Tennessee Vols Basketball Recruiting

[StoVol]

NiL is exactly the right, moral and most American thing to do I can think of. Having a coach that won't adjust is the issue if it's true that Barnes is dropping the ball on it.

Imagine if someone wanted to pay you a huge sum of money for a service you could provide them but someone else told you you weren't allowed to pursue that revenue. Meanwhile the person who told you no was making billions of dollars off a service you were expected to provide them for free.

No hell has broken loose. Look at the football side, it's already benefitting us huge because Heupel has embraced the new reality.

First thing I thought of as well, how long have schools profited off these kids value? And a large portion goes to the head coach

And we are now at the beginning stages of determining relative value for the players and said coaches are uncomfortable with justifying players worth?

The weak fold of a hand on the tampering bluff bothers me more, like when someone can be snapped off when the pressure gets high..... which reminds me of our tournament success

The indicators shout weakness

 

[walkenvol]

There used to be a time when a free education was enough. Crazy times

There also used to be a time coaches had to run summer camps to make ends meet

 

[beefvol44]

There used to be a time when a free education was enough. Crazy times

Coaches weren’t making 4 million dollars a year then either. I do miss those times. Came across my Ticket stub to 98 Fl game. It was $18 dollars. Was nice to beable to take a family of 4 to a game and not drop $2000 on a weekend lol

 

[vol9799]

I don’t think White strong-arming him into a career decision at this point in the offseason is good for anyone involved. Hiring a replacement and convincing the remaining players to stick around, much less filling out a roster could prove difficult
I could be wrong, and after all, since this is a crazy hypothetical for each of us, I won’t fault you for having that opinion.

I agree that a strong-arm ouster would be bad. Didn't mean to portray it that way. I just get the impression that Barnes is already thinking he doesn't like the idea of having to deal with it and White isn't the kind of AD to sit around when one of his coaches might be troubled about something.

I was just thinking that if White asks the question, how do you plan to deal with all these changes, CRB might well say that he really doesn't want to. In which case the whole, then how do we all manage this transition conversation takes place.

Of course me trying to post when I am dog tired, it's a wonder I got our coach and AD's names right...

 

[cardvolfan]

NiL is exactly the right, moral and most American thing to do I can think of. Having a coach that won't adjust is the issue if it's true that Barnes is dropping the ball on it.

Imagine if someone wanted to pay you a huge sum of money for a service you could provide them but someone else told you you weren't allowed to pursue that revenue. Meanwhile the person who told you no was making billions of dollars off a service you were expected to provide them for free.

No hell has broken loose. Look at the football side, it's already benefitting us huge because Heupel has embraced the new reality.

I’m not talking about the idea of reimbursing athletes monetarily, as that is here to stay. I’m talking about the discord, envy, and jealousy that comes from players jockeying for position in the reimbursement line. It’s going to affect team chemistry, relationships, etc. I’m talking about the detriment to the sport and the chaos already happening in recruiting and other areas. But, money makes it all okay, right?

 

[Voltime123]

I’m not talking about the idea of reimbursing athletes monetarily, as that is here to stay. I’m talking about the discord, envy, and jealousy that comes from players jockeying for position in the reimbursement line. It’s going to affect team chemistry, relationships, etc. I’m talking about the detriment to the sport and the chaos already happening in recruiting and other areas. But, money makes it all okay, right?

Money is what puts it on tv for us to enjoy…money is what pays the coaches…money is what’s used to pay ppl for their labor…yes that makes it okay

 

[Schasz]

I don’t know about all that tampering stuff with Collins and SLU threatening to make a stink. Could be that SLU didn’t come up with as big an offer but it was enough to keep him there. Some guys enjoy being the big fish in a small pond. Might be that old saying: “If you don’t want to run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.” Doesn’t look like Collins wants to run with the big dogs to me. Had the chance and stayed on the porch. Separate subject. I will always be a Barnes supporter for his class and where he’s brought this program. But this NIL and portal thing is a new world. And we all have to know that some old line coaches are not going to deal with it. They may just head off into the sunset. I’ve always thought Barnes would coach for another 3 years but he may not be flexible enough. This mess might speed up his timeline. And I really wouldn’t blame him. Must be tough using half your time to figure out how to buy players. Sure it’s always been done but it’s out in the open now to the highest bidder. Combine that with the portal and players leaving for the slightest thing and it’s a dang zoo.

