per zag:Daniel Hamilton’s AAU coach says he expects Hamilton to end up at UConn

[husky99]

http://zagsblog.com/articles/aau-coach-expects-daniel-hamilton-to-play-for-uconn/

 

[UCONNfan1]

Well THAT is nice to see!

 

[Peacefrog]

Thank you. Basically a source close the situation confirming what many here have been contending. Let's move on.

 

[Hoophound]

I don't understand how college basketball can deal with this becoming a trend. If kids stop signing LOIs, schools would have no reassurance that their top recruits would ultimately enroll. Schools would have to keep and nurture a huge prospect list all year long so last minute no shows could be replaced.

While it is a phenomenon isolated to the most elite players now, it is feasible for all top 100 or so players to skip the LOI because they will all have lots of options if they reopen their recruitment whenever they please. Only a player with limited options will sign an LOI in the future.

 

[jleves]

While it is a phenomenon isolated to the most elite players now, it is feasible for all top 100 or so players to skip the LOI because they will all have lots of options if they reopen their recruitment whenever they please.

I don't think this is the case. I guy outside the top 25 could find all his tier 1 options closed and might end up at a mid major where he wouldn't get the exposure, coaching or training needed to potentially make it a career. They will continue to make sure they have a place to play.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I don't understand how college basketball can deal with this becoming a trend. If kids stop signing LOIs, schools would have no reassurance that their top recruits would ultimately enroll. Schools would have to keep and nurture a huge prospect list all year long so last minute no shows could be replaced.

While it is a phenomenon isolated to the most elite players now, it is feasible for all top 100 or so players to skip the LOI because they will all have lots of options if they reopen their recruitment whenever they please. Only a player with limited options will sign an LOI in the future.

It's a natural reactions to coaches leaving at a moments notice, schools firing coaches at a moments notice and the inequity of investigations and punishments from the NCAA.

I don't fault the players at all for using the only bit of leverage they have in making sure the school they attend is the same school they committed to months beforehand.

 

[Huskies4ever]

Thank you. Basically a source close the situation confirming what many here have been contending. Let's move on.

I can't help but think our style of play is perfect for him. UConn and Daniel Hamilton is a match made in heaven.

 

[TheChamps990411]

No worries. Let the kid sign when he wants and if he comes here im sure we will all welcom him with open arms. at the end of the article it says hamilton has zero interest in ucla.

 

[Danzz]

I don't understand how college basketball can deal with this becoming a trend. If kids stop signing LOIs, schools would have no reassurance that their top recruits would ultimately enroll. Schools would have to keep and nurture a huge prospect list all year long so last minute no shows could be replaced.

While it is a phenomenon isolated to the most elite players now, it is feasible for all top 100 or so players to skip the LOI because they will all have lots of options if they reopen their recruitment whenever they please. Only a player with limited options will sign an LOI in the future.

You have a legitimate point but what about the player? One sided contracts are unfair. I wouldn't want to see the LOI disappear but it needs to be revised so that the player has some outs if circumstances change: a coach leaving, NCAA sanctions etc. Any top player who signs a LOI loses all options and control of his future while the school can dump the player after 1 year. Scholarships should be a minimum of 2 years so that if the coach wants to dump a player or force a transfer (this has happened at UConn more than once) the school suffers a similar penalty as the player who must sit out a season.
I just don't understand why a coach would want a player who doesn't want to play for him.

 

[DreamSeason]

This just might be the future for elite athletes and we have a coach well suited for it. KO has spent his whole professional life without assurances. I'm sure this has been discussed with both the staff and the Hamiltons and an agreement was settled upon. One thing I know is this will not hinder this particular coach moving forward. He is definitely Uconn's man for these times and don't forget that NBA background. Kids will love him. We're well positioned for the future. **(Please disregard our conference for a moment)

 

[Stinger92860]

You have a legitimate point but what about the player? One sided contracts are unfair. I wouldn't want to see the LOI disappear but it needs to be revised so that the player has some outs if circumstances change: a coach leaving, NCAA sanctions etc. Any top player who signs a LOI loses all options and control of his future while the school can dump the player after 1 year. Scholarships should be a minimum of 2 years so that if the coach wants to dump a player or force a transfer (this has happened at UConn more than once) the school suffers a similar penalty as the player who must sit out a season.
I just don't understand why a coach would want a player who doesn't want to play for him.

Part of the problem are the sleaze coaches who continue to contact players and recruit. At some point everyone has to make decisions.

 

[ctchamps]

I don't understand how college basketball can deal with this becoming a trend. If kids stop signing LOIs, schools would have no reassurance that their top recruits would ultimately enroll. Schools would have to keep and nurture a huge prospect list all year long so last minute no shows could be replaced.

While it is a phenomenon isolated to the most elite players now, it is feasible for all top 100 or so players to skip the LOI because they will all have lots of options if they reopen their recruitment whenever they please. Only a player with limited options will sign an LOI in the future.

If this trend continues then the NCAA will have to change the rules to allow a student athlete greater opportunities to get out of the LOI without punishment. It's an ever evolving situation. In the past universities had an unfair advantage over athletes. Now the situation is heading in the athletes favor. A compromise will have to be made and that will happen in the near future.

 

[HuskyHawk]

We need him to be here in the fall. Can't fault him for this under the circumstances, and I hope he's keeping KO in the loop, so he can make appropriate decisions. A late change would be a lousy thing to do to the school.

This situation needs to change, as schools make decisions based on these letters, and those decisions affect other kids. I agree however, that it can't be one sided. Either they need an out for change of coach or similar change in circumstances or they need to get something for signing the LOI, maybe a guarantee of two years of scholarship.

 

[EricLA]

It should always be in the athletes favor IMHO. Sucks for the schools trying to recruit the kids, but i'd never want to try to force someone to be at UCONN who really didn't want to be there. They should only sign the early LOI if they are 100% sure, and even then, I'm not sure why there even needs to be an early LOI. While I wish the kid were 100% sure and signing now, I don't blame him at all. Of course I hope he ends up here.

I also disagree with the transfer rule if a coach is fired or leaves the program. I think every kid should have the chance to leave with no penalty if the coach who recruited him is fired or quits. Probably most would disagree, but it seems to me the schools have too much power and the kids not enough.

 

[CL82]

The LOI does 'lock in' the scholly for a year. For most kids, that's a benefit, for an elite prospect, less so.

 

[bmayuc]

The LOI does 'lock in' the scholly for a year. For most kids, that's a benefit, for an elite prospect, less so.

Really any "High-Major" recruit has no incentive to sign the LOI. It is only pure ignorance and traditional power exerted by coaches/schools.