College Coaches Confidential: "Which coach do you fear the most on the recruiting trail?"

For the past two weekends, college basketball coaches were across the country, sitting courtside at various certified events and watching high school players. This weekend was the second of two July live evaluation periods where college coaches are allowed by the NCAA to attend pre-approved events to live-evaluate prospective recruits. 

The summer months carry eight of these opportunities, two three-day periods in April, two three-day periods in June, a four-day period in July, a two-day period in July, the NBPA Top 100 Camp in June, and the NCAA Academy in July. That is twenty-four total days; from March 29 through November 11, college coaches are able to sit courtside and live evaluate players. 

The April evaluation periods can be for evaluation purposes or at least for narrowing or organizing a list of potential recruits. Make no mistake, July is for closing. Coaches have to prioritize their time appropriately. Not only are these periods times for you to see the player but also for the player and all of his decision-makers to see you. 

In this College Coaches Confidential segment, I talked to high-major coaches across the college basketball landscape about…

Who, in your eyes, is the most feared recruiter on the trail? The guy you simply do not want to go head to head with?

Coaches talk

An SEC Coach: “Duke is a school that has really separated itself. Jon (Scheyer) has kept it going in a major way. If they offer and lock in, you can almost always waive the white flag.”

A Big 12 Coach: “Alvin Brooks (Baylor). He is thorough and makes deep, invested relationships. He doesn’t recruit guys he knows he can’t get.”

An SEC Coach: “Texas with Rodney Terry. He knows how to get it done. And Alabama, especially with the previous staff. (Bryan) Hodgson was an absolute shark, and (Antoine) Pettway was right there with him.

An ACC Coach: “Mike Jones at Maryland. He is super connected nationally and, especially, in the DMV area. He does a great job in his area. People respect him, and he has strong ties with USA Basketball.”

A former Big 12 Coach: “If Rick Stansbury (Memphis) is recruiting a kid, I’m not messing with it. Bryan Hodgson (former Alabama assistant, now Arkansas State head coach) is relentless, man. A new name on the trail, but he’s a shark. CY Young (Missouri) has been at it a long time. He has a track record of getting it done. I respect that.”

An ACC Coach: “Our biggest fights come against Bill Self (Kansas) and John Calipari (Kentucky). They have continued and sustained success.”

An ACC Coach: “Dennis Gates and CY Young at Missouri are both great relationship builders. They identify talent early and lock in from there.”

A Big Ten Coach: “We don’t want to go up against Duke or Kentucky for anyone.”

An ACC Coach: “Antonio Reynolds Dean at Georgia, has done a great job recruiting that state no matter where he’s been. Nothing happens in Georgia without him knowing.”

A former Pac-12 coach: “I don’t want to mess with state Schools with big NIL. Also, Tommy Lloyd (Arizona) and former UCLA assistant Imo Simovic with international prospects.