Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 32

Thread: Transfers Nationally?

  1. #11
    An example is Lonzo Ball. He was offered $10 million over 5 years from the major shoe companies before the Lakers got the 2nd pick. Now that the big market LA Lakers have a chance to draft him the number could be $20 million. Of course he is in a different spot as his Dad screwed up those chances, but that is the type of money the shoe guys throw around.

  2. #12
    Based on the examples I listed above, if the handler, whether AAU coach or otherwise, was on the take and had some juice? They might say, "Get him to sign with us and we'll give you $250k." And an agent might say, "Get him to sign with us and we'll give you 2%."

    That is how it works on the guys side of things. So, if he signs a $50million dollar deal and the handler gets 2%? That is a cool mil + the $250k.
    "When March Madness spills into April.... that's the gravy!" - Homer Simpson

  3. #13
    IWB,

    I do understand what you are talking about and I do know the difference between the boy's side and the girl's side. When people ask me if I am ever going to add boy's teams, mostly because of everything that I offer and they want their sons to get the same benefits. I tell them that I don't want to deal with all the drama and the extras that comes with boy's teams.

    Still, I always take exception when people generalize about AAU basketball. I know tons of coaches on the boy's side and some that coach with shoe sponsored teams. I know people that run RAS, Focus, Playground Elite, and people who coach in Swish, Playground Warriors etc. These same coaches are in it for the right reasons. They want to see their kids do well and they want to teach kids life lessons that they might not otherwise receive. Even on the boys side, the teams that are sponsored by shoe companies are a small portion of the overall picture. There may be clubs that claim that they are sponsored by shoe companies. In reality, they just get discounted prices. Even girl's clubs are "sponsored" by shoe companies. There are actually some that are, but those are only the truly elite. My own club has had offers to be "sponsored" but that means being forced to wear their stuff and going to tournaments we might not want to go to only for discounted prices. So I say no thanks. On the boys side, only the truly elite clubs are sponsored. Those are the ones that play on the Nike circuit or the Adidas circuit. Under Armor is more of a grassroots program where really anyone can get "sponsored." There are a ton of players that earn scholarships to D1 schools that are not part of the truly shoe sponsored teams.

    As for guys that don't know what they are doing with talented players, that is not really that much related to the original post, but I can say the same thing about HS coaches. It is truly hard to find a good coach these days. And it's hard to find a good ref. Funny thing is that everyone thinks that they are a coach or a ref and a lot certainly make that known while they are yelling in the stands. With AAU coaches, you have to remember that they are disadvantaged compared to HS coaches. They don't get 5 days of practice with a team in a gym. They can't run their set plays over and over again, each day. They can't prepare for every situation that they encounter. Teams are fighting for gym space, and many times, a practice may get cancelled because that school needs the gym. Most of the time, not all of their players are at a practice because they play other spring sports. The good coaches don't spend their time going over plays and different defenses, because they understand the spring and summer time is for player development. So, when you are watching these guys coach in the gym, most of them are having to do things on the fly and mostly relying on what kids learned at their HS or grade school. Talking with boys coaches, we have found out that HS coaches are not teaching things that they should be learning. That's on the boys side and the girls side. Furthermore, the ultimate goal is not the same for AAU coaches as it is for HS coaches. HS coaches want to win a state championship. That's not the goal of an AAU program. Depending on what type of a clubs it is, their goals are to develop their kids skills and to showcase them to college coaches. Those college coaches are not watching these games to see how good someone can coach. They don't want the coach to be a remote control. A college coach told me that they went to a HS game and she would rather stab herself in the eye with a rusty nail than what she was watching. Both teams were running the Swing. While that can be a very effective offense, especially in HS, the cuts are very robotic, the way HS teams run it.

    Instead, these coaches want to watch what they players can do. They want to see their talent. I was talking with a Blue Star evaluator, asking him how I can help my kids better, and he told me that sometimes it hurts them that they are well coached. Keep in mind that I just run an equal opportunity motion offense so that kids can showcase their skills. But, sometimes, I need to let my kids go one on one with someone, even if it's not good team ball.

    So, there lies the decisions that an AAU coach has to make. You have to be a successful team because no one wants to play on a losing team and you will lose players. You also have to win because then you play in the games that coaches will watch. However, you can't coach them up too much because you have to allow for the players to showcase their skills to college coaches.

