New service gets athletes recognition

     By W.G. Ramirez
     View staff writer
      A lot of basketball and a lot of recruiting -- the Reebok Holiday Prep Classic boys' high school basketball tournament recently provided both.
      Working to assist on both ends -- for players and recruiters -- are Green Valley High graduates Nick Jones and Adam Rogas.
      Better known as Elite Recruit, Jones and Rogas embarked on a project in May that will give student-athletes a link to exposure throughout the World Wide Web.
      "I believe that there are student-athletes throughout the nation who can play college athletics and get a better education," Jones said. "However, in smaller areas like Las Vegas, it is difficult to get coaches to come watch you compete. Therefore, I wanted to help level the playing field for student-athletes who need help and have the desire to go to college."
      Unlike many other recruiting services, though, Elite Recruit is provided to student-athletes at no charge.
      "We are free because we don't want to discriminate against kids who want to be on Elite Recruit, yet cannot afford the cost," Jones said. "The fact remains, colleges will never completely recruit a kid from a Web site, but they will go to Elite Recruit to find out if he or she exists."
      Jones said the locally based Elite Recruit will also facilitate any communication between student-athletes and college coaches.
      All student-athletes will be able to reserve an e-mail account by using their name@eliterecruit.com. That address will be posted at the bottom of all college access profile views. It is web-based, so they can access their in-box from anywhere. Elite Recruit will also post photos of athletes in action. In working with high schools from across the nation, Jones said, photographs will be re-posted continually.
      The search can be filtered, so inquiring coaches can narrow their search down to the exact player they are looking for.
      Visitors to Elite Recruit will be allowed to post information or comments on the site, once it's approved by the site administrator. They will also have the opportunity to chat for no charge.
      Plus, all club teams will have the opportunity to develop a mini-Web site within Elite Recruit at no charge, so they can post rosters, club information, contact information and player profiles. They will also be given an e-mail address.
      Elite Recruit will also provide college and high school links. Jones said high schools that are provided a link from Elite Recruit will be required to provide a link back to Elite Recruit.
      Down the road, Jones said his company will be entering an agreement to design and run Web sites regarding Green Valley, including a community-oriented Web site, a site for the high school and sites for local businesses.