By: Noah Alvidres
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The College basketball recruitment landscape is evolving thanks to Nam, Image and Likeness, with player’s using financial opportunities to reshape how programs choose to build their roster.
Due to NIL, college coaches have to ask themselves:
‘Do you take a kid unproven fresh out of high school or do you take a guy that you’ve seen play at four or five different schools that have done well and you know what I’m getting this product,” says Arkansas assistant basketball coach, Ronnie Brewer Jr.
The surge of portal activity reflects a system that allows great freedom to players, making it easier for players to choose money over a particular school,
“We don’t typically recruit those types of athletes,” Brewer said. “It’s more a fit role on both parties. We want guys who are like-minded, win first.”
With some NIL deals being high paying for some players (AJ Dybantsa of BYU made over $4 million in this past year), but Brewer said those deals often pale in comparison to longer-term professional goals.
“There’s a lot of money out ther with NIL,” he said, “but if your goal is to play in the NBA, it’s kind of peanuts compared to what you can make in the NBA.
This long-term career view is what Coach John Calipari is known for.
Calipari, one of college basketball’s most prolific figures, has a reputation for building up young athletes to become NBA players. Over his career, he has developed more than 50 NBA Draft picks, including numerous first-round selections.
“He’s a developer of young-men,” Brewer said. ” A preparer of guys to be ready for the real world.”
Terrance Armstard, a sports media professor for the University of Arkansas, said big-name coaches like Calipari still play a big role despite the massive pull of NIL money.
‘Those coaches right there have gravity and they also have legacy,” Armstard said. When athletes look to come to a school, those names have weight.”
A new executive order entitled “The Urgent National Action to Save College Sports’ proposes several fundamental changes.
Including, limiting athletes to one penalty-free transfer, setting a five-year eligibility cap, and increasing auditing on NIL deals to limit pay-for-play arrangements.