2024 Recruiting Thread

[LadyVol1908]

 

[djtee]

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Whoa! hmm!

 

[VolFuture]

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Makes sense

 

[ShortyMac10]

Florida might be good for her

 

[LV renaissance]

I think in the discussion about NIL and recruiting, an overlooked factor is that the top 75 recruits are going to all types of schools except us, not just UCONN, SC, and LSU (they have 1 so far that is way down the list). So, NIL and tradition are both factors, but it is hard to believe that all these other programs suddenly have extreme NIL deals. I think we are overlooking a factor that us pro -Kellie folks don't like to consider: Perhaps she is a better coach than a seal the deal recruiter. This doesn't mean it will never happen, but the last 3 years we have gone after plenty of recruits that aren't in the top 30, and we haven't gotten any of them. For the lower level recruits, it is doubtful that it is only about NIL money. I hate saying this here, as I am far from a negative-Vol and the neg-vols will likely pounce, but I also don't want them to alter what I can say here as well. I am not at all suggesting that this means that Kellie should get fired. She is developing players well and perhaps she can recruit better if we get to the Elite 8 this year. Nevertheless, she currently is losing some recruits to programs that have minimal interest in women's basketball. I know there are a lot of individual reasons for a player's decision, but the overall pattern can't be denied. Hardly any players are having their reasons for coming to our program, the one with the best long-term women's basketball tradition. I sure hope we get to the Elite 8 or beyond this year, and perhaps this will change. The recruits are at least somewhat interested as they visit and some put us in the list of the top choices, but I imagine we are at the bottom of power 5 conferences in number of recruits signed over the past 3 years even if we sign another one this year. Certainly, we can't be at the very bottom for NIL for all WBB programs. Coach does bear some responsibility here. Perhaps with responsibility comes solutions and growth. One can hope!

 

[mcannon1]

2024 offers:

1. Imari Berry (13) To Clemson
2. Mikayla Blakes (10)
3. Alexandra Blue (41) To Virginia Tech
4. Kaniya Boyd (34) To Tennessee!
5. Jaloni Cambridge (3) Didn't make top 7
6. Justice Carlton (7) not top 5 (to TX)
7. Morgan Cheli (18) To UCONN
8. Kendall Dudley (14) Not top 11 (UCLA)
9. Joyce Edwards (2)
10. Kayleigh Heckel (27) To USC
11. Avery Howell (23) Not top 5 to So Cal
12. Jordan Lee (8) not n top 11 to TX
13. Tahj Monet-Bloom (38) To MS St
14. Olivia Olsen (15) To Michigan
15. Me'Arah O'Neal (32) To Florida
16. Taliyah Parker (61) not top 8 To TX A&M
17. Bryanna Preston (43) To TX
18. Arianna Roberson (19) not top 5 To Duke
19. Clara Silva To VA Tech
20. Zania Socka-Nguemen (26) To UCLA
21. Blanca Thomas (29) To NC
22. Ava Grace Watson (49) To Ohio State

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

If the BHC was folded into Spyre, then kiss being competitive in women’s sports goodbye, because those people have exactly 0 interest in women’s sports and it made that very clear from the start. You’re talking to someone who was approached to give them a six-figure gift two years ago when I helped settle a major case. They will not spend a penny on women’s sports unless a sponsor demands it.

Then we need to figure out something because what we are doing isn't seemingly it.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

VA I think you are one of the most knowledgeable and reasonable posters we have. Thanks always for your input!
I’ve been turning this around in my head and the economics of NIL and have a question.
Let’s say a program has several all in donors and NIL is just taking off. Year one my big fish pony up $150k for a top ten recruit and two top fifties. I’m assuming that is an ongoing commitment? Year two my fish cough up another $120K for another top recruiting class in addition to the second year of $150k. This continues into years 3 and 4 so once high roller NIL has been in place several years my fish are in for $600k per year, ongoing if we want a top ten recruiting class annually. If a program is not bringing a Nattie home regularly I’m not sure this is a sustainable economic plan for hardly any program.
Tell me what I’ve got wrong here.
Thanks!

You are pretty spot on and thank you for your compliment If we want to keep landing top recruits and transfers you are about right depending on what they are being offered. I can't imagine we will always need 5 player classes and at 100k a piece between HS and transfers that's 500k. Not not every recruit will require that amount but if we keep going after the kids we are going after they most likely will.

 

[Lucy]

I’m sorry, voice to text let me down, and trying to edit sitting out in the sun let me down even more. I meant “fan.”

You rock!!

