Update on a Tenn recruit

We Work Hoops ‏ @WeWorkHoops

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Gulf Coast State College (FL) forward Uji Ugoka signs with Virginia Tech she was thought to be leaning towards Tennessee

bummer for them. i don't think she would have been much help anyway. the taller center seemed like a better fit...

They will apparently have a patchwork team next year and be OK, then back to being decent team in 13, assuming that they land a decent recruiting class. Elzy a good hire as asst coach. Holly needs to be the bomb as HC, and not defer to Pat or anyone ... she needs to forge her own path.

That's 0 for 2 targeted JUCO players for TN.

What's Plan C?

Kyra Elzy was in charge of recruiting at Kentucky. This could be a big loss for Ky. and a huge win for Tenn. Many of the players that were on Kentucky's list are also on Tenn's list. Will Kyra's loss impact Kentucky's 2013 recruiting class? Time will tell.

Plan C is going with a nine-player roster of which six kids are underclasswomen and a new coach. And hoping the raw talent level is enough to get by.

Which recruits were on both lists that were leaning to Kentucky?

"New coach" is a bit overstating.
While she's no Pat, they've worked together so long, it should be a pretty smooth transition.

Don't know if a recruit is favoring Ky slightly over Tenn. However, if Kyra was the primary point of contact for a recruit; lets say Greenwell; will Kyra going to Tenn influence her decision? Who knows, it might. Asst Coaches play a key role in the recruitment of players, but obviously the Head Coach has the most influence.

Like Niele Ivey for Notre Dame, Kyra Elzy was a key component in the recruitment of players. Her loss is significant.

That was certainly the rationale for the decision to promote her, but there's still a learning curve associated with being an assistant versus the CEO of a program like the Tennessee LVs. Handling all of the decisions, demands on your time external to the basketball court, dealing with media, boosters, university administration, finance folks, etc., takes some time to get used to. And to manage high expectations when you have a young team on top of it without looking like you're shying away from the legacy that allowed those expectations to exist? It's a fine line. And not easy.

I understand the decision, but think Illinois, Auburn, and Michigan made better coaching moves this offseason.

Kyra to recruit last week - You should go to Kentucky. great coach and great fans. Wonderful arena.

Kyra to recruit this week - Never mind. Tennessee is the place for you.

Now, if you were a recruit, how would you react?

It's a slippery slope here.

that's a good point. some are making it sound like Geno, for example, has nothing to do with recruiting till he does the in home visit and makes an offer. he's out visiting recruits all the time. sure he sends out Shea and Marissa to evaluate recruits early in the process, but he went out to see Erica McCall early in the process. When she's on campus i'm sure he meets with her. i think it's fantasy land to really think an assistant at the level of Kyra Elzy is going to suddenly bring all the kids she was helping recruit to Kentucky to Tennessee.

In fact, Kyra is the same exact age as Shea. do people think if Shea left and went to Maryland, that suddenly Diamond and Saniya would then decide to follow her there? I think having a great relationship with an assistant can be important to a kid, but it seems to me to be more of a minor factor than the program, head coach, teammates, etc etc.

And you are right - if she's been selling Mitchell, the Kentucky program, the arena, the new history they are building, it's going to sound a bit self serving to suddenly say "oh no, now I'm telling you that Holly will develop you better than Matthew, and you'd fit in better at Tennessee, etc etc."

Maybe i'm wrong about the kind of "recruiter" Elzy was, but she's no Chris Dailey, nor is she at the same level as say Trisha Stafford-Odom, who recently left Duke for UNC.

No worries. The fans will come up with a good slogan that will inspire whoever the players are and save the day, e.g.. Nine is Fine. Final four, who needs more (I was going to say Moore, but that would be cruel).

By the same token,

Head coach: "Come to school A. It's great here! We've got great academics and a great campus. Our facilities are awesome and you'll get to play with person Y and person Z, who will really accentuate your game."

Head coach goes to another school. "Never mind. Come to school B; it's the place for you."

Does recruit follow?
It happens.

Gain Elzy lose DeMoss, even swap?

Big difference between an assistant and a head coach. Most recruits go to play for the HC not the assistant.

Either way, I'm not sure a player will follow an assistant to another school.

Oh sure - she can have some influence bringing over KY leans to Tenn, but doesnt mean any difference to me. Good luck to her. I love my huskies. A bonafide PG.... a deep and talented post presence..... when do we start?

You're over looking a key component in the recruitment of players. Players develop a rapport with the assistant coaches that will eventually be their primary coach when attending school. Kyra could have developed a great personal relationship with a recruit(s) and that just may be enough to convince a recruit to attend Tenn.

There are many times the assistant coaches are the ones that open the door to allow the Head Coach to close the deal on a recruit. If a recruit doesn't get along with an assistant coach, they aren't going to attend the school regardless of who the Head Coach is.

Not overlooking that at all. I understand that totally.

My point is that the player has heard from the assistant how great the school is and how great the coach is. Now she is going to say something different.