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What We Do
WHAT WE DO
We Support Student Athletes

The reason G.E.M. Class was founded was to create a platform that emphasized really being there for student athletes and their families. Our scouts are professionals who have been around the industry and know how to handle any of the circumstances that you may feel like are holding you back. G.E.M. Class scouts are continuously tested with NCAA compliancy and recruiting exams to make sure they are at their best for you and your family. When you combine our professional staff with the most cutting-edge recruiting software on the market, we tailor a specialized game plan that is customized for each student athlete, individually, who is looking for help when it comes to your recruiting process. We simply identify student athletes who truly have a chance to play at the next level, and then provide them with the most opportunities to do so. We are committed to delivering each person with a unique experience that produces results.

We Support College Coaches

In a time where college coaches are having a difficult time getting out to see each student athlete perform, we are committed to providing each coach with the ability to seek out student athletes who truly have a chance to play for their programs. We do not believe in mass emailing coaches player profiles of student athletes who may have no interest at all in their program. As a former coach, I know what those emails look like and mean. Coaches are provided with the opportunity to create their own profiles and can navigate our player directory as they please. We provide these coaches with filtering options to make sure they are looking at exactly what they want to see. We provide the most effective line of contact from coaches to players, or players to coaches. Here at G.E.M. Class, we only work with 400 student athletes each grad year across the country to make sure we have the most qualified talent and can provide them with the exact support they are looking for. 

BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
THE HISTORY.
G.E.M. Class Logo
TESTMINONIALS
TESTIMONIALS
Hank Hayes, Father

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Braxton Hayes Testimonial
Hank Hayes, Father

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"Aaron is a straight up kinda guy and will tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear. He's really passionate about his work and wants what's best for his athletes. He will push you and hold you accountable because he cares about you. If you're serious about becoming a collegiate athlete I'd definitely recommend him to help guide you through it.

WHAT OUR ATHLETE'S FAMILIES ARE SAYING...
Candice Griffin, Mother

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Josiah Griffin Testimonial
Candice Griffin, Mother

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"I just want to thank Mr. Aaron for guiding my son through his junior and senior year. He has really helped him with his recruiting process. Even through his ACL injury he gave him words of encouragement to keep him going. I just appreciate all the work he has put in to get him where he is.

Paul Pittman, Father

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Cam Pittman Testimonial
Paul Pittman, Father

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"We have known Aaron since my son's 10th grade year. My son Cameron plays varsity baseball and basketball. Although the recruiting process can be very challenging we were fortunate to be able to have Aaron's expertise to guide us through. He showed a genuine interest in my son and worked to help him obtain his recruiting goals. Aaron is very responsive, provided great communication, and always followed up. I would recommend Aaron to any family or recruit looking for help in the recruiting process.

- Paul Pittman (Cam's Dad)

Brad White, Father

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Gunner Hayes Testimonial
Brad White, Father

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"Coach Ruggles took time to meet us and review our son's film. He helped us select schools and has emailed some of his contacts directly. He responds to our questions promptly and has helped us understand timelines and the process!

- Brad White (Gunners Dad)

Dori Burger, Mother

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Matthew Berger Testimonial
Dori Burger, Mother

TESTIMONIAL > 

You can't go wrong with Coach Ruggles to help walk you and your child through the college recruiting process. We've tried the other sites that just sign up just any athlete & take a fee when they really are just hosting your profile. Aaron went the extra mile and actually got to know Matthew and really found out what he wanted from a college and in his athletic career. He was always available and willing to advise our son on all aspects of recruiting - whether it's initial contact, sending out emails, or putting together videos. After our son had what could have been a career ending injury, Aaron continued to keep in touch checking in on his recovery and encourging us along the way. 

