Recruiting Reimagined: How GETHIGHLIGHTED Is Changing the Game for Student-Athletes

By Scott Garvis C.M.A.A. NHSACA Executive Director of Finance & Partnerships

The college recruiting process has never been easy. For every five-star phenom with a stack of offers before their junior year, there are thousands of student-athletes grinding in small towns, showcasing in front of empty bleachers, and sending emails that vanish into unread inboxes. It’s a system that favors the connected, the visible, and—too often—the lucky.

But a revolution is underway. And it starts with Get Highlighted.

In a powerful episode of Bound for Greatness, host Scott Jarvis sat down with Eric McCulley, founder of Get Highlighted; Braden Wright, a former college quarterback; and Daniella Pappas, a former Division I coach and current club director. Together, they pulled back the curtain on recruiting myths, exposed the barriers athletes face, and shared how a new digital platform is reshaping access to opportunity.

“I Wish I Had This When I Was 16”

“I didn’t know anything,” Braden Wright admits, looking back at his early high school days. “I had film. I tweeted some highlights. But there was no strategy.”

Wright's journey, while ultimately successful, was filled with uncertainty, unreturned emails, and expensive travel. “I was lucky to have great teammates who brought scouts to my games. But most kids don’t have that.”

Enter Get Highlighted—a platform designed not just to show film, but to build a plan.

The Changing Face of Recruiting

Daniella Pappas has seen the shift from all sides—as an athlete, a D1 coach, and now as a national recruiting director.

“We’ve gone from mailing CDs to leveraging Instagram hashtags,” she explained. “But exposure isn’t the only thing that’s changed—coaches now track everything. Game metrics, reaction time, even body language.”

She tells her athletes: character counts more than ever. “Coaches are watching how you walk off the field, how you sit on the bench, how your parents behave. It all matters.”

Coaches Want Leaders, Not Just Talent

“Player before person? Not anymore,” Pappas says. “It’s person before player.”

Wright echoed the sentiment. “At the next level, talent isn’t enough. Coaches want leaders. High-character athletes. People their teammates can lean on when the game’s on the line.”

The Hidden Costs of “Exposure”

“Traveling to showcases, flying to camps—it adds up fast,” Wright said. “I was lucky my family could afford it. Most can’t.”

That’s one reason Get Highlighted stands out. By connecting athletes and college coaches through a data-driven platform, it eliminates the need to chase exposure across the country.

The Coach's Role in Recruiting: A Missing Link

One of the most impactful insights of the conversation came from host Scott Jarvis, who asked McCulley about a vital—but often overlooked—player in the recruiting process: the high school coach.

“What role should the high school coach play in helping student-athletes and their families connect with colleges?”

McCulley’s answer was both honest and eye-opening.

“It’s not a simple answer,” he said. “It depends on the sport, the gender, and whether a club is involved. But one thing is certain: the high school coach can and should play a massive role in helping athletes find their best fit.”

He continued by citing data: 75% of high school athletes say they want to play their sport in college. “But most recruiting support only goes to the elite few—the 3% who land Division I scholarships.”

That leaves a massive gap. And it’s one that high school coaches are uniquely positioned to fill.

“High school coaches know their athletes. Their endorsement carries weight with college coaches, especially in smaller towns where athletes may not have access to high-level clubs.”

Bridging the Gap With Data and Trust

McCulley stressed the power of Get Highlighted as a matchmaking tool—but only when used right.

“We combine objective performance data, academic metrics, and psychological assessments to build a full picture of the athlete. When a high school coach verifies that data, it becomes credible. That validation increases a college coach’s confidence.”

Even more, the platform allows coaches to name who is part of the athlete’s recruiting team, so communication flows—despite NCAA restrictions.

“College coaches may not be able to contact a 15-year-old recruit,” said McCulley, “but they can contact the high school coach and say, ‘We’re interested. Tell me more about this athlete.’ That’s how high school coaches become difference-makers.”

Real Conversations, Real Fit

Perhaps one of the most refreshing aspects of Get Highlighted is its honesty.

The platform helps coaches and athletes alike recognize the reality: not every athlete is a D1 fit. And that’s okay.

Using benchmark data, coaches can have more productive conversations with athletes about the level they should target—opening eyes to the incredible opportunities at D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO schools.

“It’s not about where you start,” McCulley said. “It’s about where you thrive.”

More Than a Platform—A Movement

McCulley isn’t just building software. He’s creating a movement to democratize recruiting.

“We don’t profit from selling athlete data to colleges,” he said. “We’re here to serve athletes, their families, and the high school and club coaches who support them. We believe that every athlete who wants a shot should have one.”

And they’re putting their money where their mission is—partnering with the National High School Coaches Association to share revenue and reinvest in local sports communities.

A New Era of Recruiting

Recruiting has always been messy. But with Get Highlighted, it might finally become more equitable, more efficient—and more focused on what matters.

“Film doesn’t lie,” Jarvis reminded listeners. “But neither does character. Neither does work ethic. Neither does heart.”

In a world where talent alone no longer guarantees opportunity, platforms like Get Highlighted are helping athletes turn dreams into decisions—and decisions into offers.

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