What matters most in choosing a school ?

[BrooklynSaints]

The basic answer to this question is all of the above. The political answer is the school.
If a poll was taken to determine the most important factor. What do you think would matter most for todays recruits?

a) Coach
b) school
c) location - close to home
d) Climate
e) players on team
f) projected role on team - I'm a center and thats what the team needs
g) none of the above - name the factor ?

[acusefan4ever]

There are even more factors then you have listed

academics, major/schools program ranking

also since most good kids flock to the local catholic school where there friends go can be a factor.

The real answer is all of the above as boring as it sounds. Its more like they look at each factor and rate them on a scale of 1-10 and whoever ends up with the highest score.

[BrooklynSaints]

I would put academics under the school category.

Going to a school where all your friends are going could be a new category.

The question is which category carries more weight for the majority of players?

Example: If location is the most important, we should expect the players in the top 10 to attend a school in state.

Will the girls from Texas go to Baylor, Texas etc?
Will New York players go to St. Johns, Hofstra,Iona?

[acusefan4ever]

your trying too hard to find a formula but your going to come up short because there isn't one. Every kid is different and just because location is important doesn't mean a kid from texas won't go to LSU or USC.

I realize your saying "for majority of players" but it still doesn't work. Most kids want to go to a good program where they're going to play and the closer to home the better but that doesn't mean that playing time won't be a deciding factor between UConn and USC for a kid. WBB is different then other sports like football and men's basketball because their recruiting budgets are much larger so the schools are likely to recruit a kid from further away. You'll notice that outside the top 40/50 kids the rest are regionally recruited So my guess is that for "majority" location probably isn't a factor.

[BrooklynSaints]

your trying too hard to find a formula but your going to come up short because there isn't one. Every kid is different and just because location is important doesn't mean a kid from texas won't go to LSU or USC.

I realize your saying "for majority of players" but it still doesn't work. Most kids want to go to a good program where they're going to play and the closer to home the better but that doesn't mean that playing time won't be a deciding factor between UConn and USC for a kid. WBB is different then other sports like football and men's basketball because their recruiting budgets are much larger so the schools are likely to recruit a kid from further away. You'll notice that outside the top 40/50 kids the rest are regionally recruited So my guess is that for "majority" location probably isn't a factor.

It would be interesting to look at but the local Division I schools in New York have few New York players. Brooklyn has LIU & St. Francis. Both low level Div I schools. I'd have to check the rosters but I doubt if many NYC girls are on the roster. From the Hoopgurl list only one girl from NYC(2008) is 40/50 so the NYC schools have a lot of girls to pick from. Those schools seem to recruit out of state and in some cases out of the country.

[connboy]

I would think that education has to be at the top of the list; at least I would hope it is. A recruit has to think of life after basketball. Not everyone makes it to the WNBA, and even if they do, thats not going to last forever. They need to go to a good educational institution that will give them an excellent foundation for the future.

[acusefan4ever]

well @ Buffalo

they have:
2 ny
1 NJ
4 MI
4 OH
1 FL
1 PA
3 outside US

outside the Flordia kid they are all within 6 hour drive of buffalo so I'd say they're all regional.

Albany was a different story though lol

2 NY
1 CT
1 PA
1 OH
1 nebraska
2 outside us
1 MD
3 CA(wtf lol)
1 TX

So they have 5 local kids(one outside the us is from toronto)


Binghamton

2 NY
2 PA
1 MD
4 outside the us
1iowa
1 WA
1 Ill

so four of their kids are regional

so about 15 out of 31 are regional kids at Buffalo/Bing/Albany

Cuse will have 5 NY kids on their roster next season so they're a third local with the rest being spread around the country.

So basically for some kids its important and some will come as far from california to Albany, NY if thats where their free ride is lol.

[BrooklynSaints]

well @ Buffalo

they have:
2 ny
1 NJ
4 MI
4 OH
1 FL
1 PA
3 outside US

outside the Flordia kid they are all within 6 hour drive of buffalo so I'd say they're all regional.

Albany was a different story though lol

2 NY
1 CT
1 PA
1 OH
1 nebraska
2 outside us
1 MD
3 CA(wtf lol)
1 TX

So they have 5 local kids(one outside the us is from toronto)


Binghamton

2 NY
2 PA
1 MD
4 outside the us
1iowa
1 WA
1 Ill

so four of their kids are regional

so about 15 out of 31 are regional kids at Buffalo/Bing/Albany

Cuse will have 5 NY kids on their roster next season so they're a third local with the rest being spread around the country.

So basically for some kids its important and some will come as far from california to Albany, NY if thats where their free ride is lol.

I'm not to sure you realize how far Buffalo is. There is no way I am driving to Buffalo to see a game. Buffalo is a 10 hour drive from me. I can get to Philadelphia in 2 hours. Believe me. No one is choosing Buffalo for location.

You also think that Jersey is near Buffalo. I don't buy that one. What part of Jersey and how do you think they are getting to Buffalo. Buffalo is very far away and really difficult to get to. Remember you just can't look at a map. You need paved roads to drive on.

