Fall recruiting calendar proposed in men’s basketball

The Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee proposed a temporary fall recruiting calendar on Monday.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recruiting in the sport was disrupted. To adjust in these unprecedented times, the National Association of Basketball Coaches collaborated with stakeholders throughout the sport to establish a plan that was endorsed by the oversight committee. The Division I Council, which meets Wednesday, must approve the proposal.

Under the recommendation, a quiet period would continue for most of August, which would allow only in-person recruiting contacts the school’s campus (recruiting visits). No in-person, off-campus contacts or evaluations may occur.

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Teams would be allowed to send two coaches to NCAA non-scholastic certified events Aug. 15-16. This will be dependent on whether these events can be held due to local, state public health directives in a specific area. These events are typically conducted in April and July.

Teams would also be allowed to send two coaches to NCAA scholastic certified events on Aug. 22-23; again, contingent on whether these events can be conducted due to local and state public health directives in a specific area. These events are like current certified events that typically occur the last two weekends in June.

Most of September will be a recruiting period where countable coaches may make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.

This will occur on non-holiday weekdays before school and after school until 9 p.m. and Sept. 13 and 27 (Sundays from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.). Evaluations will be permitted at:

• Regularly scheduled high school, prep school, two-year college contests and practices.
• Regular scholastic activities including only prospects enrolled at school where regular scholastic activities occur.
• Open gyms that include prospects from multiple high schools; and
• Fall leagues.

The exceptions will be an evaluation period Sept. 5-7 for non-scholastic NCAA certified events, and Sept. 19-20 for scholastic NCAA or two-year college certified events. Only two members of the coaching staff will be allowed on the road.

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Sept. 12 and Sept. 26 will be quiet days due to standardized testing dates.

The 130 recruiting-person day limit, and the limit of seven recruiting contacts and evaluations a coach can have per prospect during the academic year, would begin Oct. 1.

With the recruiting schedule being modified, another part of the proposal calls for a non-coaching staff member be designated to participate in on-court activities with the current roster of players, including coaching and off-campus visits.

The entire temporary fall recruiting package was developed within NABC 2020 Recruiting Calendar Principles including:

• Health, safety and well-being of all stakeholders is central priority.
• Provide scholarship and participation opportunities to prospects.
• Care for current student-athletes.
• No missed class time for prospects.
• Fiscal responsibility.