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I think it's safe to assume we don't have money to compete financially with a for-profit university like GCU.

They love college sports. It is allowing them to get rich at the cost of destroying their employers institutions. It's not what they hate, it's who they hate. They hate fans of college athletics. They have made what used to be a simple trip to a game an all day affair that is way too expensive and time consuming.

Sorry @Zippy87

Fingers crossed it's a stretch four who can get physical defensively and rebound🤞

HERE WE GO!

After he left ... Kent picked up a worse 'shooter' (less than 30% on 3s) but more familiar player in 6-0, 200lb Chansey Willis, who was pretty good at Western Michigan two years ago, 16pts, 5.8ass, but got hurt at Minnesota last year and played just 7 games.

Who knows how they feel about college sports, but they certainly love themselves and their wallets first and foremost.

Looks like a rotational piece.

Another 6'8" F from Tennessee State.

6'8" F from Tennessee State via Sac State via Pepperdine.

Bummer. A 5'11" so-so shooter was exactly who I was hoping would stick around the Kent program.

Connections made with high school recruits can pay dividends 2-3 years down the road now.

I'm not sure if this was shared here, but Jaylen Smith (ETSU transfer) has decommitted from KSU. https://x.com/i/status/2048480785531867273

I feel that's a more workable strategy for the P4, who have big money to buy ~12 players every year. The high school level guys we're recruiting we're paying very minimal for. Probably just a small stipend. The freshman signing for good money are the ones going to and starting at high majors. I imagine most mid-major teams are spending ~70% of their budget on their top 2-3 players and then pinching dollars to fill out spots 4-10. Getting production out of HS players is a bonus because they come very cheap compared to portal players. Edit: IMO both avenues should be used, which we have been doing with great success.

HS kids aren't free nowadays. Who knows how much cheaper the worthwhile players actually are, if at all. Until there is framework for a multi year commitment in this era, I'd be targeting strictly Portal guys. If cost becomes an issue, don't carry 15 guys.

I think TJ I agree with, but Amani was a bit of a late bloomer. He wasn't sniffing All-MAC and wouldn't have commanded big money until after this season, which is when his eligibility ended anyway. The players that stick around the full 4-5 years will be those who like being here and don't become too good that Akron can no longer afford them. Like next season will be MMK 4th season here and it's conceivable he stays all 5.

Think about it ... teams aren't just replacing their starting 5s, (Akron, Kent) they are basically replacing 2/3rds of the roster, almost every year. Just not sustainable for stability or success.

Players like TJ and Amani who stayed at one school their entire careers - in the MAC at least - are likely a thing of the past. If Enrique was a junior now, he'd probably be going elelsewhere. We are likely going to have brand new teams basically every year. At least under the current system.

A good chunk of our best players still are high school recruits. I kind of feel you can't ignore HS players because you need them to help supplement the cost of transfer players. Like we would have never been able to afford a TJ, Amani, Eric, etc. if we tried to pay for that production by adding a proven player in the portal.

10%

No way to find out ... but it would be interesting to know how many of the players in the portal would have actually left the teams they were playing for, if there was no NIL?

I would think twice about recruiting another HS player ever again.