Division I Box Is Hard To Fit Into

What’s the No. 1 downfall of college prospects? Thinking they are NCAA Division I talent.

National Scouting Report scouts watch athletes perform every day. We are looking for youngsters who have the ability to play at some college level and the grades and character to proudly represent the school that recruits them.

To verify that an athlete has what it takes, we interview him or her in their home with their parents. At some point during the interview, we ask the athlete at which college level they hope to play. The answer is often at a D-I school.

At that point, we explain what we call the “box.”

The “box” is a list of skills, talents and other qualities required by Division I programs. An athlete must fit inside the “box” to qualify at that level.

When the reality of their situation settles in, we can see their shock. Unfortunately, many high school athletes who are qualified to play NCAA D-II, D-III, NAIA or NJCAA athletics still believe they can play at the D-I level.

The allure of D-I athletics is understandable. We watch D-I athletes and teams on TV all the time. The other divisions are all but sideshows in comparison.

But once an athlete sets foot on the campus of a lower-division school on game day, he or she realizes the atmosphere is virtually the same as at D-I schools. The excitement is there. The fans are rabid. The alumni are supportive. The student section is crazy.

When you run onto the field or court and all those home fans are pulling for you, the size of the school doesn’t matter. The opponent still wants to beat you, and you want to show everybody you can win.

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