I believe your line about NIL being the new world and old line HC's not liking it is one of the reasons why this past week we saw Jay Wright leave Nova. Heck is a two time NCAA Championship HC.

 

[cardvolfan]

Money is what puts it on tv for us to enjoy…money is what pays the coaches…money is what’s used to pay ppl for their labor…yes that makes it okay

Your answer is the universal response. Just throw money at it and it will all be okay. Unfortunately, money in and of itself doesn’t solve all the problems we are seeing in relation to college sports.

 

[JelloPuddinPup]

I think in about 2-3 years we'll see a settling into of NIL that allows us to more clearly see how recruiting will develop. I know the big things right now are the massive, out of nowhere, deals for star players but I don't think that will be the usual for long (meaning, deals will start to average out for different type levels of talents). We won't see the $8mil deal trying to be topped each and every year. Once we reach that "plateau" of sorts we will be able to understand what kids we can expect to pursue. Players will understand the market better by then and know what to expect but you'll still have a the few that will make unreasonable demands due to family or handlers.

Just my opinion, but it's a new market that is flexing it's wings right now. Not sure yet what all it's fully capable of but there will be a settling point in the future.

 

[StoVol]

I’m not talking about the idea of reimbursing athletes monetarily, as that is here to stay. I’m talking about the discord, envy, and jealousy that comes from players jockeying for position in the reimbursement line. It’s going to affect team chemistry, relationships, etc. I’m talking about the detriment to the sport and the chaos already happening in recruiting and other areas. But, money makes it all okay, right?

Under the table to out in the open is the issue, not a perceived non existent issue to a new one

 

[berryvol]

Lol what?

Guessing you didn’t watch him his freshman year at auburn?

 

[berryvol]

I’m not talking about the idea of reimbursing athletes monetarily, as that is here to stay. I’m talking about the discord, envy, and jealousy that comes from players jockeying for position in the reimbursement line. It’s going to affect team chemistry, relationships, etc. I’m talking about the detriment to the sport and the chaos already happening in recruiting and other areas. But, money makes it all okay, right?

Sounds like a job. Maybe we should stop paying people’s salaries because it could negatively impact office chemistry and morale.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

NiL is exactly the right, moral and most American thing to do I can think of. Having a coach that won't adjust is the issue if it's true that Barnes is dropping the ball on it.

Imagine if someone wanted to pay you a huge sum of money for a service you could provide them but someone else told you you weren't allowed to pursue that revenue. Meanwhile the person who told you no was making billions of dollars off a service you were expected to provide them for free.

No hell has broken loose. Look at the football side, it's already benefitting us huge because Heupel has embraced the new reality.

Overall I don't disagree with this. My only add-on would be that if the NiL is about the player's name, image and likeness then no coach (or university) should have anything to do with it at all. The player should be involved with setting up and initiating that sort of thing. Of course that's not how it's working or likely going to work. You're basically mimicking what professional teams do now in free agency. Each coach/school is pitching their market and then organizations are setup/available in the area to help the player navigate setting up contracts and agreements for their NiL.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Offer Grant Sherfield and Kenny Lofton Jr. 500k each lol

Grant Sherfield - 19.1 ppg, 6.4 apg, 4.2 rpg
Santiago Vescovi
Josiah James
Kenny Lofton Jr. - 16 ppg, 2.8 apg, 10.5 rpg
Jonas Aidoo

That's an elite lineup with quality players coming off the bench.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I think the ridiculous idea of Powell going pro overseas is being glossed over big time here. He’s one of the few guys coming back that have showed ANY ability to score/create off the bounce in his past. He’s one guy that could theoretically make a leap and change the outlook on next year’s team. It’s getting to the point that we can’t even have hope in ridiculous scenarios.

Huh?


I mean I like Powell a lot, great size and he's a legit shooter. But he's almost stuck in early career JJJ mode where he doesn't force the issue. He's only had 8 games in his career where he went for double digits, 4 here and 4 at Auburn. Of those 8 games only Memphis and Arizona are really quality teams he did well against.

But in most of those high scoring games he was having a lot of success from either deep or from the FT line. In only 2 of the games did he even hit more than 2 shots from inside the arc.

 

[berryvol]

Huh?
View attachment 450272

I mean I like Powell a lot, great size and he's a legit shooter. But he's almost stuck in early career JJJ mode where he doesn't force the issue. He's only had 8 games in his career where he went for double digits, 4 here and 4 at Auburn. Of those 8 games only Memphis and Arizona are really quality teams he did well against.

