One has to Wonder

If you read most of the articles there are no comments from coaches as it is not allowed, they all come from the players or HS coaches they play for.

If you read message boards about recruits it is not from the coaching staff, just fans.

Some schools will post one release about their signees and that's it until they set foot on campus the following fall.

The kid commiting to UF is legit. And he will cycle in about the time their current SS cycles out. UF is very close to home for them also, about 30 miles away.

When going thru recruiting, I wondered about this also. Is a verbal comittment made this early binding in any way. I thought a verbal could not be made until after July 1 before his Senior year and that offers could not be made until this time also. So much changes those final years in high school and as we all know, with coaching staffs, I didn't/don't understood this "early comittment".

The whole idea of the limitations was so over zealous coaches would not mess with kids before they were close to graduating.

quote:

Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
The whole idea of the limitations was so over zealous coaches would not mess with kids before they were close to graduating.

That's ridiculous! It'll make them go after the top players even sooner not later!

How real is it? Hard to tell, since the Gainseville Sun printed it.

2010 Commitment

quote:

Originally posted by Dad04:
How real is it? Hard to tell, since the Gainseville Sun printed it.

2010 Commitment

I'm happy for the kid. This is a real feather in his cap. However, it just doesn't make any sense that an offer would be made by UF this early.

If the paper is correct he was not just all district or all county, but ALL AREA for both his 8th grade and 9th grade years. If this is to be believed that is extraordinary. ALL AREA where I'm from means multiple counties.

quote:

Originally posted by BillBill:
I'm happy for the kid. This is a real feather in his cap. However, it just doesn't make any sense that an offer would be made by UF this early.

If the paper is correct he was not just all district or all county, but ALL AREA for both his 8th grade and 9th grade years. If this is to be believed that is extraordinary. ALL AREA where I'm from means multiple counties.

He was also on 16U Team USA.

I knew I had been slacking with my son!! He is a 7th grader and we haven't recieved even one JUCO offer! Gotta get out a tape of his LL AS play ASAP!! Does anyone know any good showcases for class of 2013 grads?

quote:

He was also on 16U Team USA.

Probably most significant. Team USA is pretty choosy, so I'm told. If the coach can commit a kid a year early who obviously can play at that level, what is the downside for the coach?

puma1-
To answer your question(s):
1) A verbal commitment is just that, verbal. It is NOT binding on EITHER party. Kid changes his mind, coach/school changes their mind, everone is off the hook.
2) Why do kids verbal? The whole reason behind it is to ultimately "stop" the recruiting process. It is putting a "message" out to other coaches, "I'm out of the market".
3) There is no time limit as to when an offer can be made. The key is "how" is it made. Prior to July 1 of a player's Jr/Sr year, the contact has to be initiated by the player, not the coach. SO, if I am a freshaman in HS, and a school/coach has seen me play (wherever) and I call the coach and talk to him, he could make me an offer and I could verbally commit. BUT, nothing is official binding until I sign the NLI, which I couldn't do until the early signing period of my SR year (early Nov).

I have read numberous freshman basketball players make verbals (been going on for quite awhile).

This is a very interesting thread. My son plays for the 2007-8 edition of the travel team that Tillitson played on (Florida Hardballers 16U). We were at tryouts just a couple of days after he learned that he made Team USA. I've never seen him play, but the word among the parents was that he is an outstanding player, tremendous arm, and he was surprised and thrilled to make the team. He must be walking on air, now. Good for him! I'm hoping things work out and we get to see him in orange and blue.

jbb-Thanks for the explanation. So even if a player is offered a scholarship as a High School Freshman, that can be rescinded by the school or the player at any time prior to the signing of the NLI in November of the players Senior Year...Correct?

quote:

Originally posted by puma1:
jbb-Thanks for the explanation. So even if a player is offered a scholarship as a High School Freshman, that can be rescinded by the school or the player at any time prior to the signing of the NLI in November of the players Senior Year...Correct?

It's an offer, not a contract. It doesn't become a contract until a NLI is signed. The student still has to meet the college's admission standards and at many colleges maintain solid citizenship. Either side could back out. But there's supposed to be some sense of honor. A school doesn't want to get a reputation of not keeping their word.

There is a benefit for the colleges other than wrapping up prospects early. With verbals the player has paid all the expense for visits. Official visits financed by the college can't happen until after junior year. It keeps the recruiting budget down. If you notice in the article the family and the high school coach went out to lunch afterwards, not the Florida coach. He can't go. It's too soon in the process.

TG

One newspaper article I read said the college coach was also at lunch with them

quote:

Originally posted by TG:
If you notice in the article the family and the high school coach went out to lunch afterwards, not the Florida coach. He can't go. It's too soon in the process.

I'm not so sure about the coach not being able to go to lunch with a recruit. We had lunch/dinner with most schools we did unofficial visits with however the coaches cannot pay for the meal. Had to go dutch.

