Hailey Van Lith in the Portal

[Rb335]

This one is wild to me. Highly regarded high school player, face of the program, the heir apparent to Asia Durr and Dana Evans. All American. This one feels different, because she came in, played really well, and graduated early. It’s truly a free agency type move from a basketball standpoint, but I’m sure there are other reasons, maybe academic.

But as a Uconn fan, it’s frustrating to some degree. When you recruit from hs, there is no guarantee that players will live up to expectation. An example of that would be Deberry, who at one point was a top big coming out of high school.

Recruiting out of the portal gives you more insight into how a players game translates to college. If you carry a full roster and nobody is transferring, you can’t recruit from the portal. Whereas other teams have max exodus of their high school recruits, and essentially plug and play with experienced college athletes.

You have to consider a world where the likes of Van Laith, Owusu, and Rodgers end up at LSU. Unlikely, but that type of portal recruitment is going to outperform even the best hs recruiting class almost every time.

I miss the days of loyalty, and building a program. This mindset that this year might not be our year, but we’re building something for the future.

Intrigued to see where she ends up, because she will be a major addition to any program.

 

[wingsfan055]

The transfer portal has become a.....

Say goodbye to academics/education & hello to $$. Stanford/Tara is Victim #1.

 

[Tom677777]

Definitely going to Indiana it makes sense, replacing Berger

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Apparently she's "do not contact" which indicates she knows where she's going. Guessing we'll find out sooner than later.

Previously, Coach Geno claimed that when a kid enters the portal and then immediately declares where she's going, it means that teams are cheating. It means that teams never stopped recruiting those players, which is a violation of recruiting rules.

Wonder if anyone will get caught? Or are coaches like Mulkey so high and mighty that they're immune from prosecution by the NCAA?

And if so, is it time to create a professional development league?

 

[Iluvacc2]

I can definitely see her at LSU, she’s a mini Mulkey.

Mulkey, Van Lith, and Reese on the same team. Their villainy level will go to the nth degree

 

[oldhusky]

I’m starting to think that I should not go to bed for the next several days, or so. Why? Because every time I wake up and check the Boneyard, it’s some world-class shattering news like this.

Yea I know. One day I wake up and the glass is half full, the next it might be half empty, and by the third I need to pour some whiskey in it!

 

[DrummerDee]

I say Stanford is in her process. Brink is still there and they desperately need a point guard. It's on the west coast, closer, but not real close to her family. Perhaps Indiana. I'ts an Adidas school, Berger is gone, definitely a final four contender, especially with her. That, and with ND in their back yard, it would really piss Ivey off. I'm all for that.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Previously, Coach Geno claimed that when a kid enters the portal and then immediately declares where she's going, it means that teams are cheating. It means that teams never stopped recruiting those players, which is a violation of recruiting rules.

Wonder if anyone will get caught? Or are coaches like Mulkey so high and mighty that they're immune from prosecution by the NCAA?

And if so, is it time to create a professional development league?

You would need someone to rat them out, and who is going to do that? Only the player would know if they are being recruited by another team, and they aren't going to turn in their new coach.

 

[oldhusky]

So kind of like dating?

Maybe speed dating. Committing to a school is becoming less like a marriage and more like a one-night stand!

 

[Centerstream]

Yea I know. One day I wake up and the glass is half full, the next it might be half empty, and by the third I need to pour some more whiskey in it!

I edited it for you

 

[Goodgood]

I've always been an education first person, but this is becoming the age of the NIL deal.

Not always. Fran Belibi just graduated from Stanford. She did not declare for the WNBA draft. Instead, she enrolled at Harvard Medical School...

 

[DrummerDee]

Say goodbye to academics/education & hello to $$. Stanford/Tara is Victim #1.

Well, seeing that Tara likened NIL to prostitution and she wants no part of it, we will likely see a reduction in top level players seeking out Stanford as a landing spot.

 

[CardsWBBfan]

The thinking among L’vile folks is a school out west and an adidas school.

