Monroe Central 24-25

[Hookshot]

Anyone know if Tucker and Chance are being recruited by any colleges?

First, I think both have a shot at playing at the next level -- most likely scholarship D-II players. I don't see their names on college scholarship prospects lists, but possibly this year's tournament success gave them a chance to get noticed when they weren't on the radar screen. In addition, it is possible they are being recruited and have some offers -- recruiting sites are not perfect and always up to date.

Both of those young men are certainly talented enough to play college basketball if they want to, I have no idea if they do, very possible that they do not as that is a huge commitment. I'm pretty up to date on the process for helping a player from our area with recruiting as I did this with one of my kids two years ago. The transfer portal has a trickle down effect from higher levels to D2/D3/NAIA. You probably saw that over 2000 kids entered that basketball portal the first week that it opened, those kids will not all find a home. College coaches, especially at the lower levels, are generally looking to win immediately in order to climb the coaching ladder. I had some very informative talks with coaches during Bede's recruiting process, I had several coaches tell me that it makes more sense for them to take a 20-23 year old portal man over an 18 year old high school boy. They've pretty much given up on developing their own players.

You have to fall into the right situation unless you are a D1 level recruit. My kid had several partial scholarship offers from solid D2 programs, no full ride offers, he could have gone to virtually any D3 he wanted and had several preferred walk on offers to mid-majors but he wanted somewhere he could have a shot to play and get it paid for. We were lucky that at the last minute an NAIA scholarship program had a full scholarship open up and he was offered in April of his senior year. That process was years long, he played high level AAU (shoe circuit), we went to team camps for bigger schools who wanted to see him against better comp, and I nearly ended up divorced because of the time I spent on the phone, emailing and working for my kid. If you aren't being looked at prior to your senior year it's next to impossible to get anything more than a small college roster spot. We're at the point with college athletics that deserving high school kids get fully written off because of the new rules. I hope if those two want to play that they get the opportunity, they are great players and by all accounts very nice kids.

Very well-written and accurate. Another significant factor can be whether the high school coach is willing to work hard to contact colleges and promote their players and to what degree they have established college contacts/plugged into the network. There are some coaches who believe this is a fundamental part of their job in helping their players -- others no effort. I've been through this in multiple ways over the years but it is even harder now due to the transfer portal, although not as difficult in the D-2, NAIA and D-3 levels.

[caldwellbasketball]

First, I think both have a shot at playing at the next level -- most likely scholarship D-II players. I don't see their names on college scholarship prospects lists, but possibly this year's tournament success gave them a chance to get noticed when they weren't on the radar screen. In addition, it is possible they are being recruited and have some offers -- recruiting sites are not perfect and always up to date.

Both of those young men are certainly talented enough to play college basketball if they want to, I have no idea if they do, very possible that they do not as that is a huge commitment. I'm pretty up to date on the process for helping a player from our area with recruiting as I did this with one of my kids two years ago. The transfer portal has a trickle down effect from higher levels to D2/D3/NAIA. You probably saw that over 2000 kids entered that basketball portal the first week that it opened, those kids will not all find a home. College coaches, especially at the lower levels, are generally looking to win immediately in order to climb the coaching ladder. I had some very informative talks with coaches during Bede's recruiting process, I had several coaches tell me that it makes more sense for them to take a 20-23 year old portal man over an 18 year old high school boy. They've pretty much given up on developing their own players.

You have to fall into the right situation unless you are a D1 level recruit. My kid had several partial scholarship offers from solid D2 programs, no full ride offers, he could have gone to virtually any D3 he wanted and had several preferred walk on offers to mid-majors but he wanted somewhere he could have a shot to play and get it paid for. We were lucky that at the last minute an NAIA scholarship program had a full scholarship open up and he was offered in April of his senior year. That process was years long, he played high level AAU (shoe circuit), we went to team camps for bigger schools who wanted to see him against better comp, and I nearly ended up divorced because of the time I spent on the phone, emailing and working for my kid. If you aren't being looked at prior to your senior year it's next to impossible to get anything more than a small college roster spot. We're at the point with college athletics that deserving high school kids get fully written off because of the new rules. I hope if those two want to play that they get the opportunity, they are great players and by all accounts very nice kids.

Very well-written and accurate. Another significant factor can be whether the high school coach is willing to work hard to contact colleges and promote their players and to what degree they have established college contacts/plugged into the network. There are some coaches who believe this is a fundamental part of their job in helping their players -- others no effort. I've been through this in multiple ways over the years but it is even harder now due to the transfer portal, although not as difficult in the D-2, NAIA and D-3 levels.

Agreed. We don't often get kids in our area capable of playing at those levels but when we do I think it's part of our job to be prepared and do what we can to help them. I met so many nice, helpful down to earth people in that process but for everyone of them there were many who were the opposite. I had a D2 coach from a MEC school ask me if my kid would come for a quarter scholarship because he would get financial help because he was a good student and frankly his family was well off so they could afford to pay so he could give the scholarship $ to other kids to better the team. The whole process was interesting and frustrating.

[selonmc]

Thanks Caldwellbasketball for the thorough explanation. I wasn’t aware of of life after the transfer portal. Bede was a great player and it’s good to see him getting a chance to play at the next level.

I’ve heard that Tucker would rather play football. Hopefully he, and Chance, get to do whatever they want.

Also unrelated. When bringing in the team after the championship game they had a bunch of fire engines and police leading the buses from Caldwell to Woodsfield. One of the fire engines was from Caldwell. Mad respect for that. I Hope Woodsfield will do the same thing when you get your title. Caldwell is our oldest rival at least in football dating back to I think 1912. We use to be the Redskins too. Always loved the Woodsfield/Caldwell rivalry even though we weren’t each other’s main rival.

[caldwellbasketball]

Thanks Caldwellbasketball for the thorough explanation. I wasn’t aware of of life after the transfer portal. Bede was a great player and it’s good to see him getting a chance to play at the next level.

I’ve heard that Tucker would rather play football. Hopefully he, and Chance, get to do whatever they want.

Also unrelated. When bringing in the team after the championship game they had a bunch of fire engines and police leading the buses from Caldwell to Woodsfield. One of the fire engines was from Caldwell. Mad respect for that. I Hope Woodsfield will do the same thing when you get your title. Caldwell is our oldest rival at least in football dating back to I think 1912. We use to be the Redskins too. Always loved the Woodsfield/Caldwell rivalry even though we weren’t each other’s main rival.

Our area bands together for the kids for sure. I maintain that our kids are lucky to grow up and play in our area, small town people still care about their schools, kids and teams. Our gyms are full and it's not like that everywhere. I'm happy to raise my family here, things move a little slower and that's not a bad thing.