Racial Stereotypes in High School Basketball Scouting Reports

• In Event: Race, Recruitment, and Power Dynamics: Exploring the Role of Coaches, Stereotypes, and Scandals in High School Sports

Abstract

In this study, media-published scouting reports of nationally ranked high school basketball players were analyzed for racial stereotypes. A sampling of 40 top ranked players (20 Black and 20 White) over two graduating classes were examined through quantitative and text analyses. These written scouting reports were coded for text analyses along various themes related to racial stereotypes found in the literature on college and professional sports reporting. Of particular interest were racial stereotype-aligned themes of perceived intelligence, work ethic, toughness, and presumed innate attributes. Scouting reports were found to align with racial stereotypes for both Black and White prospects. The potential impact of biased and stereotype-based scouting reports on the perceptions and future trajectory of these basketball prospects is discussed.

Author

• Keith E. Howard, Chapman University