While it does not feel good that a player of a caliber of Jalil Bethea has chosen not to play at Syracuse, it is not the same feeling as when Quade Green led Syracuse down the path and then changing to play at University of Kentucky after a last minute visit to that university.
With respect to Bethea, he has the right to select any school to play for with any obligation to any other school. I wish him as well as any other player well in playing at their schools of choice. There can not be any bad feelings toward him because he is definitely getting what he has been looking for.
At some point, a highly ranked high school recruit will select Syracuse to play for in college.
I have noticed a change in direction over the past few years with respect to players that once turned down Syracuse have been renewing interest in playing at Syracuse. For Cole Swider, it was a good decision. Hopefully, the opportunities for JJ Starling, Chance Westry, Kyle Cuffe, Jr, Donnie Freeman and Choppa Moore will be just as good.
Again, congratulations to the coaching staff on their recruiting efforts, hard work and successes this past summer. Although I enjoy the Pateron recruiting podcasts I disagree with the podcaster on the way he places dispersion on the lead recruiter for Bethea by pointing to their track record. It is easy to cast stones at someone else when the person throwing the stone has never been a recruiter at this level. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
