Gamecocks and transfers

[Mdoggie]

What are they doing that is so attractive to transfers?

 

[iamcbs]

What are they doing that is so attractive to transfers?

WINNING!!

 

[Mdoggie]

WINNING!!

But seriously folks.

 

[2Husky]

They actively recruit them. I much prefer UConn's method.

 

[DaddyChoc]

they like Dawn's swag

 

[Rocket009]

They have a lot going for their program right now. Great attendance, engaged fan base and the team seem to have a sense of purpose and fun. Not a lot of negatives coming out of SC.

Of course they have still to win an National Championship, but that's a good sell for recruits - "come here and be part of the team that wins our first" They have to buy into the dream that they are going to beat UCONN one day, but I guess anything is possible given enough time.

 

[DaddyChoc]

They have a lot going for their program right now. Great attendance, engaged fan base and the team seem to have a sense of purpose and fun. Not a lot of negatives coming out of SC.

Of course they have still to win an National Championship, but that's a good sell for recruits - "come here and be part of the team that wins our first" They have to buy into the dream that they are going to beat UCONN one day, but I guess anything is possible given enough time.

maybe next season... but the game is in Connecticut

 

[HuskyNan]

They actively recruit them. I much prefer UConn's method.

You know this how?

 

[Blueconn]

They actively recruit them. I much prefer UConn's method.

How does a school "recruit" a player that officially announces they're leaving a program ? Anybody know what rules apply ?

 

[HuskyNan]

What are they doing that is so attractive to transfers?

I suspect the chance to play for a Top 10 team, under a famous former Olympian coach, in a warm climate has a lot to do with it. So. Carolina has also had a lot of exposure on TV and players are simply more aware that there is another option at a highly ranked university with the potential to make her mark as a key to creating a National Champion.

 

[HoopsFan21]

With all these transfers nowadays, there is a secondary market developing for top recruits. South Carolina and OSU have for now cornered it. I think it's OK as long as coaches aren't behind the scenes recruiting another team's players which I believe is a violation of NCAA rules.

 

[2Husky]

You know this how?

How does a school "recruit" a player that officially announces they're leaving a program ? Anybody know what rules apply ?

Because it is reported that prospective transfers visit the school, and I doubt they would if there wasn't interest expressed. I'm not implying anything wrong or underhanded. Once someone gets their release they can be contacted.

It would be wrong for schools to contact players before they are released or to have their players contact the players on the other team and suggest that they could transfer.

 

[Charliebball]

You know this how?

Maybe a better way to say it is that they are very very welcoming to talented transfers unlike a certain team located in Southern New England.........

 

[donalddoowop]

They have a lot going for their program right now. Great attendance, engaged fan base and the team seem to have a sense of purpose and fun. Not a lot of negatives coming out of SC.

Of course they have still to win an National Championship, but that's a good sell for recruits - "come here and be part of the team that wins our first" They have to buy into the dream that they are going to beat UCONN one day, but I guess anything is possible given enough time.

SC has lost the last two years in the NCAA Tournament and it was not to UCONN. They need to be prepared for ALL teams. SC needs some accurate outside shooters before they have a good chance of getting back to the Final Four, and more experienced coaching, imo.

 

[CocoHusky]

There are a bunch of misconceptions being kicked around in this thread regarding recruiting & transfers.

There is no secondary market it is simply the ways things have always been done forever. There is the formal process of contacting a school and arranging a visit and there is the informal secondary contact through HS coaches, AAU coaches’ friends of the family, etc. If you think you are a good enough player you can contact UCONN office and schedule a visit, regardless if you are HS player or college transfer. If UCONN is interested someone will be there to take your visit. If UCONN is not interested guess what? You can still visit.

What everyone is trying to say is mostly accurate: UCONN does not make a lot of outbound calls to transfers. But keep in mind Natalie Butler is on the roster & Sarah Imovbioh was quoted as saying that she hand an offer to transfer to UCONN last year.

No transfer in their right mind goes into the coaches’ office and announces that they want to transfers without knowing that the can “likely” secure a scholarship somewhere else. That would be a $40K mistake. The formal “release” is just a formality for the school and also a potential PR nightmare-remember KSU and Romero?

The reason South Carolina & Ohio State have been successful in securing top level transfers in the last few years is not one simple answer. The success of the teams, the draw of Dawn are all factors but the most important factor is they had room on the rosters (playing time) for these high level players. Having room on your roster for this many players also says your regular (non-transfer) recruiting is not going so well.

 

[HoopsFan21]

There are a bunch of misconceptions being kicked around in this thread regarding recruiting & transfers.

There is no secondary market it is simply the ways things have always been done forever. There is the formal process of contacting a school and arranging a visit and there is the informal secondary contact through HS coaches, AAU coaches’ friends of the family, etc. If you think you are a good enough player you can contact UCONN office and schedule a visit, regardless if you are HS player or college transfer. If UCONN is interested someone will be there to take your visit. If UCONN is not interested guess what? You can still visit.

What everyone is trying to say is mostly accurate: UCONN does not make a lot of outbound calls to transfers. But keep in mind Natalie Butler is on the roster & Sarah Imovbioh was quoted as saying that she hand an offer to transfer to UCONN last year.

