On March 12, the NCAA decided to cancel all remaining winter and spring championship tournaments. The news came from an announcement on the official NCAA website, which reads: “This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.”
In past seasons the Geneseo women’s basketball team has made it well into the NCAA Tournament, meaning that their season began in early November and games were played into early March. Unfortunately, this season the Knights fell short by one game and did not get a chance to prove themselves past the regular season—causing their season to end before March. While the NCAA championship cancellations did not affect the team, this meant a head start on recruiting for head coach Alyssa Polosky.
In response to COVID-19, the NCAA’s Division I recruitment rules and regulations were slightly altered. Most of the altered or new rules involve the integration of video chat and other virtual modes to enable communication between coaches and recruits. The NCAA did not, however, alter recruiting rules at the Division III level—other than a prohibition against on-campus visits. So, how has Coach Polosky changed her approach to recruiting through all the mayhem?
“Yes, I have been recruiting since the quarantining occurred,” Polosky said. “Typically March is a busy time for recruits to be on campus and meet with me, so we have missed out on those opportunities this year.”
Recruited junior and senior high school athletes usually visit campus for either a day or overnight visit. A typical recruiting visit for the women’s basketball team usually involves a general meeting with Coach Polosky, a tour of the campus, lunch with three or four of the girls on the team and an overnight stay in one of the player’s dorm. This is a largely impactful part of the decision-making process for most athletes.
Freshman guard Taylor Hansen spoke about her own recruiting experience, which lends
context to how these changes may affect prospective players’ decision-making processes. “The on-campus visit was easily the most important part of my recruiting experience and was the reason I decided to come to Geneseo,” Hansen said. “More than anything else, I loved the people I met at Geneseo on my overnight and it made my college decision easy once I stepped on campus. Just as it was the reason I came to Geneseo, my on-campus visit was also the reason I didn’t go to other schools that I was sure I would love.”
For Hansen, seeing the campus and meeting the team in person is what ultimately landed her in a Geneseo uniform. This sentiment is shared by many Geneseo students and athletes alike
Polosky has continued her recruiting efforts despite the changes. “I have still been reaching out to recruits via phone and text to chat about Geneseo and the women’s basketball program,” she said. “I have also utilized the new YouVisit feature within our Admission Department to show what campus is like. It is not the same as being here, but it does give a tour and show off our facilities.” The link to the YouVisit feature can be found on the Geneseo website, on the admissions page.
A large amount of recruiting happens during the month of April at hundreds of countrywide Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) tournaments. With these events being canceled, coaches—Polosky included—have been forced to see athletes play in other ways. “I have been utilizing game film sent to me to try and evaluate athletes. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we can do for right now,” she said.
For players like junior forward Kerrin Montgomery, AAU tournaments served as a pivotal moment for college recruiting. “[Polosky] came to many of my AAU tournaments,” she said. “I had never heard of Geneseo, so I would never have sent anything to initiate the process. I am so grateful that [Polosky] was persistent in emailing and sending letters to my house.”
AAU tournaments were a valuable resource for coaches and players alike, so the cancellation has forced both players and coaches to less conventional means of attracting attention.
Coach Polosky plans to do everything in her power to best market Geneseo and her women’s basketball program to young athletes looking to continue their basketball career in college. With limited resources and options, the recruiting process has been both unusual and difficult but it is nothing the Geneseo women’s basketball staff can’t handle as they persevere and look to build in order to play into March next season.