Rankings Updates and Evaluations Points to Know (Free)

A few months after Prep Girls Hoops Kansas launched January 1, 2019, I released an article detailing evaluation points that influence player rankings.  An update, discussing a few things that had been learned since the initial article, was later released the following September.  With the March rankings update in the rear view mirror and as summer club and basketball camp season start up it is a good time revisit what goes into rankings decisions. Rankings reflect where players are in their development.  In the end the rankings provide a picture of a player's potential to play college basketball and at what level. Below is a detailed look at considerations that shape decisions. #1. Diverse Range of Information Sources. While I build the Prep Girls Hoops Kansas player lists, information is drawn from a substantial number of sources. Conversations with high school, club, and collegiate coaches; reports and communications with other Prep Girls Hoops scouts including those that comment on players standing out in competitions located outside of Kansas; a variety of video and data resources; Sunflower Smack Show podcasts; evaluations and comments appearing on other sites and twitter feeds are among those prominent. As diverse as the information sources are, assembling the data into something representative of the player is a continuous challenge. #2. Recommendations, Nominations, Feedback. Receiving information from parents, other players, coaches, and etc is welcome.  I do not pretend to know a great deal about every single player. I also do not get to see every player play in person.  Players can be overlooked. Others can be inappropriately ranked. Moves into or out of the state commonly are not readily reflected. The nomination process does help to get players on the radar.  Of note, players that are known to have moved out of state are transferred to that state's internal player list. #3. Time Watching Games/Getting in the Gym.  I watch as much basketball as I can, which includes live-streamed contests broadcast by school-based programs, club hosted showcases, Open Spaces Sports, and other sources.  I also watch team and player highlights on Hudl.  Family commitments and the fact that this is not my full-time job make it difficult to travel several hours or stay overnight to take in events. During the high school season I primarily travel around the central region of the state. During the summer months I primarily target Wichita regional events, especially MAYB tournaments. With the launch of the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit I anticipate attending tournament events hosted in Kansas.  I also anticipate attending Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Exposure and other similar events. #4. Influence of Statistics. This list is about college potential but does factor in current performance. Statistics matter, more because they exist and are updated as opposed to seeing big numbers. Updated statistics reflect the work coaches, especially high school, put into helping their girls get attention. The numbers can reflect the caliber of competition the team is facing, which also contributes to college potential. #5. Information Beyond Statistics. All-state and all-league lists, club team rosters, box scores, articles in magazines and newspapers (and their sites), noise and information shared on Twitter (find me at @RobertPGHKansas), and statistical lists shared on other media like KC High School Hoops are sources.  I also communicate with coaches, referees, players, parents, and other media people as well.  Among the biggest reasons players are overlooked, under-ranked, or are only on an internal watch list is because not enough information is available.  Lack of complete rosters, including player height, have substantial impacts on awareness.  High school coaches not updating their team MaxPreps information does not help their players or scouts.  Club coaches who do not submit complete roster information to event coaches packets, Tournament Machine, and other sources does not help players or scouts.  There is no substitute for being in the gym.  It is the best way to gain a sense of body language, grit, and attitude. #6. Focus on the Details. Inevitably I look at players as if I am a coach and I am scouting an upcoming opponent by looking at details.  Those include specific aspects of ball handling skills; passing ability; half- and full-court vision; speed with and without the ball; quickness on both ends of the floor; rebounding and boxing out; foot work; ability to score including creating their own shot; leadership; toughness; competitiveness; being a team player; build and use of the body; creativity and athleticism; jumping skills and elevation; ball and court sense; playing style; and ball protection. #7. Areas of Improvement or Need to be Shown.  Focusing on the details also means being honest about them.  Notable weaknesses in a player's game and skills and abilities that need to be shown are documented.  As appropriate that information is shared in public facing reports. Clearly a substantial amount goes into identifying, considering a player for ranking, and ranking a player.  Volatility in a player's rank can happen because of new information.  Kids will change rapidly in physical and skill development.  Sometimes ability is altered by things out of their control.  Growing 4-6 inches, an injury, a player not playing for a year due to family reasons, lousy coaching, and illness are only a few of those.  Sometimes other players have just improved more.  Rankings are as fair as they can be made.