8th grader verbals to Texas

[Vowelguy]

Given how much criticism the new coach got when she was hired ... largely (as far as I can tell) because she was an "unmarried woman", I've been on her side.

But this kinda turns my stomach.

Bret McCormick ‏@ASGR1995
ASGR #1 2018 Charli Collier 6-4 P Crosby TX has given a verbal to the Texas Longhorns. AAU team DFW Gold.

 

[easttexastrash]

Why does this turn your stomach? If this young lady feels certain that she wants to ge a Longhorn, even at this stage, why not verbal? She can always change her mind if she wants and it takes all the recruiting pressure off of her. She can just play and enjoy the rest of her prep career without all of the pressures that many players face.

 

[Icebear]

Why does this turn your stomach? If this young lady feels certain that she wants to ge a Longhorn, even at this stage, why not verbal? She can always change her mind if she wants and it takes all the recruiting pressure off of her. She can just play and enjoy the rest of her prep career without all of the pressures that many players face.

Maybe because eighth graders aren't supposed to be receiving offers from anyone let alone able to accept even a mythical offer.

 

[sarals24]

I agree. And how on earth does an 8th grader know what she wants out of a college??

 

[Wbbfan1]

What's the purpose of even publicizing this Verbal which technically doesn't mean anything? The only purpose if to enhance the reputation of the AAU Program and get them more publicity. By the schools unofficially accepting them, it puts pressure on the kids if they start to think about looking at other schools.

 

[Biff]

By the schools unofficially accepting them...

Curious. What information do you have about the school unofficially accepting the "verbal"? What action did the school take to do this?

 

[Vowelguy]

Curious. What information do you have about the school unofficially accepting the "verbal"? What action did the school take to do this?

Recruit: "I'd like to verbally commit to your school."
Coach A: "That's great!! We're excited to have you join us in a few years."
Coach B: "That's great, but I think it's still really early in the process."

I would say Coach A has "unofficially accepted" the verbal. Not that that means anything, but it's somewhat tacit approval of the idea of committing so early.

 

[Vowelguy]

Don't get me wrong, recruiting is a TOUGH game, and yet critical. It's nice for me to have the moral high ground when it's not my career, and my favorite coach has the luxury to take his time with recruits. A young coach with morals may end up as an unemployed coach.

But I just have a hard time believing a 14 year old has the maturity to make this decision. And if this kind of thing is done just to stop the non-stop badgering of schools, then it's truly unfortunate.

 

[Biff]

Recruit: "I'd like to verbally commit to your school."
Coach A: "That's great!! We're excited to have you join us in a few years."
Coach B: "That's great, but I think it's still really early in the process."

I would say Coach A has "unofficially accepted" the verbal. Not that that means anything, but it's somewhat tacit approval of the idea of committing so early.

I understand the theory of the possible practice as you described. But, we don't know in this case or any of these "announcements" by the young student what communication may or may not have transpired. The implication of the post to which I replied was that schools are doing this. I'd like to know how we know what the schools are doing. I believe they cannot make any public comment about a possible recruit. How do we know the school has said anything to the recruit about acceptance of the "verbal"?

 

[southie]

There's an old saying: "Live, and let live". You should try it.

 

[Icebear]

There's an old saying: "Live, and let live". You should try it.

Helps if you define "you."

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I understand the theory of the possible practice as you described. But, we don't know in this case or any of these "announcements" by the young student what communication may or may not have transpired. The implication of the post to which I replied was that schools are doing this. I'd like to know how we know what the schools are doing. I believe they cannot make any public comment about a possible recruit. How do we know the school has said anything to the recruit about acceptance of the "verbal"?

Exactly what I was thinking.

A verbal is worth the paper it is printed on.

The school is forbidden from commenting about recruits until they sign a LOI in their senior season.

So, even a mediocre player could verbal to UConn, in 8th grade, for whatever its worth. UConn couldn't comment, the verbal means nothing, and life goes on.

If any criticism is warranted, it is that we have a player ranked #1 in her class while still in 8th grade. How realistic is that? Other players aren't going to improve faster than her for 4 or 5 years?

 

[Vowelguy]

So, even a mediocre player could verbal to UConn, in 8th grade, for whatever its worth. UConn couldn't comment, the verbal means nothing, and life goes on.
?

Not quite sure it's that straight forward.

First, reporters can ask coaches and they can respond off the record. Ie, "have you offered player X a scholarship?"

The recruiting services are generally in contact with the players or their coaches. I presume they wouldn't report that Jane Schmo had verbal led unless they knew there was some serious interest both ways.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Not quite sure it's that straight forward.

First, reporters can ask coaches and they can respond off the record. Ie, "have you offered player X a scholarship?"

The recruiting services are generally in contact with the players or their coaches. I presume they wouldn't report that Jane Schmo had verbal led unless they knew there was some serious interest both ways.

I don't see why coaches shouldn't have an interest - I know of a program out here that has had issues because the coaching staff refused to start tracking prospects early enough. That doesn't mean you are offering a scholarship.

If a program is out asking for verbals from kids that young, that's just wrong. If they let it be known that they (currently) plan on recruiting her and the result is she verbals, as I said it means nothing. I don't see the problem, it means nothing.

And the coach that responds off the record about their recruiting (and I know they do sometimes) may come back to haunt them.

