Hard Smart Together Chalk Talks

The Recruiting Process Has Changed When Should You Start Your Recruiting Process?

Download my free gift for High School Basketball Players - Intangibles Skills Checklist - http://www.hardsmarttogether.com/intangibles

As I talk with student-athletes about the recruiting process, a recurring question comes up from them and their family. When is the right time to start the recruiting process and start sending emails to coaches? Today I am going to share what I tell them.

If you think the recruiting process is you sitting back and opening a stack of letters or emails from coaches around the country, begging you to come play for them, you may find yourself disappointed. While that may be the experience of student-athletes who are at the top of their chosen sport, the majority of future college student-athletes are going to have to initiate and manage their own recruiting journey. So when do you start? And when do you send those introductory emails to coaches you are interested in maybe playing for?

Welcome back to Hard Smart Together! I’m Coach Dave, I’m here every week to help basketball players become the smart, confident players that coaches love.

Hope you enjoy!

Coach Dave

Website: https://www.hardsmarttogether.com

Game footage in this video is intended for critique and education.

When You're Behind At The End Of The Game On Defense How You Need To Play Defense

Download my free gift for High School Basketball Players - Intangibles Skills Checklist - http://www.hardsmarttogether.com/intangibles

A few weeks ago I did an episode on high basketball IQ strategies on offense, when you are down at the end of the game. Today I am going to share how you can change your defensive play to give your team a better chance at getting stops and winning the game.

You’re down at the end of the game and need the ball back to score and catch up. Now we aren’t talking about desperation, have to foul time. We are talking, not many possessions left and you need to make something happen on defense. As I mention, everytime we are talking strategy, a high IQ player always listens to what your coach instructs you to do. You first job is to execute their strategy. But you should also have situational awareness to avoid the mistakes made by so many average players.

Welcome back to Hard Smart Together! I’m Coach Dave, I’m here every week to help basketball players become the smart, confident players that coaches love.

Hope you enjoy!

Coach Dave

Student Athlete Mindset Do You as a HS Basketball Player Inspire Others?

Download my free gift for High School Basketball Players - Intangibles Skills Checklist - http://www.hardsmarttogether.com/intangibles

I love sports, all sports and I love following athletes and their stories. It’s typically the reason I follow certain teams. So as I was watching a show highlighting some of the athletes that are going to be in the upcoming Winter Olympics, it got me thinking about why people love sports so much and what HS basketball players can learn from the athletes we see on tv and inspire us.

Every athlete has a story, whether it’s Lindsey Vonn or Alysa Lui, Steph Curry it’s the stories that inspire us. Can you imagine watching just a bunch of nameless, faceless people that you know nothing about playing sports. You probably wouldn’t care to even watch. So what can you learn from these heroes that have made it to the pinnacle of their sports as a HS Basketball player? Plenty, here are 3 things that you can learn.

Welcome back to Hard Smart Together! I’m Coach Dave, I’m here every week to help basketball players become the smart, confident players that coaches love.

Hope you enjoy!

Coach Dave

Website: https://www.hardsmarttogether.com

Game footage in this video is intended for critique and education.

How To Stand Out To College Coaches With Your Basketball Recruiting Video

Download my free gift for High School Basketball Players - Intangibles Skills Checklist - http://www.hardsmarttogether.com/intangibles

If you’re a HS Basketball player that has hopes of playing in college. One of the most important components in your recruiting process is making a highlight video for college coaches. Today we are going to discuss some common mistakes most players make with their videos and how you can stand out from the crowd.

As a HS and College coach I have watched tons of recruiting highlight videos. Most of them are made from the perspective of a fan, not a coach. In the changing world of recruiting, a highlight video takes on a bigger responsibility than in ever has before. Let’s be honest, there are so many players out there that want to play in college, coaches have no way to know about them all and you can’t assume that any of the coaches that you may want to play for have any idea who you are. Coaches also want and need developed players, opting for transfers because there is more evidence of a player’s development. You have to stand out with your video!

Welcome back to Hard Smart Together! I’m Coach Dave, I’m here every week to help basketball players become the smart, confident players that coaches love.

Hope you enjoy!

Coach Dave

Website: https://www.hardsmarttogether.com

Game footage in this video is intended for critique and education.

Basketball Tip For When You’re Behind At The End Of The Game on Offense

Download my free gift for High School Basketball Players - Intangibles Skills Checklist - http://www.hardsmarttogether.com/intangibles

If you’re a HS Basketball player that wants to increase your basketball IQ, you need to study how to play in different game situations. Today I want to share what smart players can do in end of the game situations, when their team is behind and they need to score quickly on offense.

Have you found yourself down at the end of any games this season? Did you know what your best chance of scoring on offense was? As a high IQ basketball player, you should also know how what to do on offense in this situation as well, so today I am going to share the easiest way to score quickly and give your team a chance to win.

