His voice raspy and strained, Bob Schlosser's message to his caller Monday still came across crystal clear.

"Sometimes you get kids who don't last, or last a year or two (on the team)," the Elizabethtown College men's basketball coach said. "But if they get a good education, that's what it's all about."

Schlosser's words were echoed by Glenn Robinson and Brad McAlester, men's basketball coaches at Franklin & Marshall and Lebanon Valley College, respectively.

Through the course of the boys' basketball season you see college coaches at various L-L games. And what you're seeing is just a small part of the process of recruiting high school athletes.

The process often begins as early as a high school student's freshman or sophomore season.

(When he was head coach at Indiana, Bob Knight's recruiting of Damon Bailey began when Bailey was in eighth grade).

Former players or an alum interested in his alma mater's basketball program often contact the coaching staff and provide information on high school players.

The Internet allows college coaches to view video of high school players — thereby saving them a trip or two — but they're careful not to rely too heavily on clips.

"You have to be aware that they're not posting just any old clip," Robinson said. "It's a highlight clip."

 McAlester agreed.

"People send us video clips and YouTube clips," he said. "But I still want to see them (in person)."

As he spoke, McAlester was preparing to drive three hours to New Jersey to scout a high school player. Area coaches hit the northeast heavily, crisscrossing New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, D.C. and, of course, South Central Pennsylvania.

"We hang our hats on local kids," Schlosser said of E-town. "We know their coaches and they know us."

Scouting high school players is, at best, an inexact science. Coaches aren't looking at what a player is now but what he may become. A high school player's skill set is just one consideration. You also have to take into account the player's on-court demeanor, impact on teammates, leadership skills, love of the game, etc.

"What you're really looking for," Schlosser said, "is a kid who fits your system."

And that's not all. Since Division III schools cannot offer athletic scholarships, finances are a major part of the recruiting process.

"The most frustrating thing," said Robinson, "is finding a kid who does fit your program and for one reason or another, he can't come here."

At the end of the day, however, frustrations are outweighed by the rewards of a recruit who has contributed to his team and his school.

"Even if they haven't been a starter," Robinson said, "if they've been part of the team and they're leaving with a degree and they're able to do some wonderful things in our society, that's what you want every time."

Performance of the Week: This week's selection goes to the Donegal and Manheim Central student sections, who came together at last Friday's boys' game in Mount Joy.

Donegal athletic director Ron Kennedy reported in an email to area media Thursday that Manheim Central and Donegal students had met that morning to discuss the "heartache and pain" both schools have felt over the past year-and-a-half due to the loss of classmates in tragic car accidents.

As Kennedy noted, Central and Donegal are rival schools, and there has been a "great deal of animosity between students, some very hurtful things said to each other over the course of a year-and-a-half, and the students felt it was time to mend the fence and to start the healing process."

Baron and Indian student sections felt that sitting together and cheering for each other was a positive step in the healing process.

" 'Baron Nation' and 'Green Nation' as 'One Nation,' " wrote Kennedy. "Our kids needed a way to help heal some of the wounds and felt this was the best way to do it. … It could be a pretty powerful message."

It was, and is.

Top 10 Scoring Leaders (Through Sunday, Jan. 30): 1. Alec Wizar, Annville-Cleona, 18-382, 21.2; 2. Marc Summy, Penn Manor, 18-380, 21.1; 3. Sam Light, Northern Lebanon, 18-364, 20.2; 4. Robbie Cardina, Conestoga Valley, 15-262, 17.5; 5. Nick Nobile, Columbia, 18-302, 16.8;

6. Drew Johnson, Hempfield, 14-234, 16.7; 7. Landon Alecxih, Penn Manor, 15-244, 16.3; 8. Bryan Rivera, Lancaster Catholic, 18-277, 15.4; 9. Taylor Wilson, Lancaster Mennonite, 19-286, 15.1 and Derrick Shields, Warwick, 17-256, 15.1.

Games to Watch: Tonight — Donegal at L-S.

The Pioneers (12-0 L-L, 17-1 overall) lead the Indians (11-1, 17-1) by a game in Section Three, courtesy of a 61-46 victory in Mount Joy on Jan. 6. L-S and Donegal are also first and second, respectively, in the District Three Class AAA Power Rankings.

Friday — Manheim Township at McCaskey.

The Blue Streaks beat the Red Tornado 59-53 Jan. 10 in Neffsville and own a one-game lead over the reigning Section One champs.

egruver@lnpnews.com