2024 Recruiting Thread

[Majors]

We need more NIL money....it's killing us.

No it’s not. It’s just the built in excuse. Can’t secure Rickea and the portal players we got with coupons.

 

[Majors]

I can't stress enough how much NIL matters in this world. Something has to he done to help our ladies. It's a real shame we don't have businesses and individuals stepping up for oir female athletes like we have had for our male. Heck it doesn't even have to be Boost Her Club. It could be a business having a deal with a player individually. The staff is doing everything in their power to land these recruits but when someone gets 3-4x money elsewhere, do you blame them?

They weren’t landing them before NIL. Eventually it’s the closer.

 

[Dak1219]

No it’s not. It’s just the built in excuse. Can’t secure Rickea and the portal players we got with coupons.

You think that, but UT by appearance the last 3 years has been a WNBA and Women's professional basketball finishing school. 3 number 1 draft picks and plenty of players playing pro overseas. You can't make this up. Look at the number of players still playing pro somewhere that have come out of Tennessee since 2020. Lou Brown is still playing professionally in Australia, Kasi, Alexis Dye, Rae Burrell, Rennia, and Jordan Horston. Players with pro aspirations like Jewel Spear look at this very closely I am sure when making the decision to enter the portal. UT's name alone gives these players a much bigger platform than maybe they thought they wanted coming out of High School. Do you think Rickea would have come here had she not thought that she would have been seen? I think not.

 

[Majors]

You think that, but UT by appearance the last 3 years has been a WNBA and Women's professional basketball finishing school. 3 number 1 draft picks and plenty of players playing pro overseas. You can't make this up. Look at the number of players still playing pro somewhere that have come out of Tennessee since 2020. Lou Brown is still playing professionally in Australia, Kasi, Alexis Dye, Rae Burrell, Rennia, and Jordan Horston. Players with pro aspirations like Jewel Spear look at this very closely I am sure when making the decision to enter the portal. UT's name alone gives these players a much bigger platform than maybe they thought they wanted coming out of High School. Do you think Rickea would have come here had she not thought that she would have been seen? I think not.

So which is it? The brand or lack of NIL? I don’t disagree on the brand…although the brand doesn’t carry the same name it did the last time Candace cut down the net. It’s just easy now to say NIL. Fans here have no clue what players are being offered as no poster has said we offered this and the other school countered with this. The place to start is win against FSU on TV. Win the games you’re supposed to win and stop getting bounced in the S16.

We do know this staff struggles in recruiting and developing relationships. It’s either CKH or it’s Sam or it’s both. If it was Sam, you’d think CKH would have noticed and made the move…which leads to CKH not closing.

 

[Knoxvol14]

They weren’t landing them before NIL. Eventually it’s the closer.

You know this how?

 

[Majors]

You know this how?

Because our roster says they didn’t come.

 

[DeerPark12]

No it’s not. It’s just the built in excuse. Can’t secure Rickea and the portal players we got with coupons.

It’s a lot easier to get businesses to spend on current players and proven portal kids than it is recruits. You see Rickea doing ads for big brands and has a car deal. We don’t have people here wiling to do that for high school recruits at this point. Other schools, particularly LSU and SC, do have people and businesses that are willing to do that for recruits.

The BHC can try and make up the difference with high school kids until they get on campus if they have the financial support from donors. It is what it is.

 

[glv98]

They weren’t landing them before NIL. Eventually it’s the closer.

You know this how?

We engage, they visit and are apparently impressed bc we're consistently among the finalists. That part seems to be going well. But then we fall off the cliff. Has anyone been the bridesmaid but never the bride more often than the Lady Vols?

So deductive logic tells me it has to be either failure on the part of the closer or NIL. What else could it be?

 

[Majors]

It’s a lot easier to get businesses to spend on current players and proven portal kids than it is recruits. You see Rickea doing ads for big brands and has a car deal. We don’t have people here wiling to do that for high school recruits at this point. Other schools, particularly LSU and SC, do have people and businesses that are willing to do that for recruits.

The BHC can try and make up the difference with high school kids until they get on campus if they have the financial support from donors. It is what it is.

Agree wholeheartedly on Rickea and her deals. It seems have Rickea or have a big pool or money. SC and LSU have equity in their program of recent success and that’s what separates casual fans or a business shelling more money to the program.

