foby
- Bonnaroo Land
Kofi Cockburn in the transfer portal
- Status
I don't disagree, but I think Kofi could hear everything he needs to hear virtually (and I'm sure Coach Cal would tell him exactly what he wants to hear). I would also want to see facilities etc. but Kofi may feel differently. Especially if this is only about money.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal
I don't really know what this means? A market doesn't really matter either way. As I understand NIL, players would stand to make the most money the most easily at schools with large, engaged fanbases and businesses willing to line up to advertise to those fans.
Do we have that? Yes. At the level of Kentucky? No.
Serious question. Do we know if Kofi is prioritizing professional development or residual marketing money more? Before the NIL decision it seemed to be all about his path to the pros. Now all of the talk is about his brand. Is that regency bias with the NIL decision in the courts, or did he actually hint this became a new top priority to him?
Sure he would. Needs to build the suspense and have people watching when he says/posts:
Kofi Cockburn
I’M BACK
Announcement brought to you by Melby Chiropractic — Experience Life
Fair questions. Lexington isn’t the largest media market (#64 as ranked by Nielsen), but it is one of the largest that does NOT compete against a pro team anywhere in the state. The few comparable markets are Birmingham, Louisville and Little Rock, and look how huge college sports are in those places. Obviously UK Basketball is a blue blood with a higher national profile today than UI.
The more significant point is that Kentucky has been getting players paid under the table for decades and has arguably the most rabid fan base in CBB. I have zero doubt that they will be leaders in figuring out how to pay players top dollar over the table now that it is permitted by NCAA rules. NO doubt. None. They were/are the leader in building gold-plated facilities. They took advantage of the NBA one-and-done rule to become a destination for those players. They have a history of finding the gray areas in the rules and taking advantage of them. With the new NIL + one-time-no-sit-transfer rules, from this day forward every top returning college player is a potential free agent, and UK will do whatever it takes to be a winner in that market.
In other words, I don’t think size of market is the biggest factor. Now that there is a legal way to get money to players, a school’s willingness to use all means necessary to make their players top earners is paramount. I have no doubt that UK and certain SEC football schools *will* use this opportunity to their fullest advantage.
Will Illinois? We’ll see. Talking about being a leader in the new NIL world is one thing. Success will be measured by how much $$$ winds up in players’ pockets, and you better believe that news will travel fast to recruits.
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He’s also sharing the spotlight and playing time with more McDonalds All Americans. I don’t know the answer to this, but did Karl Malone sell more jerseys per year as a member of the Jazz or as a member of the Lakers?
Deleted member 747671
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There is nothing out there that is remotely pointing to Kofi returning. The only thing going for us is the insiders thinking he's leaning to staying. I'll gladly eat crow, but he gone.
Great answer. How much would you estimate KY will net a player like Kofi next year versus Illinois?
And reports that he’s been talking to the coaching staff.
As I've said before, if athletes get endorsements based on the value they offer to a company, they really aren't going to make that much. Companies pick a few celebrities, sports of otherwise, to endorse their products. For lesser known products in can put you on the map with the right endorsement. But Pepsi, as an example, can expect essentially no additional sales because they hand Kofi money. I don't even think Honda of Champaign can expect any more sales. Kofi might be a bit of an exception because he's literally a huge physical presence that gives him a bit more to market.
So the advantage lies with schools who have alumni who are able and willing to overpay for an endorsement. There's ample reason to believe that Kentucky has lots of those people. Champaign and the greater alumni community outside of here? I don't know. I guess we'll find out.
I expect Omni prosthetics to be a big player for us.
The plus side to this is that by Friday night, we’ll know what our team will be. If Kofi comes back, we’re in the top 10. Hopefully Kofi doesn’t think that the bluegrass is greener on the other side.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel_word
How do you know this? Nothing personal, but the rationalization for the bad guesses is crazy. 'By all accounts' ? Whose accounts, what accounts? People are told by who? Who are these tellers? How do you know this? 'Everything' is pointing to Illini. What is 'everything? Lville... has been wrong time after time, so why repeat what you are told if it is 50/50? I have no idea what Kofi will do, not taking visits is encouraging. I'll go with 50/50, and not be vague, or claim inside knowledge. Lvill... was posting this morning and said nothing about the staff feeling good, but then all of a sudden he knew this. Did he meet with the staff, did he hurriedlly call someone who had been with the staff? That is all I can say right now, maybe I'll be able to let you know more later......, although I'm not really saying anything. Lol.
