An honest comparison
Looking for an NCSA Alternative? Compare a Hands-On Recruiting Advisor With a Profile Platform
Big recruiting platforms and a personal advisor can both help a family get started. They're built differently, though, and the difference matters most when your athlete needs real conversations with real coaches. Here's a straight comparison so you can pick what fits your family.
Money-back guarantee. $3,000 of it only when your athlete gets a roster spot.
Prefer to talk now? Call 760-710-1183 or Text Our Team.
- Former D1 player
- 6 years as a college recruiting coordinator
- San Diego-based
Two different models for college recruiting help
Most recruiting help falls into one of two models. The first is the online recruiting profile service: you build a profile with stats, video and grades, the platform makes it searchable to college coaches, and paid tiers add tools and access to recruiting staff. The second is the hands-on advisor: one experienced person evaluates your athlete, builds a target list, and uses personal relationships to start conversations with specific programs.
Neither model is automatically right or wrong. A profile platform can be a good fit for a self-driven family that wants tools and is happy to do most of the outreach. A hands-on advisor is usually the better fit when your family wants someone accountable for the plan, the honest evaluation and the coach relationships.
What NCSA says it offers (from its own website)
We'd rather be fair than clever, so here is only what NCSA states on its own homepage as of October 2026. NCSA offers a free athlete recruiting profile and college search, with paid membership tiers named Champion, Elite, MVP and MVP+. According to NCSA, a personal recruiting coach comes with the MVP tier and above. NCSA's own FAQ also notes that results vary and there's no guarantee.
For current features and pricing, check NCSA directly; plans change. Many families use a profile platform and an advisor at the same time, and that's fine. The question is what you're paying for and who is accountable when it's time to get your athlete in front of the right coaches.
Side-by-side: a profile platform vs. The Athlete Market
| Question to ask | Typical online recruiting profile service | The Athlete Market |
|---|---|---|
| Who works with my athlete? | Depends on the plan; often a staff member or team | Chase Grant directly: former D1 player and 6-year college recruiting coordinator |
| How do coaches find my athlete? | Searchable profile plus messaging tools | Targeted outreach and introductions through people coaches already trust |
| Is the price published? | Varies by service; often discussed on a sales call | Yes: $6,000 total per family, every sport |
| What if it doesn't work? | Varies; ask about refunds before you buy | Money back if no college roster spot, or after a career-ending injury |
| When do I pay in full? | Usually upfront or on a payment plan | $3,000 upfront; $3,000 only when your athlete signs or earns a roster spot |
The middle column is a general description of profile-based services, not a statement about any one company. Always confirm current terms with any provider.
Find out where your athlete fits. It's a free 30-minute call with Chase.
Why relationships beat visibility
College coaching staffs are small, and their inboxes are full. A searchable profile makes your athlete findable, but it doesn't make a coach stop and look. What usually does is a recommendation from someone the coach trusts, paired with a clear video and an athlete who fits a need.
The Athlete Market is led by Chase Grant, a former Division I player who spent six years as the recruiting coordinator at Palomar College and has coached in the San Diego area for many years. He's also a college professor, and he has built a network of current and former college coaches and mentors who take his call.
That's the core difference. We're not selling access to a database. We're putting a coach's credibility behind your athlete, and we only take on athletes we believe we can help.
The offer, and why it's built this way
Our price is published and the same in every sport: $6,000 total per family. You pay $3,000 upfront, and the other $3,000 only when your athlete signs with a school or earns a college roster spot. If your athlete doesn't get a college roster spot, you get your money back. If your athlete suffers a career-ending injury, you get your money back. We walk through the full terms on your free call.
Half of our fee waits until your athlete has a place to play. That structure exists because we think families deserve a partner who carries real risk, not one who gets paid in full no matter what happens.
How to decide what's right for your family
- Choose a profile platform if your athlete is early in the process, your family has time to run outreach, and you mainly want tools and education.
- Choose a hands-on advisor if you want an honest evaluation, a realistic school list, and someone with coach relationships doing the heavy lifting.
- Use both if you like the tools but want an experienced person steering the plan.
Not sure? Book a free 30-minute call. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit, even if the answer is that you don't need us yet.
What families say
“Chase single handedly helped my son get into college. He wasn't the biggest or fastest kid, but with his guidance and network it made a huge difference and opened up an opportunity that might not have been there.”
“We did not really know the landscape of how to play at the next level, and we finally found the blueprint of someone who cares and gave us that info in a genuine way.”
“This was super beneficial for my son as he really developed over the course of his high school career and received a d2 scholarship. I do not know where he would be without the guidance and expertise of a real college coach and former pro player.”
Frequently asked questions
Is The Athlete Market a good NCSA alternative?
It depends on what you need. If you want a searchable profile and self-serve tools, a platform may fit. If you want one experienced advisor, an honest evaluation and coach introductions, with half the fee due only when your athlete signs or earns a roster spot, we're built for that.
Can we use NCSA or another profile service and work with you too?
Yes. Plenty of families keep a recruiting profile online. We focus on evaluation, the target list and coach relationships, which works alongside any profile.
How much do you cost compared with recruiting platforms?
We charge $6,000 total per family: $3,000 upfront and $3,000 only when your athlete signs with a school or earns a college roster spot. Platform pricing varies by plan, so check each provider directly.
Do you guarantee results?
We offer a money-back guarantee if your athlete doesn't get a college roster spot, and a money-back guarantee after a career-ending injury. We review the full terms with you on the free call.
Who will actually work with my athlete?
Chase Grant: a former Division I player, six-year recruiting coordinator at Palomar College and long-time San Diego-area coach. You work with him directly.
Which sports do you help with?
Baseball, softball, football, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's lacrosse, and men's and women's basketball, at the same price with the same guarantees.
Do you work with families outside California?
Yes. We're San Diego-based, but recruiting happens by phone, video and email, so families anywhere can work with us.
Pick a time for your free 30-minute call
Choose a time that works for your family. You'll get an honest read on where your athlete fits and what to do next, with no obligation.
Calendar not loading? Open the booking page, call 760-710-1183 or text our team.
Don't let the recruiting window close on your athlete's dream.
Book a free 30-minute recruiting call. You'll get an honest read on where your son or daughter fits and what to do next, whether or not you work with us.