Brand affiliation is becoming a pretty big part of recruiting. It's more seen in basketball recruiting right now because more and more kids are letting the brand their AAU teams are affiliated with impact their decision. For example, Maryland was able to land the #6 recruit in the nation (Diamond Stone) largely in part because they are an Under Armor school and Under Armor sponsered his AAU team.

 

Here are couple reads on the topic:

 

Shoe company affiliations the heart and sole of recruiting affairs

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketb...spects-aau

 

Of the twelve players asked their opinion on the subject, all replied that they knew at least one person in their time on the AAU circuit who openly admitted that part of his decision to commit revolved around the type of shoe that particular school was affiliated with.

 

Ole Miss (a Nike school) senior guard Jarvis Summers was the most forthcoming in his answer. He called it a “big recruiting advantage” for schools that share the same brand affiliation as a prospect’s AAU team.

 

 

New Data Reveals Nike's Dominance Among Football Recruits

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kai-sato/n...51198.html

 

"Not surprisingly, the apparel or "gear" that coveted football prospects prefer has become a larger part of the recruiting equation. Many recruits admit that the apparel they stand to receive as future college athletes can play a deciding factor which school to attend. Brands not only spend substantial sums on colleges but also on the events and national showcases intended for premier football recruits. For instance, Nike hosts The Opening and Elite 11 in Beaverton, Ore. each year. Under Armour runs its very own All-American Game, and Adidas sponsors the longstanding U.S. Army All-American Bowl."

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