Recruiting isn't just for coaches and players anymore

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WPSD Sports

Story Created: Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:02 PM

Story Updated: Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:50 PM

The NIKE Peach Jam is part of the vital July recruiting period for college basketball coaches. In July, there are three five-day segments spread out over three weeks where coaches are going all over the country trying to see as many recruits as possible.  But it's not just coaches who are watching the recruits.

Evan Daniels is the national recruiting analyst for Scout.com.  He logs thousand of miles every year going to watch high school kids -- evaluating them, ranking them -- basically just following them through their recruiting process.  It's something most fans can't do, but they will pay for his information.  The thirst for that information is at an all-time high, and Daniels says it's just getting bigger.

"Basketball and sports are a big business," Daniels said. "The fans care -- they want to know. These events seem to be more attended every year.  Now there are a handful of networks that cover recruiting full-time and the business just seems to get bigger."

Between the Internet and social media, if you want it, all kinds of information on recruits is available.  Murray State coach Steve Prohm says the Internet has really changed the landscape of recruiting because hidden gems don't really exist anymore.

"When I was first getting into it, you'd go to a kid's high school and watch him work out," Prohm said. "Maybe two or three schools would know about him and that's it.  Now it's different.  It's hard to recruit.  Whether you're at Duke, Carolina or Murray State -- it's tough to get good players.  We've got to be persistent and do a good job."

Prohm is basically working 18 hour days this week. Aside from the Peach Jam, there are two other high school tournaments just down the road which is giving him the chance to spend time at all three.

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