If you are reading this you are probably just starting or, have been researching getting recruited to play NCAA college basketball. There is a lot of very good information out there to assist you on this journey. However, there is also a lot of specific terminology and phrases associated with the NCAA that might be confusing for you at times.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL OPENINGS
Here you can access the most up-to-date college basketball openings from college coaches looking for players to fill roster spots
Certain words, terms and phrases, you will come across quite frequently. To better understand what you are reading and to facilitate communication, you will need to know what they mean. No need to be concerned though – we have found the most common wording and phrases that you will come across when looking at NCAA schools. These explanations and descriptions should help you have a better understanding and give you more confidence when deciding which paths to take.
ADMISSIONS FOR NCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL PROSPECTS
What does “Celebratory standardized signing form” mean:
This is a form which is provided by the NCAA for the use by NCAA Division 3 schools. It is a non-obligatory basketball signing form. Basically, this form was established to celebrate the fact that you, the student athlete, has been accepted for enrollment at a NCAA Division 3 school and will be playing for their basketball team.
VISITS FOR NCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL PROSPECTS
What does “Official visit” mean:
An official visit means when the college or university you are considering attending, pays for any of the following: transportation to and from the college for you (up to 2 family members for Division 1 schools only), your accommodation and meals (Division 1 allows for up to three meals per day for you and up to four family members), reasonable entertainment expenses (including five tickets to a Division 1 or 2 home sports event).
But, before a NCAA Division 1 or 2 school can invite you on an official visit, you must provide the college or university with a copy of your high school transcript and register for a Certification account with the Eligibility Center.
REMEMBER: For Division 1 schools you cannot not make an official visit during a recruiting shutdown period or a dead period. For NCAA Division 2 schools you cannot make an official visit during a dead period only.
What does “Unofficial visit” mean:
An unofficial visit means any visit to the school by you and your family members to a college campus which is paid for by you or your family members.
NOTE: The only expense you are allowed to receive from the school are: three complimentary tickets to a Division 1 home athletics contest and/or, one meal on or off campus, and/or five complimentary admissions to a Division 2 home athletics contest. For Division 3 schools, you can receive one on campus meal, admission to a home athletics event for you and anyone who is accompanying you.
You can make as many unofficial visits as you like after the first allowed date in basketball. The only time you cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead period. Also, for Division 1 schools, you are not allowed to make an official visit during a recruiting shutdown period or a dead period. For a Division 2 school, you are not allowed to make an unofficial visit during a dead period.
RECRUITMENT FOR NCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL PROSPECTS
What does “Recruited” mean:
You are considered a recruit if you are contacted by a college coach, they contact you off campus and they then pay for your expenses to visit the campus, or if the D1 or D2 school issues you a National Letter of Intent or a written offer of financial aid, you are most definitely considered recruited.
What does “Recruiting calendar” mean:
NCAA schools do limit recruiting players to only certain periods during the year. These time-frames are referred to as the recruiting calendar. The reason for the recruiting calendar is to promote the well-being of student athletes and, to ensure fairness among schools when recruiting for potential student athletes to join their basketball team and attend the school.
What does “Recruiting shutdown” mean:
A recruiting shutdown is a period or zero recruiting. During a recruiting shutdown no contacts, evaluations, official or Division 1 unofficial visits, correspondence, making or receiving calls are allowed.
What does “Contact period” mean:
During a contact period, a college coach can have face-to-face contact with you or your family members. They can come and watch you compete in games. College coaches can also visit your high school and call or write to you or your family members.
What does “Dead period” mean:
During a dead period, a college coach cannot have any face-to-face contact with you or your family members. They cannot contact you on or off the college campus at all during a dead period. The coach can however, call or write to you or a family member(s) during this time.
What does “Quiet period” mean:
During this time, a college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your family members off the college’s campus. A coach may not watch you play or visit your high school during this period. You and your family members may visit a college campus during this time. A coach may call or write to you or your family members during this time.
What does “Evaluation” mean:
An evaluation is what occurs when a college coach comes to observe you at your high school basketball practice or, when you are competing in a basketball game.
What does “Evaluation period” mean:
During an evaluation period, a college coach can watch you compete. College coaches can visit your high school and call or write to you or your family members during an evaluation period too. However, a college coach cannot have face-to-face contact with you or your family members off their college’s campus during an evaluation period.
What does “Institutional request list” mean:
An Institutional Request List or IRL for short, is a list of student athletes who are of interest, to a NCAA Division 1 and/or NCAA Division 2 school who are interested in recruiting them. Potential college student athletes who are added to the IRL and then noted by the NCAA Eligibility Center. The NCAA Eligibility Center makes a note of all the school’s interest in having an academic and amateurism certification decision for the student athlete.
What does “Two-year college” mean:
A two year college is any school that lets its students earn an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science within two years. They are also referred to as community colleges or junior colleges by some.
FINANCES FOR NCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL PROSPECTS
What does “Financial aid (also called Scholarship)” mean in NCAA College Basketball:
Financial aid or scholarship is an amount of money you (the student athlete) receive from a college. You can also receive financial aid or scholarship from other sources such as outside loans or grants. When determining the amount to be given, financial aid is usually based on your athletic ability, financial need, scholarships available and/or academic achievement.
ELIGIBILITY AND PLAYING FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL PROSPECTS
What does “Five-year clock” mean:
If you play for a NCAA Division 1 school, you have five calendar years in which to play four seasons of competition. Your five-year clock starts when you enroll as a full-time student at any college (regardless of association or division). Once you have enrolled, even if you have to spend an academic year in residence or, decided to red-shirt or, attend college part time or, do not attend college at all for some time during your college career.
What does “Season of competition” mean:
A season of competition means regardless of the amount of time you played, during any competition season, it counts as you having played an entire season according to the NCAA rules. A season of competition starts when you spend one second in competition on the court. In NCAA Division 3 you also use a season of competition if you practice at any time after the first contest.
What does “Ten-semester/15-quarter clock” mean:
If you play for a NCAA Division 2 or 3 school you have the first 10 semesters (or 15 quarters) enrolled as a full-time student, to complete your four seasons of competition. You use a semester (or quarter) any time you attend class as a full-time student or, if you are enrolled part time and compete for the school. You do not use a term if you only attend part time with no competition or, are not enrolled for a term.
STUDENT ATHLETES – COLLEGE BASKETBALL
What does “Full-time student” mean:
Typically, you are a full-time student if you are enrolled for at least 12 credit hours in a term. However, each school determines what full-time status means to their institution. You can find some schools who define a full-time student as someone who takes less than 12 credit hours in a term.
What does “International student” mean:
An international student is any student who is enrolled in a secondary school outside the United States, U.S. territories or Canada (except Quebec).
What does “Official commitment” mean:
When you officially commit to attend a Division 1 or 2 school you typically sign a National Letter of Intent (NLT). Once you sign the NLT, you are agreeing and committing to attending that school for one academic year.
What does “Verbal commitment” mean:
A verbal commitment happens when you verbally agree to play basketball for a particular school before you sign or, are eligible to sign, a National Letter of Intent. But remember, the verbal commitment is not binding on you or the school.
What does “Walk-on” mean:
A Walk-on is a player who is not typically recruited by a school to participate for their basketball team. A Walk-on does not receive a scholarship from the school either. A walk-on becomes a member of the basketball team only. Playing time is not guaranteed.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL OPENINGS
Here you can access the most up-to-date college basketball openings from college coaches looking for players to fill roster spots