 

[VolFanGBO]

If the BHC was folded into Spyre, then kiss being competitive in women’s sports goodbye, because those people have exactly 0 interest in women’s sports and it made that very clear from the start. You’re talking to someone who was approached to give them a six-figure gift two years ago when I helped settle a major case. They will not spend a penny on women’s sports unless a sponsor demands it.

welp, guess we’re over then (blue font)

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

If the BHC was folded into Spyre, then kiss being competitive in women’s sports goodbye, because those people have exactly 0 interest in women’s sports and it made that very clear from the start. You’re talking to someone who was approached to give them a six-figure gift two years ago when I helped settle a major case. They will not spend a penny on women’s sports unless a sponsor demands it.

Didn't Spyre sponsor Jordan and TK at some point before BHC took over ? So are you saying now it wouldn't be a thing because they wouldn't be interested anymore because they were involved in some level before.

Jordan Horston - NIL Deals

Latest NIL Deals for Jordan Horston. The On3 NIL Deal Tracker lists all NIL Deals across the NCAA for college and high school athletes being reported by players, collectives, agents and media. On3 does NOT disclose deal financial terms. Financial data is undisclosed and private to the athlete.

www.on3.com

Lady Vols and Spyre Sports unveil NIL deal with Orange Mountain Designs

Spyre Sports is teaming up with Lady Vol athletes to help them profit off of NIL.

www.wvlt.tv

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

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Considering she released a "top 5" where she only visited one school was a give away to me

 

[Majors]

Also in talking to some other people about this ... Didn't Spyre sponsor Jordan and TK at some point before BHC took over ? They had a deal or were at some Spyre sponsored events..

Yes, they had deals/events and fulfilled their obligations before separating.

 

[Voltopia]

Spyre is not interested in doing anything with women’s sports, which is one reason why the boost her club was put together in the first place. Several donors went to them at the start and said they wanted a certain amount of their money to go to women’s sports and the reply was that they would determine how best to distribute the money, then they declined to meet with any of the women’s coaches. They did have a role with an AT&T promotion that involved a couple of female athletes, but that was mostly because they did a larger deal with AT&T and the sponsor wanted at least two female athletes as part of the promotion. That’s the only deal they’ve shown any interest in any women’s sport on to this point.

Spyre gets a lot of attention because they are good at marketing themselves, but I don’t think things are nearly as rosy with them as people think, and I will leave it at that. They certainly aren’t getting a penny of my money.

I work in Atlanta, so I can’t have them out to our firm to sign autographs, but I personally paid for a couple of autographed sessions at charity events this past summer for both male and female athletes and paid them directly rather than going through one of the collectives. I have the ability to do that, most fans don’t. Which is why a boost her club gift is the most efficient way for the average man to help.

Wellllllll I sure do feel stupid asking my questions now. Boy, do I feel dumb. Hearing that they have no respect for the women's sports makes me question a lot about them and their supposed mission.

On the other hand, I feel less stupid for ignoring all the thinly-veiled marketing pitches on the football board. So I guess I have that at least.

 

[DeerPark12]

VA I think you are one of the most knowledgeable and reasonable posters we have. Thanks always for your input!
I’ve been turning this around in my head and the economics of NIL and have a question.
Let’s say a program has several all in donors and NIL is just taking off. Year one my big fish pony up $150k for a top ten recruit and two top fifties. I’m assuming that is an ongoing commitment? Year two my fish cough up another $120K for another top recruiting class in addition to the second year of $150k. This continues into years 3 and 4 so once high roller NIL has been in place several years my fish are in for $600k per year, ongoing if we want a top ten recruiting class annually. If a program is not bringing a Nattie home regularly I’m not sure this is a sustainable economic plan for hardly any program.
Tell me what I’ve got wrong here.
Thanks!

In a lot of cases, the donor/collective shells out the money for year one and the ongoing money is paid by businesses or individuals that do deals with the players through the collective. Sometimes that means they make more, sometimes less. But the collective offers an up front guarantee and then offsets that by signing deals for the players.

 

[DeerPark12]

Didn't Spyre sponsor Jordan and TK at some point before BHC took over ? So are you saying now it wouldn't be a thing because they wouldn't be interested anymore because they were involved in some level before.

Jordan Horston - NIL Deals

Latest NIL Deals for Jordan Horston. The On3 NIL Deal Tracker lists all NIL Deals across the NCAA for college and high school athletes being reported by players, collectives, agents and media. On3 does NOT disclose deal financial terms. Financial data is undisclosed and private to the athlete.

www.on3.com

Lady Vols and Spyre Sports unveil NIL deal with Orange Mountain Designs

Spyre Sports is teaming up with Lady Vol athletes to help them profit off of NIL.

www.wvlt.tv

Yes, some businesses they were already working with requested those two players, as I mentioned earlier in talking about the AT&T deal. They made it very clear to coaches and a couple of donors that they would not be as aggressive in pursuing deals for clients in sports other than football, men’s basketball and baseball. Part of the reason for that is their affiliated agency represents professional athletes in those three sports, which is where the real money comes in for them. Help them out while they are in school, then get them to an affiliated pro agent down the road.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

Yes, some businesses they were already working with requested those two players, as I mentioned earlier in talking about the AT&T deal. They made it very clear to coaches and a couple of donors that they would not be as aggressive in pursuing deals for clients in sports other than football, men’s basketball and baseball. Part of the reason for that is their affiliated agency represents professional athletes in those three sports, which is where the real money comes in for them. Help them out while they are in school, then get them to an affiliated pro agent down the road.

