While I know we all appreciate our insiders passing along the information we have, I find myself increasingly frustrated with the sources for our insiders.
Time and time again we are seeing "I was told he was a lock." We have all seen how fluid recruiting can be, it gets referenced and talked about all the time on these threads. So why do these assistant coaches or people close to the program seem to not realize that and jump the gun, calling kids locks when they clearly are not?
I know they are going on what these kids tell them, and a lot of the players aren't completely straightforward, but shouldn't they be more cautious about all of this by now?
Or is it not really a big deal for them either way because they are essentially anonymous and it doesn't matter much to them if they end up being wrong. It's the insiders passing the information along to us that have to deal with more of the fallout.
Again, this is no shade at the insiders at all, this is questioning the premature celebrations that seem to be coming sources themselves lately.
Have you ever dealt with an 18-year-old kid that is listening to advice from those that mainly benefit them, the adult? The majority of these kids don't have a final say in where and what they actually do. These 18-year-old kids are telling almost everyone that reaches out to them what they think that coach or recruiter wants to hear because they don't have the skillset, or ability to decide for themselves. An 18-year-old kid does not want to upset or disappoint anyone that whom they have built any sort of relationship and that is difficult for some to understand.
I deal with kids every day and those kids don't want to admit to wrongdoing, because they have a relationship with me. They will tell others and give them the ok to inform me, but it's hard for them to look me in the eye and admit guilt.
Everyone here should be VERY thankful for the info we get because they don't have to share anything and more times than not they have been dead-on in the info they have given us. The coaches are just as surprised by decisions many times as the average Joe Schmoe is when someone goes elsewhere than the beloved.
I only really believe a couple of people on here and that is because time and time again they have been correct. Even on those we think are a done deal and go elsewhere, if you follow up on information about those kids, you'll see they had people handling things for them and the kid didn't get to choose his own path more times than not. Also, many times, those kids will end up in the transfer portal sooner than later and it's best to keep relations good down the road.
Thanks to the few for everything you share with us that you don't have to