What happens when you recruit over your signees? | The Boneyard

What happens when you recruit over your signees?

Incoming 2023 LSU freshman Janae Kent played on a boys AAU team and was the leading scorer in 2 games.
She's a prolific scorer listed as a wing, SF & SG that can hit from anywhere on the court.
Alisa Williams was highly recruited out of high school & had committed early to TCU but switched to LSU even though she said that she loves Texas.
Now she changed her mind again about where she wants to play.



www.fieldlevel.com

Janae Kent's Basketball Recruiting Profile | FieldLevel

Point Guard/Small Forward/Power Forward | 6' 1" | Oak Forest, IL | Learn More About Janae
www.fieldlevel.com www.fieldlevel.com
 
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HuskyNan said:
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Wow. Don't be surprised to see more incoming freshmen in the coming years leaving teams in this fashion when portal transfers are brought in over them.

High school seniors select colleges/universities to attend based on the makeup of the roster, who is leaving, who is coming, along with the promises and representations made to them by the coaches.

Obviously, Kim prefers to go into the coming season with an experienced and proven Van Lith and Morrow on her roster in addition to a raw and inexperienced unproven freshman.

No doubt Mulkey hates to lose a recruit already signed and on campus, but securing the services of Van Lith and Morrow softens the loss. The advent of the transfer portal and players being allowed to transfer and play right away along with the new NIL protocols has changed recruiting practices like never before. It’s a new day.
 
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Carnac said:
Wow. Don't be surprised to see more incoming freshmen in the coming years leaving teams in this fashion when portal transfers are brought in over them.

High school seniors select colleges/universities to attend based on the makeup of the roster, who is leaving, who is coming, along with the promises and representations made to them by the coaches.

Obviously, Kim prefers to go into the coming season with an experienced and proven Van Lith and Morrow on her roster as opposed to a raw and inexperienced unproven freshman.

No doubt Mulkey hates to lose a recruit already signed and on campus, but securing the services of Van Lith and Morrow softens the loss. The advent of the transfer portal and players being allowed to transfer and play right away along with the new NIL protocols has changed recruiting practices like never before. It’s a new day.
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Alisa Williams was a 3 star recruit who was a project when Kim signed during her first recruiting class at LSU. She played as much as the walk ons. I don’t think she was ever going to play at lsu with what was in front of her. Plus she has stated she doesn’t want to play pro ball and go to dental school eventually. That said, timing is odd but attrition was going to have to come from somewhere (Someone going pro or transfers) if they wanted to have room for more players in that 24 class. On paper they only had one spot at the current time (provided everyone comes back)
 
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SECbbfan24 said:
Alisa Williams was a 3 star recruit who was a project when Kim signed during her first recruiting class at LSU. She played as much as the walk ons. I don’t think she was ever going to play at lsu with what was in front of her. Plus she has stated she doesn’t want to play pro ball and go to dental school eventually. That said, timing is odd but attrition was going to have to come from somewhere (Someone going pro or transfers) if they wanted to have room for more players in that 24 class. On paper they only had one spot at the current time
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My point was this dynamic is happening all over the country. Most of the time we don’t hear about freshmen reentering the portal because it’s not newsworthy, or they wait until after their freshman year to seek greener pastures. Your comment is noted.

Also not mentioned is how coaches coming into a new program as Mulkey and Kara Lawson did at Duke often purge their roster of players they don’t want going forward to make room for potential portal transfers they expect to get.
 
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SECbbfan24 said:
That said, timing is odd but attrition was going to have to come from somewhere (Someone going pro or transfers) if they wanted to have room for more players in that 24 class. On paper they only had one spot at the current time (provided everyone comes back)
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Are you suggesting that Kim gave her a nudge toward the portal?
 
Kim takes no prisoners when it comes to improving her teams........right now LSU recruiting is taking full advantage of its overnight success............I'll be curious to see if she can keep that momentum going for the next few years.........Dawn can't be happy about this turn of events....
 
Bone Dog said:
Are you suggesting that Kim gave her a nudge toward the portal?
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Not necessarily

I imagine during end of year meetings their is discussion about each players plan/role in the future. It’s obvious she wasn’t ever going to really play. Interesting she waited until after the White House visit and other festivities (which was past the transfer deadline) before entering.
 