Jeff was on vacation and Hailey Van Lith and dad told him Thursday night via zoom.

How do you know this? I am a Louisville fan and haven’t heard this.

 

[Bone Dog]

Couldn’t “do not contact” mean she wants to be the one doing the calling?

 

[CardsWBBfan]

Louisville fan here. I’m not surprised. Certainly no bad blood between them, Hailey Van Lith spoke very highly of Walz during the tourney. That is all legit.

I really think this is about getting the most money she can out of NIL, in theory she has two more years. I don’t begrudge her that.

I know nothing, but I also think LSU. It was between Louisville and Baylor out of HS, and Mulkey has gotten to the promised land, again. I also think the NIL is too much to pass up. I understand Hailey Van Lith has quite a few nstional deals, those should stay with her. But Louisville is woefully behind in the NIL game and we are getting crushed. All I’ve heard since before this season started was we lost Kitts and Fulwiley (?) to a guaranteed $25k at SC. IMHO Louisville athletics has been in chaos for years ( due to all the mens bball and football drama) that we are not prepared for NIL.

I have not always been a big fan of hers, but this does hurt, def short term. I certainly hope she’s happy wherever she lands. I’ve also no doubt her dad was a big part of this.

 

[UcMiami]

For everyone talking about academics being thrown out the window ... SHE IS ABOUT TO GRADUATE. How many athletes complete their degree in 3 years? I mean, there are a ton of professional athletes that stayed four years and still are short of credits for their sheepskin. And it was a degree in finance, not some general ed, or sports management or advanced PE degree. Changing schools for grad school is pretty normal for any student and is actually recommended as it introduces the student to a whole new faculty and new ideas.

I really admire Dorka for her educational goals being met in 3 years at OSU and I admire Van Lith for hers. I don't think this is NIL related or a black mark on Walz.

 

[bballnut90]

Previously, Coach Geno claimed that when a kid enters the portal and then immediately declares where she's going, it means that teams are cheating. It means that teams never stopped recruiting those players, which is a violation of recruiting rules.

Wonder if anyone will get caught? Or are coaches like Mulkey so high and mighty that they're immune from prosecution by the NCAA?

And if so, is it time to create a professional development league?

I wouldn't be surprised if coaches are using work around methods that technically don't break rules but effectively still recruit. For example, they may not contact a player directly but they might reach out to an old AAU coach or someone connected to them and say, "next time you talk to Hailey, she might be interested in knowing we'll be shopping the portal for a PG next year"

 

[UcMiami]

I wouldn't be surprised if coaches are using work around methods that technically don't break rules but effectively still recruit. For example, they may not contact a player directly but they might reach out to an old AAU coach or someone connected to them and say, "next time you talk to Hailey, she might be interested in knowing we'll be shopping the portal for a PG next year"

I doubt any coach would be that blatant. All they need to say, in the middle of a conversation about a currently uncommitted HS athlete is ... boy we really missed the boat when ______ was being recruited didn't we. Coaches live in a fish bowl and being too blatant could backfire not just if the comment got out, but also if the AAU coach was offended and starting steering his current athletes away from the coach.

But I don't think a lot of that is actually happening. I think most of this is networking between athletes - they are all interconnected from the day they start organized basketball, through their final days as a pro. D1 basketball is a very small community, and the top end is even smaller.

 

[ME Husky Fan]

So kind of like dating?

Meaning no call back the next day?

 

[bovwa10]

I think this is another case of a parent pushing his kid to transfer. I believe Muffet McGraw is the one who said that the kids haven’t changed all that much over the years, but the parents have.

 

[HuskyNan]

Previously, Coach Geno claimed that when a kid enters the portal and then immediately declares where she's going, it means that teams are cheating. It means that teams never stopped recruiting those players, which is a violation of recruiting rules.

Wonder if anyone will get caught? Or are coaches like Mulkey so high and mighty that they're immune from prosecution by the NCAA?

