Been following you since your time in Tampa, and have always greatly admired your work. Congrats, and can’t wait to keep reading.

Today’s @mattbrown.bsky.social newsletter might be the clearest, most useful demonstration of the power dynamics in college basketball (and college sports in general) that I’ve ever seen. Schools in power conferences exclude everybody else, and then blame them for their own exclusion

It’s the movie airplane come to life, and you’re the only person on the planet who didn’t eat the fish. Now you have to land the plane. Good luck, we’re all counting on you.

Alright so here’s my deal. I was a D1 basketball coach until covid crashed my nervous system. I couldn’t get the proper healthcare or medication I needed to begin my recovery (I’m still currently disabled) because of the current limitations of the private healthcare system.

I didn’t say there were. But THIS specific billionaire happened to get and my community me access to medicine in a way that disrupted the insurance space and drastically improved my quality of life. And I don’t think i owe you an apology for that.

Hope it does in my life-time. In the meantime, thank you for CostPlus. You’ve kept me and many others in the longcovid community afloat while facing all sort of insurance denials and prior auths.

I’m legit using John Oliver’s piece about this from like 10 years ago in a sports and society course I’m teaching in the spring. Totally insane that this behavior isn’t illegal.

If you need an infusion of joy today: We installed a drum kit in the PTFO studio. And convinced the GOAT — Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, age 83 — to come play 🐐⤵️ youtu.be/vhdw6lWCb9Y?...

Fall AAU tryouts are here; and if you’re choosing a team based on name recognition, you’re already asking the wrong question. 🧵

My concern with your use of the word “control” is that it implies doctors in the US get to treat patients how they want, which is not the case with the current private insurance model.

Charlie Kirk called me a ‘lunatic’ and a ‘prostitute’ and demanded I be deported. Nothing, *nothing*, justifies killing him, or robbing his kids of their dad. We don’t know the identity or motive of the shooter but murder can *never* be the response to political disagreements.

You have put out the most reasonable series of takes I’ve seen on the topic. The internet is a silly place.

Everybody loves capitalism until the opposing team is willing to capitalism more than them.

It’s hard for me to pick the worst thing you can do as a recruit. But a recruit never exploring outside of their bubble is definitely up there. Do not make assumptions about what’s available. The country, and therefore the college basketball landscape is much more vast than you think it is.

@rileybreck.bsky.social the capturing and mixing of your hi-hat and snare on Gnash…holy smokes. Tell me your secrets and i’ll buy you a beer or something.

Your best game on paper isn’t always your best film. Now that AAU season is winding down, a lot of players are getting ready to send game film to college coaches. Before you send anything, know this:

The unholy amount of strength you have to have to push a ball opposite field that far. Holy smokes.

Going to start posting more regularly here. I’m off twitter, but also haven’t found the bball community here yet and lost a good sized following and most of my social media business leads as a result. If you like what you see here, please share and follow. Thanks, -Jared

Every coach wants their team to play their best basketball in late February and March. Last season, St. Francis actually did it. SFU won 5 of 7 to enter postseason play, then won 3 straight—each by just 3 points—to punch their first NCAA Tournament ticket in 34 years. 1/5

They named a brewery after you as a consolation prize though. How many athletes can say that?

The first time I ever saw a basketball crowd cheer for an offensive rebound was at a Knicks game as a kid in the mid 90s.

MSG tonight is going to be 19,000 hyenas mid-way through Scar’s “let’s take this s*** over” monologue. Casual fans have no clue what they’re about to see.

“Recruitment isn’t made, it’s stolen.” There’s only one way under-the-radar recruits get noticed, they steal attention. The secret, according to men’s basketball scout Jon Soch, is that there is no secret: deliver against the best competition and the best coaches will notice. 1/2

Even with all the key makes, Jalen Brunson has two critical ASSISTS for made 3s that give the Knicks the lead late. His most significant growth is that he remains a point guard in clutch moments.

Mistakes are going to happen every game. The question is: How are you going you respond? Coach Kristen Tullo shares believes the best athletes aren’t always the most skilled. They’re the most resilient; and it’s why they bounce back from mistakes rather than spiral downward.

I sincerely wonder if the authors of this piece have ever spoken to a women in America about anything, ever.