Syracuse - I can get to Syracuse in about 5 hours. The question is if location is the issue with Syracuse why were no NYC kids going there before Q showed up. Wouldn't it be fair to say the coach was the issue in this case.

Binghamton - I would say people choose this school for education. This is one of the best school in the NY State system.

Albany- I'm not sure how you are counting 5 local. I will give you the 2 NY. and the 1 CT. After that you lost me. Are you saying that Md is local to Albany?

[BrooklynSaints]

I would think that education has to be at the top of the list; at least I would hope it is. A recruit has to think of life after basketball. Not everyone makes it to the WNBA, and even if they do, thats not going to last forever. They need to go to a good educational institution that will give them an excellent foundation for the future.

So as a UCONN fan are you telling me that Maya Moore signed at UCONN because of Education or because of Geno and the history of winning. Are your saying that in the entire state of Georgia she could not find a school comparable to UCONN.

Also before Geno started coaching at UCONN how many #1 high school recruits did UCONN sign?

Note: I'm not saying that UCONN is not good in education. But are you seriously thinking that is the top of the list reason recruits are going to the school?

[acusefan4ever]

brooks relax your getting a little too excited.

I apologize for the use of the word "local" in the albany part, I used the word "regional" but the idea doesn't change. Any state bordering it would be considered regional or any place within 5/6 hours is close. You may not be willing to drive 6 hours to see some random team play but a parent would be willing to drive 6 hours once a week to watch their kid play so I'd say thats close by.

As far as my five with albany

2 ny kids
1 ct kid
1 out of the country kid is from toronto and toronto to albany is barely more then 5 hours on Rte 90
1 PA kid, just outside harrisburg the car ride is less then 5 hours

Also the trip from Montclair NJ to Buffalo is less then 5 and half hours.

I am not sure why cuse wasn't getting NYC kids before Q showed up. I think Cieplicki caught onto the fact that not getting any of the talent from nyc was hurting us and thats why Q was hired(to recruit nyc). It seems like the exodus coach likes him since him and stringer spoke at their banquet thing.

[BrooklynSaints]

brooks relax your getting a little too excited.

I apologize for the use of the word "local" in the albany part, I used the word "regional" but the idea doesn't change. Any state bordering it would be considered regional or any place within 5/6 hours is close. You may not be willing to drive 6 hours to see some random team play but a parent would be willing to drive 6 hours once a week to watch their kid play so I'd say thats close by.

As far as my five with albany

2 ny kids
1 ct kid
1 out of the country kid is from toronto and toronto to albany is barely more then 5 hours on Rte 90
1 PA kid, just outside harrisburg the car ride is less then 5 hours

Also the trip from Montclair NJ to Buffalo is less then 5 and half hours.

I am not sure why cuse wasn't getting NYC kids before Q showed up. I think Cieplicki caught onto the fact that not getting any of the talent from nyc was hurting us and thats why Q was hired(to recruit nyc). It seems like the exodus coach likes him since him and stringer spoke at their banquet thing.

I'm not excited. It may just be my style of writing.

Q and Exodus have always been linked together. When Q was at Alabama Exodus girls went to Alabama. Now that he is at Syracuse the Exodus girls will go there. When he leaves Syracuse the recruits will leave also. In Syracuse case I would say its the coach not the location.

[BrooklynSaints]

As far as Montclair NJ to Buffalo. If location was the major factor in this case, why not choose Seton Hall or Rutgers?

[connboy]

BrooklynSaints- Before Geno came to UCONN, UCONN never signed, or even came close to signing the number one recruit in the country, but you already know this. UCONN is fine educational institution and was probably a consideration by Maya and her mom. Was it the primary reason she chose UCONN? Probably not, Geno was, and I'm only speculating, the main reason Maya signed with UCONN. Only Maya and her mom know the real reason and anything else is pure speculation.

[BrooklynSaints]

BrooklynSaints- Before Geno came to UCONN, UCONN never signed, or even came close to signing the number one recruit in the country, but you already know this. UCONN is fine educational institution and was probably a consideration by Maya and her mom. Was it the primary reason she chose UCONN? Probably not, Geno was, and I'm only speculating, the main reason Maya signed with UCONN. Only Maya and her mom know the real reason and anything else is pure speculation.

Well we are all speculating. thats what the message board is for.

[crossover]

I think we are all forgetting also the influence the girl's AAU program has on her and the parents. Also the school affiliations that the AAU program has with the individual colleges.

Both these factors would be an undercurrent of quiet influence on the kid.

The rest of the list is right on...........which order you put them in is a matter of the individual child, her personality, and her family circumstances.

[acusefan4ever]

As far as Montclair NJ to Buffalo. If location was the major factor in this case, why not choose Seton Hall or Rutgers?

buffalo is in the mac where is seton hall/rutgers are in the big east.....talent level is a HUGE factor.

[likewbb]

Would you expect the answer to your question to have the same response to "how do players who transfer select schools?"

Would you expect the answer for the top 30 players to be the same as those who were slightly recruited?