And if so, is it time to create a professional development league?

It could just be that Hailey wants to be the one to initiate a potential transfer rather than get swamped with recruiting pitches

 

[gold2323]

Here are the supposed favorites!!!
Hailey Van Lith enters transfer portal; Top 5 landing spots

 

[JellyBean]

Couldn’t “do not contact” mean she wants to be the one doing the calling?

I am really interested in seeing where she ends up.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

SoCal?(need a PG), Oregon? (Nike $), IU? (Replace Berger)

I think you're on the right track.

 

[SEbluebood]

Louisville fan here. I’m not surprised. Certainly no bad blood between them, Hailey Van Lith spoke very highly of Walz during the tourney. That is all legit.

I really think this is about getting the most money she can out of NIL, in theory she has two more years. I don’t begrudge her that.

I know nothing, but I also think LSU. It was between Louisville and Baylor out of HS, and Mulkey has gotten to the promised land, again. I also think the NIL is too much to pass up. I understand Hailey Van Lith has quite a few nstional deals, those should stay with her. But Louisville is woefully behind in the NIL game and we are getting crushed. All I’ve heard since before this season started was we lost Kitts and Fulwiley (?) to a guaranteed $25k at SC. IMHO Louisville athletics has been in chaos for years ( due to all the mens bball and football drama) that we are not prepared for NIL.

I have not always been a big fan of hers, but this does hurt, def short term. I certainly hope she’s happy wherever she lands. I’ve also no doubt her dad was a big part of this.

If $25k is all the NIL money that it cost to get Fulwiley, then that is a steal for SC. I wonder what the range of dollars are for women BB NIL deals?? I read that the Cavendish twins got over $ 1 million to go there, but who really knows as I think these are private transactions!

 

[CTtoSanDiego]

When she was in high school, Hailey Van Lith was recruited very heavily by Baylor. I believe that Kim and the entire staff flew up to visit her, but Hailey Van Lith wasn't convinced. She waited a long time to verbal. It seemed as if she wasn't sold on Baylor and was waiting for someone else. Did she not like Kim, or was it Waco? She may give Kim another look. Or not.

This is the kind of wisdom the BY needs more of. "She may give Kim another look. Or not." Too much certainty offered on this board when there is no certainty.

 

[CTtoSanDiego]

Here are the supposed favorites!!!
Hailey Van Lith enters transfer portal; Top 5 landing spots

I would never say never.... but I really don't see UConn as being in the running for her. (the link lists us as the #2 possible destination). We have plenty of guards... although some do have a problem staying healthy

 

[shiverz45]

Louisville fan here. I’m not surprised. Certainly no bad blood between them, Hailey Van Lith spoke very highly of Walz during the tourney. That is all legit.

I really think this is about getting the most money she can out of NIL, in theory she has two more years. I don’t begrudge her that.

I know nothing, but I also think LSU. It was between Louisville and Baylor out of HS, and Mulkey has gotten to the promised land, again. I also think the NIL is too much to pass up. I understand Hailey Van Lith has quite a few nstional deals, those should stay with her. But Louisville is woefully behind in the NIL game and we are getting crushed. All I’ve heard since before this season started was we lost Kitts and Fulwiley (?) to a guaranteed $25k at SC. IMHO Louisville athletics has been in chaos for years ( due to all the mens bball and football drama) that we are not prepared for NIL.

I have not always been a big fan of hers, but this does hurt, def short term. I certainly hope she’s happy wherever she lands. I’ve also no doubt her dad was a big part of this.

Don't blame NIL on why you'll lost Fulwiley. I think having a relationship with Dawn and being from SC was the main reason.

 

[BBallF]

This is just more of the absurd nature of college basketball now. I wonder what the asking price is? I know, I'm a cynic.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Don't blame NIL on why you'll lost Fulwiley.

If someone lost a recruit over 25k, then they weren't really trying. lol That's not a lot of money in this landscape. Most players are not swimming in NIL money.