For Rep Basketball Tryouts, there is no question that height is a consideration for certain positions. It's not as important in the younger age groups or for lower division teams, but as your player gets older and hopefully moves into higher divisions of play, you may encounter very deliberate searches for tall players, and see seemingly better players being passed over for taller players.
Some consider this unfair, but one definite truth is that a coach, no matter how great, can't teach height. And taller players who can find position have a distinct advantage for rebounds over shorter players who aren't exceptional leapers.
If your player is tall, and likely to continue to be among the taller players, you may have some advantage during the first round of cuts. But skill will still determine if they make the final cut.
For shorter players who are concerned about making the cut, the message to convey is to come out of the gate showing why you're there. Undersized guards will have an easier time early on than undersized forwards. When you're undersized, you will likely need to show your strong dribbling, shooting and passing in addition to a little extra grit on defense, greater intensity and focus and other intangibles.
A great coach selects the talent they need. A great coach also doesn't put a player in a program they aren't ready to play for.
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