Site-specific editorial/photos ©2009 SWFL Hoops, Inc. All rights reserved. This website is an unofficial and independently operated source of news and information not affiliated with any school or team. Terms and Conditions Myspace Facebook YouTube Advertise with Us Contact Us About Us
For those of you who have noticed the new banner at the top of the website these days, well, we would like to introduce you to Custom College Recruiting, LLC. SWFL Hoops' newest partner, is a college recruiting assistance service that will allow us to more directly help local players garner national college recruiting opportunities.
Since the start of SWFLHoops.com back in February of 2007, we have taken pride in the information we have collected and posted in hopes of increasing the excitement around the Southwest Florida boy's high school basketball scene. The layout has improved, the information has been organized allowing for the site to be easier to navigate, and the updates/coverage in general has expanded and will continue to into the future. The other mission of the website was to do what we can to increase the exposure of basketball in this part of Florida, which would in turn hopefully increase some opportunities for local student-athletes to play on the collegiate level. We have indeed seen evidence that the latter goal has been partially achieved to this point. We have spoken to a bunch of college assistants and head coaches at every level that made reference to having looked at the site, or that have said they try and check out the site on a regular basis. However, there are over 2300 colleges in the United States and the network of coaches we have encountered simply does not put a dent in that total.
This is where the partnership with Custom College Recruiting comes in. In the past, SWFL Hoops owner/founder Aaron Seybert had never really believed in the so-called "recruiting assistance programs" for two main reasons, the affordability and people behind them. "I had heard about companies out there helping with recruiting and saw what they were trying to accomplish, however, the cost for a player, or parent more specifically, was just unreasonable and unaffordable to the typical family," said Seybert. "The cost for some programs that have representatives working with prospects on a one-on-one basis is up around $3500-4500 per year in some cases. I was raised in a single parent home and if I had wanted to get help, there would have been no way we could have afforded anywhere near those amounts for something that can never be guaranteed, so where would that have left me? Whereas CCR is an affordable investment that makes it possible for any prospect, wealthy or not as wealthy, to get help in possibly finding some basketball money to help with college."
In addition to that, the representatives for a lot of the larger national companies out there, can usually sign up online without any extensive sport specific knowledge or contacts being a necessity. This was another area that made Seybert weary of promoting these services to local athletes. "CCR's approach to finding quality individuals who had extensive basketball backgrounds and/or networks personally really caught my attention. The ability for a company to be able to send out information to hundreds of schools, while also being able to follow it up with phone calls and emails to coaches within their large network, increases the chances that information will be given a real look exponentially," said Seybert.
There is no doubt SWFL Hoops has increased the awareness to basketball in the area, and indirectly been able to help some players increase their opportunities. However, the partnership between CCR and SWFL Hoops will allow us to have a more direct affect on helping local guys play at the college level.
Introducing Custom College Recruiting:
Custom College Recruiting is a company that will provide valuable services that have never been offered to young basketball players. CEO/Founder Shane Howard has organized an unparalleled network of coaches from all levels including high school, AAU and every level of college. He continues to add coaches daily.
The organization will reach out to high school kids that do not fall in the elite 150-250 players in the nation. These kids will be provided with a customized recruiting process that will give them valuable exposure to college coaches and hands-on assistance with the entire recruiting process.
Some benefits that prospective recruits will earn through Custom College Recruiting include:
- Professional assistance with college eligibility status, including help with ACT/SAT requirements, GPA information and proper completion of FAFSA documentation
- Assistance will make the college decision-making process less stressful for the athlete and the athlete’s family
- Weekly compilation of high school stats that will forwarded to prospective coaches during the high school season
- Easy forwarding of player highlight tapes to coaches
- Quarterly updates on academic progress will be discussed with players, families and coaches
- All recruiting visits and information about workouts/tryouts will be given to players
- Direct feedback from coaches will be provided
Custom College Recruiting is a service that will not only benefit potential student athletes, but also college coaches and recruiters. There are several convenient advantages that coaches can utilize through using the company:
- Provides information on players that coaching staffs may have no knowledge of
- Decrease the recruiting “leg work” that every coaching staff faces when searching for possible student athletes
- Information, including demographics, contact information, statistics and player updates will be readily available and easily obtained by coaches
- No expenses for coaching staffs to participate
- All coaches in the network will be invited to attend all Custom College Recruiting exposure events free of charge and will be provided with discounted lodging
Howard’s business is a one-of-a-kind venture that truly services both sides of the recruiting coin. Custom College Recruiting will be a revolutionary benefit to both players and coaches. Most importantly, it will be a positive endeavor for the game of basketball. Shane Howard is giving back to the sport he loves.
Who is Shane Howard?
Shane is a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and his basketball career started at Bowling Green High School, where tradition and success in sports rivals that of any high school across the nation. At Bowling Green High School KY, he played under KHSAA Hall of Fame Coach Ernie Simpson in a system that centered on the idea of “team” basketball. Simpson taught his players to work hard and focus on the team and everything else will follow.
During his years as a Bowling Green Purple, Shane was greatly affected by basketball. He came to the high school team from a less-than-fortunate background, like many of today’s high school athletes. He attributes his drive and motivation in life today to the staff and faculty at BGHS, who pushed him with compassion.
“They never gave up on me and always pushed me. We don’t realize it when we are going through it, but for that, I owe a lot to them and the school,” says Howard.
As a Purple, Shane realized the fruits of playing basketball, such as being a part of a team and how it bonds you into strong relationships with your teammates. Howard and five other teammates were in the same graduating class at BGHS and to this day they remain very close.
“Yeah, those guys are my brothers. We have been together through life and basketball. I’ll always love those guys and it’s amazing how close we are after all these years. I would not be where I am today or whom I am today without basketball or those guys that I played and graduated with and the teachers and staff that never gave up on me,” Shane states.
His foundation in Bowling Green leaves Howard feeling as if he owes the game.
He admits, “I feel that I owe more than I can ever give the game of basketball.”
Fast forward to the summer of 2009:
Having coached in high school and also coaching and recruiting in college, Shane observed a need amongst high school athletes around the country. He made the observation that the athletes outside the top 150 elite players in the country have very little assistance in the process of getting into college. In fact, he noted that the large majority of kids are limited in even getting their names out to prospective schools.
“I recognized that there is such a need not only to help the kids get known, but also to help educate that level of athlete and their families on the process and opportunities that are available to them,” Howard explains.
Having witnessed this need and knowing numerous college, high school and AAU coaches nationwide; his motivation exploded and now Shane Howard intends to give back to the sport that he owes so much to.
So if you are interested in receiving more information on how CCR can customize the recruiting process for you, and help you get the college looks you feel that you deserve, email us at SWFLHoops@gmail.com and for more information right now visit CustomCollegeRecruiting.com or click the link at the top of the page!
New Partnership Can Open Up New Opportunities for Local Athletes
SWFLHoops.com
January 12, 2010
 | ||||
