaches are allowed to speak with you and, recruit you via twitter as long as it is within their allowed contact periods on the NCAA recruitment calendar.

A coach who is interested in you will most likely follow you back on X. This way they can gather more information on you and evaluate any film you put up and the nature of your character (which is another very important aspect to college coaches when recruiting a player.)

TIP: Make sure your X posts are focused on getting you recruited. Think to yourself “will this post enhance my chances of getting recruited?” if yes, then post! if not, then delete.

If a college coach follows you on X (formerly twitter) you should follow them back, regardless of the division or level. This is a good sign that the coach may be interested in recruiting you. You should keep yourself open to all options and possibilities. Also, you can shoot them a message to let them know that you appreciate them following you and you are interested in opening up communication with them.

IF A COLLEGE COACH FOLLOWS ME ON X (FORMERLY TWITTER) DOES THAT MEAN I’M BEING RECRUITED?

Yes, this is one of the reasons a college basketball coach will follow you. They are not in the business of wasting their time so when a college coach decides to follow you it is typically because they have an interest in you. They will follow you so that they can keep tabs on what you are doing both in terms of your basketball career and personal life to see if you are a player of high standing characteristics or are there are some red flags …

NOTE: Be aware of the time a college coach starts to follow you. One reason they could be following is because they are hosting a basketball camp and want to promote this to as many new basketball players as possible. 

If a college coach who follows you on X sends you a direct message (DM) first, this is a very good indication that he wants to recruit you. If a college coach responds to a direct message that you sent first with some enthusiasm and detail, this is also a good sign of being recruited. Remember, college coaches can only contact you during contact periods so don’t worry if you send a message and a coach hasn’t replied, just check the recruitment calendar HERE to see when these dates are.

TIP: Make sure your DM’s are open so coaches can contact you. You can check this in your X account settings. Make sure your account is able to receive DM’s from people who are not following you. You will find this in the Privacy and Content section. 

WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE MY X (FORMERLY TWITTER) PROFILE MORE NOTICEABLE TO COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACHES?

The first thing you can do is be active on X. By this, we mean you should be posting daily. The type of posts you should be making should be things like: your game highlights, pictures/videos of your training etc. Anything that promotes your seriousness about getting recruited to play college basketball. You should view your X (formerly twitter) profile as your basketball resume.

Here are some simple but effective tips to help give your X profile a boost!

• Use a real photo of you in your basketball uniform – this shows you are a serious player
• Use your real full name (no nicknames) – you want coaches to be able to find you easily
• Your X handle should be easily searchable (example: @JoeBloggs2024)
• In your bio include: Position, height, weight, class, GPA, high school/club team
• Make sure location is correct and coaches can see where you’re at
• Pin at the top of your X profile, your highlight video and contact information so college coaches don’t have to scroll down your wall to find it

HOW MUCH PERSONAL INFORMATION SHOULD I PUT ON MY X (FORMERLY TWITTER) PROFILE FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACHES?

You should always use you real name for your X profile and X handle. If you are trying to get recruited you need to make it very easy for college coaches to type your name in and find you.  If your name is a popular name, you can add your middle name/initial (if you have one), or your jersey number, or your position to your handle to make you stand out more.

In regards to your profile picture, try and pick a picture that’s going to catch their eye. It needs to be a sharp, clear picture. If you have a bright colored jersey or something like this, it is a good idea to use that picture as it will be attention grabbing and memorable as you want to be as recognizable as possible. Maximum online exposure is all about setting yourself apart from the rest and making yourself easy to find. It is advisable to avoid any social-outing pictures with friends and family as this type of profile picture will just have your X profile get lost in the mix.

Other personal information you should have available on your X account is your position. If you play more than one position, put your primary position first followed by the other positions. Your class year is an important piece of information that college coaches want to know too, as this will help them figure out when and how they will communicate with you as a potential recruit.  If you have strong GPA/test scores you should include these on your X profile. Additionally, if you play for a club team include the name of the team you play for.  College coaches want to know this because it gives them more information about you as a player in terms of your level. Always include your height and weight and other stats that you think will make you stand out from other recruits (Examples: max reps, wingspan, achievements, awards etc.

WHAT ARE GOOD POSTS TO POST ON X (FORMERLY TWITTER) FOR COLLEGE PROSPECTS?

It is very important to be aware that college coaches will see and read all your posts! They do this to determine if you are a potential recruit or not. With this in mind you should always think about what you’re going to post or re-post before you do so.

Examples of good posts are as follows:

• Your recent basketball highlights & profile info
• Clips from games and tournaments
• Your basketball game schedule
• Comments, quotes or pictures from basketball tournaments
• Comments, quotes or pictures from basketball camps/clinics
• Video or pictures of you training/practicing/skills work
• Information about any college campus visits both official and unofficial
• Basketball accomplishments and achievements
• Any athletic or academic offers made to you by college coaches
• Support for your teammates and coaches (high school/club/academy)
• What majors you’re interested in
• How you want to be as a college basketball player and your aspirations

WHAT ARE CONSIDERED BAD POSTS ON X (FORMERLY TWITTER) FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL PROSPECTS?

A bad post would be something that could potentially harm your chances of becoming a recruit. It is best to avoid posting such posts. Your X profile should be a good representation of you as a player, your interests and your goals. It should be something that you would be happy for anyone to look at.

Here are some examples of the type of posts basketball recruits should avoid:

• Inappropriate comments
• Retweeting inappropriate videos
• Retweeting inappropriate pictures
• Retweeting inappropriate comments
• Posting too much about other things and not focusing on basketball

WHO SHOULD BASKETBALL COLLEGE PROSPECTS FOLLOW ON X (FORMERLY TWITTER)?

You should know that college coaches will be paying attention to who you follow. Why do they do this? They do this to get an idea of what your interests are and see which other college coaches might already be following and recruiting you.

TIP: Make sure you follow accounts that show your dedication to your sport, your education, your success, your team and the communities you are involved in.

People to follow on X should include current basketball coaches at schools you are interested in, retired college coaches who offer good advise on getting becoming a great college basketball player, other players, teammates, anything educational or motivational and specific to your college, education and life goals.

Another way to grab a college coach’s attention is to tag them into your posts. It is advisable to only do this a few times to see if it generates a response from the coach (sometimes a private DM might be better!). Tagging a college coach is a good idea when you come across their twitter account but is private and you want to make contact or, if you want to congratulate them on a recent win or promotion.

CONCLUSION

X (formerly twitter) is great for following schools you are interested in and contacting college coaches to see if their program is a program you’d be interested in playing for. X can be a useful tool to get you on the radar of college coaches who are recruiting basketball players as it provides useful information about you that coaches want to know. However, you are selling yourself short if you just rely on X to get yourself recruited. You still need to be more specific in your recruitment strategy and should know which college coaches are recruiting your position specifically. You will not find this information by just following and being followed by college coaches. To find college coaches recruiting your position now you can use this website, just CLICK HERE and get yourself recruited to college.