There's some things about LSU that are bound to attract players.
One is the name of the team being the Tigers which has an appeal of its own.
Another thing is that LSU's school colors are purple & gold which makes for an attractive combination on a uniform, & coincidentally are the same as the LA Lakers team colors.
Our own Aaliyah Edwards wears purple & gold ribbons in her hair in part because of their significance,
When you add in Kim & a NC, it all presents LSU as being a desirable destination to play women's basketball.
Win or lose, Kim& LSU have made the national spotlight and may soon replace Stanford as a top ranked school for WCBB for years to come.
LSU is like the new incarnation of the legendary & popular LA LADY TECHSTERS.

en.wikipedia.org

Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
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Coaches have always been "recruiting over" their existing players. It is on steroids now because the recruits are often experienced college stars, and not simply promising first year players. It is not fun to be an existing player who is moved down the bench further, but it happens all the time. A coach passing on adding a more talented player to the roster will soon become an ex coach.

The player in that situation has choices. He or she can move to greener pastures, or stay and work like heck to improve his/her game. Or the player can decide to stay, put in enough effort to make it sort of respectable, and enjoy the experience and the free education. They all have different goals, different personalities, and they all react differently to challenges.

It could be said that the recruiting of Dorka and Lou involved "recruiting over" one or more existing UConn players. But how we describe it affects what we think of it. If it is instead described as "improving our depth", "adding another weapon", getting "a game changer", getting us "over the top", putting us "in the conversation for a national title", etc., etc., now who can be against that?
 
Bone Dog said:
Are you suggesting that Kim gave her a nudge toward the portal?
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That’s what it is but coaches frame it as an honest assessment. As you may know, scholarships are renewable every year. They’re not 4 year guaranteed contracts. Coaches don’t pull them other than for disciplinary or academic reasons. They just explain to the kid that their chances for PT are slim and let the kid make the move. Honest assessment right? Coaches just chalk it up to roster management and keep moving.
 
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Does she have to apply for a waiver in order to be eligible to play at her new school this season?
 
Maybe it's about wanting NIL money & she will change her mind.
Look at all of the media attention that she received just for entering the portal & past the transfer date.
Other players enter the portal to test the waters & then change their mind frequently enough.
 
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Carnac said:
My point was this dynamic is happening all over the country. Most of the time we don’t hear about freshmen reentering the portal because it’s not newsworthy, or they wait until after their freshman year to seek greener pastures. Your comment is noted.
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Thank you. I should have specified that my post wasn’t about LSU, per se, but more about the fallout from transfers
 
Carnac said:
My point was this dynamic is happening all over the country. Most of the time we don’t hear about freshmen reentering the portal because it’s not newsworthy, or they wait until after their freshman year to seek greener pastures. Your comment is noted.

Also not mentioned is how coaches coming into a new program as Mulkey and Kara Lawson did at Duke often purge their roster of players they don’t want going forward to make room for potential portal transfers they expect to get.
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Not big believers in "A bird in hand ..."
 
Huskee11 said:
Coaches have always been "recruiting over" their existing players. It is on steroids now because the recruits are often experienced college stars, and not simply promising first year players. It is not fun to be an existing player who is moved down the bench further, but it happens all the time. A coach passing on adding a more talented player to the roster will soon become an ex coach.

The player in that situation has choices. He or she can move to greener pastures, or stay and work like heck to improve his/her game. Or the player can decide to stay, put in enough effort to make it sort of respectable, and enjoy the experience and the free education. They all have different goals, different personalities, and they all react differently to challenges.

It could be said that the recruiting of Dorka and Lou involved "recruiting over" one or more existing UConn players. But how we describe it affects what we think of it. If it is instead described as "improving our depth", "adding another weapon", getting "a game changer", getting us "over the top", putting us "in the conversation for a national title", etc., etc., now who Coaches have always been "recruiting over" their existing players. It is on steroids now because the recruits are often experienced college stars, and not simply promising first year players. It is not fun to be an existing player who is moved down the bench further, but it happens all the time. A coach passing on adding a more talented player to the roster will soon become an ex coach.
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RockyMTblue2 said:
Not big believers in "A bird in hand ..."
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Rather in the belief of “hedging your bets."
 
