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Recruiting Scams & Red Flags
How to spot recruiting and scholarship scams in basketball. Rules checked Oct 20, 2026. Rules change, so confirm details on the linked sources and with each school's compliance office. This is general guidance, not legal or eligibility advice.
What the NCAA says
- No recruiting service can guarantee a scholarship, an offer or a roster spot.
- A service whose fee depends on how much scholarship money you get can create NCAA eligibility problems.
- You can email coaches, send film and fill out questionnaires yourself, free, at any grade. See our free email templates and the directory.
Red flags
- "Guaranteed" scholarships, offers or D1 coaches at an event.
- "Exposure" events that aren't NCAA-certified but are sold as a way to be seen by D1 coaches during spring or summer (D1 coaches can only attend certified events then).
- Pressure to pay today, or "only a few spots left."
- Fees tied to the size of a scholarship.
- Anyone offering money, gear or other benefits to steer you to a school or agent.
- Requests for your FAFSA login or a fee to "claim" a scholarship.
Before you pay anyone
- Ask exactly what you get, in writing.
- For any spring or summer event, check that it's NCAA-certified and ask which college levels attend.
- Ask college coaches whether they use that service.
- Report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.