Understanding the Recruiting System: What Every Family Should Know
The truth is tough: the American basketball recruiting system is designed to serve the elite few, while most players risk being left behind. At PREP Athletics, I see families chasing scholarships and opportunities without fully understanding the systemic forces stacked against them. That’s why I sat down with filmmaker Mike Nicoll, director of At All Costs and The Spoils, to dig into how the system really works. His perspective is vital for families trying to navigate this complex world.
Grassroots basketball recruiting event at Mary Garber Arena, where players, coaches, and media connect within the complex recruiting system.
The System Serves the Few
Cory: “Now you’re a documentary filmmaker who’s been in the basketball arena with a couple of films. Tell me about your background and why you wanted to cover this world.”
Mike: “I’ve spent my entire life traveling through the American basketball system. From AAU at age 7, through high school, college, and then film school at USC. My first film, At All Costs, was acquired by Netflix. But The Spoils was the movie I always wanted to make—it’s the most complete testimony on how the American basketball system functions. We’re proud because it shows the reality of the game.”
The Business Behind the Game
Youth basketball players in training highlight the grassroots level where development begins, long before the recruiting system decides winners and losers.
Mike: “With At All Costs, I wanted to demonstrate how interconnected the system is. People like to think of the NBA, college, and AAU as separate. They’re not. They’re enmeshed, overlapping pieces. And the professionalization of this world starts at the grassroots level in profound ways. By the time guys step on a college campus, the business has already taken over.”
Cory: “Parents think AAU is where you go to get seen. But I went to Anaheim years ago—24 courts running, but college coaches were only at the main three. Families are spending thousands while no one watches court 23.”
Mike: “Exactly. The system is optimized for the 1%. Everyone else risks being left behind. And without honest understanding, families end up chasing things that don’t matter—wrong scholarships, wrong priorities—because the system has a way of deciding for you.”
A Compton Magic player prepares with teammates — a glimpse into grassroots basketball and the system shaping recruiting opportunities.
What Families Don’t Realize
Mike: “Education almost never comes up in these conversations. The shoe companies fund the system, and they have no incentive to educate kids. What gets baked in from age 8 to 18 is a single-dimensional identity: that your value comes only from basketball. That’s dangerous. NIL, mixtape culture, chasing social media followers—all of it distracts from development and the main thing: the game.”
Cory: “It’s easier said than done with how transactional everything has become. But to me, culture—like programs where kids don’t transfer out—might be a bigger recruiting draw now than money.”
Mike: “Absolutely. Families need rigorous honesty. Not just ambition. Do you really want minutes at Nevada, or do you just want to say you signed with Arizona? Most regrets come from chasing the wrong target. You need a North Star. Without it, you’re just reacting to shiny opportunities, and that’s how players and parents end up with regrets.”
Conclusion: Know the System, Protect Your Dream
Media team members at a grassroots basketball event, showcasing the role of coverage and culture in shaping the basketball recruiting system.
The American basketball recruiting system isn’t built to protect families—it’s built to serve business interests. As Mike Nicoll shares, only the top 1% thrive by default. For everyone else, success depends on honesty, education, and finding trusted advocates who can help you navigate the noise.
At PREP Athletics, we’ve guided families through this reality for years. If you want help understanding the system and finding the right path for your son, reach out. We’ll help you keep the main thing the main thing.
If you’re looking into prep school, reach out to us at PREP Athletics. We’re here to help you explore your potential and make choices that align with your athletic and academic future. We’ve also got a long list of resources to get you started in the right direction, so check out our latest prep basketball updates on YouTube or our podcast to dive deeper.