Welcome back to Hard Smart Together! I’m Coach Dave, I’m here every week to help basketball players become the smart, confident players that coaches love.

Hope you enjoy!

Coach Dave Website:

https://www.hardsmarttogether.com

Game footage in this video is intended for critique and education.

If You Are a HS Basketball Player Ask Yourself This Question Everyday!

Download my free gift for High School Basketball Players - Intangibles Skills Checklist - http://www.hardsmarttogether.com/intangibles

In an episode a few weeks ago we talked about the difference between contributing vs contaminating. Today I am going to share the simple question you should ask yourself everyday as a HS Basketball player that will keep you on the right side of that equation.

Just a quick review if you didn’t catch the episode a few weeks ago. There is an old saying, if you aren’t contributing, you are contaminating. That applies to everything you do with your basketball team. We talk in that episode about a few ways you could contribute, using your voice for a winning gym, helping your teammates get better and not being an energy vampire. Today I want to share how to make contributing a habit.

Welcome back to Hard Smart Together! I’m Coach Dave, I’m here every week to help basketball players become the smart, confident players that coaches love.

Hope you enjoy!

Coach Dave

Website: https://www.hardsmarttogether.com Game footage in this video is intended for critique and education.

What Are You Willing To Do For More Playing Time?

Download my free gift for High School Basketball Players - Intangibles Skills Checklist - http://www.hardsmarttogether.com/intangibles

We’re at the point in the season that rotations are pretty set and your playing time is probably fairly consistent. For a lot of you HS Basketball players out there, that may mean that you aren’t getting the PT that you feel you deserve or want. Maybe you only get a few minutes a half or maybe you only get in during a blowout. The question I have for you is, how much do you really want more playing time? If you do, I am going to share your chance to carve out more at this point in the season.

I know all the reasons, your coach plays favorites, you don’t get the opportunity to show what you can do, your teammate’s parents are involved, it’s unfair, blah, blah, blah… I doubt those are the reasons you aren’t getting more PT, but at the end of the day, does the reason really matter? You just want more time on the floor, so today I am going to share your best chance at more PT this season.

Welcome back to Hard Smart Together! I’m Coach Dave, I’m here every week to help basketball players become the smart, confident players that coaches love.

Hope you enjoy!

Coach Dave

Website: https://www.hardsmarttogether.com

Game footage in this video is intended for critique and education.

Student Athlete New Years Resolutions and 2026 Goal Setting

Download my free gift for High School Basketball Players - Intangibles Skills Checklist - http://www.hardsmarttogether.com/intangibles

It’s that time of year again, when we all reflect on our resolutions of last year and make new ones, As a Student -Athlete and HS Basketball player, your’s may have been about basketball, school or something else. But before you make this year’s resolutions, I want you to reflect on the last year.

Welcome back to Hard Smart Together! I’m Coach Dave, I’m here every week to help basketball players become the smart, confident players that coaches love.

Hope you enjoy!

Coach Dave

Website: https://www.hardsmarttogether.com

Game footage in this video is intended for critique and education.

How Your Approach as a Student Athlete Makes a Statement About You

Download my free gift for High School Basketball Players - Intangibles Skills Checklist - http://www.hardsmarttogether.com/intangibles

I watched the final game in a college football team’s season a couple of weeks ago and at the end of it I saw something that is a lesson for every HS student-athlete no matter what sport you play. It was a reminder of how important your approach to everything you do is and how you never know who’s watching.

Welcome back to Hard Smart Together! I’m Coach Dave, I’m here every week to help basketball players become the smart, confident players that coaches love.

Hope you enjoy!

Coach Dave

Website: https://www.hardsmarttogether.com

Game footage in this video is intended for critique and education.

3 Ways To Contribute To Your Basketball Team’s Success

Download my free gift for High School Basketball Players - Intangibles Skills Checklist - http://www.hardsmarttogether.com/intangibles

There is an old saying, if you aren’t contributing, you are contaminating. That applies to everything you do with your basketball team. Doing nothing, just showing up, blending in, going through the motions aren’t options if you want to contribute to your team’s success, so today I am going to share 3 ways you can contribute to your HS basketball team’s success!

Let’s be honest, I’m sure you went into the season with the best intentions, this was going to be the best season ever and you were going to be a major contributor. But as season’s progress it’s easy to become a contaminator vs a contributor to your team’s success. You don’t have to be a active contaminator but you can also just be a passive contaminator, by not contributing in some of the ways I’m going to share with you today. Because it’s not ok, to just go through the motions waiting for your turn.

Welcome back to Hard Smart Together! I’m Coach Dave, I’m here every week to help basketball players become the smart, confident players that coaches love.

Hope you enjoy!

Coach Dave Website:

https://www.hardsmarttogether.com

Game footage in this video is intended for critique and education.