I can tell you in five minutes whether your child is recruitable. Not whether they'll get an offer — that takes real evaluation — but whether any coach will be interested enough to learn more.

This isn't about being harsh. It's about being honest. In 2026, information is everywhere. Coaches can watch film online, check stats, verify academics, and see competition levels. Five minutes of research tells them everything they need to know to decide if it's worth their time to dig deeper.

## What Shows Up in Five Minutes

The baseline questions coaches ask: - Can they play at the level they're targeting? - Do their numbers make sense for that level? - Do they look like a college player on film? - Are they competing against legitimate competition?

These aren't trick questions — they're minimum qualifications.

## The Exposure Myth

Most families think recruiting is about exposure. They believe their child needs to be seen by the right person at the right time. While connections and timing matter, they're not your primary barrier.

The real barriers are: - Skill deficiencies that show up on film - Competition levels that don't translate - Physical tools that aren't college-ready

These problems can't be fixed with better exposure. They require actual development.

## What This Means for Your Family

The five-minute test isn't the end of your recruiting journey — it's the beginning of honest evaluation. Instead of chasing camps and showcases, first address what would make those opportunities matter.

**If your child passes the five-minute test:** Now the question is what level are we talking about? This is where the real evaluation begins.

**If they don't pass yet:** Identify the specific gaps and create a development plan to close them.

## How We Handle This at Hoops College

We start every recruiting consultation with an honest five-minute evaluation. Not to discourage families, but to create a clear development path. We've seen too many players spend years chasing exposure when they should have spent months fixing fundamental issues.

Our approach: 1. Honest assessment of current recruiting position 2. Identification of specific development needs 3. Structured plan to address those needs 4. Strategic exposure when the player is ready

## The Bottom Line

Most families spend years chasing exposure when they should spend months fixing the things that would make exposure matter. The five-minute test shows you where you actually stand and what you actually need to work on.

It cuts through all the noise and gets to the real work.

**Ready for an honest evaluation?** Our recruiting consultations start with the five-minute test and create a clear path forward. We'll tell you exactly where your child stands and what needs to happen next.

Because if a college coach spent five minutes researching your child right now, they should want to spend five more.

Aram writes about basketball, teaching, and standards at aramparunak.com. The essays are the long version of what we believe.

Five Minutes Is All It Takes — Your Kid's Recruiting Reality Check