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[QUOTE="PoppyHart, post: 5292700, member: 515"]
Whether from lack of ILN funds, lack of talent evaluation skills, or otherwise, we've basically struck out on the portal.

Unfortunately, that is the new recruiting ground, and veteran presence is what wins games at the collegiate level these days.

18 year old "boys" vs. GAM is going to be one-sided almost every time, unless you are able to snag the Cooper Flagg's and Dylan Harper's of the class.

Is it possible that Red's success with the HS kids is a reflection of other schools de-emphasizing that recruiting path in favor of the portal? Or are we just eating at the only table that has room while the big boys gobble up seconds?

ESPN ranked the top-100 players in college back in late-October. This is not a ranking based on potential, like you'd see with the draft, but based on current talent and ability to perform and win right now.

Of the top-25, the underclassmen were Flagg (1), Ace Bailey (9), Harper (12), VJ Edgecombe (16), and Tre Johnson (25.

There were ZERO sophomores and 3 Juniors (Karaban, Tamin Lipsey, and Braden Smith) on the list. And 17 seniors!

Of the 17 seniors, only 5 have never transferred schools (Zeigler, Kam Jones, Kalkbrenner, Wade Taylor, and RJ Davis).

While it's nice to supplement winning teams with some underclass talent, it's not great to build your foundation there. If JJ does not return, in all likelihood our top 4-5 players will be 1st or 2nd year players.

[URL="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/42001025/mens-ncaa-basketball-player-rank-2024-25-preseason-top-100"]The 100 best men's players entering the new season[/URL]
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