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2025-26 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Recruiting Calendar

2025-26 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Recruiting Calendar: Key Dates & Rules

Staying on top of the NCAA recruiting calendar is essential for high school athletes, parents, and coaches alike. Knowing when a coach can visit your home versus when they can only watch you from the sidelines can make or break a recruiting strategy.

Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the 2025-26 Division I Men’s Basketball Recruiting Calendar, including key dates and definitions for every period.

Understanding the Recruiting Periods

Before diving into the dates, it’s important to understand what each “period” means for a student-athlete:

  • Recruiting Period: Authorized staff can make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.

  • Evaluation Period: Coaches can watch recruits compete or visit their schools, but no in-person, off-campus contact is allowed.

  • Quiet Period: Coaches can only have face-to-face contact with recruits and their parents on the college campus. No off-campus contact or scouting is allowed.

  • Dead Period: No in-person contact is allowed on or off campus. Coaches may still call or write to recruits, but they cannot host visits or attend games.

The 2025-26 Calendar Breakdown

The Academic Year (Contact & Recruiting)

From the start of the fall semester through the end of the regular season, the calendar is primarily a Recruiting Period, allowing coaches to visit schools and homes.

  • September 3 – April 30, 2026: Recruiting Period

    • Except for the following Dead Periods:

    • November 10–13, 2025: Dead Period (Early Signing Period week)

    • December 24–26, 2025: Dead Period (Holiday break)

    • April 2–9, 2026: Dead Period (During the NCAA Final Four)

Spring & Postseason 2026

  • May 1 – June 30: Quiet Period

    • Special Evaluation Windows:

    • May 8–10: Evaluation Period (NBA G League Combine only)

    • May 15–17: Evaluation Period (NBA Draft Combine only)

    • May 10–17: Dead Period (Except for combine evaluations)

    • May 20–31: Dead Period

Summer 2026 “Live” Periods

Summer is when the most intensive scouting happens at certified events.

  • June 12 (Noon) – June 14 (6 PM): Evaluation Period (Scholastic events only)

  • June 26 (Noon) – June 28 (6 PM): Evaluation Period (Scholastic events only)

  • July 1–31: Dead Period except for specific “Live” windows:

    • July 9–12: Evaluation Period (NCAA Certified Events)

    • July 16–19: Evaluation Period (NCAA Certified Events)

    • July 20–26: Quiet Period

Looking Toward 2026-27

  • August 1–19, 2026: Dead Period

  • August 20–31, 2026: Quiet Period

Pro-Tips for Recruits

  1. Maximize Quiet Periods: Since coaches can’t come to you, use these dates to schedule unofficial or official visits to campuses you are interested in.

  2. Be Prepared for July: The two evaluation windows in July are the biggest stages for non-scholastic (AAU) basketball. Ensure your NCAA Eligibility Center profile is up to date before these dates.

  3. Communication is Key: Even during Dead Periods, you can still call, text, or DM coaches. The “dead” refers to in-person interaction, not digital communication.

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Disclaimer: This post is based on the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Recruiting Calendar for 2025-26. Always verify specific dates with the NCAA official website or your compliance officer.