Friday Filmroom: How to Edit a Highlight Tape

Use Promo Code DURENPGH25 to sign up for our upcoming camps! <a href="https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/e/1584/register/oklahoma-freshman-showcase">The Freshman Showcase on September 6th.</a> <a href="https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/e/1659/register/the-expo-oklahoma">Or The Expo for 2026, 2027 and 2028 prospects on September 13th.</a>   This article has the usual catch up with prospects via recent highlights. This edition also includes a "how to" section on the way to make a highlight tape most effective. No, I'm not doing a breakdown on using Adboe Premier, iMovie, Final Cut or other editing software. There's plenty of youtube videos that help with the technical side of editing. I want to give feedback on which clips to use, how to order them, and more.   Along with the writing for PGHOklahoma, I also film, edit and post highlights for my own video service, OKHoopsVideo. You can find it on Twitter and Instagram. While the Instagram videos are more of the "hype" variety, the Twitter/X videos are formatted and targeted with the idea of promoting prospects to college coaches. I have 15 years of experience in creating highlights, and along the way my work has helped quite a few prospects.   Here's three key things to keep in mind when putting together a prospect highlight tape.   Best Foot Forward   Think of it from the point of view of a college coach, they're likely seeing dozens of highlights on the timeline, in emails, etc. If the tape opens with a basic layup, or wide open three, does it stand out and make the coach want to continue watching? Open with a tough And 1 finish. Maybe a picket pocket steal and score. Or a deep off the dribble three. It's even possible that it could be a great assist if the prospect is a point guard. The goal is to grab a coach's attention with a key aspect of a prospect's game. First impressions matter. Don't rely on a college coach making it 97 seconds into the video to see the clutch "And 1" finish that tied up the game in the final minute.   Have Themes   Group similar plays together. Known for shooting abilities? Make sure to have stretches of the highlights that have back to back to back threes made. Point guards should have stretches of highlight tapes making great passes/assists. I'm not talking about simple ball reversals. Use on the money transition passes. Pocket passes on drives. Tough kick outs to open shooters. Reinforce the aspect of a prospect's playing style that will appeal to college coaches. The same grouping of plays concept can also apply to defensive plays. Drives to the rims. Putbacks for a forward. Etc.   Keep it Clean   The clean aspect can be used to describe multiple aspects of the video. There's the obvious one, use clean lyrics if picking out music for the highlight tape. But also don't let the tape be filled with filler. What's filler? Simple layups or open buckets at the rim. Don't use them, or at the least not at the start of a tape. Even free throws can slow down the flow of a tape. If including them at least 2x speed the clips. Or leave them out, because an interested coach can always pull up FT stats. The final keep it clean aspect is the length of the clips. Don't start a clip too early, or let it linger on too late after a play has ended. Again this is a timing aspect, most coaches aren't likely to spend more a couple minutes watching a tape. So there doesn't need to be a bunch of downtime, or they could get bored and move onto to the next highlight tape in the inbox.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/OKHoopsReport/status/1940513460418396437 </div></figure>   Here's a recent example of my work, featuring Kingfisher Class of 2028 standout, [player_tooltip player_id='1111400' first='Ela' last='Hartman']. Her game is a versatile one, which is fitting for this demo. The first clip is a nice in and out move, then strong finish at the rim. The tape then moves on to highlight made jumpers and a couple defensive plays. Which shows off her long wingspan and ability to make an impact on defense with it. Closing out with more scoring, the video aims to provides a great description of her game. And hopefully makes a college coach want to keep tabs on her going forward.     <a href="https://x.com/AliyahDuval/status/1948433905243054591">Social Media Highlights</a>   Duval has been known for her defensive capabilities. While this highlight tape fully showcases her offensive capabilities. She's a handful off the bounce with a good crossover and deceptive headfakes. Sets herself up to get paint touches where she scores herself. Or highlights her unselfish and smart passing. Duval looks strong headed into her senior season, where Choctaw is expected to bounce back with a hungry crew around one of the 405's best guards.     <a href="https://x.com/lyric_harding/status/1948366432850301001">Social Media Highlights</a>   A rising sophomore, who is looking for a bigger role this winter at Purcell. Based on her play from July, there seems to be two clear avenues for her to make an impact. Shooting and being in the right spots on defense. Good form from three, which incudes being ready to catch the ball and quickly get into her smooth, high point releasing shooting form. Has a floater game to accompany her floor stretching abilities. Often in the right place, right time on defense. Playing the passing lanes and all around hustle.     <a href="https://x.com/AzariahWoodruff/status/1946255648246599859">Social Media Highlights</a>   Woodruff always excites with her quickness and bucket getting ways. But based on these clips, she's also taking pride on defense and getting after it on both ends of the court. Even at the 17U level, she's tough to keep out the lane. With graceful footwork and good handles. Woodruff recently picked up an offer from ORU and is set up for a huge season for the defending Class 4A champs, LCS.     <a href="https://x.com/abednar223/status/1946063120436260922">Social Media Highlights</a>   Do it all guard with strong positional size. Knocks down open threes, while also confidently attacking close outs and converting in the inbetween spots on the court. Also pops up in the mid-range and gaps against zone defense. Rebounded well in the clips for a guard, making contested "give me that" rebounds on the offensive end. Bednar is a prospect that has been undercovered on the site, but this footage points to a potential junior year breakout for powerhouse program, Edmond North.     <a href="https://x.com/JYDBasketball/status/1947859613300461616">Social Media Highlights</a>   Inhofe's 2028 squad was one of the best in not only Oklahoma, but regionally. Her "3 and D" attributes were a key part of their success. And the consistent three point shooting, steals and great defensive positioning are the key parts of her highlights. Also does some damage off the bounce, with strong takes. So expect her all around scoring to grow. But hitting perimeter shots and making plays on defense are always a ticket to the next level.

Use Promo Code DURENPGH25 to sign up for our upcoming camps! The Freshman Showcase on September 6th. Or The Expo for 2026, 2027 and 2028 prospects on September 13th.