Ha, I would have loved for them to try and tell Pat that... would NOT have happened. But we have to figure out a way to be better because we all know the way we are going is not cutting it. TN prides itself on being an everything school you would think whoever they brought in to represent them would follow along those lines even though women sports are not the big money makers. WBB could be something that would get them more recognition.

I don't know what needs to change but something does... What are your thoughts on how we could maximize the WBB potential and get them a bigger pot to pull from?

 

[Lucy]

In a lot of cases, the donor/collective shells out the money for year one and the ongoing money is paid by businesses or individuals that do deals with the players through the collective. Sometimes that means they make more, sometimes less. But the collective offers an up front guarantee and then offsets that by signing deals for the players.

Very interesting! Seems like this could get sideways quickly if you have a “guaranteed” kid that doesn’t produce. Goodness these kids have so much pressure already. I hope there aren’t performance requirements sine this is just about Name, Image and Likeness

 

[37620VOL]

Very interesting! Seems like this could get sideways quickly if you have a “guaranteed” kid that doesn’t produce. Goodness these kids have so much pressure already. I hope there aren’t performance requirements sine this is just about Name, Image and Likeness

On the field/court performance requirements are not allowed.

 

[37620VOL]

Do we not have any big LV boosters? Seems like a smaller amount of $ could go a lot farther in women's basketball. As a coach, I wouldn't take the LV's job unless there was enough $ in the NIL fund to land two top 30 players every year.

I think the only reason big $ is rolling into baseball NIL is because the rockstar coach would walk if it wasn't coming in. CKH has no similar leverage.

I don't fully understand Spyre's agent argument. Is there no $ in being the agent for the next Candace Parker?

 

[Majors]

Do we not have any big LV boosters? Seems like a smaller amount of $ could go a lot farther in women's basketball. As a coach, I wouldn't take the LV's job unless there was enough $ in the NIL fund to land two top 30 players every year.

I think the only reason big $ is rolling into baseball NIL is because the rockstar coach would walk if it wasn't coming in. CKH has no similar leverage.

I don't fully understand Spyre's agent argument. Is there no $ in being the agent for the next Candace Parker?

“CKH has no similar leverage”

Winning big gives leverage

 

[Volfan2012]

In a lot of cases, the donor/collective shells out the money for year one and the ongoing money is paid by businesses or individuals that do deals with the players through the collective. Sometimes that means they make more, sometimes less. But the collective offers an up front guarantee and then offsets that by signing deals for the players.

So could a freshman take the first year money and then get to keep that money then get in the portal and leave. They then are immediately eligiblle somewhere else and could make another big deal for the next season at a different school without penalty of sitting out. If this is true then getting players out of the portal is the better deal cause even if they leave they have to sit a season. Plus I am seeing very few portal players leaving their second school.

 

[Majors]

So could a freshman take the first year money and then get to keep that money then get in the portal and leave. They then are immediately eligiblle somewhere else and could make another big deal for the next season at a different school without penalty of sitting out. If this is true then getting players out of the portal is the better deal cause even if they leave they have to sit a season. Plus I am seeing very few portal players leaving their second school.

In football they have been structured in 3 year agreements to blunt that. Escalates with each year to entice the player(s) to stay. But another school could backdoor and offer more…see Williams at USC.

 

[Majors]

Yes, some businesses they were already working with requested those two players, as I mentioned earlier in talking about the AT&T deal. They made it very clear to coaches and a couple of donors that they would not be as aggressive in pursuing deals for clients in sports other than football, men’s basketball and baseball. Part of the reason for that is their affiliated agency represents professional athletes in those three sports, which is where the real money comes in for them. Help them out while they are in school, then get them to an affiliated pro agent down the road.

To play the other side, could it have been that Spyre told them how it was going to be at this time based on the roster. Not everyone in men’s gets a deal. And the old guard decided feeling slighted decided to run with and form LVBC. Could have been a humbling meeting when discussing NIL evaluations at the start of the NIL era

 

[glv98]

To play the other side, could it have been that Spyre told them how it was going to be at this time based on the roster. Not everyone in men’s gets a deal. And the old guard decided feeling slighted decided to run with and form LVBC. Could have been a humbling meeting when discussing NIL evaluations at the start of the NIL era

Man, the "old guard" is like really old now. They already were back in the glory days 20 yrs ago. How much influence could they still have? Hard for me to see Danny White, from what we know of him, bowing to them. And certainly not Kellie Harper and her staff who are getting clobbered in high school recruiting.

Thank God for the portal!