Guys, I was hesitant to post this because I am not sure that I buy into all that he said. But hey, I felt that if nothing more, it was something to read while we all have to stay at home.
Q: What impact will the G League have on college basketball?
Scout: “First off, this may sound off, but check out these points. This may help college hoops in the long run. Those players that are not vested in the academic part of college or the college life, now don’t have to go. So it takes a burden both off the player and the coaching staff to monitor academics. Also, academic status and cumulative GPA per teams are recorded and each college is held accountable. Again this, although maybe not seem that significant, still has a part in collegiate athletics. Next point. Players who’s families are in economic hardship may have another option besides for the best scholarship offer. This would enable those players (and their families) to live a more of a comfortable life or to be able to manage whatever financial issues they have. Lastly, don’t think the one-and-done option is over, because players that have a good season in college will always weigh their options and enter the draft. This now gives those players outside of the top 50 a chance to shine and develop and see if they can get to the League. This assist college programs but there might be more longevity in the stay of players and players earning their degrees. Just potential for more cohesiveness within the program and possibly less yearly turnover. Overall, it is just my opinion that once this is in place for a few years and the sting is out of college programs losing out on HS top players, I think everyone will see the good in it.”
Q: Are there any other 2020 players or 2021 players that might chose this route?
Scout: “Listen, it is not my place to suggest or hint about players and if I was to speculate, I would say in general terms, that all elite or top 50 players will have a discussion with their parents, coaching staff or other trusted people about the G League option. It’s no secret that all of these players have aspirations to get to the NBA and the G League just provides another pathway. With that said, players that are elite players and want to reclassify up a year to enter college, if they are done with their HS academic requirements, I would think that the G League becomes a very enticing option to them because they are the potential the players that are definitely focused on going pro as soon as possible. Look, Money, check. Exposure to NBA personnel, check. Playing against other top quality players, check, and good coaching. What’s not to consider… Each player and family need to be looked at individually and no one can be categorized or identified as a this is the group of or the rating of players that are going to be persuaded by the G League. I think it becomes an option that won’t fade away.”
Last Q: This one is about recruiting. Do you feel that college coaches will adapt their recruiting pitches, and so, how?
Scout: “College coaches are like chameleons and can and do change to adapt to the environment they are competing in. Recruiting is a business and has a strategy that has a defined, targeted delivery for each individual player. It has, what I call a dance, where it’s forever moving and during the time given different people may lead or want to cut in. And recruiting is a not as a clean process as one might hope it is. There is a lot of negative talk about one college from another and to some degree there’s not mutual respect between programs. But that’s the nature of that beast. Programs like Duke, Kentucky, UNC and Kansas etc.. use to be able to sell their tradition of getting players in the NBA or winning Championships as a thing that separates them from other programs, but look at VA, Villanova, Gonzaga etc.. that now have those things and make the recruiting field more even. Two things jump out at me right away: 1- Creating uniqueness. Be able to sell the pitch like Duke uses in the Brotherhood and sticking Zion’s face on it. Players eat that stuff up. And 2- players uniting to be multiple player packages to a program. Players will that the opportunity to unite, even if for one season at a school for the opportunity to play together. This happens now with 2 players, but don’t be surprised if its more player involved in that. AAU made it work and I think college might look at that too.”
Q: What impact will the G League have on college basketball?
Scout: “First off, this may sound off, but check out these points. This may help college hoops in the long run. Those players that are not vested in the academic part of college or the college life, now don’t have to go. So it takes a burden both off the player and the coaching staff to monitor academics. Also, academic status and cumulative GPA per teams are recorded and each college is held accountable. Again this, although maybe not seem that significant, still has a part in collegiate athletics. Next point. Players who’s families are in economic hardship may have another option besides for the best scholarship offer. This would enable those players (and their families) to live a more of a comfortable life or to be able to manage whatever financial issues they have. Lastly, don’t think the one-and-done option is over, because players that have a good season in college will always weigh their options and enter the draft. This now gives those players outside of the top 50 a chance to shine and develop and see if they can get to the League. This assist college programs but there might be more longevity in the stay of players and players earning their degrees. Just potential for more cohesiveness within the program and possibly less yearly turnover. Overall, it is just my opinion that once this is in place for a few years and the sting is out of college programs losing out on HS top players, I think everyone will see the good in it.”
Q: Are there any other 2020 players or 2021 players that might chose this route?
Scout: “Listen, it is not my place to suggest or hint about players and if I was to speculate, I would say in general terms, that all elite or top 50 players will have a discussion with their parents, coaching staff or other trusted people about the G League option. It’s no secret that all of these players have aspirations to get to the NBA and the G League just provides another pathway. With that said, players that are elite players and want to reclassify up a year to enter college, if they are done with their HS academic requirements, I would think that the G League becomes a very enticing option to them because they are the potential the players that are definitely focused on going pro as soon as possible. Look, Money, check. Exposure to NBA personnel, check. Playing against other top quality players, check, and good coaching. What’s not to consider… Each player and family need to be looked at individually and no one can be categorized or identified as a this is the group of or the rating of players that are going to be persuaded by the G League. I think it becomes an option that won’t fade away.”
Last Q: This one is about recruiting. Do you feel that college coaches will adapt their recruiting pitches, and so, how?
Scout: “College coaches are like chameleons and can and do change to adapt to the environment they are competing in. Recruiting is a business and has a strategy that has a defined, targeted delivery for each individual player. It has, what I call a dance, where it’s forever moving and during the time given different people may lead or want to cut in. And recruiting is a not as a clean process as one might hope it is. There is a lot of negative talk about one college from another and to some degree there’s not mutual respect between programs. But that’s the nature of that beast. Programs like Duke, Kentucky, UNC and Kansas etc.. use to be able to sell their tradition of getting players in the NBA or winning Championships as a thing that separates them from other programs, but look at VA, Villanova, Gonzaga etc.. that now have those things and make the recruiting field more even. Two things jump out at me right away: 1- Creating uniqueness. Be able to sell the pitch like Duke uses in the Brotherhood and sticking Zion’s face on it. Players eat that stuff up. And 2- players uniting to be multiple player packages to a program. Players will that the opportunity to unite, even if for one season at a school for the opportunity to play together. This happens now with 2 players, but don’t be surprised if its more player involved in that. AAU made it work and I think college might look at that too.”