    So, the reason why I respond is because AAU basketball always seem to be a punching bag for things. So, I defend it. I completely understand that parents are crazy. I have to deal with parents pretty much when I wake up until I go to bed. I understand the shoe companies are crazy. I understand how coaches tell players they will get them scholarships. That's not just on the boys side. People try to recruit my kids away all the time by saying that. But why does AAU basketball always have to be the punching bag? I can give you tons of examples why HS athletics is a problem. I started to give more examples, but that probably isn't wide for me to do on the public board. I think in this instance, TedBaxter was missing the bigger picture and that's why I pointed that out.

    I've gone to probably more coach's clinic than anyone on this board. The major topics recently have been about the new generation of kids. It's about how their attention spans are short. It's about how they need to know what's in it for them. That's the reason why there are so many transfers. It's not just about bad advice. These clinics that I attend involve the biggest names in basketball.

    I will say that NCAA coaches are starting to fight back about the problems that you and Ted Baxter bring up. Now, AAU coaches have to register with USA basketball. So, background screening might be better. Still, you will always have shady people involved. Moreover, all the athletes have to register with the NCAA and give their own personal contact info. Before, AAU programs use to put their own contact info for the players so that the NCAA had to go through them. Now, they can bypass the AAU coaches. Finally, NCAA coaches have threatened to boycott AAU tournaments. Many tournament organizers charge a ton of money to these college coaches, not only to attend, but for the information packets that they collect when AAU teams have to register.

    Edit: BTW, it is not my intention to argue with IWB and TedBaxter. I greatly respect both and I consider IWB to be a good friend. Even though I barely have time to anymore, I love getting in good discussions like this, as long as it remains in an adult tone, and this topic is obviously one that is close to me. So, I am just trying to advance the discussion.
    Last edited by Mucrisco; 05-31-2017 at 01:13 PM.

  4. #14
    And it's not just the short attention span, it's getting their attention in the first place. Kids are growing up in a far different world than most of us. Mostly due to technology.

  5. #15
    What has to stop is calling it an epidemic as though it's a bad thing. Players transfer both up and down because of poor fits, coaching changes, exposure, and playing time, among other reasons. Coaches encourage players to transfer for similar reasons. The kid doesn't fit, new coaches, personality conflicts, to open scholarships, and often because it genuinely benefits both parties.

    Looking back at the past decade, we've had Scott Christopherson, Trevor Mbakwe, Patrick Hazel, Jeronne Maymon, Erik Williams, Yous Mbao, Reggie Smith, Jamail Jones, Jamal Ferguson, Jameel McKay, Steve Taylor, John Dawson, Deonte Burton, Sandy Cohen, Traci Carter, and Duane Wilson transfer out. I may have missed some, but that's 15 transfers in 10 years. Of those, I'd say 6 (SC, TM, PH, STJr, JD, DB) were down to coaching changes and 5 (EW, YM, JJ, JF, SC) were players in over their head. Of the other 5, Maymon I'd blame on a helicopter father, Smith is still just inexplicable (though looking at his post MU career he probably was over his head), McKay had a different sort of helicopter, Carter felt recruited over, and Wilson seemed fairly amicable and understandable on both sides.

    I'd guess Marquette is fairly average. 1.5 transfers per year and 80-90% for perfectly rational reasons that benefitted both sides. To me, Mbakwe and McKay are the only two where I look back and think "what the...".

    The "transfer epidemic" isn't that at all. It's a positive that has allowed players to seek challenges appropriate to their level of play and allowed coaches to better tailor their rosters both through forced attrition and addition. Many programs like Gonzaga are realizing this is an opportunity to develop and improve their program. Marquette seems to be following suit. They are adjusting to the new dynamics. It's time the ones complaining start doing the same.

  6. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77" View Post
    What has to stop is calling it an epidemic as though it's a bad thing. Players transfer both up and down because of poor fits, coaching changes, exposure, and playing time, among other reasons. Coaches encourage players to transfer for similar reasons. The kid doesn't fit, new coaches, personality conflicts, to open scholarships, and often because it genuinely benefits both parties.

