September 29, 2006
What do scouts look for? Basketball insider speaks
Carl Foster is in his second decade with the Slam N Jam Youth Basketball organization, currently serving as co-director. He is also involved with the Attles School of Basketball focusing on individual player and group skill instruction. These bonafides credential him as someone well worth listening to regarding just about anything or anyone in the world of basketball.
Yes, opinions are a dime a dozen and everyone has them. However, informed opinion and judgment that has been borne out are entirely different matters. That’s why we approached Carl Foster--his insight and his experience, plus his ability to envision and project set him apart from others who jabber away but say little.
Fasten your seat belt because here we go with Foster responding to various questions and subjects we put to him:
On Wendell McKines: "Wendell is not a one trick pony such as just a shooter, he’s a hybrid who can post up inside, rebound, screen, play 15-18 feet from the basket...Wendell wants to be a performer, it’s in his DNA...he’s a power wing similar to Houston’s Chuck Hayes (Modesto Christian High and Kentucky, ranked #2 in the NBA in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes (6.0) and #3 in the NBA in rebounds per 48 minutes (16.1) in 2005-2006) and no one can tell me that Wendell can&rsquot do the same in college...he has the best motor in Northern California and he wants to be so much better than anyone else...he needs to keep working on his technical skills so that they equal his physical skills...college coaches want recruits who can play good defense plus do one other thing pretty well and then the player needs to expand his offensive arsenal each year, Wendell brings that... Charles Barkley became an NBA all-star primarily because he could score around the basket and he worked for rebounding position---Wendell will be one of the better guys in the country as a freshman doing these things...if he goes to a high major such as a team in the Big East, the Big 10 or the SEC, then he’ll be a contributor...if he goes to a high mid-major, he’ll be a performer, a go-to guy."
On Eli Holman: "Eli will immediately be whisked into the pressure of big-time basketball at Indiana and pressure either causes an explosion or purification...let me say this, the naysayers will be in for a big surprise...Eli will be playing basketball and making money for a long time."
On the difference between vision and sight: "The average person or fan is not exposed to or aware of the reality of college basketball recruiting...college coaches are looking at kids and estimating what they will be in two or three years from now--not the present...scouting and recruiting requires seeing past what is in front of you...ask yourself if this is a kid with the right components...many saw Eli Holman when he was 6-4, gangly, a bit clumsy and couldn’t do anything with his right hand but failed to project a kid with large hands and feet who could really move around...to develop the talent to visualize a player’s future requires the ability to suspend reasoning and substituting your imagination...of course, this projection requires growth, passion and development on the part of the player."
On what college coaches are looking for: "The number one misnomer is that it’s how good someone plays defense. That’s nice but coaches are looking at how you can effect a game...they can teach defense but can’t make someone become a good penetrator or long distance shooter or shotlbocker...college coaches don&rquo;t care what position you play in high school--they can picture whether or not there is a position for you on their team...they want to see how a player’s skills makes him unique because they can design things to play to strengths...their job is to get you better for the system they use, which also means they don’ care what system you play in high school...guess what position Dwyane Wade played in high school?--(we guessed power forward)--No, he played center in high school and look at where he is playing in the pros."
On the debate about which is easier--teaching basketball skills or physical skills (as one school of thought is that kids, at some age, tune out coaches when it comes to basketball skill development but always want to better their physical prowess): "Physical skills have to be innate and can be nurtured...they can’ be created out of nothing...remove Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain from the running and name the five best players ever in the NBA--(we responded with Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Jerry West)--all of your choices had incredible fundamental basketball skills and were not physical freaks. Also, it is much more likely that a player will flame out early if he relies more heavily on his physical than his basketball skills."
His advice to kids and parents: "Players and parents should look at coaches and schools to see what the type of play is that’s being featured and how such matches up with the kid’s skill set...does a school usually have lowpost bigs?...is the point guard someone who manages the game or is more of a penetrator and creator?...are hybrid players who move around featured?...it’s important to find a good match because a coach won’t redesign his style of play just for you."
General advice to high school stars: "It all depends on what you want...if you want to be one of the players positioned 6th to 12th on the roster, then go to the highest level team recruiting you...you should go one level below that of a Top 20 to Top 50 team if you want to be an outstanding player...college coaches don’t care about which AAU or high school team you are on, they want to see you operate against the best talent...college coaches care about their players if they benefit them...you need to be of immediate value...it’s a business and coaches have to manage their present entity to success or else...coaches don’t have time to stay in touch once you depart from the program...I don’t care about a coach who has a 0% graduation rate because getting a degree is up to the kid and his parents, it’s the player’s responsibility to go to class and graduate...most players look to see if a program has been winning league and going to the tournament but they should also determine how they’ll fit into the style of play and at the social environment of the college and at the academics of the school."
One last thing Foster offered: "The Slam N Jam organization will help any Northern California kid get recruited...we let college recruiters know about any player...I will tell them about any kid who does the things they are looking for rather than one of our kids who doesn’t do those things...I had a coach in my office today and I discussed with him a kid who doesn’t play for us because that kid fits their needs."