Great stuff, T.J. You mention role players. I usually have triangle teams, which means an athletic defender who cannot score might be fine for me, though passed on by an elite that can afford to hold out for guys who are skilled at everything. I always have a post as a member of my triangle. Let's say my starting C can score. Then the starting PF does not have to be a scorer, though it is nice. If you think ahead about what role you need filled a season or two away, you can seek and land an "imperfect" recruit who does all you need him to do. I just signed a PF who will be at 100 Reb and 95 LP (93 already) but only 60 def and ath. -- the realities of building a program.
You also note that internationals sometimes get overlooked. That helped me with my Charlotte team. I took over, cut most of the inherited players, and recruited the kids who are now my junior class. My PG is a category 2. My PF is a 3. I started recruiting these international kids after my first few choices were drawn to the siren call of a higher prestige program. I did not get enough scouting to know all their potentials, but fate was kind. This strategy does not always work. I took over another team that was almost all internationals with no potential. Save $ for scouting.
Prestige -- I think most know that prestige affects recruiting and having money to recruit is helpful. The trick it seems is to land some of TJ' s 2, 3, & 4's, and get your prestige up so you can feast on a steady diet of starred recruits. I expect my Charlotte club will, conservatively, go from C- to C+ this season and be at its baseline of B- after next season. I'm still getting a handle on how much recruiting powder to keep dry in battle, but will be mindful of the comments in this thread come next recruiting season. D1 recruiting is a whole different animal, that's for sure.
1/16/2014 11:47 AM (edited)