Basketball Recruitment Video Guidelines For International Students!
Basketball Recruitment Video Guidelines
For international players, creating a basketball recruitment video can feel overwhelming. You may worry that the level of competition in your home country isn’t on par with the USA, so how do you capture stand out game footage? But here’s the good news: U.S. coaches know that international athletes don’t always have the same resources. They’re not expecting perfection—they want to see your fundamentals, your effort, and your potential.
Highlight videos are the most powerful way to show coaches who you are. More and more recruitment is happening through video because coaches don’t have the budgets or time to travel to every prospect. Done right, your video can make you stand out and open doors.
At BRUSA Sports, we work with our athletes to build professional highlight reels from the footage they provide. Below are our guidelines to help you capture the right clips and give yourself the best chance to be recruited.
Why recruitment videos matter
Coaches want to see athletes competing at game speed, demonstrating athleticism, decision-making, and technical ability. For international students, videos are often the only way to get noticed—so treat your highlight reel like your basketball résumé.
Video guidelines
Your video should be 4–7 minutes long, professional, and easy to watch. Coaches want to see:
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Game footage
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Ball handling and shooting drills
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Change of speed and direction
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Jumping and leaping
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Shooting range and consistency
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Strength and conditioning work (box jumps, agility ladders, etc.)
Filming requirements
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Always check if your club or coach already has official footage.
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Phone or tablet footage is fine, but keep it clear and steady. Use a tripod if possible.
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Never film behind fences, walls, or crowds.
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Always film in landscape (horizontal).
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For games, aim for a high angle at half court so the coach can see spacing and movement.
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For drills, film from about 1.5m height.
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Don’t zoom in/out—keep the angle wide so coaches can evaluate the whole play.
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Capture off-the-ball movement as well as highlights. Coaches want to see decision-making, teamwork, and IQ.
Positional requirements
Every position requires different skills. Make sure your basketball recruitment video showcases what coaches are looking for:
Centre
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Scoring ability around the rim; Rebounding and shot blocking; Guarding multiple positions; Pick-and-roll execution; Footwork and quickness; Game awareness and decision-making
Power Forward
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Mid-range and finishing ability; Rebounding and defense; Versatility across multiple roles; Strength and hustle in transitions; Guarding and blocking shots
Point Guard
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Shooting range and scoring; Court vision and leadership; Passing and decision-making; Speed and transition control; Defensive ability against bigger players
Shooting Guard
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Catch-and-shoot ability; Scoring off the dribble; Active defense and quickness; Strong ball handling and court vision
Small Forward
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Versatility on offense and defense; Shooting range and finishing; Ability to guard multiple positions; Transition play and basketball IQ
Skills/drills footage
It can sometimes be difficult to capture the required skills in game footage which is why we always recommend skills/training footage! Here are some drills you can include:
For All Players (Baseline Drills)
These show your fundamentals no matter your position and should be included in your basketball recruitment video:
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Spot shooting: 5 shots each from baseline, wing, top of key, opposite wing, and opposite baseline.
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Free throws: 10 in a row filmed straight on.
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Three-point shooting (if applicable): catch-and-shoot and off-the-dribble.
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Layups with both hands: strong-side and weak-side, including reverse layups.
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Ball handling: stationary dribbles (crossovers, behind-the-back, between-the-legs, hesitations), then dribble the full court.
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Defensive stance: lateral slides, closeouts, shuffle to sprint transitions.
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Agility/conditioning: short sprints, box jumps, ladder work.
Point Guard
Show leadership, court vision, and control of the game:
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Pick-and-roll decision-making (with a teammate rolling to the basket).
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Full-court dribbling under pressure (speed and control).
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Passing drills: chest passes, bounce passes, no-look/overhead passes (show accuracy and timing).
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Drive-and-kick: penetrate the lane and kick out to a shooter.
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Mid-range pull-ups and floaters: attack the rim and finish creatively.
Shooting Guard
Emphasise scoring and versatility:
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Catch-and-shoot threes (spot-up from multiple angles).
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Coming off screens (curl, flare, and baseline cuts with catch-and-shoot).
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One-dribble pull-up (both right and left).
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Step-back or side-step shooting (advanced scoring moves).
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Defensive drills: closeouts and defending a shooter.
Small Forward
Highlight versatility on both ends of the court:
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Mid-range shooting off the dribble and catch-and-shoot.
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Transition finishing (fast break layups/dunks).
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Post-up moves (fadeaway, drop step, spin move).
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Defensive footwork: guarding multiple positions, switching on screens.
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Rebounding drills: boxing out and securing the ball.
Power Forward
Show strength, rebounding, and ability to stretch the floor:
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Post moves: hook shots, drop steps, up-and-under.
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High-post shooting (free-throw line jumpers, elbow shots).
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Pick-and-pop shooting after setting a screen.
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Rebounding sequence: defensive rebound → outlet pass → sprint to offense.
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Defensive drills: hedging on screens, low-post defense.
Centre
Emphasise presence in the paint, rim protection, and finishing:
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Low-post moves: hook shots, power moves, spin baseline.
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Finishing with contact (layups/dunks after bump).
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Rebounding: offensive tip-ins, defensive box-outs.
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Shot blocking/contesting (timed jumps without fouling).
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Pick-and-roll plays: setting a strong screen, rolling, and finishing.
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Defensive slides in the paint: show ability to guard pick-and-roll and recover.
✅ Tip for filming drills:
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Keep reps short (3–5 makes per drill) — quality > quantity.
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Film from clear angles (for shooting, straight on + side view; for post moves, under the basket angle works well).
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Kit matters, make sure you look the part!
- Always show game speed — don’t practice lazily.
Video introduction
A video introduction is always a great addition to any basketball recruitment video! It shows the coach your personality, and allows them to get an understanding of who you are.
For guidelines on how to create this video see our blog post – https://www.brusasports.com/2024/05/25/video-introduction-how-to-elevate-your-recruiting-profile/
Final thoughts
Remember: coaches don’t expect you to already be at the U.S. level. They want to see your skills, effort, and potential. Your recruitment video is your chance to show that.
At BRUSA Sports, we specialise in helping international athletes showcase their talent and secure U.S. university placements. We create athlete profiles, basketball recruitment videos, market students profiles and help them secure roster spots and scholarships! If you’re ready to take the next step complete our evaluation form and we’ll be in touch!