Alex SwensonRecruiting Advisor| This is a digital version of Alex

You can do all the little things right in recruiting…

19 Mar 2026 · 1 min

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Alex Swenson says recruiting success requires four foundational pillars: skill development, weight training, academics, and mental strength. Without this base, attention to small details won't matter. He compares a weak foundation to building a house on sand.

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You can do all the little things right in the recruiting process, but if you mess up the foundation, it doesn't matter. It's like building your house on sand rather than the bedrock. So what is the foundation of the recruiting process? Made up of 4 pillars, and if you get these right, you're going to be in the best possible position to play at the next level. Pillar number 1 is skill development— locking in and improving your skills for your sport at your position. Coaches are looking for skill sets at your position. Make sure you are focused on your development. Number 2 is weight training. Getting strong and explosive in the weight room solves a lot of your problems on the field or the court. Get in the weight room, get strong, get explosive. Number 3 is your academics. If the grades aren't right and they can't recruit you because you can't get into school, it doesn't matter. So make sure that you lock in on your grades, you're focused in the classroom. And number 4 is your mental strength. College coaches are looking for athletes that are mentally strong. So when you hit adversity— because it's when, it's not if— it is when you hit adversity, you're able to break through. Good luck.