
Parents Are Focused on the Wrong Things (And It’s Costing Their Athlete)
From Its Just Different Podcast by Ashley Roberts
April 28, 2026 · 34 min
About this episode
Ashley Roberts discusses the evolving landscape of women's basketball recruiting with guest Sasha Leverentz-Palmer.
Women’s basketball recruiting is changing fast — from NIL opportunities and the transfer portal to the pressure of exposure, rankings, and finding the right fit. In this episode of It’s Just Different, Ashley Roberts sits down with Sasha Leverentz-Palmer, founder of Her Elite, former Division I coach, and McDonald’s All-American Committee member, to break down what athletes and parents need to understand about today’s recruiting landscape. From choosing the right AAU program to navigating exposure opportunities, building relationships with coaches, and developing beyond basketball skill, Sasha shares honest insight on what truly matters in player development. She also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the McDonald’s All-American selection process and why allowing young athletes to struggle, grow, and learn is essential for long-term success.If you're a player, parent, or coach trying to navigate the ever-changing world of women’s basketball, this episode is full of perspective you need to hear. About the Guest Sasha Leverentz-Palmer is a respected basketball coach, scout, and player development leader with experience at the Division I and high school levels. She is the founder…
People in this episode
Host: Ashley Roberts
Guest: Sasha Leverentz-Palmer
Topics covered
- women's basketball recruiting
- NIL opportunities
- transfer portal
- player development
- AAU programs
- coaching relationships
Keywords
- women's basketball
- recruiting
- NIL
- transfer portal
- player development
- AAU
- coaches
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Her Elite, McDonald’s All-American Committee, Nike
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- Why Letting Your Athlete Fail Is The Best Parenting Move You'll Make · June 2, 2026 · 49 min
- Coaches Don't Want HS Athletes (Not Like Before) · May 26, 2026 · 35 min
- Most Athletes Get Overlooked By College Coaches (And Its Not Because of Talent) · May 19, 2026 · 56 min
- Parents Are Chasing Exposure… And It’s Hurting Their Athlete · May 12, 2026 · 49 min
- Most Athletes Don't Get Recruited.. Heres Why · May 6, 2026 · 59 min
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