2025 Recruiting

[Volfan2012]

A lot of talk about changing coaches not going to happen with most if they don't have NIL backing for the Lady Vol program to the extent they can recruit the best players and be a factor. There are certainly coaches out there that would take the job, but without NIL backing they are not going to be successful in the SEC and Nationally. Might can stay where we are now in a mix of teams trying for second or third in the league.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Not all but a lot. Some of the schools recruiting big now were not even close to doing it before. Still probably half the players still just pick a school of preference regardless of NIL the other half are looking for the most NIL money.

if that’s the case, do u think we will be able to get any elite recruits in the near future?

 

[Volfan2012]

if that’s the case, do u think we will be able to get any elite recruits in the near future?

We got one player in 2024 and have one in 2025. I think to get in that top ten you need NIL money for those players. You may be able to get some top fifty players, but that top ten or fifteen for the most part are looking for deals. I think were always in good shape for the portal. I'm looking to see what the players doing tomorrow will decide to do number 21. Also Harris is possibly looking our way.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

We got one player in 2024 and have one in 2025. I think to get in that top ten you need NIL money for those players. You may be able to get some top fifty players, but that top ten or fifteen for the most part are looking for deals. I think were always in good shape for the portal. I'm looking to see what the players doing tomorrow will decide to do number 21. Also Harris is possibly looking our way.

I haven’t really watched anyone besides Finley Xhastain but I’ll check out the others. Elite for me would be Juju Watkins, Mikayla’s Williams and Hannah Hildalgo from last years class, are any of the players you’ve mentioned on that level?

 

[Volfan2012]

I haven’t really watched anyone besides Finley Xhastain but I’ll check out the others. Elite for me would be Juju Watkins, Mikayla’s Williams and Hannah Hildalgo from last years class, are any of the players you’ve mentioned on that level?

I think Brooks fits in that category. She is the only 2025 recruit we have. Williams is committing tomorrow were in her top three. The others have no idea when they will decide.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I think Brooks fits in that category. She is the only 2025 recruit we have. Jackson is committing tomorrow were in her top three. The others have no idea when they will decide.

I’ll check out some video on brooks and Jackson.

 

[glv98]

I think Brooks fits in that category. She is the only 2025 recruit we have. Jackson is committing tomorrow were in her top three. The others have no idea when they will decide.

I think you mean Williams, we all have Jackson brain right now. And she's 5 star and rated 21st in her class last I saw. That's elite enough for me, esp combined w Brooks. Those two alone would be the best hs class we've had in a minute.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I think you mean Williams, we all have Jackson brain right now. And she's 5 star and rated 21st in her class last I saw. That's elite enough for me, esp combined w Brooks. Those two alone would be the best hs class we've had in a minute.

Are u basing that on the film u watched or just the rankings?

 

[Volfan2012]

I think you mean Williams, we all have Jackson brain right now. And she's 5 star and rated 21st in her class last I saw. That's elite enough for me, esp combined w Brooks. Those two alone would be the best hs class we've had in a minute.

No he was asking about players we have signed or have talent like the ones he specified. I said I thought Brooks had that kind of talent. Williams is talented as well haven't seen her play enough to know exactly how I feel about her. She certainly puts up the numbers, but against what type of competition. Brooks just does it against the best teams in high school. No see what you mean I said jackson meant Williams

 

[Volfan2012]

Are u basing that on the film u watched or just the rankings?

Film and games she is ranked 16th think she could be ranked higher.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Film and games she is ranked 16th think she could be ranked higher.

Ok I’ll see if I can find some games.

 

[Volfan2012]

Ok I’ll see if I can find some games.

Brooks has some games online think some are posted in this thread a ways back and I know highlights are.

 

[37620VOL]

Not all but a lot. Some of the schools recruiting big now were not even close to doing it before. Still probably half the players still just pick a school of preference regardless of NIL the other half are looking for the most NIL money.

I'd say much more than half (at least for the top 75 players or so) are weighing NIL heavily. Maybe upwards of 90%.

While coaches can't currently throw out numbers for a recruit, I'm sure the recruits talk with current players and are aware of certain deals.

Honestly, if I were a parent of a D1 recruit and like most American families, we lived paycheck to paycheck, I would strongly suggest my daughter pick her 5 favorite schools, factoring in distance from home, coaching style, roster makeup, degree programs, etc. But out of those five, if one of them offers significantly more NIL opportunity, you have to strongly consider that and how it affects your lifetime earning potential.

 

[Bakers1]

I’m very skeptical of these numbers people float out there for up front money, don’t believe they exist in WBB to those levels. Nobody is going to convince me that HS WBB players are getting that kind of money upfront, esp when you compare that to FB numbers for most. Someone would have to show me proof that JuJu got $750k.

I agree. I think people confuse NIL "value" or "Potential Endorsement Value" with real revenue/contracts. The number we most often see is "Potential Endorsement Value" The average income from NIL deals for student-athletes ranges from $1,000 to $10,000 yearly. Then you have legit endorsements vs collectives/boosters. It's far from transparent, no way to know the real number as of now.. Then what type of endorsement deals? athletes are often compensated in more than one way i.e., money, sometimes shares of stock that may or may not have current value. If you want to read an example where athletes might never be paid for their endorsements google Biosteel. My guess is only the very top tier is earning deep 6 figures to millions especially looking at the averages but mostly all are making something & with collective groups involved more than we know.