 

[DeerPark12]

So which is it? The brand or lack of NIL? I don’t disagree on the brand…although the brand doesn’t carry the same name it did the last time Candace cut down the net. It’s just easy now to say NIL. Fans here have no clue what players are being offered as no poster has said we offered this and the other school countered with this. The place to start is win against FSU on TV. Win the games you’re supposed to win and stop getting bounced in the S16.

We do know this staff struggles in recruiting and developing relationships. It’s either CKH or it’s Sam or it’s both. If it was Sam, you’d think CKH would have noticed and made the move…which leads to CKH not closing.

If Tennessee’s staff struggled with relationships, then they wouldn’t be finalists for these kids.

The “not closing” has been a 100% financial decision for at least four kids the last three years. If you want to disagree or blame other factors, that’s your business. But it’s not reality. We’re in a world in men’s and women’s basketball where the top 20 kids in every class are going to make a college decision where the amount of money they can be guaranteed is going to be a major factor. This isn’t college football or men’s basketball where the staff that can get them to the league fastest is the biggest factor. The top kids are making more in college and if we want to stick our heads in the sand about that, then we’re going to continue to get outbid.

 

[DeerPark12]

Agree wholeheartedly on Rickea and her deals. It seems have Rickea or have a big pool or money. SC and LSU have equity in their program of recent success and that’s what separates casual fans or a business shelling more money to the program.

I don’t know how closely you follow recruiting in sports other than women’s basketball, but this is a problem that Tennessee is having across-the-board in a variety of sports. Local businesses here and big money donors are not showing a desire to shell out for unproven high school kids like they are for current players or transfer portal kids that have already proven it at other places. Most schools have 40 or 50 kids across multiple sports with car deals. Tennessee has three. It’s not an excuse, it’s just reality. I know of three women’s basketball programs that have their entire scholarship roster in dealer cars. We have one player.

I don’t know how you change that paradigm, because if it was just about success, then Tennessee wouldn’t be having the same problems in baseball and men’s basketball. There’s a reason you see those sports also doing better in the portal than they are in high school.

 

[Majors]

If Tennessee’s staff struggled with relationships, then they wouldn’t be finalists for these kids.

The “not closing” has been a 100% financial decision for at least four kids the last three years. If you want to disagree or blame other factors, that’s your business. But it’s not reality. We’re in a world in men’s and women’s basketball where the top 20 kids in every class are going to make a college decision where the amount of money they can be guaranteed is going to be a major factor. This isn’t college football or men’s basketball where the staff that can get them to the league fastest is the biggest factor. The top kids are making more in college and if we want to stick our heads in the sand about that, then we’re going to continue to get outbid.

Eventually you have close and stop being “finalist”. Tennessee as a whole helps draw kids to campus, interest etc. As a school where baseball, softball, football and mens basketball all draw national attention along with LV basketball.
Something is connecting with those programs that isn’t in securing players for LV. It starts with winning. Easier for SC to get cars when you have championships. Easier for Ark softball to get cars when their coach has shown two conference championships in her young career.

 

[Knoxvol14]

If Tennessee’s staff struggled with relationships, then they wouldn’t be finalists for these kids.

The “not closing” has been a 100% financial decision for at least four kids the last three years. If you want to disagree or blame other factors, that’s your business. But it’s not reality. We’re in a world in men’s and women’s basketball where the top 20 kids in every class are going to make a college decision where the amount of money they can be guaranteed is going to be a major factor. This isn’t college football or men’s basketball where the staff that can get them to the league fastest is the biggest factor. The top kids are making more in college and if we want to stick our heads in the sand about that, then we’re going to continue to get outbid.

Spot on post!

 

[glv98]

We don’t have people here wiling to do that for high school recruits at this point.

Is this exclusive to Women's basketball? Because people seemed pretty willing to line Nico's pockets out of high school.

Also, who's in charge of correcting this? Who is the NIL development director for women's program? Is that part of what the collective does?

 

[turbovol]

If Tennessee’s staff struggled with relationships, then they wouldn’t be finalists for these kids.

The “not closing” has been a 100% financial decision for at least four kids the last three years. If you want to disagree or blame other factors, that’s your business. But it’s not reality. We’re in a world in men’s and women’s basketball where the top 20 kids in every class are going to make a college decision where the amount of money they can be guaranteed is going to be a major factor. This isn’t college football or men’s basketball where the staff that can get them to the league fastest is the biggest factor. The top kids are making more in college and if we want to stick our heads in the sand about that, then we’re going to continue to get outbid.

