What to Do?

[ifyousayso]

A 2007 6'1" Forward on a top 20 Hoopgurlz High School Team has committed to a D-I school that experienced a coaching change has been told by the new coaches that they dont believe she is a good fit for their system. They let her know that they WILL honor their committment to her, but, that she shouldnt expect to be a contributor on the team.

What should she do this late in the stages? Request a release(which is what the Coaches want) now and try to hit the 19U Summer Circuit OR Ride it out and try to prove the coaches wrong?

[intelligenthoodlum]

If they don't want her, then she needs to be get that release, and be out!

[NGBBoiler]

especially if it's Lykendra Johnson...

[YourCrimsonNightmare]

ifyousayso

There may very well be a lot of exactly that kind of scenario this year considering the huge turnover in the coaching ranks this year, which was precipitated by an unusually large turnover in the high-profile coaching ranks.

I think that player should petition to have her letter invalidated, so that she can sign a new one, and then find a school that actually wants her.

My heart goes out to all these girls who have been tossed into turmoil this year, with the loss of the coaches that they believed in and who signed them because of the carousel. But their parents need to impress upon them that they should look out for themselves first, and everyone else second.

Coaching changes are a fact of life. Players as prominent as Abby Waner at Duke have discovered that even though you think that you can fine-tune your future by customizing your coaching choice, you are helpless when that person runs away to a new dream, or decides to hang up the whistle.

And now they are on their own. I believe that I understand what they are going through, but it's kind of sad that they have to deal with this at such a crucial point in their lives. For some, it's akin to a loss in the family.

They all have it drilled into them to pick the school and not the coach, but especially for the elite players, it can be a very, very bitter pill.

[BrooklynSaints]

ifyousayso
They all have it drilled into them to pick the school and not the coach, but especially for the elite players, it can be a very, very bitter pill.

I'm not sure that picking a school and not a coach is possible.

Aren't the coaches the ones who spend so much time calling, sending letters and texting? It seems impossible to separate the two. Isn't recruiting a large part of what makes a coach great?

I would think that 90% of athletes are not even recruited by the schools they would originally pick. They are left with choosing among a selection of schools that claim they really want them. I would think at that point the biggest draw to the school is the relationship between the coaching staff and the player.

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In the case of the player:

My suggestion is run, do not walk to the nearest exit.

The good thing I see is that at least the coaching staff was honest by telling the player in a nice way to "get lost". The thought that the player could change their mind is absurd. The coaching staff would make a point of proving the player does not belong.

[NYTraveller]

I strongly agree with Saints; take the coaches at their word - she should take immediate steps to get a release and at the same time, contact other schools she liked during the recruiting process to see if there is still any interest on their part. Time is pretty important with the late signing period upon us.

[first2no]

She and the people who are helping her with the process should be actively calling schools to let them know she is interested and find out if there are some buyers out there. If she is able to get some interest from another school and they have schollys left, she should ask for her release. If she is not sure she could get another scholly this late in the game she should go and get that free education until she can transfer.

A wise man said to me "Don't ever leave a job unless you have another one lined up"

[ifyousayso]

She and the people who are helping her with the process should be actively calling schools to let them know she is interested and find out if there are some buyers out there. If she is able to get some interest from another school and they have schollys left, she should ask for her release. If she is not sure she could get another scholly this late in the game she should go and get that free education until she can transfer.

A wise man said to me "Don't ever leave a job unless you have another one lined up"

I am in agreement with you there first...except that is the tricky part. Technically unless she is released from her NLI then schools are not allowed to talk with her or her representatives. I know that this rule is "bent" often, but, it does eliminate quite a few that might otherwise have a scholly with her name on it.

I thought about this player last night for a little while and dont want to reveal the name except to say that she did get a mention on hoopgurlz last summer on the Adidas circuit and she started on a high school team that received alot of national attention where she was the leading rebounder and shot blocker. She had attracted interest before signing from Big Ten and Big East schools although she is from the South.

This 6'1-6'2" player was the leading rebounder/shot blocker on her high school team.Offensively she can play the 3-4 positions. She has a great mid range game and gets to the basket easily - finishes with either hand and goes each direction.Slasher style player. Defensively, she can guard 1-4. Strong defensively with excellent footwork.

Some of the bigs had initially shyed away from her because in her State they require a graduation test before graduating. She has most recently passed the graduation test.

Should anyone know of any schools that still has scholly's left they can message me for specific details about this player.

As for the school she is now had the coaching staff not left, she could have and would have been a significant contributor. I hear they are trying to clean house of this years recruits.