    Looking back at the past decade, we've had Scott Christopherson, Trevor Mbakwe, Patrick Hazel, Jeronne Maymon, Erik Williams, Yous Mbao, Reggie Smith, Jamail Jones, Jamal Ferguson, Jameel McKay, Steve Taylor, John Dawson, Deonte Burton, Sandy Cohen, Traci Carter, and Duane Wilson transfer out. I may have missed some, but that's 15 transfers in 10 years. Of those, I'd say 6 (SC, TM, PH, STJr, JD, DB) were down to coaching changes and 5 (EW, YM, JJ, JF, SC) were players in over their head. Of the other 5, Maymon I'd blame on a helicopter father, Smith is still just inexplicable (though looking at his post MU career he probably was over his head), McKay had a different sort of helicopter, Carter felt recruited over, and Wilson seemed fairly amicable and understandable on both sides.

    I'd guess Marquette is fairly average. 1.5 transfers per year and 80-90% for perfectly rational reasons that benefitted both sides. To me, Mbakwe and McKay are the only two where I look back and think "what the...".

    The "transfer epidemic" isn't that at all. It's a positive that has allowed players to seek challenges appropriate to their level of play and allowed coaches to better tailor their rosters both through forced attrition and addition. Many programs like Gonzaga are realizing this is an opportunity to develop and improve their program. Marquette seems to be following suit. They are adjusting to the new dynamics. It's time the ones complaining start doing the same.
    I would add Blankson to that list. Though, the midseason transfers, such as Burton and Carter were head scratchers to me.

  7. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77" View Post
    What has to stop is calling it an epidemic as though it's a bad thing. Players transfer both up and down because of poor fits, coaching changes, exposure, and playing time, among other reasons. Coaches encourage players to transfer for similar reasons. The kid doesn't fit, new coaches, personality conflicts, to open scholarships, and often because it genuinely benefits both parties.

    Looking back at the past decade, we've had Scott Christopherson, Trevor Mbakwe, Patrick Hazel, Jeronne Maymon, Erik Williams, Yous Mbao, Reggie Smith, Jamail Jones, Jamal Ferguson, Jameel McKay, Steve Taylor, John Dawson, Deonte Burton, Sandy Cohen, Traci Carter, and Duane Wilson transfer out. I may have missed some, but that's 15 transfers in 10 years. Of those, I'd say 6 (SC, TM, PH, STJr, JD, DB) were down to coaching changes and 5 (EW, YM, JJ, JF, SC) were players in over their head. Of the other 5, Maymon I'd blame on a helicopter father, Smith is still just inexplicable (though looking at his post MU career he probably was over his head), McKay had a different sort of helicopter, Carter felt recruited over, and Wilson seemed fairly amicable and understandable on both sides.

    I'd guess Marquette is fairly average. 1.5 transfers per year and 80-90% for perfectly rational reasons that benefitted both sides. To me, Mbakwe and McKay are the only two where I look back and think "what the...".

    The "transfer epidemic" isn't that at all. It's a positive that has allowed players to seek challenges appropriate to their level of play and allowed coaches to better tailor their rosters both through forced attrition and addition. Many programs like Gonzaga are realizing this is an opportunity to develop and improve their program. Marquette seems to be following suit. They are adjusting to the new dynamics. It's time the ones complaining start doing the same.

    Well said.

    I also think we place too much to blame the kids when coaches do a lot to create transfers from their programs as well.

  8. #18
    There were a couple of other "head-scratchers" including Gabe Levin and T. J. Taylor. Neither even made it through the summer after transferring in to MU. There were rumors about Taylor missing his girlfriend or something similar.

  9. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by Phantom Warrior View Post
    There were a couple of other "head-scratchers" including Gabe Levin and T. J. Taylor. Neither even made it through the summer after transferring in to MU. There were rumors about Taylor missing his girlfriend or something similar.
    Levin probably did not want to sit behind Henry. Taylor never participated in anything in his short stay as he apparently had some enrollment issues from what I heard. Don't think those were head scratchers so much.

  10. #20
    Quote Originally Posted by MUMac View Post
    I would add Blankson to that list. Though, the midseason transfers, such as Burton and Carter were head scratchers to me.
    Blankson was before the last decade, but agreed.

    Forgot Levin and Taylor, but I think Levin felt recruited over (like Carter) while Taylor...yeah that was just weird too. But still, 1.8 transfers per year with two coaching changes and really maybe 3/18 that were at all perplexing in retrospect seems like it's working how it should be.

    And while some caught us off guard (Deonte) I think with the benefit of hindsight and knowing how family situation, they become easier to understand.

Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •