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Post by Commissioner on Jul 22, 2013 11:50:33 GMT -5
www.elpasotimes.com/ci_23701592/utep-mens-basketball-prized-recruit-isaac-hamilton-denied?source=most_viewedUTEP plays hardball with recruit. I thought this was interesting because it raises a lot of questions: - do you really want a recruit who says "I don't want to be here"? - isn't the likely result one desultory year and a transfer? - might another player hestitate to sign with you? but there is a flip side: - they have made a schedule and sold tickets based on this player - who did they pass on signing based on Hamilton's commitment? - the major purpose of a LOI is to allow kids and coaches to know that recruiting for this player is over. If you can just skip on your LOI, does it serve any purpose?
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Post by motorcitysam on Jul 22, 2013 14:23:08 GMT -5
I saw an article in the LA Times that mentioned that, too. It's a complicated issue. It seems on the surface that the kid decided he wants to play for USC instead of UTEP, and is using the excuse of ill family member to justify his change of heart. Whatever happens, it will set a precedent. Either it will strengthen or weaken the concept of the LOI, depending on the result of an appeal. Floyd has to be furious. I'm sure he and the staff worked hard to get Hamilton on board, and I'm sure they were planning on at least two years with him. That loss hurts. I can't see how I'D want to keep a kid around like Hamilton, though, who obviously doesn't want to be there and could upset team chemistry. www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-0721-ucla-usc-basketball-20130721,0,3401999.story
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Post by motorcitysam on Sept 13, 2013 14:09:07 GMT -5
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Post by Commissioner on Sept 13, 2013 14:48:09 GMT -5
This is interesting. The whole thing sucks in so many ways - by whole thing, I mean recruiting system. The extent to which kids announce "commitments" then change their mind is an issue. They seem not to realize the reliance coaches place on that in deciding whom else to offer or pursue; and those other players can also then miss out. None of which is to suggest that the coaches are perfect either, and don't sometimes game the players. But here it's even worse, with an actual LOI. Of course, who really wants a kid who doesn't want to play for you? It seems it was foregone the minute Floyd said "no release" that Hamilton wouldn't play for UTEP. Floyd gains nothing vis just letting Hamilton go - maybe future commits to him will be more certain, which will help Floyd plan, but some may be less likely to sign, which will hurt. That's why coaches rarely take this step. But I'll bet a lot of them are glad Floyd did - they hope that future commits will take it seriously. Hamilton is paying a price here - a year of sitting out (though I think he'll still have 4 years at UCLA, but now if he can't transfer without losing a year because of the 5 year rule.). So Floyd's action probably benefits other coaches at the margin, but he gets nothing much from it. Like I say, I don't mean to whitewash bad behavior by coaches - I still hope there wasn't bad behavior in the Brent Calhoun case at UD; or I remember a year or two ago some school - I think Utah or BYU - basically asked a kid to give up his scholarship after he had signed his LOI, which basically left the kid late in the year to try to catch on elsewhere (again, after possibly passing up offers) or knowing he was screwed in the following season and would never see the light of day. But in this case, I'm very sympathetic to Floyd and kind of glad he held tough.
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Post by motorcitysam on Sept 13, 2013 15:45:49 GMT -5
I'm pretty much in agreement with you on this. Seems like we are seeing more players back out of commitments in recent years, and in some cases, backing out of an LOI. We felt that sting with McKissic, although he didn't keep us in suspense a long time. He changed his mind relatively quickly, and we aren't actually hurting too bad from his de-commit. I would much rather have four years Bass than a year or two of Shaq in the Box.
I hope we were above board with Calhoun. I know he had a senior year that did not meet expectations, but I hope we didn't pull an offer from him solely because we liked someone else better.
I'm glad Floyd held up, too. Changing your mind on a verbal is one thing, but going back on an LOI is something else entirely.
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Post by motorcitysam on Oct 31, 2013 15:50:29 GMT -5
Looks like the kid from UTEP lost his NCAA appeal and will have to sit out at UCLA his first year. That seems fair.
Gary Parrish @garyparrishcbs 7m McDonald’s All-American Isaac Hamilton’s letter of intent appeal has been denied. The former UTEP signee will miss this year at UCLA.
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