I've often wondered why would ineligibles sign a letter of intent and not show up? Don't get me wrong I like the way inels are now, to an extent. I like the risk reward. Take your chances and recruit a 5 star inel...spend the money and hope he shows up. Has anyone thought about as opposed to signing and later telling us they aren't showing up, why don't they just inform us at the time they would sign? That way the money has been spent, and the effort would carry over, but it also would give coaches the chance to recruit another player with money the thave .

For ex. I recruit an inel. and when signings start, instead of signing he tells me "coach I've thought about it and I don't think being away from the court for a year will help me much, sorry I won't be able to play for you next year." Now instead of waiting until recruiting is over, I have the chance to sign my backup option or find a new player to go for.

Any opinions on this?

I agree. Or, as a compromise, tell us one or two cycles before recruiting ends. That gives us a chance to sign someone else at the last minute.

nb, I think you're 100% on the money here.

I disagree.

I like the risk reward of it. Signing the top rated INEL players wouldnt be so special if you know that even if they dont show you still can find someone for that spot.

Cant make the game too easy ;)

I don't think it would make the game too easy; I think that the current set-up is too punitive.

We all know that trying to find a good player that late in the recruiting process is almost impossible, but at least this way you'd have the option of signing someone to fill the void, like maybe a juco or something like that. It actually would give you another strategic decision to make.

I agree...it's not making it easy, let him tell you with 2 cycles remaining, something like this...

"Hey coach, good news I decided to attend Duke"

OR

"Hey coach, just wanted to let you know I'm gonna play JUCO this year, keep in touch"

This way, if he doesn't show up, you have a chance to get someone if you are a good recruiter.

There would still be a high risk reward, If the recruit is indeed a 4-5 star player, you would have to battle for him, and unless your team is Aish prestige that means dumping a lot of cash on him. The money shouldn't come back, they should inform us earlier that they aren't going to show up. This way, I can still sign the 2 or 3 star player I have as a backup instead of all my efforts for him being useless.

The only problem I have with the way ineligibles currently work is where they play JUCO ball. If there was some sort of rule that said an ineligible signed with a school that then decides to play JUCO has to be regenerated within 0-500 (or less) miles of the HD school they initially signed with. A lot of times, an ineligible kid will regenerate at a JUCO school across the country from the HD school they initially signed with. The 25% carryover effort doesn't mean anything if the recruit is 2,000 miles away.

In real life, in most cases, the school an ineligible verbals to out of high school has a distinct advantage heading into recruiting said player out of JUCO. The only way that relates to HD is if the recruit is within a closer geographical area.

We all know going after ineligibles holds an inherent risk. I think this reduces the risk, while making it more in line with real life.

Thoughts?

I agree pokes. I once signed an ineligible on the east coast and he went juco on the west coast. I had no chance to sign him the next year. It's unrealistic to think that a recruit would go play juco far away from home just to play one year of juco ball.

From someone who is still newer about 14 seasons total from this name and a old name about 4 years ago I think ineligibles are a nice risk reward for a good payoff if your needing to turn a program around.

the other factor is recruiting money, if you sign an ineligible to fill your final scholly, you get the carryover even if he doesn't come to campus.

doesn't make sense in nb's system-- how much would you get if you failed to sign someone else?

also, would you still get considering credit from the inel the next season as you do now?

If you read the first post, I stated the risk reward shouldn't change, and neither would the carryover if you have to take a walkon. The recruiting effort would also carry over if he doesn't show up.

The only thing I think would be better is changing the signing process. It's pointless to sign a letter and then change their mind...AFTER recruiting has finished. They should notify you BEFORE recruiting finishes. Thus IF you have another player considering you you can sign him, OR if you have money you can find someone else. If you have no money and no other players considering you, you take the walk on.

Gopokes, I agree that very kids would really go to a juco across the country, but really very few d2/d3 schools really go hunting for recruits 2000 miles away as well. Although that aspect of inels can be frustrating, I don't have a problem with it. You may lose a couple, but you also can get some monsters regenerated right next door to you.

I would say this though NBS, that you need to remember sometimes players don't know if they truly would be ineligible until school starts. Thus you wouldn't have time to go out recruiting and get another guy to come to campus. So it does partly make sense the way it is now.

It could be a mix between the two but there should be some guys that just don't show up. I mean how did they get those low grades? Putting things off and not telling anyone just like not telling the coach they are not coming.