If I'm close to Coach Cal I'd talk to him about tweaking his strategy in recruiting. Accept the fact that most players will leave after 1 or 2 years whether it is to go pro or transfer. I'd tell him go after the top high school players. Top 20ish nationally. Then best in state kid every year. Even if they are just a 3 star. Those guys tend to stay longer and even if they don't play much they can provide some steadiness in the locker room and in practice teams need. The twist is the transfer portal would get the majority of my focus. 5 to 7 transfers every year. If I land 2 top 20 high school kids, those 2 plus 5 transfers and maybe one of the veteran in state guys would be the rotation. You'd have a majority of your roster be in their 20's rather than teenagers who as a collective are going through their first college basketball season together all at the same time. If your 2 top 20 kids underwhelm as freshman you don't have to recruit over them because you can always bring in fewer transfers so they wouldn't feel like they are getting recruited over for the next year like they do now.
One and Done with a twist
- Thread starter MunyonMustGo
- Start date
I have said for years he needs to recruit an in state kid every other year, they will stay, provide some stability and most will be able to contribute some, plus he never uses all his scholarships anyway.
Really has been puzzling to me that he never seems interested at all about Ky H.S. players. Granted you don't have #1-#5, or #10 nation rated kids in state, but still, there are really good players who by their Junior year could develop into top tier college players.
I agree on the Ky recruits, there’s nothing to lose but scholarships we don’t use anyways.
Don’t agree on building the team on transfers, maybe if Cal’s staff had some talent evaluation skills but I think this year showed that to be a big NO across the board. Otherwise they’re just more mature but less talented one and dones.
Don’t get me wrong, transfers can be great but they’re not the answer - Sestina was a great addition for example, but it was IQ and Richards (2+ year players) who really made the team a contender.
Don’t agree on building the team on transfers, maybe if Cal’s staff had some talent evaluation skills but I think this year showed that to be a big NO across the board. Otherwise they’re just more mature but less talented one and dones.
Don’t get me wrong, transfers can be great but they’re not the answer - Sestina was a great addition for example, but it was IQ and Richards (2+ year players) who really made the team a contender.
At least for now, the transfer portal will have a LOT more talent in it than in the past. The past few years you were limited to Grad transfers with 1yr eligibility left. So a Sestina was a good find. Now anyone can transfer, so the pool will be significantly larger and better to pick from. The trick now is if you see a good player you want, do you get him now or wait and see if an even better one enters the portal.
Cal is not interested in building a stable roster and having kids develop over time. He wants to put as many kids in the NBA as possible because that will be his legacy. He’s certainly not gonna be known as the coach who won multiple titles.
Give Allen everything cal gave Boston this year Allen’s numbers would be significantly better than what Boston put up. Probably would have had 2-3 30 point games and would have had a very seasoned player coming back next year. As it is Allen returns with some experience but nowhere near the player growth he could have had. Until cal changes his mindset on playing these one and done stars regardless of performance nothing will change.