So perhaps I've become decent at HD, but am having trouble rising to the next level. I suspect part of my problem is in recruiting. I keep noticing other schools that "get tight" with recruits, or "solid." Never been there. My recruits are always "open to other offers." Clearly I'm not sinking enough $ into them. Just got burned with my approach in Knight. Lost two of my three targets when other schools swooped in because I didn't have them strong.

My approach has been to feel a bunch of guys out, get some to consider me, then hope to stave off fellow bidders while holding on to as much as my $ as possible. But I just blew 32k of our 48k on guys we didn't land. Guessing I need to change how I do this. 

Two questions, then: how do you get guys to be tight with you, and how much does that take?

Do others have better success landing their targets by focusing on just a few and pitching more money upfront? 

There are probably as many approaches to recruiting as there are coaches. The approach I find most successful is to do a very thorough search for my target players. I have a certain set of criteria (varies based on level and position) that I use to find my targets. Once recruiting starts, I decide which of my targets is my primary for whatever position I am looking at. I spend a decent but not excessive amount on each one. If I am looking for pulldowns, I send out one phone call to each of my targets and then decide who I want based on feedback.

Regardless of which type of player I am going after, I go one or two spots less than I have open. For example, if I have 4 open positions, I only go after 2 or 3 players initially. There are a couple of reasons for this. One is that if another coach looks at a player I am recruiting, he will see that I have plenty of cash left to fight him off. The other reason is that it saves you cash for later. I try to wait at least 24 hours before looking to fill the remaining spots and sometimes longer. Things have usually shaken out by then and I normally find good players still available.

To answer your question though, I really couldn't care less whether I am listed as tight or not. If I have cash left to defend the recruit then it really doesn't matter what the listing says.

thanks, weena. i suspect i've been spreading myself too thin, which may be an offshoot of not being at a big 6 school. you're never sure who will be willing to sign. 

Care to post the players that got poached and their potential? My feeling is that you might be aiming too high with a C prestige. If you have 4 openings and you got 4x 1to2 star recruit to consider you on day 1, you are pretty much asking to get poached by the lower/mid tier Big 6 schools. 

As was said, you need to do research on your potential targets long before recruiting starts.  Then you have them on your board and can tick them off as you go along.  Depending on your prestige and division then you need to understand that you can't get the top guys or even pull some guys down.  Maybe even wait until other school mark their territory and look for some leftovers or a player you can poach from simmy.  One thing that will kill you it going all out early for a player to have him poached by an A+ prestige school a few cycles later.  As well, keep in mind that you can only go so far away from home and compete unless you are a top dog in your division.  Not gonna tell you all of the tricks I have because it is so much fun to figure it out after 20 or more season when you think you can't learn any more.  Good luck!!

i have found reruiting too hard in this game. ive played this game alot but get worse every season.