Scott Pera is the current Rice Men's Basketball Coach. He has worked his way up through the high school coach and college assistant coach ranks, and in doing so, has gained a nuanced perspective of the recruiting process. In his interview with 2aDays, Pera discusses his experience coaching in high school, the importance of fitting into the team, and how student-athletes can protect themselves from unfounded promises made by coaches.
Pera started out as a high school coach for Artesia HS. In his 6 years there, Pera coached future All-NBA athlete James Harden and Arizona State University assists and free throw record holder Derek Glasser. In seeing his athletes go through the recruiting process, Pera learned best practices for recruits.
“I had many athletes that were recruited. I got to see firsthand some things … that [were] a good way of doing it [and some that were not good]… I had the opportunity to make sure I tried to take the best [from the impressive recruiters].”
Related: The Recruiting Perspective from High School Basketball Coach, David Yates
In his role as a coach, Pera was frequently asked for advice.
“They'd come to me to vet some of [the coaches]: ‘Coach, do you think this guy's being honest? Coach, what do you think of this guy? Coach, do you know this person?'”
As he went on to coach on the collegiate level, Pera had more success recruiting because of his connections with high school coaches.
“I have great relationships with so many [high school] head coaches already because of my time as [one]. It's amazing how many high school coaches were happy for me to … become a college coach, because so many guys … aspire to do this.”
When evaluating prospects as a Division I Head Coach, the most important thing to Coach Pera both from a program and player perspective is fit.
“For us, it's got to be a fit … I tell the recruits and their families, it's not always about a fit on your side. It's a fit on both sides, or it's just not gonna work.”
Related: How to Find the Right Fit
From the perspective of the Rice program, the fit within existing team dynamics and within the academic culture are essential.
“I tell my guys all the time, especially the older players, if you feel this recruit is not somebody that would fit in with us, I don't care how good he is, I will stop recruiting him.”
Lastly, Pera advised student athletes to ask questions and think critically about the schools that are recruiting them. He encourages students to ask college coaches how they will develop as a player and person. In addition, athletes must watch out for any promises that coaches make during the recruiting process.
“If [coaches are] promising playing time, a starting role, a certain amount of shots… you got to be leery of that. Because I think that's really hard to do.”
Related: The Broken Promise from College Coaches
Over his years coaching and recruiting, Pera has become extraordinarily transparent with his recruits in order to foster a relationship and trust.
“I'm brutally honest [with recruits]. Because I think it's the only way for that relationship to have trust. But it's not always what they want to hear. The truth sometimes can be hard.”
Most of all, Coach Pera recommends that student-athletes be patient and find the right school, not just the first school.
Pera advises young athletes to recognize that recruiting is a process and “have a sense of patience to understand that everything doesn't [need to] happen immediately.
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* Originally published on February 28, 2022, by Chloe Singer
