The “Success Rate” Scam in College Recruiting: What Every Parent Needs to Know
My Wake-Up Call in 2015
My oldest son had just wrapped up his freshman year of high school basketball. He started 20 of 21 varsity games, averaged 18 points per game, and earned honorable mention All-State. As a proud dad, I was riding high.
Then the phone rang.
It was a “recruiter” for a college athletic service. He congratulated me on my son’s season and said, “He’s got what it takes to earn a scholarship.” I was intrigued.
Then came the pitch:
“Our recruits have a 90% success rate of getting college scholarships.”
The cost? Anywhere from $700 to $2,200.
I asked myself: Wait… 90%? That means 9 out of 10 kids who sign up get scholarships?
Sounds amazing, right?
Too amazing
The Shark Smells Blood
It was painfully clear this guy had never seen my son play. He didn’t know his position, his strengths, or even what kind of schools he might fit. He was selling hope—and using “success rate” as bait.
That’s when I realized:
“Success rate” is one of the most misleading, irresponsible metrics in college recruiting.
My Investigation
Fast forward to today. Both my sons play college basketball, and I run a recruiting business myself. I kept hearing that same term—“success rate”—so I decided to dig deeper.
I contacted one of the big-name recruiting companies that still flaunted their success rate on their website. I asked:
“What exactly is your success rate, and how do you calculate it?”
Their first response?
“Where did you see that?”
I sent them the link—from their own website.
Two hours later, they replied:
“We do not release that number publicly.”
They gave me the president’s contact info and said they’d be removing all mentions of “success rate” from their site.
Translation: They knew it was misleading.
So What Does “Success Rate” Really Mean?
If a company claims a 90% success rate, there are only two possibilities:
They’re cherry-picking athletes who were already likely to get scholarships.
They’re taking credit for something they didn’t actually do.
Either way, it’s irresponsible.
No recruiting service can magically turn a benchwarmer into a D1 prospect. Sure, miracles happen—but 99.99% of the time, talent and hard work are what get you there.
Recruiting services are tools, not magic wands.
Real Tips for Real Recruiting
If you’re a parent or athlete navigating this world, here’s what you should look for:
✅ Avoid companies that push “success rate” as their main selling point.
✅ Ask what you’re actually getting—how many coaches will see your profile? Will they contact you directly?
✅ Focus on exposure. You only need one coach to believe in your potential.
✅ Beware of hype. Look for honest feedback, not inflated promises.
My Honest Answer
People ask me all the time:
“What’s your success rate?”
Here’s what I tell them:
“Success rate is hype talk. It’s reckless to predict scholarship chances without seeing you play or knowing your goals.”
What I can promise is this:
Exposure to hundreds—even thousands—of college coaches.
Real data showing how many coaches received your info.
Metrics showing how many actually watched your highlight video.
That’s the truth. That’s the value. That’s what matters.