No transfer in their right mind goes into the coaches’ office and announces that they want to transfers without knowing that the can “likely” secure a scholarship somewhere else. That would be a $40K mistake. The formal “release” is just a formality for the school and also a potential PR nightmare-remember KSU and Romero?

The reason South Carolina & Ohio State have been successful in securing top level transfers in the last few years is not one simple answer. The success of the teams, the draw of Dawn are all factors but the most important factor is they had room on the rosters (playing time) for these high level players. Having room on your roster for this many players also says your regular (non-transfer) recruiting is not going so well.

I may have missed it, but what success has OSU and South Carolina had? The SEC for as great as it supposedly is hasn't won a title in nearly a decade, and the B1G or ACC's last title was ???

 

[CocoHusky]

I may have missed it, but what success has OSU and South Carolina had? The SEC for as great as it supposedly is hasn't won a title in nearly a decade, and the B1G or ACC's last title was ???

I 'm not going to fall for your straw man where you define success as only being National title-therefore unique to UCONN only!
SC has lead the country in attendance for the last 2 years now.
South Carolina has achieved a #1 ranking in the past two years.
South Carolina has made it to a FF for the first time in program history.
OSU has produced a two time AA in Kelsey Mitchel-who lead the nation is scoring as a Freshmen.
OSU improved its record from below .500 17-19 to 24-11 to 28-8 in the past three years.
........
Surprise you haven't noticed any of this success!

 

[easttexastrash]

...and more experienced coaching, imo.

I guess their coaches become more experienced every year.

 

[easttexastrash]

I may have missed it, but what success has OSU and South Carolina had? The SEC for as great as it supposedly is hasn't won a title in nearly a decade, and the B1G or ACC's last title was ???

SC is still building its program. DS is recruiting well and I have not doubt they will be a top 5 team for years to come. Their time is coming and players will want to be a part of it.

 

[TFintheMix]

SC has lost the last two years in the NCAA Tournament and it was not to UCONN. They need to be prepared for ALL teams. SC needs some accurate outside shooters before they have a good chance of getting back to the Final Four, and more experienced coaching, imo.

You hit it on the head! I am a Dawn Staley fan. She has done some great things off the court at SC but she really fell short in the NCAA Tournament this year. Syracuse played well but SC should not have lost. SC got away from what made them successful all year which was to pounded inside. They got suckered by Syracuse who gave them the outside shot. After hitting a few, the guards kept shooting and Dawn never reigned them in.

 

[UcMiami]

How does a school "recruit" a player that officially announces they're leaving a program ? Anybody know what rules apply ?

Depends on the type of release - if it is a limited release than typically the old school takes a list of schools from the player and contacts the ones they are OK with releasing the player to. I believe Uconn specifically contacted KY for Walker, though they were granting an unlimited release.
There is paperwork that has to be completed and contacting a player before all the ducks are in a row is a very bad thing subject to NCAA rules. The idea that coaches 'actively recruit' transfers is I think generally mistaken. Getting word out that they would be interested by contacting a player's 'people' (former coaches, trainers, etc.) that they are interested is probably the extent of 'active recruitment' that goes on, until a player themselves actually makes the first contact.

It is not dissimilar to hiring assistant coaches/head coaches from other programs - a delicate matter that involves getting in touch with the program before approaching the specific coach and getting permission - but assistant/head coaches are not covered by NCAA regulations in the way that scholarship athletes are.

 

[CBus13]

Another reason for South Carolina's success with these specific high profile recruits could be location.
Alisha Gray is originally from Sandersville, GA, which is about a 2 and half hour drive to Columbia.
Kaela Davis is originally from Suwanee, GA which is a 3 and a half hour drive to Columbia.

IF Azura Stevens winds up at South Carolina, that would be a 3 hour and 20 minute drive from Raleigh, her hometown, to Columbia.

Those are all doable drives for parents and friends to come see a weekend home game. South Carolina is really the only successful women's basketball program in that region as of late. Staley's experience as a US National coach is appealing as well.

As for Sarah Imovbioh, she's originally from Nigeria, but went to high school in Charlottesville,VA and then UVA, which is a 5 hour drive.

Location may not have been a defining factor, but the only other top WBB program within the 5 hour drive would be Maryland, who had Brionna Jones and Malina Howard and a pretty good freshmen class coming in. Duke had a lot of talent, UNC was in turmoil, NC State and VT haven't been big WBB players recently. But she may have also seen how Staley was able to utilize and develop Ibiam and Welch in past seasons so maybe that appealed to Imovbioh.

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

Let's not forget that Columbia is a BEAUTIFUL campus, and an excellent University. It is in the SEC (SEC Football!) with an incredible stadium, the weather is FAB...South Carolina has a LOT going for it.

One of these days Coach Staley will figure out how to win the big games, and how to get the most out of her players. Just be glad that Jeff Walz doesn't have her recruiting prowess (yet).

 

[pinotbear]

What are they doing that is so attractive to transfers?

Gift baskets: gift baskets, with soccer balls for their little brothers and sisters..

 

[iamcbs]

Maybe a better way to say it is that they are very very welcoming to talented transfers unlike a certain team located in Southern New England....

Natalie Butler came from where?