I feel we're over thinking all this. There's a lot of talented ballers entering college each year. Some are more ready physically and next-step ready than others. Ross, who you brought up is an excellent example. Maybe he gets more PT as an under classman elsewhere if the coaching is solid. Then by his junior or senior year (or 5th year in the case due to the extra post pandemic thing) he's a plug and play high level contributor for a top 25 team or the highest bidder.
As much as it seems Hurley knows how to work with this new CBB reality, it's horrible in so many ways. For the coaches it's now 24/7 360 recruiting burnout. Programs are struggling to restock their teams. Many programs will struggle with a lack of continuity. Mid-majors and lower-half (probably some upper level as well) high major conference programs that were hopeful for a nice run the following year are getting their best players pillaged from their rosters, and the fans of these programs are having their hopes dashed. Instead of some Cinderella program (or even an up and coming major conference program that isn't usually atop their conference) running most of their roster back for another successful and exciting season, they're back to rebuilding.
Not sure what can be done to make this player movement and NIL opportunity, which in principle I don't have a problem with and should have been instituted in a better way years ago. I think coming up with multi-year contracts so there's not as much movement with some exceptions such as coaching changes and being released by the program when it's mutual.
For now the era of programs developing underclassman who didn't get starters minutes (some little PT at all) to get their chance to start and shine for the same team they started with will be a rarity. The same goes for the non-blue blood programs poised to run back another surprise successful season will likely be also a rarity.