While doing a verbal early is not binding, as TG mentioned a school typically doesn't want a reputation of not keeping their word.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
TG

One newspaper article I read said the college coach was also at lunch with them

TR,
Let's see it. Thanks.

Coaches can go out to lunch with recruits (if they have the time), same as advisor/agents can go out to lunch with potential clients, they just can't pay.

quote:

Originally posted by jbbaseball:
puma1-
To answer your question(s):
1) A verbal commitment is just that, verbal. It is NOT binding on EITHER party. Kid changes his mind, coach/school changes their mind, everone is off the hook.
2) Why do kids verbal? The whole reason behind it is to ultimately "stop" the recruiting process. It is putting a "message" out to other coaches, "I'm out of the market".
3) There is no time limit as to when an offer can be made. The key is "how" is it made. Prior to July 1 of a player's Jr/Sr year, the contact has to be initiated by the player, not the coach. SO, if I am a freshaman in HS, and a school/coach has seen me play (wherever) and I call the coach and talk to him, he could make me an offer and I could verbally commit. BUT, nothing is official binding until I sign the NLI, which I couldn't do until the early signing period of my SR year (early Nov).

Something has occured to me about the "Very Early" and even early committments that I would like to throw out here; this also gives the coach and player a longer time to get to know each other before it is binding. By the time you do sign the NLI and then enroll in school in the fall you should feel pretty comfortable about your decision and LESS worried about the transfer and "sit-out-a-year" rule. You can watch the coach over the time period between verbal committment and signing and have a lot more meaningful discussions with him. This also works in the coach's favor and should provide the same feelings by the time NLI signing occurs. He will certainly still watch you over the period before NLI signing. At anytime should one or the other get cold feet about the deal, either is able to back out before it is too late.

Obviously there are down sides to the ability of either party being able to back out, mostly placing the coach in the "advantage" side, but IMHO the time spent getting to a better relationship before signing NLI is worth the risk.

Alma,
Good points BUT..... do know that many times, no matter how well you get to know the coach, once you step foot on the field many times the honeymoon is OVER.
Many will tell you, once a coach signs you, you won't hear much from them until possibly draft time roles around. Some are very diligent in keeping in touch with you on a regular basis, many are not. Their job is to get you to agree to come play at their school and show up in the fall. Most are not out to be your best friend. They will often times keep close contact with those that might be drafted so as not to lose them.
Remember one thing, this is their job.
Again, if you sign very early because of the coach, you have done yourself an injustice, you should sign because you want to attend that school and play for that program. Chances are he might not be around when you arrive.

Did you get my pm reply?

quote:

Originally posted by jerseydad:

quote:

Originally posted by TG:
If you notice in the article the family and the high school coach went out to lunch afterwards, not the Florida coach. He can't go. It's too soon in the process.

I'm not so sure about the coach not being able to go to lunch with a recruit. We had lunch/dinner with most schools we did unofficial visits with however the coaches cannot pay for the meal. Had to go dutch.

While doing a verbal early is not binding, as TG mentioned a school typically doesn't want a reputation of not keeping their word.

You're right. I read too quickly. Sullivan was at the lunch.

TPM,

Yes I did get the PM thanks. Sent one back to you.

I believe the early and very early committment will increase as coaches try to get some of the top talent as early as they can. I certainly agree that many things can and will change for these VE and E committments. But as most agree you need to like and want the school and early actions will tend to save the family money in the long run and keep the stress down on the recruiting process.

quote:

Originally posted by TG:
Sullivan was at the lunch.

That's O'Sullivan!

In the case of the Florida kid, this was the only place he wanted to be. His entire clan are Gator fans.

In this case, it all seems to be good.

Congratulations to this young man, obviously a tremendous talent who reached a goal many others would pay a Kings ransom for.

I think when we discuss certain topics, like early verbals, you have to toss out the "outliers", the rarities......as in this case.

While my son was not necessarily pressured to commit too early, many schools did tell us that it really helps them in attracting other players if they could tell recruits that some of the top line guys were already committed.

I know for my son it made a big difference in his decision making process to know who else they had on their radar. While he wasn’t looking for a lot of guys coming in at his same position, he was looking for a strong class of other players to be coming in with him.

JD, I don't think you have to worry about the caliber of future incoming classes at YOUR son's school! Seems to me they are recruiting pretty strong year after year.

Although an early commit/very early commit may be adventageous/ less stressful, etc. One side note may be that once that team has your early commit you may tend to leave out any other options, if it is your dream school, parent alma mater, etc. that is one thing. That is great, fantastic, but if they are holding your attention away from other schools that may be a better fit for you, that's not good.

Since nothing is binding until fall of senior year, I would still be researching plan A,B,and C, just MHO.

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
JD, I don't think you have to worry about the caliber of future incoming classes at YOUR son's school! Seems to me they are recruiting pretty strong year after year.