 

[VolFuture]

I don't know if she and her family flirt w everyone the way they do with the LVs, but they're so friendly I though she was already a commit. They're Nyla Brooks level interactive w the program on social media.

But ya'll, another guard? LVs about to roll out truly positionless basketball.

Tbh with what we have we should… look at how successfully Uconn is or Indiana or Iowa or Creighton or I mean there’s so many

Honestly it’s a numbers game tho there are just more guards than forwards and posts.. even fewer elite forwards or posts which is why they feel so devastating to other teams

We often ask why we don’t have good ball movement or are stagnant on offense but it’s mainly bc we are comparing our team to an LSU or IOWA or Uconn who have 4 guards on the floor.

There are times we could literally only have 1 guard and 4 forwards on the floor but our USUAL is 2 guards 3 forwards like our starters.

 

[LUVMESUMVOL]

So if they simply don't want to play for Kellie and NIL is not involved, why do you think we make so many finalist lists? They don't know about Kellie for the months and years until they're ready to sign? That just doesn't make sense. Making so many final lists and not closing, plus knowing for certain that Earl is very well connected and knows what he's talking about, makes me believe it is in large part lack of upfront NIL money.

The bottom line for me is if people want to think that NIL isn’t the reason we are falling short with recruits then let them believe something else.my belief is if this NIL was non existent the LVs would have a loaded roster right now capable of winning a national championship and no one would be saying we need another coach.without the NIL and players going with their heart I truly believe we would at least have #9 already

 

[Rooster1]

Brooks has some games online think some are posted in this thread a ways back and I know highlights are.

I posted a video of her latest game on page 26 of this thread. She looks good, has the tools, still very raw but you can see the potential.

 

[Knoxvol14]

The donors who “support” the Lady Vols HATE NIL and will not donate towards it because they feel, unjustifiably, that Pat would hate NIL too and they don’t want their money to be used for “pay to play.”

What they neglect to understand is that yes, Pat would’ve likely hated NIL, but Pat would’ve adapted to the times and if Pat wanted a recruit and needed money for it, she would’ve gotten it.

They want the landscape to be how it used to be, and are unwilling to see that times have changed. Kellie is in a huge bind when it comes to NIL deals. The staff is putting in the work but money talks and kids walk. We have lost countless recruits over money deals since NIL became what it is.

In terms of OMD and Terri, she is the sole reason that Rickea came back this season. Spyre doesn’t want to handle the women’s athletics. They are here for football, baseball and basketball. The ladies needed a collective and Terri stepped up. We need something bigger, but until there is monetary backing to support a larger collective, Terri is it.

There are some donors who provided 10k or more of their own annual earnings so it's not all. We need more of all levels to donate.

 

[mtsuraider06]

There are some donors who provided 10k or more of their own annual earnings so it's not all. We need more of all levels to donate.

Correct, some, but not all.

The Lady Vols need the Haslams to step up and donate.

A few $10k donations are great, but they are a drop in the bucket compared to what Texas schools, California schools and LSU can, and are, offering.

 

[Majors]

Nah, not buying that. Brand may get initial interest and a visit, but not going to make a finaliist list. We can agree to disagree, but I think that's pretzel logic to avoid the obvious - money wins out when it's close.

Agree, don't mean to dog Terri, but it's way beyond her now. She needs to give up the big $ stuff immediately and stick to what she does best.

Same kids making the finalist are posting every offer as if they are all equal. And with the unlimited visits now in place, it’s a sit back and wait. If this was 1999, and Pat lost players she normally get I’d side more with you. Being CKH couldn’t land the before, it’s not NIL.

 

[Voltopia]

Same kids making the finalist are posting every offer as if they are all equal.

What does that mean, "as if they are all equal?"

Are the kids posting their NIL offers? And comparing dollar values in their remarks? Or is this meant to imply that they're posting those typical "Blessed to receive an offer" posts? Because that's courtesy and it takes minutes. Superficial social media comments don't tell you a thing about where schools stand.

 

[Rooster1]

What does that mean, "as if they are all equal?"

Are the kids posting their NIL offers? And comparing dollar values in their remarks? Or is this meant to imply that they're posting those typical "Blessed to receive an offer" posts? Because that's courtesy and it takes minutes. Superficial social media comments don't tell you a thing about where schools stand.

Yeah you are right, he wasn’t talking about NIL offers, just scholarship offers, but I get your point.

 

[Rooster1]

Correct, some, but not all.

The Lady Vols need the Haslams to step up and donate.

A few $10k donations are great, but they are a drop in the bucket compared to what Texas schools, California schools and LSU can, and are, offering.

Are the raiders a lock for the tourney this year? They deserve it..

 

[UTtoDC]

They’re pretty accurate so I think she’ll be committing to Oregon. Bummer.

 

[Volfan2012]

They’re pretty accurate so I think she’ll be committing to Oregon. Bummer.

That is a big surprise never thought it would be them. Never know these days.