Who knew that Roger Clemens at a steroid trial would inspire the defense of our nation’s leaders…

If you’re a forward who is bored by fundamentals, college ball is going to be a struggle for you. The best forwards master the basics before anything else. College coaches are evaluating your ability to: 💪 Sprint the floor, seal hard, and create easy buckets in transition. 1/3

Even the great slashers aren’t elite at everything—but they can CONSISTENTLY threaten defenses at every level. Your job is to make every defensive decision the wrong decision. 🔥They sag off you to play the drive, you shoot over them. 1/4

“Shooters shoot” right? It’s a cliché because it’s true. But college coaches aren’t just looking for someone who wants to shoot the ball. They’re evaluating how you work for it. 🏀 You can’t hesitate, especially if you’re open. Confidence is non-negotiable. 1/3

Myth: College coaches just stumble onto recruits at AAU events. Reality: They follow strict recruiting itineraries — and if you’re not on their list, they probably won’t see you play. 1/2

One of the most common questions I’m asked by parents is how I will leverage my network to help their kid get recruited. My answer tends to surprise them. I won’t. And unless it’s an exceptional situation, it would actually hurt your kid’s chances if I did reach out on their behalf. 1/3

My “first class” of recruits are finishing up their seasons, which means I can take on new 1-on-1 clients! This week, I’m breaking down the Nail the Recruiting Process project—what I teach, how I teach it, and why fit matters more than anything else. Let’s build your path to college ball. 🏀

Rankings are rankings. But I’m telling you right now there aren’t 68 teams in the country that can beat Columbia and Harvard.

Lazy recruits get recruited by lazy coaches. ✅ If you don’t put in effort, neither will the coaches recruiting you. ✅ The best programs want players who care about their future. ✅ Effort attracts effort—treat this process as a priority. Put in the work, and the right opportunities will come. 🏀

Campus fit and team fit both matter. ✅ Love the basketball situation but hate the school? You’ll become unhappy. ✅ Love the school but don’t fit the team? You’ll become unhappy. Find a place where you can thrive in every area. #RecruitingTips #BasketballJourney

The “follow the best offer” mindset costs real hoopers real opportunities to make an impact. ✅ Top D2s have better resources and facilities than lower D1s. ✅ Top D3s have better facilities and coaching than lower D2s. ✅ You’ll be happiest where you’re making an impact. 1/2

www.espn.com/watch/player...

Recruits: Coaches are keeping tabs on your interest just like you’re tracking theirs. Show your interest by continuously engaging with coaches, because in a tie for talent, the tiebreak always goes to the more engaged recruit. 1/2

Think your scoring will automatically translate to college? Think again. At the next level: ✅ Everyone is bigger, faster, and stronger. ✅ Defensive principles are much more advanced. What matters more than points? Your overall impact. 1/2

Think coaches aren’t serious until they offer you? Here’s the truth: Most offers come after you’ve earned a campus visit. In a survey of 50 coaches, the overwhelming majority said they prefer to offer in person. Why? Because a visit lets them see how you fit their program beyond your game. 1/2

Your first real recruiting test isn’t on the court—it’s your first call with a coach. Here’s the deal: Coaches are evaluating if you’re engaged, respectful, and genuine. If you don’t make a great first impression, and the next recruit does, that could be it for you. (1/2)

The big problem with basketball recruiting highlight reels: Nobody ever misses.

Highlight reels are essential for recruits, but here’s the problem: every kid is perfect on their highlight tape. 🏀 So, how do you make a highlight tape that ACTUALLY stands out? Simple, you show your identity as a player, even if that includes non-scoring plays. 1/3

A lot of people who had the decision making power to create home playoff games in FBS football 20 years ago are sitting at home watching these ND crowd reactions right now. I assure you they feel like some of the biggest dopes in the universe… …because they are.

RECRUITS: Here are the four best practices of high-attitude players. 1️⃣ Celebrate teammates’ successes: Be the player who lifts everyone up—whether you’re on the court or the bench. Coaches love players who bring positive energy to their teams. 1/3

Your attitude is your anchor. ⚓️ Did you know every college coach evaluates your attitude when watching you play? It’s the most unanimous category in recruiting. A 10/10 attitude shows: a) You’re determined to grow. b) You’ll embrace coaching. c) You’ll positively impact the environment. 1/2

🏀 Decision Making: What College Coaches Are Watching For ✅ Offensive decisions: Passing, shot selection, and reading the defense. ✅ Defensive discipline: proper positioning, help, and pressure without fouling. ✅ Overall ability to keep the team in rhythm. 1/2

Attitude is everything. I asked 50 college coaches what they evaluate beyond performance during live games. Every single coach mentioned attitude. Here's what they’re watching: ✅ How you handle success, mistakes, and challenges. ✅ How you interact with teammates, coaches, and opponents. 1/2