Episode Details

🏀 Kevin Clifford’s 6 Rules of Recruiting | Significant Recruiting Ep. 179 

On Part II of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Matt Rogers is joined by Kevin Clifford to break down the realities of college basketball recruiting, NCAA Division II athletics, scholarships, player development, and what recruits and families truly need to understand during the recruiting process.

Coach Clifford shares honest insight from years of coaching and rebuilding collegiate programs, including leading Roberts Wesleyan University to its first NCAA Division II Tournament Sweet 16 appearance.

Topics include:

•  What college coaches really evaluate 
•  NCAA Division II vs Division I vs Division III 
•  Scholarship realities 
•  Leadership and culture 
•  Mental health and player support 
•  What recruits misunderstand about recruiting 
•  The importance of fit over labels 
•  How families should approach the recruiting process 
•  Player development in today’s game 

If you’re a recruit, parent, coach, or athletic director, this episode provides outstanding perspective on navigating modern college athletics.

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Suggested Chapters

00:00 Introduction
 01:45 What Coaches Really Look For in Recruits
 06:20 NCAA D1 vs D2 vs D3 Basketball
 11:15 Scholarship Realities Explained
 16:10 Recruiting Mistakes Families Make
 21:30 Player Development in College Basketball
 26:00 Mental Health & Athlete Support
 31:40 Why Fit Matters More Than Labels
 36:10 Leadership & Team Culture
 41:00 Final Recruiting Advice

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Significant Recruiting Resources — Take the guesswork out of college recruiting with Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes, sport-specific Recruit’s Journals, and the Significant Recruiting Launchpad. Practical tools to help families research schools, stay organized, and build a smarter recruiting strategy. Learn more at CoachMattRogers.com.

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Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
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Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
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🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
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🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
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⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
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