More Exposure Isn’t Helping Most Athletes Get Recruited

More Exposure Isn’t Helping Most Athletes Get Recruited

From Its Just Different Podcast by Ashley Roberts

June 9, 2026 · 38 min

About this episode

Ashley Roberts discusses the challenges of youth basketball recruiting with coach Ed Durham.

Most parents want their athlete to play college basketball.The problem? Many athletes say they want it too—but their daily habits tell a different story.In this episode of It's Just Different, Ashley Roberts sits down with longtime grassroots basketball coach Ed Durham to discuss the realities of youth basketball, recruiting, and player development in today's game.From coaching elite talent and navigating the AAU landscape to helping families understand what it actually takes to play at the next level, Ed shares unfiltered insight on the challenges facing athletes and parents today.The conversation explores the growing gap between expectations and reality, why honesty is missing from many recruiting conversations, and how the explosion of AAU teams has impacted player development. Ed also shares his perspective on the current state of Texas girls basketball and why accountability, commitment, and realistic goal-setting are more important than ever.The truth?Not every athlete needs to be a Division I player to have a successful basketball journey—but every athlete needs a plan, honest feedback, and a willingness to put in the work. This conversation dives into: • Why parents and…

People in this episode

Host: Ashley Roberts

Guest: Ed Durham

Topics covered

  • youth basketball
  • recruiting
  • player development
  • AAU
  • Texas girls basketball
  • parent-athlete goals
  • honesty in recruiting

Keywords

  • college basketball
  • recruiting challenges
  • AAU impact
  • work ethic
  • goal-setting
  • player accountability
  • Texas basketball

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Texas girls basketball

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