Do players recruit players into the portal

peer-to-peer (player to player) recruiting began for my son at 13u when he reached the 60-90 field, when boys realized that a third of their 12u roster was going to struggle on a bigger field.  Player to player network continued to self select at 15u, 16u and 17u and also to an extent in my sons college recruiting process. Kids (and parents) will gossip about college coaching staffs before they make a verbal commitment.  I have to believe player to player recruiting through the portal is prevalent, IMO -  still not enough NIL $ (beyond the top P5 schools) in college baseball to dampen it.

Absolutely happens. Players end up being the go between.

@nycdad posted:

Absolutely happens. Players end up being the go between.

Do you think that coaches have players initiate contact with players who aren't already in the portal?  I know that coaches use other contacts (travel coach, HS coach, etc.) to circumvent the rules...just seems too risky that a college kid would run his mouth.  Once in the portal, of course, its fair game.  My son has been asked about a bunch of kids in the portal who he played with.

@mjd-dad posted:

peer-to-peer (player to player) recruiting began for my son at 13u when he reached the 60-90 field, when boys realized that a third of their 12u roster was going to struggle on a bigger field.  Player to player network continued to self select at 15u, 16u and 17u and also to an extent in my son’s college recruiting process. Kids (and parents) will gossip about college coaching staffs before they make a verbal commitment.  I have to believe player to player recruiting through the portal is prevalent, IMO -  still not enough NIL $ (beyond the top P5 schools) in college baseball to dampen it.

In 13u my son was invited to play on a very mediocre travel team when we had the weekend off. I asked him to play and buddy up with a kid I wanted on our team. The kid’s best friend from LL was already on our team. It worked.

@K9 posted:

Do you think that coaches have players initiate contact with players who aren't already in the portal?  I know that coaches use other contacts (travel coach, HS coach, etc.) to circumvent the rules...just seems too risky that a college kid would run his mouth.  Once in the portal, of course, its fair game.  My son has been asked about a bunch of kids in the portal who he played with.

Yes.

Given some of the responses I’ll clarify. I’m not asking if coaches ask their players about other players in the portal. I’m asking if coaches tell their players to tell another player if they go in the portal the coach will pick him up.

@RJM posted:

Given some of the responses I’ll clarify. I’m not asking if coaches ask their players about other players in the portal. I’m asking if coaches tell their players to tell another player if they go in the portal the coach will pick him up.

Based on the above, from what I am aware, no.

@TPM posted:

Based on the above, from what I am aware, no.

I received a PM from someone whose kids are still playing. He didn’t want to post publicly. He said it’s absolutely happening.

How can you say that a coach would pick someone up if he hasn't spoken to the player?

Tell whoever told you to post publicly. 

Sorry. A player can talk to a friend, alumni, etc. and ask about the program and coach, not the other way around. The player has to enter the portal before any discussion can happen.

That's the way it's suppose to be.

You asked a question. That's the answer.

@TPM posted:

Sorry. A player can talk to a friend, alumni, etc. and ask about the program and coach, not the other way around. The player has to enter the portal before any discussion can happen.

That's the way it's suppose to be.

You asked a question. That's the answer.

I didn’t ask for the rule. I asked about reality.

@TPM posted:

How can you say that a coach would pick someone up if he hasn't spoken to the player?

Tell whoever told you to post publicly.

His son is still playing. It could cause him and the program problems. What I’m asking about is against the rules. It’s why I’m asking if it’s done.

Please don’t tell me college sports programs don’t break rules. If this were true there wouldn’t be so many on probation all the time. There are currently seventeen college sports programs on probation. I’m guessing NIL lowered the number. The last time I looked a few years ago the number was 50+.

@RJM posted:

His son is still playing. It could cause him and the program problems. What I’m asking about is against the rules. It’s why I’m asking if it’s done.

Please don’t tell me college sports programs don’t break rules. If this were true there wouldn’t be so many on probation all the time. There are currently seventeen college sports programs on probation. I’m guessing NIL lowered the number. The last time I looked a few years ago the number was 50+.

Who is on probation?

Just to avoid speculation. I was the one that said this. Wasn't about sons' schools. Their D1s are on the weaker side right now. No one is voluntarily going in the portal to join them (very easy to confirm by their rosters).

But anyone that has a kid playing, and playing summer ball. I've sure they've heard of some coach using a player from their team as a go between. This should shock nobody in 2024.

@TPM posted:

No you don't know him.

Again, be verrryyy careful. And don't be a gossip.

This is no different than speculating that college coaches used to ask travel ball/HS coaches to give their numbers to players and set up a time to call them.

nycdad.

Again I am saying publicly, be careful  what you say and who you say it to.

@TPM posted:

Who is on probation?

Look it up. There are seven college sports programs on probation. Like I said before the number is down. Normal used to be about fifty. I’m guessing NILs have something to do with illegal recruiting’s visibility changing.

@TPM posted:

nycdad.

Again I am saying publicly, be careful  what you say and who you say it to.

Why do you say “be careful”  anytime someone posts a reality? They aren’t attacking your son. If you really believe all coaches follow all the rules, you are naive or putting your head in the sand.

@nycdad posted:

..............................................................

But anyone that has a kid playing, and playing summer ball. I've sure they've heard of some coach using a player from their team as a go between. This should shock nobody in 2024.

From the outside looking in, this stuff makes my head spin.  Of course it is going on.  People talk on the record and off the record every day.   It has to do with money, the potential to make money, and playing time.   The grass is always greener somewhere else, and your new portal team is just going to pencil everyone into their starting  lineup (insert sarcasm here) card.   

You don't have to be Nostradamus to know this was going to happen.  Before all this NIL/Covid19/NCAA hoopla, you only had to put your faith in the one college recruiting  & accepting you.   Now, you have to put your faith in NCAA portal and all the teams looking to pull from the portal every year.   Why not just build a giant roulette wheel with the all the portal college names on it?   You could spin that roulette wheel every year for 4-5 years if you so desire, and attend a different school each year.   It has become a joke.  Just because the rules allow for it, doesn't mean you should participate in it.

Higher education and college sports has lost focus.   Please explain to me how this instability helps a student learn, develop skills, and get their college degree.   The portal (as it exists today) was a very bad idea.  It needs guardrails.

JMO.

@fenwaysouth posted:

Higher education and college sports has lost focus.   Please explain to me how this instability helps a student learn, develop skills, and get their college degree.   The portal (as it exists today) was a very bad idea.  It needs guardrails.

JMO.

it’s not about education, graduating or developing a player. It’s about money and winning.

@RJM posted:

I’m asking if coaches tell their players to tell another player if they go in the portal the coach will pick him up.

This was what was asked, I gave my answer.

This doesn't mean that inquires don't exist and coaches are all perfect,  but again, a coach can't tell a player to tell another player to go into the portal and coach will pick him up. It doesn't happen at the snap of a finger. There is a lot of discussion going on. There isn't always NIL $. One program may not be right for another.  This isn't like it used to be in summer ball. Remember, in most cases once any player enters portal he/she isn't enrolled at the school anymore. So you better know how it works and the rules.

What you all see happening should work both ways for coach and player and more prominent among other sports than baseball due to the nature of the beast.  For baseball coaches want to win and players want to get drafted and knowing that they can make more money in the draft being in a more high profile program is what they want. And many want better coaching.

I hear of lots of players that want to transfer because they just aren't happy not always for the $$$. Sometimes change is good.  But then you hear about a program throwing lots of NIL $ to players yet the team is struggling (all sports).

Coaches that really know what they are doing are giving their current guys incentives.

nycdad knows why I made my comment.