Most of the top players want to go to a known winning program. Seldom can I remember an elite player who signed with the label "build a new program around me."
(example Pittsburgh)

Ability to "start" is an often used phrase in basketball; in football ability to play my freshman year.

Closeness of family; number of games on television; coach and players will improve my game.....

[piratelooksatforty]

[. Only Maya and her mom know the real reason and anything else is pure speculation.[/QUOTE]

I am not flaming but but there are some reasons and one big one is the possibility of an inturnship at ESPN. That is a very legitimate reason and NOT ONE THING WRONG WITH IT, if other schools had the availability to offer it, it would be powerful as a draw for for such a student who would like to get into such a visable job as possibly ESPN. Remember my statement in qualifing my post early as this isn't a flame and let's not make it one.

[BrooklynSaints]

[. Only Maya and her mom know the real reason and anything else is pure speculation.

I am not flaming but but there are some reasons and one big one is the possibility of an inturnship at ESPN. That is a very legitimate reason and NOT ONE THING WRONG WITH IT, if other schools had the availability to offer it, it would be powerful as a draw for for such a student who would like to get into such a visable job as possibly ESPN. Remember my statement in qualifing my post early as this isn't a flame and let's not make it one.[/QUOTE]

I would think that all major schools have possibilities of internships with major companies. You may be right but I don't see that being a major draw.

[piratelooksatforty]

the theme. Yes SOME schools have that advantage of internships but if you were wanting to get into sports broadcasting and she does seem excited about it, UConn would offer the most advantages with ESPN there.

let me paint a picture,, I hope this never happens but with the visability Maya has had so far in her HS career, let's say that during practice she should suffer a knee injury that affects the rest of her career and with the way she plays that could be a possibility because she can jump glide and hang, I have seen her play for 4 years. If such a horrible thing happened she would at least be in a school that would afford her that opportunity rather than if she were at UGA or UT or Duke. And with the visability she has already had she would be a perfect person would those circumstances happen:) :)

[acusefan4ever]

I am not flaming but but there are some reasons and one big one is the possibility of an inturnship at ESPN. That is a very legitimate reason and NOT ONE THING WRONG WITH IT, .

I think your right but at the same time if they want in internship at espn they may go to a UConn but if they wanted a job at espn after they graduate they'd be much better off at Syracuse.

For being so close to espn UConn espn doesn't employ a ton of uconn grads. Not to mention the fact that all uconn can do is offer the "possiblity" of an internship.

[BrooklynSaints]

I think your right but at the same time if they want in internship at espn they may go to a UConn but if they wanted a job at espn after they graduate they'd be much better off at Syracuse.

For being so close to espn UConn espn doesn't employ a ton of uconn grads. Not to mention the fact that all uconn can do is offer the "possiblity" of an internship.

Internship possibilities are too vague and not likely a sway recruits. You have to remember for the major recruits they are looking at playing professionally so ESPN may not mean much.

By the way, I am hearing that Syracuse has a transfer from Virgina Tech. She does not have to sit out a year because of the tragedy at Virginia Tech. That will give Syracuse another NYC player. Has this rumor been confirmed?

[acusefan4ever]

I've heard a rumor about a transfer but not a name but i don't think its true.

Unless someone didn't qualify we are already at the 15 scholly max and I can't find anyone on the current roster at VTech from ny and neither of the incoming players is from ny.

[Oldschool]

Unfortunatety many girls and their parents get caught up in the hype and the glitz and glamour. For many, when they start out as young girls, they are students who are playing basketball. However, if they show promise of becoming pretty good players, for many, the focus begins to shift. Books and then ball changes to ball and "I hope you finished your homework", after you get home from AAU practice. It takes many, many, hours of hard work to develope into a D-1 prospect and in a lot of situations, studies take the hit. Having said all that, there are many girls who manage to perform at a high level in the classroom and on the court as well, but, even those girls can, and do get caught up in the hype. I have seen lovely, modest, humble young ladies fall victim to the "system" and the media madness. It's not really their fault, because we're talking about children who have adults kissing up to them every day. Newspapers and tv, all this, and, all that awards. The fact that they may be very smart, takes a back seat to game stats. Is it any wonder that many start believing their own clippings? They begin to change and the "bling" becomes more important than academics. Parents play a role, because many live vicariously through their children and they can poke their chests out when their daughter enrolls in a high profile, top ten program. There are a few schools that offer both, high academics, and a top ten program, but we know that they can't accomodate everyone. I would like to see some of these girls go to schools with high academic standards, but with lower rankings, and be difference makers, to the school and to the girls following after them.

[BrooklynSaints]

I would like to see some of these girls go to schools with high academic standards, but with lower rankings, and be difference makers, to the school and to the girls following after them.

I guess in order for that to occur, what matters most would have to be, being a difference maker. From what I see of womens basketball, women don't like to blaze there own trail. Perhaps if they did, it could also imply they were buying into their own hype.

[ClayKallam]

To me, the primary question for any potential recruit: If I blew my knee out the first week of practice, and never played again, would this be the school for me?