- Dori & Toni Burger (Parents)

F.A.Q.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
NCAA and NAIA coaches can begin to contact you your freshman year in high school. It's important to understand that they can not contact you if they have no idea that you exist. There are no rules or regulations that prevent you or your family from reaching out to coaches before your freshman year to build those relationships. Recruiting at the college level is extremely competitive. Coaches have to get the most talented athletes possible to commit to their programs in order to win games and ensure their job security. Middle schoolers are receiving offers more frequently than ever. 85% of DI football players are identified by their sophomore year. Make sure you are building these relationships as soon as you feel you're ready to give yourself the most opportunities possible.
When does the recruiting process begin?
NCAA and NAIA coaches can begin to contact you your freshman year in high school. It's important to understand that they can not contact you if they have no idea that you exist. There are no rules or regulations that prevent you or your family from reaching out to coaches before your freshman year to build those relationships. Recruiting at the college level is extremely competitive. Coaches have to get the most talented athletes possible to commit to their programs in order to win games and ensure their job security. Middle schoolers are receiving offers more frequently than ever. 85% of DI football players are identified by their sophomore year. Make sure you are building these relationships as soon as you feel you're ready to give yourself the most opportunities possible.
GRADES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. There are a couple ways to look at this. NCAA has a certain GPA you have to have in your core classes to play. Even to play DIII, you will find it more difficult to play at the DIII level the lower your grades fall. You could also look at the concept of a "scholarship." You want a coach to invest, potentially, hundreds of thousands of dollars in you and pay for you to play for their program. They are not interested in making a bad investment. If they pull the trigger and you can't stay eligible, they just wasted all that money on you because you can no longer play for their program. The higher your GPA, the more schools you are eligible for, providing you with more opportunities to play at more programs. If you're serious about playing ball in college, whether you're a freshman or a senior, it's time to get your grades as high as you can.
How important are my grades in the recruiting process?
GRADES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. There are a couple ways to look at this. NCAA has a certain GPA you have to have in your core classes to play. Even to play DIII, you will find it more difficult to play at the DIII level the lower your grades fall. You could also look at the concept of a "scholarship." You want a coach to invest, potentially, hundreds of thousands of dollars in you and pay for you to play for their program. They are not interested in making a bad investment. If they pull the trigger and you can't stay eligible, they just wasted all that money on you because you can no longer play for their program. The higher your GPA, the more schools you are eligible for, providing you with more opportunities to play at more programs. If you're serious about playing ball in college, whether you're a freshman or a senior, it's time to get your grades as high as you can.
How important are my grades in the recruiting process?
This may have been true in the early 90's. Times have changed. 95% of student athletes (SA's) are first seen (and further researched) online before the coach will decide to invest their resources to come watch them play. This is especially true today for the programs that have been effected by Covid-19. Now, more than ever, coaches are relying on NCAA & NAIA Compliant Recruiting Services to identify athletes that have been verified by professionals. The majority of schools have yet to be cleared for face-to-face recruiting. Even when face-to-face recruiting is 100% permissible, many schools have had to cut their funding and have less resources to get out to recruits in person. DI coaches can only subscribe to compliant services to see verified recruit databases which contain all of the SA's necessary information.
Is it true that coaches will find me if I am good enough? 
This may have been true in the early 90's. Times have changed. 95% of student athletes (SA's) are first seen (and further researched) online before the coach will decide to invest their resources to come watch them play. This is especially true today for the programs that have been effected by Covid-19. Now, more than ever, coaches are relying on NCAA & NAIA Compliant Recruiting Services to identify athletes that have been verified by professionals. The majority of schools have yet to be cleared for face-to-face recruiting. Even when face-to-face recruiting is 100% permissible, many schools have had to cut their funding and have less resources to get out to recruits in person. DI coaches can only subscribe to compliant services to see verified recruit databases which contain all of the SA's necessary information.
Is it true that coaches will find me if I am good enough? 
