How many Division-One Traits do you have?

I see hundreds of games yearly and evaluate mostly the West Coast but see a lot of the rest of the country as well. 

The last 2 summers I had the pleasure of going to England for the London Showcase (That is run by a former 30+ year college coach named Joe Callero). 

He put together a week-long event that has USA HS players competing versus some top high school players from Great Britain. 

I watched Uriah Tenette (formerly of Prescott HS and now a freshman at New Mexico) last year and Rider Portela (a 6-foot five senior shooting guard at Sunnyslope HS with 20 D1 offers) this year. 

Both guards will be playing Division-one basketball and possess uncoachable skills.  

It is harder and harder to get recruited by Division-one programs now with the portal, so what makes you stand out? 

Colleges rather take a 20+ year old with some college experience (even though he may have only averaged 4ppg over taking a chance on a 18-year old who may or may not be productive in their minds.)

What are some separators? 

We all can’t be six-foot three point guards or six-foot six shooting guards with six-foot nine wingspans but a 5-foot ten Uriah Tenette is playing in the Mountain West and he is not overly long BUT he has some traits you can’t teach. 

Coach Callero always talked about uncoachable traits that he looked for in a guard. (He was recently at D1 Cal Poly from 2009-2019). 

So it had me thinking what are some of the uncoachable skills or traits that a college coach looks for in a future Division-one guard.

• Number one unfortunately is size. Not every player has this one and you have it or you do not. Colleges covet the bigger guards like LaMelo Ball at six-foot seven but it is not only deciding factor.
• Number two is athleticism. Tenette was reportedly measured at New Mexico with a 48-inch vertical leap (which broke all their records). Not many will have that but if you are even 30+ inches, that is something a college coach will notice.
• Number three is speed. Mason Magee, Tenette, Miles Sadler and Delton Prescott III are recent ones that all stand out. All are 6’0 and under players with breakneck speed to seemingly just blow by their defenders at will. 
• Number four is skill. It is not uncoachable but the ones with more skill from all levels with get noticed immediately. You can definitely improve as you age but if you have picture perfect textbook form on your jumper, it will take you a long way and they’ll notice. Bruce Branch III and Cameron Williams recent ascensions can go back to their polished skills they have.
• Number five is a motor/competitiveness. Rider Portela is the poster child for this trait. He has the speed, athleticism and skill but he keeps his motor high throughout a game which usually leads to steals, out of area rebounds and any 50/50 loose ball. 
• Number five is IQ for the game. It seems like a basic thing but you can tell immediately the ones that just know how to play and think from the neck up. The 3-time state champ from Valley Christian HS Colby Jessup has one of the higher IQ’s out there. He processes information about as well as you can and will regurgitate it quickly to his teammates.
• Number six is pace that a player players at. John Mattingly (Central) is a perfect example of this one. He may not jump out of the gym or blow by you with track-like speed yet beats you with the pace he plays at. He changes speeds constantly to keep defenses off balance and has that calming feeling when the ball is in his hands.  
• Number seven is wingspan. This is another trait that you have it or you do not. The plus wingspan prospects usually use it for defenses purposes and get in the passing lanes more often then some others. Bruce Branch III, Cody Williams both have immense wingspans to give them an immense advantage over their competition. 
• Number eight is defense. Obviously having a big wingspan with speed and athleticism combined with a motor may lead you to becoming a top end defender like Portela. He closes out quickly and cuts off his opponents from getting past him. Some others are amazing on the ball with next level lateral quickness, quick feet and hands like Magee or Micah Andrews of Deer Valley.   
• Number nine is court vision. This skill you can improve over time but the natural ones just seem to make those needle threaders like it is a basic wide open layup. Their timing and precision are flawless and are always leading their teammates perfectly in stride. Miles Sadler, Mason Magee and Delton Prescott III standout.   
• Number ten is range. This one in my opinion is very important. I remember many players who did not have the elite size, length and athleticism but they shot it with real college range already in HS and that is one skill that will definitely translate in college. Dre Marin of Apollo was a perfect example of this. He played 4 years at Southern Utah and he was not the biggest and most impressive physically but shot it was volleyball line range.
• Number 11 is quickness. The quick twitch, first step type of players stand out often. The ability to dust a player in their tracks with that initial first step translates in college. One of the best first steps I’ve seen in the last 4 years in the West was Donovan Dent. Who is now heading to UCLA. Another skill that is uncoachable.   
• Number 12 is toughness. It is not something you really teach but it is amazing how many college coaches ask me if a kid is tough. It is usually height, skill and then sometimes how tough is he? 
  

Not many guards in HS have all 12 of these traits, but the more of them you can check off, the more likely you will get noticed by a college coach to earn that all-important scholarship offer.