So, this is only one case but I was in a recruiting battle with another program. I ended up getting this player but his 'childhood favorite' was the school I was battling with for this kid.

I ended up getting him but I had to spend $46k. I also promised a start and 20 minutes to the kid (start and minutes came toward the end).

The other team spent $17k on this player. Don't know if he promised time or a start (doubtful as he had less spots open than I did but maybe).

Distance from recruit was similar (he was 160 and I was 210). I only see a handful of other posts on the subject but it seems that the childhood favorite can definitely have an impact; even when all else is considered equal.

I got the kid halfway through the 2nd to last day of recruiting.

They way you spend the money will have some effects also. Not just the totals. Plus you were over the 170 mile mark where visits and such increase by a decent amount.

Prestige?

Oh thanks corn, forgot to mention that I have a C prestige and he has a C+ prestige. My conference prestige is a C, his conf. prestige is a C-. I was almost exclusively HVs and CVs with some calls, letters, and a scouting trip early on.

Quote: Originally posted by nrmccarthy on 12/20/2009Oh thanks corn, forgot to mention that I have a C prestige and he has a C+ prestige. My conference prestige is a C, his conf. prestige is a C-. I was almost exclusively HVs and CVs with some calls, letters, and a scouting trip early on.

That has 0 effect on recruiting.

I believe that the childhood favorite effect is about equal to 2/3 of a grade level of prestige. It was enough to wipe out my B to B- advantage plus about 10% or so in a big battle with Arkansas in Allen this year. So maybe worth 20% or so?

Quote: Originally posted by reinsel on 12/20/2009I believe that the childhood favorite effect is about equal to 2/3 of a grade level of prestige.  It was enough to wipe out my B to B- advantage plus about 10% or so in a big battle with Arkansas in Allen this year.  So maybe worth 20% or so?

What info do you have to prove this? I feel this is drastically overstating the value.

Agreed. Maybe 1/3 of a grade from what I've seen. Heck I've even had them nearby and naming me and not even taking a home visit, for what that's worth.

As far as your money issue, bigbucks. First off, there is a differance between 160 and 210 as there is a jump in cash needed at 200. Secondly, I noticed you said you used CV's which is, IMHO, wasting your money comparitively. At 200 miles you overspend on them compared to HV (and once again you'd pay more for CV's as well being over 200 miles). Sounds to me like he had roughly two prestige grades on you and just spent more wisely.

In Allen this year in a battle for the #5 SF, I was 230 miles, Arkansas 50. I spent $60,256, Arkansas a tad over $42,000.

We both promised a start + 20 minutes. I used 32 campus visits, 61 home visits, 4 scouting trips, 11 calls and 16 letters.

If I convert my spending to Arkansas distance costs, it came out to $45,715. Arkansas (trink115) told me he spent almost exactly $43,000 on Flood, and promised the same start and 20 minutes. Flood signed with me the last day of recruiting in the morning, the sign of a very close battle. Both of us put 90% of the money in the first 24 hours.

I had a B prestige and Arkansas had a B-. So either I allocated my money really poorly, enough to wipe out my B vs. B- advantage plus around $2700, or the favorite school being Arkansas was worth something.

My general feel is that it was worth around 10% bonus to Arkansas. That would have given them $47500 of effort vs. my $45715, and then my slightly better prestige won it for me.

Also maybe relevant was that Flood wanted to stay close to home. Not sure if that had an effect, as we were both close, but Arkansas was closer.

As for allocation, I'll say again, I don't know that CV's are a good use of your money at that distance.

Really, you think at 230 miles $1000 CV's are worse than $420 HV's?

Quote: Originally posted by doomey on 12/21/2009As for allocation, I'll say again, I don't know that CV's are a good use of your money at that distance.

doomey, I used to think like you as well, given the seemingly relative cost advantage is in favor of HV's at close distances. Yet, many vets seemingly swear by CV's over HV's almost regardless of distance, so I've had to step back and reassess my opinion on this matter. IMO, it should come down to what the base ratio of recruiting value for the different recruiting tools are, but this logic hasn't gotten me very far. YMMV

Quote: Originally Posted By reinsel on 12/21/2009
In Allen this year in a battle for the #5 SF, I was 230 miles, Arkansas 50. I spent $60,256, Arkansas a tad over $42,000.

We both promised a start + 20 minutes. I used 32 campus visits, 61 home visits, 4 scouting trips, 11 calls and 16 letters.

If I convert my spending to Arkansas distance costs, it came out to $45,715. Arkansas (trink115) told me he spent almost exactly $43,000 on Flood, and promised the same start and 20 minutes. Flood signed with me the last day of recruiting in the morning, the sign of a very close battle. Both of us put 90% of the money in the first 24 hours.

I had a B prestige and Arkansas had a B-. So either I allocated my money really poorly, enough to wipe out my B vs. B- advantage plus around $2700, or the favorite school being Arkansas was worth something.

My general feel is that it was worth around 10% bonus to Arkansas. That would have given them $47500 of effort vs. my $45715, and then my slightly better prestige won it for me.

Sorry, this in no way proves anything. You used more recruiting value then a lower prestige school and won.

I've had some experience with this on both sides. With my Butler team (Knight), I've recruited several kids that had me as CFs, and I've been able to get the few that I went after. However, I see that the caliber of the player plays a part in it as well. With my Boise State team (Phelan), I had several in-state players list me as CF, but I couldn't get a one of them to even accept a scholarship offer or a home visit. Those were mainly 3 and a few 4 star players. I even tried to offer minutes and starts as an experiment. Didn't matter. So, if you have the prestige, then the player will listen. I'd say CF maybe matters very little in the grand scheme of things. Just gives me something else to look at until recruiting starts.