STARS is showing why stats are crucial in club basketball for coaches, player development, and recruiting.
Over the past few years, stats have taken center court in basketball. Whether you’re making a case for who’s the G.O.A.T. or talking about whether to hedge and recover versus a straight switch on defense–you'd better consult the numbers first.
But club basketball has been hesitant to adopt stats outside of the box score. Data isn’t as practical in club and AAU circuits as it is in high school.
Instead of scouting teams and personnel, club hoopers focus on getting their numbers up. Looking good in the box score is key. Players want to show up and show out at high-profile tournaments to catch a recruiter’s attention.
Yet even in recruiting, advanced stats like effective field goal percentage and plus-minus matter – maybe now more than ever.
STARS Basketball Club values having the numbers to back up their game with Hudl Assist. Not just to aid in recruiting, but so coaches can quickly prioritize drills for practice as well as to prime player development.
Today you can do so much more with the analytics and statistics.
Ted Quinn, STARS Basketball Director of Player Development
The Preferred Coaching Tool
Tony McLeod is a coach as well as the Director of the High School Girls' Program at STARS Basketball Club. He also coaches at a nearby high school. It’s no secret that Hudl is more prevalent in high school hoops, but McLeod has found data to be a driver of success at both of his programs.
He was particularly excited for STARS to invest in Hudl and Hudl Assist because of how these solutions would impact his coaching routine as well as help his players in recruiting.
“I would say the two things that got me excited the most with using Hudl for club: number one, and the most important thing in my opinion, is helping our girls get to college and play college, it helps so much with recruiting,” McLeod said. “And second, to get those stats from Hudl Assist."
Hudl Assist delivers more than just a box score. Each game is broken down with full team and player stats. The reports show standard measurements like points, rebounds and assist as well as more comprehensive data points like plus-minus for lineups and VPS (the value point system)
A standard Hudl report shown broken down game-by-game.
With these numbers, coaches can click any stat to see every individual clip or play in seconds.
STARS Director of Player Development Ted Quinn said that having stats linked to video is a massive time saver. And for coaches, time is the most precious resource.
“I can do so much more in much less time,” Quinn said. “You know, it's not even a fair example anymore because we don't have the old ways of breaking down film. But, today you can do so much more, especially with the analytics and statistics.”
Typically, data is used in scouting reports to highlight opposing personnel. But in club basketball, you might not know who you’re playing until an hour (or less) before tip-off. So, if it’s not for scouting, where is the true value of stats for club coaches?
Data-Driven Player Development
Assistant Director at STARS Jason McGehee says that while the club may not use Hudl to scout opponents as high school teams do, video and data are critical for making adjustments with players to ensure they’re maximizing their potential with the club.
Aaron Morrison, the STARS Director of Leagues–Tournaments–Special Projects & the High School Boys' Program, says stats are a big piece of how he and his fellow coaches watch film. After reviewing the numbers, he has a more comprehensive view of performance as well as credibility with his players.
With objective data, coaches approach players with concrete information as well as confidence. Leading with data-driven feedback cuts through biases to focus everyone on maximizing development as well as time.
Superior Recruiting with Stats
After playing in tournaments, McLeod said more and more college coaches and recruiters will see a player and immediately ask for their percentages instead of their points per game.
“You'd be surprised how many [recruiters] ask me ‘Okay, what can you tell me about this kid? What's her three point percentage? What's her free throw percentage?” McLeod said. “But I also like to sneak in ‘Here's her offensive rebound percentage. She's taken seven charges.’ Just being able to pull up those things on the fly.”
Providing recruiters with insightful data points helps them evaluate quicker. Once they weigh what they see with the numbers say, college coaches hone in on players that fit their program’s needs.
Giving recruiters a direct line to STARS athletes’ stats and video–not just highlight reels, but full game film via Hudl–has tipped the scales in the recruiting process. STARS knows it has the resources that recruiters want.
And in club basketball, if you have the tools recruiters like, then you also have the tools that appeal to prospective athletes.
Providing Hudl to its players helps STARS attract top athletes in the area. Once they're on board with the club, the next step is using Hudl's tools to get players to the next level. STARS has proven this to be a recipe for success, as the program can boast over 70 athletes competing at the college level or professionally.
Whether for player development or in recruiting, STARS is paving the way for athletes to reach their full potential—and the next level—by providing solutions that rise to the occasion.
Hudl’s club-wide packages make it easy to equip every member of your organization with the best analysis and recruiting platform in basketball.
