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Best in the biz, bar none.

From the UK but looks to have played in Long Island this past year I think?

by way of Great Britain and national powerhouse Long Island Lutheran 6’8”

I went in-depth regarding some of the unintended consequences of NIL and the transfer portal and why it's absolutely vital that both be regulated in the near future. I also discuss why that's easier said than done with the NCAA being essentially powerless to do anything at the current moment. Let me know your thoughts!

An idea like this will also cut down on player tampering that we know occurs behind the scenes

Michigan is an awesome school academically (as is Buffalo, by the way). Alabama...not as much. But I have to tell you that Alabama is looking to change that (and have been). They have a lot of money and are, basically, buying REALLY GOOD out of state students through their scholarship program. They are doing a lot of building and are making it a destination. The problem is, of course, it is in a small, poorly accessible town in Tuscaloosa. But once you are on campus, they do an outstanding job of recruitment (forget about athletes...I am talking about a general student)...and they have a lot of things on campus. Considering the weather (at least in the winter) and the importance of athletics at Alabama (go beyond MBB and football...you will find a lot), I can see why Oats would have no intention/interest in moving. I think he stays for a long while -- why would he go? Maybe if he wins a championship at some point and wants the challenge of the NBA, he could...but I don't see it at the moment. The job Oats did last night was great. There were a few times I felt they would get run off the court with their decision making and turnovers, but they made enough shots and he kept them in the game. UNC could not keep up the defensive effort for much time after the time outs...it dragged on them. Oats didn't overreact at all...he was thinking about all 40 minutes. Just a great win for him in a game where I don't think they were the better team, overall.

Here is the BOOM!! UB signs 6'2 W Jaylin Hartman FR from GW. Much needed length, athleticism and has 3yrs of eligibility. Not sure of the remaining available scholarships but I hope they can bringing in at least one more portal 6'2+ defender/rim runner for added depth. The incoming freshmen class looks talented, Brianna Barr-Budday 6'2" local phenom, Aniya Rowe 5'9 McDonalds all American nominee and Mallory Daly 5'8" 2k point scored, if the existing freshmen take the next step over the summer same w/ Ogden and Watson I'm booking my trip to Cleveland early🤣🤘 https://www.instagram.com/p/C5FDcTzgpsH/

Not next year. We need a group of culture fit guys or fire this coach and hire a coach focusing on Mercenary basketball. That is not what GH3 is building. I also think teams like Oakland, what Princeton used to be, etc. can still be done, but it is harder in the current environment. I would like to get to a point of paying guys to be retained that earned it versus throwing money at guys to come in and leave the guys that busted their ass with nothing. The other option would be going the GCU route, they have guys from Louisville, Oregon, Arizona St. Depaul, Georgia St., UNLV, etc. They have a coach with a bit of a name if anyone remembers the 90's and I'm assuming they have a sack of money that UB does not currently have. Realistically, I would consider a .500 record in MAC play and a berth in the MAC Tournament a success for 2024-25.

Sorry, but that's not the standard from my perspective. There are teams that do what you describe and win 7 games. "Try hard, play together, and have fun" is the standard for a middle school team. We need a lot more than that.

On one hand, we say these are kids and should have choice, etc. Now they need to be slick businessmen or hire agents or Uncle Rico to negotiate deals, etc. for them. Is the actual sport even important anymore? Good Lord.

Good thread dealing with some similar stuff.

Long Island Lutheran is the clear top program in NYS at the moment with an embarrassment of riches on the roster. The fact that Michaels started for them is a hopefully a strong indicator to offset his lack of rankings. I don't hate grabbing a glue guy with size from a program of that quality. VJ Edgecombe, the #5 player in 2024 heading to Baylor, was the top dog. Villanova and GH3 were after him hard when he was a mere top-50 recruit before he blew up. Their 2025 group has five guys in the national top 100, including Carmelo Anthony's son Kiyan. I was banging the drum for GH3 to go hard after LuHi 2023 point guard Jayden Reid as an available sleeper last spring (had a great freshman year at USF.) Our staff should know LuHi well. Re: Michaels, it's hard to get a handle on his game from the little info online. He seems like a big wing that will play the stretch 4 in the system that GH3 is pursuing. Likes to shoot the three. Speaking of that system, he certainly has a type of player that he prefers. I'm just wondering if we're ever going to add players that can dribble. Re: the Canadians and Brits, I think someone may have mentioned it already but their limited access to NIL income likely factors into our focus on them. Hopefully the staff finds some gems. What's the lineup look like right now? Fulcher/Sabol Boldin/Akot Batchelor/Wilson/Jackson Zaakir/Michaels/McVeigh Oboh A lot of unknowns and some intriguing potential, but it's hard to say that's a better roster than this year's.

He was insane in this game, I didn't think he had this type of game in him. He was taking pretty much anyone off the dribble I've enjoyed having a rooting interest in a random big 12 program this season

CuJo leading Iowa St with 21 pts as they trail Illinois by 6 with 4:00 to go. With Bama advancing it’d be pretty wild to have another former Bull make it to the Elite 8. Illinois not making it easy Update: Curtis finishes with 26 including 8/8 FT but didn’t get enough help from his teammates to win. Will be interesting to see if he starts next year as a senior (assuming he stays).

Gonna be a NBA coach in a few years if he keeps this up.

Unless the P5 teams think it’s a problem, it won’t change. If they do, it will change but it will be geared to benefit them the most

Another kid from the UK. 6'7" PF, averaged 5.9ppg, 5.9rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.4bpg

If the players stay for 4 years, they'll be in the minority of most players in the ncaa of recent history. Most players are at 2-3 by the time their time is up. I would love to know the statistic in D1 basketball of those players who exhausted their eligibility this season. What % were at only 1 school, versus 2, 3+? I'd wager that the "1 school" is less than 20% and "3+" is equal or more than the "1". If that is the case, it's an utter joke of a system.

That was the first boom from a few days ago. There is a second boom coming. Really happy to have Lani coming in though. Will stabilize the PG position and she is relentless on D.