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All the hard work put in by National Scouting Report scouts for many of their prospects comes to an end this week during the NCAA early signing period.
NSR scouts across America and abroad have anticipated this week for as long as four years. For others, it has been as little as a few months. But the feeling that NSR scouts get from seeing one of their prospects sign is always the same — a rush of emotions with which nothing else compares.
For Andrew Novelli, Chicagoland area director for six years, signing ceremonies never get old.
“There’s nothing quite like being invited to be there on their special day and know you were a part of it all,” Novelli said. “Seeing them sign that [National Letter of Intent] is a gratifying feeling, knowing all the hard work they put in has been rewarded and they earned it by taking control of their future!”
Lee Crane, a longtime NSR scout in North Alabama, has helped numerous prospects receive offers and has been to a number of signing ceremonies. Yet, he remains humble.
“I’m very happy for and proud of the athletes,” he said. “The signing ceremony isn’t about me. I stay in the background as much as possible.”
Mike Ewing will have his hands full this week with more than 30 prospects signing National Letters of Intent. As one of NSR’s most enduring scouts, he is well-known for guiding prospects and their parents through the recruiting process.
“The next week will be more hectic than usual as I will try to attend as many signings as possible,” he said. “Otherwise, nothing changes. I still have to keep working for my kids that aren’t signing this week.
“I really don’t know how many signings I’ll be able to attend at this point. Some are as far as four hours away and several are on the same days. Everyone knows I’ll do my best to attend.”
Ewing is on a mission.
“I really do love what I do,” he said. “This isn’t a job for me. I’m on a mission to help as many kids as I can. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t feel guilty for not doing more to help my own daughter get recruited. Unfortunately, I drank the Kool-Aid, the same Kool-Aid that is still being served to everyone else. I’ll have to live with that the rest of my life.
“I don’t want anyone else to ever have to feel that way. There is no better feeling than the feeling I get when I get the call, text, etc., from a prospect telling me that they got an offer or that they committed.”
Kari Chavez was an NCAA Division I coach before joining NSR’s team as an area director in Washington state. She said she gets every bit as excited as her committed prospects.
“Honestly, the excitement is always the same,” she said. “To go through a stressful process like this and end up on top at a school the athlete is excited about and to have the financial stress lifted from the families never gets old. It’s like living vicariously through these athletes over and over again.
“Receiving the phone call that they just committed to the actual signing day is amazing and I’m overjoyed for all my athletes. Even the ones that are offered a walk-on spot are just as excited. No matter if they receive money for four years or have to walk on and get money after a year or two, they still have to be recruited. So when an athlete has an opportunity to go to her dream school as a walk on, that is still just as exciting to me as an athlete receiving a full ride.”
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.
What was it that Curtis Hoyle commented on in Chicago to put on a shirt? Susan had a great phrase (one of many on the week)…anyone?