Recruiting Period Begins
Monday, September 9th marks the beginning of the Recruiting Period according to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Recruiting Calendar, and that means that “open gym season” has officially begun around the country.
While open gyms are typically associated with prep schools, they are really the only means a division I college coach has of seeing any prospect in New England, regardless of whether they compete in the public schools or the prep schools.
Unlike other state associations like New York and New Jersey, none of the six New England states permit their high school coaches from working with or coaching their players in the off-season, which means the only format which meets both NCAA and state association regulations is an “open gym” or pick-up games organized by the players themselves.
Prep school open gyms may be more organized, but they’re often very similar in nature. While those settings are far from ideal for college coaches to evaluate talent, they still come filing into New England every fall.
This year isn’t expected to be any different, with a talented returning nucleus around the region as well as a series of new talent about to enter the prep ranks.
The New England Recruiting Report will be making our annual trek throughout the circuit, previewing the top programs in prep school basketball with our Prep Profile Series, before circling back to preview the six state associations prior to the start of their season.
We got an early glimpse at the defending National Prep Champions, Northfield Mount Hermon, last week and will travel to Brewster Academy for the first day of the recruiting period on Monday. Stay tuned to the New England Recruiting Report in the coming weeks for those Prep Profiles or follow us on twitter at @NERRHoops for more immediate coverage.