Basketball GM and Scouting FAQ

  Will the Basketball GM and Scouting Course help me get a job in basketball?

It will help you get a job in basketball. The keyword here is help. For the entire eight week course you will be in a class speaking weekly with mentor Mark Warkentien, Oklahoma City Thunder Executive, but other participants who are interested in furthering their career in basketball. This is your opportunity to be mentored by an NBA GM and Scout. We design the course so it is like sitting in his office for an hour every week! You will be involved in discussions and share knowledge of the game, the business of the basketball, and how they got ahead to where they are now.

You will also be networking with fellow students who are interested in improving their knowledge of the business of basketball and scouting talent. More importantly, you will be learning techniques and strategies that NBA teams are currently using. 

The course content includes cutting edge theories on how to evaluate talent and study the game. The course will give you information that will make you an asset to any professional team. Will it directly get you the job? The knowledge you learn from the course and the contacts that you make might be the clincher to beating out your competition for the job!

  Do I really get to talk to Mark Warkentien weekly?

Throughout the eight week course, Mark Warkentien and Dr. Lashbrook lead a video chat via the internet. This chat is every Sunday. This is an hour-long question and answers video discussion with the instructors and your fellow students. In addition, guest speakers and buddies of Mark and Lynn participate as guests in the chats. If you miss a chat they are archived and you can listen when it is convenient for you.

 Can I be the next Kevin Pritchard?

Maybe! The start of any great career begins with passion and being willing to work hard to achieve your goal. If you are passionate about working in basketball and continue to learn, network, and work hard, you can make your dream job happen. Job experience and who you know is important, so never burn a bridge because they might one day be the person hiring you! 

If you want to enhance what you know and who you know this is a great place to start. If you need an internship at a professional team and are willing to start in the sales department, you should look into our Sports Sales and Marketing course.

  What's the difference between Sports Sales and Marketing and the Basketball GM and Scouting Course?

The Sports Sales and Marketing Course assists students in not only learning what they need to know to get an entry-level job in any professional sports organization but also requires that a course project be done with a major or minor league team. It teaches everything from ticket sales and sponsorship sales to creating contacts in the sports field. Students who take this course generally want a job as soon as possible in football, hockey, soccer, basketball, or baseball. The weekly chats focus on who's hiring and the instructors help the students learn skills that those teams are looking for in new hire and strategizing to get the interview. Instructors use their contacts in the sports world to assist students in getting sports jobs. 

The Basketball GM and Scouting Course is pure basketball. Pure HOOPS, scouting hoop players, and evaluating hoops ability. If you want a job in professional basketball, we recommend you take both!

  How else can I break into the basketball world?

David Morway, former GM of the Indiana Pacers worked for a while as a Sports Agent. If you are not in a situation to start your career over and want to learn more about the business of basketball and gain more contacts, check out the Athlete Management Course and consider representing NBA and Overseas basketball players.

  Do I need any special equipment or books for the course? 

The books for the course are sent directly to your home from the SMWW office. Some of the books or materials are so specific that they are either out of print or not sold in any bookstore. You will need a computer with access to the internet.

 This all sounds too high tech for me, I don't know very much about computer technology.

Don't worry. We have many students who have felt the same way. SMWW has a technical support team that not only knows computers and can get your microphone working, (even if you didn't know you had one), but they love sports! As long as you have a computer and access to the internet, we can help you with the rest!

  How old do I have to be to take this course?

18 or older.

Do I need a college degree to take this course?

No.

  Do you have more questions?

Call the office and ask! 1-877-SMWW-Now in the US or Canada. In London at +44(0) 871 288 4799. Everywhere else at +1-503-445-7105