Loaded question. It's important to understand that most of these camps and combines are main streams of revenue for those who are putting them on. Any combine being held will NOT be able to guarantee college coaches are going to be there. Generally when coaches go to combines they are there to evaluate, and focus on, a player they already know about. Camps on the universities are usually open invite for anyone who can pay. Important here to keep in mind that while camps on universities are generally a little less expensive, and can get you noticed by the coaching staff, there is a certain way to handle that situation. They can not adequately evaluate 300 players on a Saturday afternoon. It's important to take the correct steps before you attend a camp at a university held by staff.
Should I attend camps and combines? 
Loaded question. It's important to understand that most of these camps and combines are main streams of revenue for those who are putting them on. Any combine being held will NOT be able to guarantee college coaches are going to be there. Generally when coaches go to combines they are there to evaluate, and focus on, a player they already know about. Camps on the universities are usually open invite for anyone who can pay. Important here to keep in mind that while camps on universities are generally a little less expensive, and can get you noticed by the coaching staff, there is a certain way to handle that situation. They can not adequately evaluate 300 players on a Saturday afternoon. It's important to take the correct steps before you attend a camp at a university held by staff.
Will my high school coach handle my recruiting?
Will my high school coach handle my recruiting?
Your high school coach can be your best friend through the recruiting process. We encourage you to have a great relationship with your coaching staff. We also want to make sure you understand that this is YOUR recruiting process. What you get, or what you do not get, out of it will impact you and your family significantly more than anyone else. Your coach could be sending your film to coaches, giving you advice when you come to them, or potentially not be doing anything at all. Remember, your coach's job is to win ball games to keep food on the table for him and his family. While they do their best, usually, to help - it is not their job to get you a scholarship. If it were their responsibility, they would have that same responsibility for every SA on your team. College coaches want to speak with you. They are recruiting YOU. Take control of your process. 
Can I use social media to get recruited?
Social media can be a useful tool to help out with your recruiting. It provides coaches a platform to learn more about you, your friends, and your family to help them determine where they will place you on their board - or if you are going to be on their board at all. It's important to be mindful on what you post and who you associate yourself with. You are, after all, the company you keep. Keep it clean. If you have things on your social media you do not want coaches to see - don't panic and delete all accounts. Go through and remove the negative. If you have no online presence, it will throw red flags. Twitter specifically is a platform that coaches use to connect with recruits. Keep in mind, however, that there are a lot of athletes who do not have the ability to play at the next level who are blowing these coaches up on a regular basis. It's more beneficial to get verified through a compliant service.
When should I expect to begin receiving scholarship offers?
When should I expect to begin receiving scholarship offers?
Believe it or not, there are 9 & 10 year old kids who have received scholarship offers. This obviously is not normal, nor should you expect it, but it is becoming increasingly more common for middle schoolers to begin receiving offers. Recruiting is more competitive than ever and the NCAA / NAIA continuously adopts new legislation to protect the student athletes. All being said, if you're already in high school, it could happen at anytime for anyone. Have you seen freshman showing they have been offered by DI coaches over twitter? You definitely need to begin building relationships with coaches if you are in high school and have nothing going on. If you are experiencing a lot of conversations, but no offers, it's time to expand your search. When coaches say they are not offering yet, it just means you're not on the top of their board. There is a way to move those conversations forward.
Can I handle the process on my own?
Absolutely. Just remember, you only get to go through the recruiting process once. You do not want to look back and have regrets. The process is tedious and there are a lot of windows to make mistakes. You should make sure you have a full understanding of the language, guidelines, and calendars. You also need to understand how valuable your time is. It takes a lot on your behalf. You have to be persistent and methodical with your efforts. There are some who can handle it, but usually at some kind of expense or another. For instance, your focus should be on your studies if you're not at practice or working out. It is possible, but seek some type of guidance.
Can I still be recruited if my senior season is over with?
Can I still be recruited if my senior season is over with?
Absolutely! We should sit down and develop some type of game-plan and evaluate what you have been doing and where you are at. DI coaches can offer until April 1st your senior year. That being said, money is very limited and tight at this point - however, still possible. NAIA and JUCO programs can recruit all the way into August after your senior year. There is a certain approach to take if you are a senior and your year is over. There is truly no time to waste and no room for mistakes. Do not be discouraged though, because you definitely can still get this done.
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