Top 20? We barely get anyone in the top 50 or 60--and prospect No. 40 isn't getting big NIL money. (And if people ARE giving money to, say, prospects ranked 30-60, they are truly stupid. Heck, half the 5 stars in any sport do not pan out. We had a 5 star prospect--top, what, 15? How'd she do? She didn't do....bust. The corruption is nauseating, truly. What happens when suckers pony up big money for a top prospect and she's a bust? Nothing--just $$ down the drain until she transfers, which I assume voids the contract.

 

[volnationnj]

If Tennessee’s staff struggled with relationships, then they wouldn’t be finalists for these kids.

The “not closing” has been a 100% financial decision for at least four kids the last three years. If you want to disagree or blame other factors, that’s your business. But it’s not reality. We’re in a world in men’s and women’s basketball where the top 20 kids in every class are going to make a college decision where the amount of money they can be guaranteed is going to be a major factor. This isn’t college football or men’s basketball where the staff that can get them to the league fastest is the biggest factor. The top kids are making more in college and if we want to stick our heads in the sand about that, then we’re going to continue to get outbid.

Taking this at face value,
"The “not closing” has been a 100% financial decision for at least four kids the last three years.", then what about the other 60-75 offers that went out in the last 3 years ?
Am I to conclude that we met Pissott's initial price but then she got a better offer from Vandy ?

 

[Knoxvol14]

Is this exclusive to Women's basketball? Because people seemed pretty willing to line Nico's pockets out of high school.

Also, who's in charge of correcting this? Who is the NIL development director for women's program? Is that part of what the collective does?

NIL is not run by the school. Spyre Sports runs the Vol Club which is focused on men's sports (ie where everyone puts their money), and the Lady Vol Boost Her Club is for female sports. It is independently owned and operated. Just check out the websites of both to learn more.

 

[Majors]

NIL is not run by the school. Spyre Sports runs the Vol Club which is focused on men's sports (ie where everyone puts their money), and the Lady Vol Boost Her Club is for female sports. It is independently owned and operated. Just check out the websites of both to learn more.

Seems if we are being honest Spyre needs to take it back over. It might bother some of the old guard. But you can’t complain “about where everyone puts their money” and some choose to break away and start up a LVBC and it’s struggling.

 

[FormerLadyVolFan]

You have no clue...We struggled to put together enough deals to keep Rickea this year and have not been competitive with the schools that we've been recruiting against.

Yes, the LVBH has been able to put some things together for some of our recent transfers, but they can't compete with a school like LSU that has the resources to financially secure the players they want.

No it’s not. It’s just the built in excuse. Can’t secure Rickea and the portal players we got with coupons.

They weren’t landing them before NIL. Eventually it’s the closer.

So which is it? The brand or lack of NIL? I don’t disagree on the brand…although the brand doesn’t carry the same name it did the last time Candace cut down the net. It’s just easy now to say NIL. Fans here have no clue what players are being offered as no poster has said we offered this and the other school countered with this. The place to start is win against FSU on TV. Win the games you’re supposed to win and stop getting bounced in the S16.

We do know this staff struggles in recruiting and developing relationships. It’s either CKH or it’s Sam or it’s both. If it was Sam, you’d think CKH would have noticed and made the move…which leads to CKH not closing.

 

[Majors]

You have no clue...We struggled to put together enough deals to keep Rickea this year and have not been competitive with the schools that we've been recruiting against.

Yes, the LVBH has been able to put some things together for some of our recent transfers, but they can't compete with a school like LSU that has the resources to financially secure the players they want.

Then they need to get out of the way and let Spyre take it over. Since, I don’t have a clue. The fact you said “struggled” to put together deals for Rickea seems they are in over their head. Tennessee has the resources to compete with anyone & Spyre is recognized as one of the best NIL collectives in all of college, but yet somehow the LV would rather do it another way. And here we are

 

[Voltopia]

And if people ARE giving money to, say, prospects ranked 30-60, they are truly stupid.

It doesn't matter if you think they're stupid. That has no bearing on the situation. If the recruits are getting offers to get paid, and Tennessee can't match those offers, then Tennessee has both hands tied behind its back when it comes to recruiting. There's no way around it. You can say it's stupid for people to offer them that money until you're blue in the face, but if they ARE getting offered that money - and the evidence suggests they are - then there isn't a thing to be done except match the offers or lose out on the recruits. It won't change. It's done.