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Bone Dog said:
Are you suggesting that Kim gave her a nudge toward the portal?
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I think this kind of nudge is probably happening a lot of places. It might seem cruel, but if a player isn't projected to at least be a quality injury backup, or more likely part of the rotation, then the available roster can have a great deal of value. This is made much worse by two factors, one of which appears to be ongoing and one that is temporary.

The temporary factor is the extra Covid year. This has made planning roster sizes very challenging with quite a few teams right up against the limit due to players returning for a 5th year. That increases the desire of coaches to encourage players to depart. They don't have to do it in a heavy handed way, but an honest assessment of potential playing time can make the point.

The other factor appears to be here for the foreseeable future. That is the tremendous increase in portal activity once the sitting out a year condition was removed. There are so many significant players in the portal that everyone would like to upgrade somewhere, particularly with experienced proven players, so finding a reason to create an additional roster spot is very appealing.

At least after next year the Covid factor will have run it's course and there will be more stability, but the portal activity I suspect will be high permanently. have no idea what Kim did, but it wouldn't surprise me.
 
LSU will continue to get the players. They pay the most in NIL and they have several winning programs on campus. Basketball is a little different because you only have 5 players on the court so when you bring in two big names in one year in the portal it results in a lot of speculation and exposure.

Like I have said before, last year everything fell into place for LSU. They played a relatively weak schedule, they had no injuries to speak of, and they got help from other teams to eliminate the teams that were match up problems for them. All these factors helped Kim keep everyone happy but this year will be a whole different animal.
 
It seems like a tough needle to thread. You can't stand still of else you will get passed. But I hate coaches disrespecting players who have already committed to them. I tell myself UConn (m&w) has been pretty good about helping players find hew homes if they want more PT someplace else.
 
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HuskyNan said:
Thank you. I should have specified that my post wasn’t about LSU, per se, but more about the fallout from transfers
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Louisville is probably a better example as the program has been going through this for several years. Their challenge now seems to be landing recruits lately.
 
Bone Dog said:
Are you suggesting that Kim gave her a nudge toward the portal?
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I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed in her if she did. When coaches are hired at a new school (and after they assemble their coaching staff), the first thing they do is evaluate each player on the roster and decide who they want to keep, and who needs to leave to make room for portal players they want to bring in. Few if any coaches stand pat with the roster as it is when they arrive. What do you do if a player(s) wants to leave regardless? You can't make someone want to play for you. LSU was a dumpster fire and circling the drain when Mulkey took over. LSU was 9-13/6-8 under Nikki Fargas in her last year (2020-2021). LSU was knocked out of the 2nd round of the SEC Tournament by Texas A&M that year 77-58. They received no post-season tournament bids or invitations.

As an incoming coach, you are expected to produce wins IMMEDIATELY!! You are expected to do better than your predecessor did. That's why you're there. You must hit the ground running. You must improve on the things the former coach did with the players he/she had, and create a winning culture. Mulkey did that!!!

Coaches like athletic directors want THEIR players/coaches, not someone else's. The reverse is also true. Players will often want to leave because the coach that recruited them is no longer there, and they have no interest in playing for the "new regime" that they have no connection or relationship with. There's no love loss on either side.

I read posts and comments here in the yard that Kim and Kara Lawson (Duke) told some returning players to find another program their first week on the job. There were other players they wanted to bring in, and they needed their scholarships. Every college coach in America has the same mindset with respect to job retention........If I'm going to get fired, I'm going out doing things MY WAY!!! (the old Frank Sinatra approach). :cool:
 
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RockyMTblue2 said:
Hedging implies keeping the players and bringing in hedge players I think.
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Keeping SOME of the players. Players at the bottom of the depth chart are seldom viewed as "reliable assets" that can help you win. Those scholarships can be used to bring in experienced/mature portal players than can. ;)
 
BobbyJ said:
Knight recruited him in and Bird transferred out of Indiana after a few weeks to go to ISU.
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Wasn't aware of that part of his recruitment history. I was a toddler during those days. My bad.
 
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