As the College Basketball Transfer Portal continues to demand and absorb more and more recruiting resources, one thing remains the same with high school recruiting: The importance of the month of July.
July has two live windows where college coaches can scout grassroots teams in person. It’s still the most important month on the calendar.
Yes, there are other windows for colleges to scout high school talent, but July remains the one month where college coaches are fully and completely locked in on prep talent.
The first of this month’s live periods kicks off on Thursday and runs through Sunday. Things are more spread out than ever. Even just a few years ago, it was Adidas, Nike, and Under Armour events that received the lion’s share of attention. Regional events hosted the best independent teams.
Now, both New Balance and Puma have gotten into the game. The top talent is more spread out than ever.
This week, the 247Sports basketball recruiting team will be attending events in Atlanta, North Augusta (S.C.), Rock Hill (S.C.), and St. Louis as we look to keep tabs on the best players in the country and the movement and eyes of coaches.
Then, beginning next Thursday (July 18) and running through next Sunday (July 20), we’ll be back in North Augusta while also making stops in Bryan (Texas), Chicago, and Ladera Ranch (Calif.) to do it all over again.
These next two weeks will see rising and falling stocks, newcomers to the scene, and shifts in recruiting strategies. Along the way, here are some of the storylines that we will be tracking for our VIP subscribers:
- We should get some clarity on the recruitment of some of the top players in 2026.
- No. 5-ranked Jason Crowe Jr. is set to announce. There is a lot of smoke around Missouri. Can the Tigers seal the deal or will another school make a big play?
- Which players can earn a fifth star based on their performances over the next two weeks?
- The Battle for No. 1 in the 2027 class.
- And who will step to the forefront in the 2028 class?
Let’s dive in…
