When going through your recruiting process, you should always consider what roster spots are going to be open to figure out when you would play, how much you would play, and if you could make an impact on the team.
As an athlete, you might come in thinking that you should start playing right off the bat. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. In the bigger schools, there are several athletes for each position. Some schools heavily recruit posts, whereas other teams are very guard-heavy. If you are a good shooter and the team you want to play for is all about shooting, there will be about three to four people on the team playing your position. Be cautious of those types of situations because even though you may be heavily recruited, you likely won't get as much playing time.
Related: What's One Thing You Wish You Knew Before Playing a College Sport?
Why do I need to roster stalk? As a recruit, you cannot allow yourself to go through the process blindfolded. Coaches will make promises about playing time, but a quick glance at the roster could tell you whether they're bluffing. If there are already multiple athletes playing your position, and none of them are graduating soon, there is a good chance you will be benched your first season. Roster-stalking can also tell you whether there is a spot for you on the team, or if you're wasting your time.
As you begin to take visits to colleges and universities, you need to have questions prepared to evaluate the roster.
Key Questions to Effectively Roster Stalk
1. How many spots are you trying to fill for my class?
2. How many recruits are vying for this position?
3. At this time, where do I fit on your recruiting board?
4. How many players are currently playing the same position as myself?
5. Are any of the players in my position graduating this year?
6. Would I only be playing my position, or would you be using me in other positions?
By asking questions, you will learn a lot about a coach and how he runs his team. The things that are important to you as a player needs to be apparent to every coach actively recruiting you. If you can't get clear answers from a coach and their staff when asking these questions, it probably is not the best school for you.
Related: 37 Questions to Ask College Coaches Before You Commit
Check the stats from the previous year, what year the athletes are, and how many years of eligibility they have left. You also have to know the terms of athletes because they can be confusing. If an athlete is true to their classification, they will have freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior. If they have more eligibility, the word “redshirt” will pop up.
Checking the stats of the current players on the team is essential. If there is an athlete on that team who has averaged anywhere from 15-20 minutes a game and about five points per game, coaches will not be too thrilled with those stats. They are looking for that player to be doing more for the team, and if a player did not live up to the coach's expectations, then that could be a seat for you. So, keep track of players.
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* Originally published on January 7, 2022, by Destiny Washington
