How does the college recruiting process work for basketball?

I'm a junior in high school and play basketball. I'm curious about how the recruiting process works for basketball players. What steps should I be taking now to get noticed by college coaches? Any advice would be appreciated!

In the world of college basketball recruitment, the process can start as early as middle school, and becomes more intensive during high school, particularly in your junior and senior years. Here's a general breakdown of the process and some steps you should start taking as a high school junior.

1. Increase Visibility: The first step is to make sure you're seen. This can occur during high school games, AAU tournaments, or basketball camps. These events are often attended by college scouts and coaches. Aim to participate in premier basketball tournaments and reputable basketball camps to increase your exposure.

2. Contacting Coaches: Proactively reach out to college coaches. This can include sending them an introductory email with your highlights, stats, academic achievements, and tournament schedule. Also, make sure your high school and AAU coaches can effectively advocate for you. Keep in mind that college coaches can't reply to your emails until June 15 after your sophomore year.

3. Academics Matter: Maintain a strong GPA and adequate standardized test scores (if the school you’re targeting still considers them). Being an athlete doesn't exclude you from meeting the academic requirements set by the college or university.

4. Highlight Reel: Develop a highlight reel showcasing your skills and game performance. This reel should be readily shareable by email or social media. You can also upload it to a recruiting profile on a site like SportsRecruits.

5. Campus Visits and Official Offers: For top-tier athletes, coaches may extend an invitation to an official campus visit (which they fund), but it's also acceptable to make unofficial visits (which you fund). A verbal scholarship offer can be extended anytime, but a written offer with the official scholarship amount cannot be extended until your senior year.

6. The Commitment: Once you've received an offer you’re happy with, you may verbally commit to the school. Signing the National Letter of Intent (NLI) makes your commitment official and binding. The early signing period typically takes place in November and the regular signing period in April.

Note that the recruiting timeline can vary greatly depending on the player's skill and the division level of the colleges. Also, remember to be proactive and dedicated throughout this process, just as you are on the court.