It is no secret that coaches have adapted over time and many are not shy to using the latest technological gadgets in helping them with their evaluation of tomorrow's stars at the Nike Peach Jam.
"I’d say 70 percent of the coaches here are using iPads,’’ said Fox, who photographs team rosters to save on his iPad and keeps track of his schedule there as well. "It’s so much easier.’’
Coaches are routinely using their iPads for recording notes about players and for sending box scores out to other members of their staff. CBS Sportsline writer Matt Norlander in his Day 1 recap describes the atmosphere and describes it as a grind for coaches and reporters.
To give you an idea of how it works, there’s a rotation of games and teams in the morning and afternoon. Some 16-and-under teams play, the rest are 17-and-under. Coaches jump from gym to gym — there’s four of them — and basically watch the same thing over and over and over and over for nearly 12 hours. The coaches cannot talk to the players, the players’ families or coaches on the way to, during or after the tournament.
The Peach Jam occurs during the period of time known as the evaluation period in recruiting circles. Coaches aren't permitted to have direct contact with a recruit or their family but instead use tournaments like this to further evaluate and reaffirm their interest in the player if by nothing more than their presence.