The Perfect Intro Email
for Small Guards
Memo Bener
College Recruiting Mentor
November 3, 2026 · 5 min read
In the AI age, every email a college coach gets sounds the same, and volume isn't the edge anymore. Most kids think personalizing means swapping the coach's name and the school, then hitting send. A coach sees through that in one line. Real personalization is so specific to their team that it could never go to another program. That's why, as a guard 6'1 or under, you lead with an email like this.
I took two gap years with horrible stats, no offers and no connections, then made it onto a Division I roster. Now the average family I help gets $100k in scholarships.
Learn how
Here's the email. Copy it, then fill in the parentheses with what you saw in their game.
1. The email
Subject: (Position) · Class of (year) · (Your name) Coach (last name), I watched your game against (opponent) this (day). Loved how you guys (what you noticed, called by its name). I'm (your name), a (position) in the class of (year) at (school) in (city, state), with a (GPA) GPA. Here's a two-minute highlight film of (what the film displays): (link) I love (what you do that fits their system), and that's why I'm writing to you. Are you recruiting a guard in my class? Thank you for your time, (Your name) (Your film link) · (Your X profile) · (Your email) · (Your phone number)
2. The subject line
Subject: (Position) · Class of (year) · (Your name)
Coaches scan their inbox for the position and class they need, so those go first. Then your name, your GPA if it's strong.
Your height and stats stay out, because some coaches skip a small guard the second they see the height.
3. The opener
Coach (last name), I watched your game against (opponent) this (day). Loved how you guys (what you noticed, called by its name).
Every other email in that inbox starts with the kid. Yours starts with their team, so the coach knows in one line it was written for them.
Watch at least half of one of their games from this season or last, so you talk about their current team.
Then name what you saw in their film room's words, like their press or helpside, so you sound like a guard who can run their team. If they lost, call it unfortunate, so the coach never has to defend their team.
Follow me, I'll soon drop a guide on how to watch a game like a coach.
4. You, in one sentence
I'm (your name), a (position) in the class of (year) at (school) in (city, state), with a (GPA) GPA.
Only now, after you gave first, you introduce yourself, in one sentence: everything a coach needs to place you.
Never put your height in the email (considering you are 6’1 or below) to not give coaches a reason to skip before they watch you.
5. Your film
Here's a two-minute highlight film of (what the film displays): (link)
If you're not a 4 or 5 star, you only get in the door with your film. Keep it to two minutes, your best clips first, and name what's in it, so the coach knows what they're clicking.
Follow me, I'll soon drop a guide on how to build a two-minute highlight film.
6. Their system and your game
I love (what you do that fits their system), and that's why I'm writing to you.
Pick the one set of theirs you'd love to run, and name what you do in it. A coach picks the guard they hand the team to, and with this sentence, they can already picture you in their system.
Never write I work hard, and never write you guys have a great program. To a coach, both say you never watched them play and you are just throwing emails at the wall and hoping one sticks.
7. The question
Are you recruiting a guard in my class?
End on one question the coach can answer in a word, about the position and class they need.
8. The sign-off
(Your film link) · (Your X profile) · (Your email) · (Your phone number)
Close with thank you for your time and your name, then this line, so the coach can reach you. Many coaches check your X profile before your film, so keep your height off it.
Follow me, I'll soon drop a guide on how to set up your X profile.
Never CC or BCC other coaches, because they'll know it wasn't written for them. Read it three times, so they never see you rushed it.
At the end of the day
Every other kid in that inbox asked first. You gave first, and that's the guard a coach remembers.
Follow me for more recruiting sauce for small guards, or you may never see me again.
