Recruiting service aids athletes and parents alike

In case you haven’t heard, Metuchen might just be one of the best-kept secrets in the high school basketball world. In the not too distant past, Jayson Williams, a graduate of St. Joseph, was the high school basketball player of the year before leading Duke University to the national championship in 2001. Fellow St. Joseph alumnus Andrew Bynum won his second NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers this spring, and Metuchen High graduate Marqus Blakely inked a contract with the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this month after a stellar career at University of Vermont.

While St. Joe’s has always been a desirable post for high school basketball coaches, the less prestigious post at Metuchen has been held by one of the brightest minds in local hoops, Rich Stoner. Stoner has taken his talents and dedication to young athletes into the recruiting arena to form Highlight Reel of Central Jersey, a recruiting service for student-athletes in all sports.

Highlight Reel of Central Jersey is a franchise of the nationwide outfit, Highlight Reel Inc. Highlight Reel’s services include four major components: financial planning, academic tutoring, college advising and student-athlete profiling.

“Highlight Reel isn’t just about the sports aspect,” Stoner said. “Most student athletes fall into the category of Division III or lower Division I prospects. Not many students are going to have the chance of playing basketball for Duke or football for Ohio State. Most student-athletes and their parents are unfamiliar with the recruiting process. Essentially, the students are in a pool of players that are all recruited for a small amount of spots. We want them to stand out and get the best deal possible.”

Highlight Reel staffs a lineup of financial advisers to assist families with financial planning and the submission of forms such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In addition, the service offers online tutoring for both standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT, but also for most subject areas in school such as algebra, biology, social studies, etc.

“The online tutoring program allows students to complete assignments at his or her own pace, but also to take responsibility for their own education,” Stoner said. “Services are offered for any class. We really push the academic aspect because we don’t just want to help families get athletic scholarships, but as much assistance as possible.”

The college advisory component of the Highlight Reel package offers, among other things, assistance with college application essays and transcript analyses. This component customizes college searches to fit the needs and wants of student-athletes, such as location, size, academic ranking and cost.

The student-athlete profile aspect of Highlight Reel’s services personalizes a student-athlete’s package to colleges and universities. Film clips of athletic events, letters of recommendation, test scores, newspaper clippings, and even bio films can be sent via a protected password to prospective universities and their athletic departments.

“We have access to every college coach’s contact information in the entire country,” Stoner said. “This component allows coaches to see a side of the student athlete that might not come through on just a piece of paper. Currently, over 23,000 coaches use Highlight Reel services.”

Interested student-athletes and parents can visit www.thrcentaljersey.info or contact Coach Stoner at rstoner@sportshlr.com for more information.