 

[Paul1969]

I live in Austin Texas and have lived in Texas for 12 years. Texas is it's own special place and folks here have great pride in their state. They are Longhorn crazy all over Texas except for the folks who support OU or other Texas Schools. It doesn't surprise me when Top Recruits know that they wish to stay here to play hoops. It's just a totally different place here then the rest of the Country.

 

[Tonyc]

Now that this is out I would think other kids who play her position would think about going elsewhere. I say they thinking of Jaquie Gemelos. Also thinking all the great players we have now and other kids are going elsewhere for various reasons, they have.

 

[alexrgct]

Question: are ANY. 8th graders developed enough to be worth recruiting to the extent you accept a verbal? A LOT can change in four years.

I don't think it's shady, but it sure is risky.

 

[alexrgct]

For the record, Karen Aston's hire was criticized because she wasn't a splash hire at all when the culture of Texas was to make just those kinds of moves. Hiring Coach G may not have worked out, but she could reasonably have been a source of hope for the future. So, given her utter lack of bona fides, the hope lay with recruiting. and we know how the culture of sexuality doesn't play well in Texas, a state that is talent-rich but has other schools with a more "family" vibe (ie. distinctly not A&M or Baylor and its aggressively private culture when it comes to sexuality). In short, the concern is what she could bring to the table after losing a nearly legendary coach...albeit not one with those kinds of credentials at Texas.

To this point, she's certainly recruited some numbers and certainly been through one gawd-awful season in her inaugural campaign. Only time will tell whether change is on the horizon.

 

[UcMiami]

I have no problem with this - families have ties to institutions, regional/local loyalties can be extremely strong, so a lot of kids grow up dreaming of going to _____ school whether they are athletes or not. (And not so positively sometimes parents dream of their children going to a particular school and apply a lot of pressure.) The question then becomes whether they are good enough to get in or for an athlete, good enough to get a free ride. And then whether when they actually get to an age where they sign on the dotted line they still want what they thought they wanted 3 or 4 years ago. For some that answer is yes, for others suddenly something else has become more important than that initial 'loyalty' to a school. But ... it is a free country and making a verbal commitment is not binding and I don't think anyone believes TX put 'undo' pressure on this player to commit at this age.
Some coaches actively dissuade kids from making a verbal commitment (reportedly Geno missed out on a player not that long ago because he told her not to commit at an early age), others are happy to accept a commitment at any time. And for coaches - they end up planning around a verbal commitment that may be withdrawn and that can be pretty harmful depending on when it occurs. And it doesn't end with verbal commitments - players can arrive on campus and then change their minds and transfer

 

[Vowelguy]

For the record, Karen Aston's hire was criticized because she wasn't a splash hire at all when the culture of Texas was to make just those kinds of moves.

All I know is that I never saw anyone say she was a bad coach or not up to it. I have no problem with criticism based on merit. Instead, I just saw comments that Texas should've interviewed a man, or hired someone "different" - without the slightest explanation about why such a person would be better than Aston.

 

[southie]

McKenzie Calvert committed to Baylor as an 8th grader; I believe both UConn and Tenneesee have received verbal commitments from very young recruits, as well, although maybe not that young. Interview/article on Collier:

http://www.kvue.com/sports/228263301.html

As for Karen Aston, her head coaching experience was limited to a couple of years at UNC-Charlotte (one NCAA appearance, I believe) and North Texas (losing season). So, her resume isn't very accomplished. But, she got the job based on having been a former assistant coach at Texas under Jody Conradt. She's obviously a great recruiter, but the jury is still out on her actual coaching abilities.

Texas has separate men's and women's athletic departments and directors. A female AD, Chris Plonsky, is in charge of the women's athletics. She has yet to hire a single male head coach to lead any of the programs under her watch (tennis, swimming (twice) , soccer, basketball (twice), golf); none have come close to winning a national championship. The volleyball program is led by a male head coach who won the national title last year, and has been to the Final Four four out of the last 5 years); some debate who actually hired him as he was hired during the transition when Jody Conradt was giving up the AD spot, and Plonsky was taking the reins.

So, some Texas fans are upset with Plonsky for her hiring practices, and some are upset with Aston based on her qualifications. To say Aston's personal life upsets Texas fans isn't a fair assessment, IMO.

 

[ochoopsfan]

Eight Grader is a bit young, IMO. However, this appears to be the exception rather than the rule, or a new fad or trend.

Whats next, "We interrupt Milk and Cookie Time but 4th grader Sally Jo Hoopster says she is giving her verbal to University of Anywhere".......as long as she can take Barbie and Ken with her!!

 

[Icebear]

I do not believe UCONN has ever received a commitment from anyone younger than the summer after their sophomore year.

 

[msf22b]

Interesting that UConn will now have a Texas presence
Perhaps she'll change her mind after seeing the best style of BB in the world.
Perhaps other young talented Texans will get excited about heading North-East for college and championships.

 

[HuskeySlim]

Personally, I think it is a little too early for an 8th or 9th grader to commit to 4 years of her life with any university. However, each situation is different. Maturity level, parents, peer pressure etc... After Jackie Gemelos was recruited, then de-commited,didn't Geno say he would never recruit another player that young again ? I think Courtney Ekmark was the next youngest since then. That is about as young as I would feel comfortable. Didn't Courtney sign as a soph in high school, with both her parents blessing ?

Anytime you recruit any young lady its all a crap shoot, but I believe the older the recruit the odds are much more favorable.