Every October, the same scene plays out in our gym: sixty nervous athletes, three coaches with clipboards, and ninety minutes that decide the winter squads. After fifteen seasons of running tryouts, we can tell you the secret nobody believes — the roster is rarely decided by who scores the most.
Coaches grade defense first. Closeouts, box-outs, and communication are visible on every single possession, and they tell us more about a player than any crossover. In the two weeks before tryouts, trade half your shooting routine for defensive slides, closeout-to-contest reps, and loud, early calls.
Sleep and fuel beat extra reps
The night before, put the ball down. Tired legs make tryouts feel like a verdict instead of an opportunity. Eat a real dinner, sleep eight hours, and arrive forty-five minutes early to shoot around while the gym is still quiet — familiarity kills nerves.
During drills, do the unglamorous things at full speed. Sprint the floor in transition lines. High-five the player you just guarded. Ask a question when a drill confuses you. Every coach on our staff would rather teach skills to a relentless competitor than manage the minutes of a disengaged talent.
And if you miss the cut? Come see us anyway. Our development squads practice twice a week with the same staff, and last season eleven players played their way from development ball onto varsity rosters by January.