Coaches go to top events just for that reason: to recruit by identification and evaluation.....there are alot of teams and they can see alot. Coaches throw out letters, videos and DVDs for the most part. They attend things based on their schedule and where they can get the most work done in a 3-day period, not by who writes them and what is most convenient/cost effect for the youth player/family.
You're right, you don't have to go to every top event but if your're the state's top club, recruit as much as CESA does and advertise all the things they do, then just going to 1 top event just isn't enough.
And you're right, you don't just show up. You prepare, work hard, train and then perform at the event....and perform well! It's a challenge and kids need to be up for it and sometimes encouraged by Mommy and Daddy to do so. Hard work for things, that parents can not control, is no longer in kids' minds.
Money is a big factor in college, no doubt. But look at it another way. Go to a few top events and, don't just show up but, actually play well and maybe scholarship money might come your way. You'll never know staying in SC and settling.
If all kids in SC want is a local school that's cheap, then I'm dead wrong on all this.
But I have a feeling that if parents and kids were educated early in the process and knew what was going on around the country to become a better player, while finding a good school, and all the opportunities that are out there, they wouldn't settle and would at least try to expand their horizons.
More so, there are kids in SC that want more and deserve it.
