How do they contact you? 
How do they get your attention?
How do they sell their school to you? 
How do they get you on campus?
How do they get you to commit? 

They know what you are looking for from them.  But do you know what coaches are looking for when it comes to recruiting you? 

Basics like great athletic ability, competitiveness, skills,  academic abilities, a commitment to training and a number of other things are something every coach looks for in a prospect.  But there are some other factors that they look for.  These factors can set one recruit apart from another, and possibly be a big difference when it comes to who gets an offer and who doesn’t.

What are some of those “other factors” that may get coaches really interested in a prospect? 

Contacting the coach first and telling them that you are interested in their program. 
It's great when a coach comes after you and expresses interest in you as an athlete.  On the other hand, coaches are waiting to see who is really interested in their program and wants to be there.  Coaches will  spend time with  athletes they know they have a good shot at getting, and if you are the one who goes out of your way to let that coach know that you are ready to listen and have a strong interest in their program, it will help get their attention.

Taking a campus visit at your expense. 
This is different than an “official visit” where a school pays for travel to a campus to visit the school.  There are limits to how many and when those types of visits may occur. Many schools don’t have the budget to bring in everybody they want to recruit. You need to determine what kind of budget you have to visit schools, then schedule a time to visit the coach and take part in their tour.  This kind of commitment on your part shows a coach that you are serious about what their program has to offer.  Plus, you will get a good look at the campus, coach and program to see if it really is a place you want to be for the next four or five years.

Open-up, call and really talk to a coach. 
One of the frustrations that coaches have when they contact athletes is how little information they get from the prospect they are recruiting.  If you are shy, or nervous about speaking with a coach remember that they want to talk to you! There are many limitations on phone calls from coaches to you but you may call almost anytime. Make sure that you engage in conversation with the coach who is calling you and do a good job of verbal communication. You may really make an impression with that coach.

Getting a coach everything they need to evaluate you. 
Fill out the questionnaire and return it.  Send them your transcripts when they ask for it.  Take the ACT/SAT tests early and forward the scores to the coaches who are interested in you.  If they ask for game film, get it to them, immediately.  Do all of this right away when they request it.  If you don't respond, they either think you are not interested or not disciplined enough to take care of business. Nothing frustrates a coach more than waiting for materials they need from a recruit, and nothing harms their chances more than waiting to get back to the coach.  You may be busy, but we’re talking about your chance to play college basketball and possibly having part or all of your college education paid for.  Isn’t that worth taking ten minutes and filling out the prospect questionnaire you just got in the mail from a college?

Not making it all about the money.  Every recruit and their parents want a free college education.  When it happens, it’s great.  The reality is, however, that most college athletes don't get “full ride” scholarships.  When you start talking to a coach, understand this:  They KNOW you want as much money as possible.  If it were up to them, they would have the budgets to give every one of their recruits all the money they needed for college.  Many programs need to split scholarship money between athletes, or have their first year players walk-on and earn money in future years. Athletes and parents that focus solely on the money when talking to the coach end up hurting themselves much of the time. The coach gets frustrated,athletes and parents get hurt, and nobody wins. If you understand the realities of college recruiting, and are willing to listen to a coach even if they aren’t able to offer you a full ride, then you’ve just put yourself ahead of other prospects who may have unrealistic expectations about the recruiting process.

Be open to every college’s offer.  You have your favorite “dream” schools that you hope will notice, recruit you and make you an offer.  If that happens,great!  But in the meantime, make sure you consider every school that contacts you, no matter how large or small or level of play that they are. Let schools contact and recruit you.  Stay open to what they have to say. Sometimes schools aren't as expensive as you may think or have been told.  Oftentimes, there are some hidden gems out there when it comes to colleges and athletic programs, you need to do yourself a favor and take the time to communicate with them and see if they might be the best fit for you academically and athletically.  A lower level school can be better academically and competitively than a higher level school.

Bottom Line.
Stay open minded and be proactive while being recruited.  Make sure you return calls and get information to the coaches when asked.  Consider all offers, don't limit yourself.  When in doubt, do what you would do in a game, believe in yourself, work harder, stay focused and don't let anything keep you from succeeding.