But in most of those high scoring games he was having a lot of success from either deep or from the FT line. In only 2 of the games did he even hit more than 2 shots from inside the arc.

So you agree that he has shown the ability to create his own shot and shots for others in the past. Literally all I said. “Ridiculous scenarios.”

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Offer Grant Sherfield and Kenny Lofton Jr. 500k each lol

Grant Sherfield - 19.1 ppg, 6.4 apg, 4.2 rpg
Santiago Vescovi
Josiah James
Kenny Lofton Jr. - 16 ppg, 2.8 apg, 10.5 rpg
Jonas Aidoo

That's an elite lineup with quality players coming off the bench.

Why are people so high on Kenny Lofton Jr.?

He's 6'7" and 275lbs, solid numbers at Louisiana Tech but they are in a weak conference that only had 1 NCAA team this past season.

 

[Ttucke11]

If Barnes does hate this new era of recruiting, I agree this could be his last season. I expect Danny White to find a capable coach of leading us into this new era of NIL if so. We are still on an upward trend across athletics, even if this year might hit a snag in bball.

 

[Ttucke11]

Why are people so high on Kenny Lofton Jr.?

He's 6'7" and 275lbs, solid numbers at Louisiana Tech but they are in a weak conference that only had 1 NCAA team this past season.

Watch his game against NC State last year. Right now we have 3 post players, none of which I would say I am completely confident in.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

So you agree that he has shown the ability to create his own shot and shots for others in the past. Literally all I said. “Ridiculous scenarios.”

Create for others, absolutely agree he has proven he can be a great facilitator.

Create how own shot, I'd say I'm less certain of that. He has a total of 3 games in his 40 appearances where he hit more than 2 shots inside the arc. Without reviewing every attempt he's made I can't say for certain how many of his 3 pt shots were ones he created for himself. But generally lower 2 pt shot production like he has had would lead one to believe he's done more catch & shoot than anything else.

But he's also only played in 40 games, so I definitely think the potential is there to see him develop a lot more in the future.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Watch his game against NC State last year. Right now we have 3 post players, none of which I would say I am completely confident in.

11-21 NC State with only one player over 6'7" that saw more than 10mpg last season?

 

[LeannaVol]

I predict in the coming years there will be a Power 5 conference organization similar to the NCAA that establishes some rules regarding NIL payments. The problem now is there are no guidelines and there is a wild west for the talent. Even the NBA, NFL etc have guidelines in place for salary to provide some order for teams. There are rookie contracts, restricted free agents and maximum salary caps for teams to help even things out and provide some semblance of order otherwise teams like the Charlotte Hornets would never be able to compete with teams like the LA Lakers in terms of getting and keeping talented players. I understand the free market and capitalism but Big Time College athletics is not corporate America. With the G league and other options players can seek to maximize their money in a free market but if they want to attend college, I think some guidelines need to be established.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Why are people so high on Kenny Lofton Jr.?

He's 6'7" and 275lbs, solid numbers at Louisiana Tech but they are in a weak conference that only had 1 NCAA team this past season.

I get that, and you have point, I'm just looking at guys down low that we could start over ORN tbh and I'm sure we could find someone else other than Lofton, maybe a euro guy

 

[Ttucke11]

11-21 NC State with only one player over 6'7" that saw more than 10mpg last season?

Nevertheless, you think any of our posts are sniffing 36 and 17 against them? No. I don't think he's a superstar, but he's significantly more talented than say Anosike and has shown that.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Nevertheless, you think any of our posts are sniffing 36 and 17 against them? No. I don't think he's a superstar, but he's significantly more talented than say Anosike and has shown that.

Poor correlation, cause if you think Lofton while at UT will sniff 36 and 17 against anyone you're high as a kite.

In the Barnes era you know how many times any player (not even just a post guy) has scored 36 points? just 3 times, once by Punter and twice by Grant. Lofton was also the only guy on the court to score more than 10 points for his team and they still lost by 9. Barnes teams are far more balanced than that, he may be a good scorer and rebounder at LA Tech. But in the SEC I doubt he will get the same volume he sees there and be anywhere near as productive, the one game in his career where he goes off is an outlier not the norm.

He's played in 65 games and only scored 20 or more in 15 of them. Stepping up in competition on a more balanced team isn't going to suddenly make him more productive.