Commitments plummet amid big changes in recruiting

[HooperScooper]

Interesting article if you follow recruiting, from Matt Norlander of CBS Sports. Talks about how recruiting is in a stalemate right now because of the change to revenue sharing from the NIL system. Most schools don't even know what their budgets are so they're either lying to the recruits or offering them packages that are less than some other schools. Lots of interesting quotes from coaches.

"This is about who can sign players that can guarantee money, and as you look deeper, if you can't guarantee money to incoming guys, how can you guarantee it to your returnees?" one source in the Midwest said. "Things are going to start shifting quick. The power schools, usually when they get frustrated, action follows. Will we see the collectives run wild? Nobody knows what to do right now."

Shy of the coach convincing himself to fork over more than 25% of his budget on a player with zero college experience, he's probably going to lose out on what might be his top high school target. The agent will find $1 million plus because he believes the market will exist, even if it's not there right now.

"There's a level of education that we've been trying to do with agents," one Big Ten coach said. "You have some that understand and some that refuse to hear it. Three-fourths don't get it or they think you're lying to them."

College basketball commitments plummet amid big changes in recruiting: 'Nobody knows what to do right now'

With only six of the top 50 Class of 2026 prospects committed to a school, coaches and agents are in a recruiting stalemate

www.cbssports.com

 

[DogMania]

That all makes sense. This time last year it seemed we were hearing about all sorts of dollars being thrown around and I think a lot more commitments or at least strong predictions. Recruiting seems more of a feeling things out kind of exercise, where coaches are starting to zero in on recruits and recruits with programs, but few are pressing for quick decisions. Maybe it's more perception than reality on my part.

 

[uchusky32]

This is going to lead to less freshmen going to top programs. If I’m a coach I would prefer to give money to the proven, transfer, over the unproven. Top players will get theirs. The rest will might get theirs at lower programs that they will transfer from the next year. As we have been told don’t look for a big freshman class coming in anymore.

 

[Jaydumo20]

This is going to lead to less freshmen going to top programs. If I’m a coach I would prefer to give money to the proven, transfer, over the unproven. Top players will get theirs. The rest will might get theirs at lower programs that they will transfer from the next year. As we have been told don’t look for a big freshman class coming in anymore.

Youre right. And id like to take this time to voice how much that sucks. It's not just nostalgia. Freshmen classes were one of the most exciting and rewarding things about college basketball: following classes of kids who stay for 2-4 years , and maybe win a natty, is the greatest experience for fans of a program.

 

[HW611]

Youre right. And id like to take this time to voice how much that sucks. It's not just nostalgia. Freshmen classes were one of the most exciting and rewarding things about college basketball: following classes of kids who stay for 2-4 years , and maybe win a natty, is the greatest experience for fans of a program.

In regards to the overall ecosystem of American basketball, it sucks as well.

College basketball was suppose to be one of the best developmental places in the world. Now kids can hardly rely on a coach to invest in properly developing them.

Now there’s a trend of even bringing in European players on top of not recruiting guys out of high school to bring in transfers (who most likely don’t have the NBA future these HS recruits can have).

Not to mention how crazy it is during the time players can make good money for their talents it’s moving in this direction of less opportunities for American HS basketball players. It’s all around bad.

 

[jibsey]

Maybe top players will make their decisions quicker now? Get a commitment and salary locked down because end of season is a transfer rush ?

 

[HW611]

Maybe top players will make their decisions quicker now? Get a commitment and salary locked down because end of season is a transfer rush ?

Won’t stop them from ending up like Darius Adams still.

 

[RuffRuff]

Youre right. And id like to take this time to voice how much that sucks. It's not just nostalgia. Freshmen classes were one of the most exciting and rewarding things about college basketball: following classes of kids who stay for 2-4 years , and maybe win a natty, is the greatest experience for fans of a program.

But back then once you locked into a program, you were stuck. Now a kid has flexibility to go somewhere he can play instantly, and transfer up if he develops. This has been talked about, Navery has mentioned this many times. They need a consistent system is what they need right now, not something that changes annually and coaches/players are left guessing how to operate. That part has to be exhausting.

 

[HW611]

But back then once you locked into a program, you were stuck. Now a kid has flexibility to go somewhere he can play instantly, and transfer up if he develops. This has been talked about, Navery has mentioned this many times. They need a consistent system is what they need right now, not something that changes annually and coaches/players are left guessing how to operate. That part has to be exhausting.

If you are good there’s no reason to transfer up. Transferring up doesn’t actually help guys with real NBA futures. This has already been discussed and proven.

 

[HW611]

But back then once you locked into a program, you were stuck. Now a kid has flexibility to go somewhere he can play instantly, and transfer up if he develops. This has been talked about, Navery has mentioned this many times. They need a consistent system is what they need right now, not something that changes annually and coaches/players are left guessing how to operate. That part has to be exhausting.

List of prominent players from mid majors.

Dame Lillard Weber State 6th pick (never played in NCAA tournament and was hurt his junior year)
Steph Curry 7th pick Davidson
Kawhi Leonard 15th pick San Diego State
Jalen Williams 12th pick Santa Clara

Jalen Williams just won a championship coming from the same conference Joey C and Aiden Mahaney transferred from.

There maybe more but this was the very easy list off the top of my head. This whole players have to transfer up to better their careers and futures is the biggest crock of crap. Who is the guy who transferred up and became a legit star and lottery pick because of it at the next level?

 

[Scrutineer]

List of prominent players from mid majors.

Dame Lillard Weber State 6th pick (never played in NCAA tournament and was hurt his junior year)
Steph Curry 7th pick Davidson
Kawhi Leonard 15th pick San Diego State
Jalen Williams 12th pick Santa Clara

Jalen Williams just won a championship coming from the same conference Joey C and Aiden Mahaney transferred from.

There maybe more but this was the very easy list off the top of my head. This whole players have to transfer up to better their careers and futures is the biggest crock of crap. Who is the guy who transferred up and became a legit star and lottery pick because of it at the next level?

Then there's Ja Morant. Unranked in high school and #2 overall pick in the draft after two years at Murray St.

 

[HW611]

Then there's Ja Morant. Unranked in high school and #2 overall pick in the draft after two years at Murray St.

Literally the biggest stars in the league have came from mid majors. I don’t know of one guy who even became an All Star who transferred up.

But somehow this is suppose to be better for players.