FWIW Forbes has Kentucky as the most valuable program in the country and us at #10. It's a 3 year revenue avg. in millions and the article was published before this past season. I don't think we give ourselves enough credit in this NIL talk. We probably have one of the more promising ceilings in terms of earnings potential and if we spread our earnings among significantly less star power, we should have plenty to offer monetarily. That all said, I can't help but wonder how the #22 ranked 5-star will feel about being the #5/6 selling Kentucky jersey in his hopeful one-and-done season.
1. Kentucky (SEC) - $56.0
3. Indiana (Big Ten) - $37.5
4. Duke (ACC) - $35.4
5. Kansas (Big 12) - $34.1
7. Ohio State (Big Ten) - $30.1
8. North Carolina (ACC) - $29.9
9. Michigan State (Big Ten) - $28.5
10. Illinois (Big Ten) - $27.6
11. UCLA (Pac-12) - $26.3
14. Michigan (Big Ten) - $24.1
15. Arizona (Pac-12) - $23.9
20. Texas (Big 12) - $18.7
Lots of conflicting and confusing opinions and info on this board regarding Kofi.
Some of the memes seem to be pointing to Illinois some of the memes don't.
I think this is a great time where if you are some sort of an insider you post what you know, and not cryptic messages.
I appreciate @IvilleILL for having the balls to post what he knows.
The rest of you who are being cryptic with memes and messages either know nothing, or some who might don't have the balls to share what they know.
We root for the same team.......why try to mess with the fan base of a program we love? Don't get it!
Some of the memes seem to be pointing to Illinois some of the memes don't.
I think this is a great time where if you are some sort of an insider you post what you know, and not cryptic messages.
I appreciate @IvilleILL for having the balls to post what he knows.
The rest of you who are being cryptic with memes and messages either know nothing, or some who might don't have the balls to share what they know.
We root for the same team.......why try to mess with the fan base of a program we love? Don't get it!
I am not saying it is coming down to money with Kofi at all. I will say in general if it is about money for higher end collegiate players going forward that market size, fan base interest in buying, etc is probably looked at more years after they have left the school. One donor can seal a NIL deal alone and the player can reap the extra benefits from the fan base/market size as extra while at school and for years to come. This is the ideal time for Kofi to make some $$$ whichever school he chooses and I don't blame him one bit. Elite college center that will have to expand perimeter game on both ends. Weakest part is his jump shot/FTs and pick and roll defense. Two huge things that will make or break him hanging around in the pros for a long time.
hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
are we sure this announcement won’t just be a top 5 or something like that? a list seems more likely to me if he is focused on building his brand
How ever much a crazy group of wealthy boosters is willing to pay. I honestly have no idea, but I would not be surprised if his “marketing deals” run into the millions (plural).
What’s the value of a returning All-American, potential NPOY that gives your team a legit shot at the Final Four? How much different than the value of a star player in the smallest NBA markets? It will be fascinating to watch this market develop.
RichBradIllini
- Peoria
Everyone with a 247 account knows how this is working.
Perhaps the change was due to Garcia being told probability of Kofi returning was high? I have no idea, and if I was guessing I would say you UK, but it would be exactly that a guess?
Deleted member 747671
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Guest
There's really only a handful of "insiders" - like 3 or 4. The rest of us are just trying to read the tea leaves, going on gut, or guessing. I don't think there's really that much "cryptic" going on.
I know absolutely nothing. All I go on is what is freely out there and others' messages and opinions. I am strongly in the "he's gone" camp, not by choice, but by gut/guess.
If you think their info are just "bad guesses," you don't have to acknowledge or believe them. Just keep scrolling. Lville is just a messenger. No one knows if his info is legit or not, but without "insiders" like him/her, this board would be empty. I for one appreciate the info from our insiders, but I never attach any hope or expectation to them.
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