For many of these players, college represents their best chance to cash in on a young lifetime of hard work. It makes sense that they want the paydays. That's what NIL has enabled. You can hate that - and it's clear you do - but it's the reality now. The genie isn't going back in the bottle.

 

[Voltopia]

I don’t know how closely you follow recruiting in sports other than women’s basketball, but this is a problem that Tennessee is having across-the-board in a variety of sports. Local businesses here and big money donors are not showing a desire to shell out for unproven high school kids like they are for current players or transfer portal kids that have already proven it at other places. Most schools have 40 or 50 kids across multiple sports with car deals. Tennessee has three. It’s not an excuse, it’s just reality. I know of three women’s basketball programs that have their entire scholarship roster in dealer cars. We have one player.

I don’t know how you change that paradigm, because if it was just about success, then Tennessee wouldn’t be having the same problems in baseball and men’s basketball. There’s a reason you see those sports also doing better in the portal than they are in high school.

Something I have thought about on this topic, which may be foolish, but I'd love to get your take on this, DP. Does having the "Lady Vols" under their own brand have an impact on the interest companies might have for NIL deals? In other words, does that history and the sub-brand influence these NIL conversations? Does the existence of that sub-brand sort of dilute the perceived value of potential NIL deals, possibly? Or complicate the situation in some way? Perhaps it's just the public perception?

I've always been a strong supporter of keeping the program traditions intact, but I admit I've wondered sometimes if companies would be more willing to buy in to the women's players if was perceived as just being part of the Tennessee athletic brand. The Lady Vols have always been proud about building their brand and identity, and I've been all about that before NIL became a thing, but now that they're on a playing field with other athletics departments that operate as single brands with with NIL machines built to support their entire departments, men's and women's, without any distinction, it's made me wonder if the division, or at least the history of division, is part of the problem.

It may not even be a thing that can be fixed by simply changing names; if this is the case, perhaps it's been so distinct a brand that the impact would persist. I couldn't say. I've just wondered if that has been part of what's complicating things when it comes to NIL interest for the program.

 

[Volfan2012]

I don’t know how closely you follow recruiting in sports other than women’s basketball, but this is a problem that Tennessee is having across-the-board in a variety of sports. Local businesses here and big money donors are not showing a desire to shell out for unproven high school kids like they are for current players or transfer portal kids that have already proven it at other places. Most schools have 40 or 50 kids across multiple sports with car deals. Tennessee has three. It’s not an excuse, it’s just reality. I know of three women’s basketball programs that have their entire scholarship roster in dealer cars. We have one player.

I don’t know how you change that paradigm, because if it was just about success, then Tennessee wouldn’t be having the same problems in baseball and men’s basketball. There’s a reason you see those sports also doing better in the portal than they are in high school.

So the question I ask is that were not going to be able to compete for the best players in women's basketball going forward because of NIL? if that is true no way the program can move forward to elite again.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

So the question I ask is that were not going to be able to compete for the best players in women's basketball going forward because of NIL? if that is true no way the program can move forward to elite again.

Exactly ! that's what is happening ... So while it's nice for us to join BoostHerClub it's going to be up to those in charge (and i don't just mean the coaches) to make things happen to help this program get back to where it needs to be if we want to land these high ranking recruits.... It just is what it is at this point we are getting outbid and if others on here that know that's what's happening won't say it I will. I can think of at least 4 recruits we got outbid for in the last two recruiting classes. There may be some NCAA rules coming down the pipe to help even the playing fields and allow the universities to get into the mix truly and LEGALLY and then you will see a change and the schools with different state laws allowing how HS students can get NIL money/collectives won't be as happy.

 

[Majors]

Exactly ! that's what is happening ... So while it's nice for us to join BoostHerClub it's going to be up to those in charge (and i don't just mean the coaches) to make things happen to help this program get back to where it needs to be if we want to land these high ranking recruits.... It just is what it is at this point we are getting outbid and if others on here that know that's what's happening won't say it I will. I can think of at least 4 recruits we got outbid for in the last two recruiting classes. There may be some NCAA rules coming down the pipe to help even the playing fields and allow the universities to get into the mix truly and LEGALLY and then you will see a change and the schools with different state laws allowing how HS students can get NIL money/collectives won't be as happy.

Outbid is a blanket statement. Which players did we lose and what were the offers? Where is the gap separation? Seems nobody has that answer, except “we need more”.