My first preference is to recruit any of our own graduating seniors.
Second, it may be true that certain players see competition at a position and see other pastures as greener. On the other hand, plenty of players see competition as a way to get better. Without knowing the particular kids I don't agree with the thinking that we have Sanogo so that it is evident that we can't draw in a similar player like Mitchell / Yetna.
Third, with Mitchell as an example, there is always the possibility he is playing the majority of the minutes at center because that is where the team needs him, rather than the fact he sees himself as exclusively a center. With a script where we pull Sanogo with 2 fouls in the first half, there are plenty of minutes available on a big stage with a Samson Johnson or Akok or Springs providing the quickness, where they are all playing combination 4/5.
Lastly, maybe certain kids value winning in a major program, and winning means depth at every position including theirs, and they know it and embrace it in order to win and get to the Big Dance..
On the other hand, none of us have insights into the nuances of why particular kids are transferring and what will be the final draw to another program. DJ Harvey to Detroit, Really?