3 things -
1 - please do not suggest hiring a father to attract the daughter - several other programs have done it and got an awful lot of criticism that probably kept some recruits away. 2 examples are Georgia and Ohio State. I'm sure in both cases the offer to hire is offered as an inducement.
2 - apart from anything else, Rutgers lacks (at this time) the visibility that a player ranked that high would want and also lacks the NIL I am pretty certain that that player might command.
3 - and finally - she has made her "choice" down to 3 schools which all have reasons that they are attractive (probably some we don't know) - but UConn is UConn with the track record for WNBA placement, Duke is academically strong and UNC is coached by Courtney Banghart among other things. There is no point in touting Rutgers beyond saying that you wish she would have considered Rutgers.
Rutgers seriously needs to put some wins on the board - they don't have to look great, they need to look like they are showing promise, and the folks will come. When CVS was the coach, although I know many are in denial about this, they came to play for CVS, even though her first 2 seasons were bad, even though they had a bad year around the time that Cappie came, and even as success gradually lessened. Coach Washington is going to have difficulty attracting top tier players because they want to play specifically for her. Rather, she needs to present the advantages of Rutgers and the fact that the program is showing promise. At the moment, it isn't positioned to attract a top tier player - good players, yes, but with a ceiling.
Incidentally, Carlene lost her job at CSUN today. Great assistant, terrible head coach. Nice person, but that doesn't count for much as a head coach.
🤨KTFan! You gon stop trying to rain on our parade!!
I know everything you're saying makes perfectly good sense. That's why I started my posts on this topic the way that I did. I know it's a long shot and probably seen as an impossibility in most people's eyes. By now, you know me......I put it out there....for people to envision. Sometimes that is what is needed for some to see a good thing sitting right in front of them.
Now, ... going by the numbers,
With #1, I was semi-serious. I don't know enough about her dad to be all in on wanting to hire him on the staff. But if it brought Sarah, .......I think I'd find a spot.😉 He also might be a big help with recruiting, similar to the Terri Williams-Flournoy effect that has saved Penn State's HC's job.
The examples you gave, I'm familiar with the Ohio St situation, which actually brought the program back to Top 20 status. I'd say they made out pretty well with Kelsey Mitchell & her dad, (and sister along for the ride too, I think). I remember some good players around her who transferred in.
#2- As far as lacking visibility, most might think that, but the reality is that we play in a conference that is busting with star power and elite programs next season, even with Caitlin leaving. The additions of USC and UCLA bringing JuJu Watkins, KiKi Rice, L Betts, ........Rutgers players will be on the biggest of stages due to that alone. When people see Kiyomi, our games will be broadcast on national TV. If Sarah is as good as advertised, she could shine brightly with those she would be surrounded by here including others she, Kiyomi, Destiny, and Kaylene could attract.
People just have to have the vision.
#3- Narrowing down to three is not the same as
decision made. It's not over till she has signed. I don't know what NIL differences for her exist between the schools, so I can't speak on that. I don't know how much that actually means to her either when it comes to choosing a school.
I know UNC has a logjam of player at Sarah's potential position. She can get all the minutes she wants with RU. Also, it appears Courtney didn't really do much to develop our Destiny Adams during the two years she was there. Haven't seen much development from Keys yet either. She just recruited over Keys and Destiny by bringing in the girl from Boston College via the portal.
We know Duke has the academics and Kara's team is on a really s-l-o-w uptick. She's had a lot of talent come and go with inconsistent success. The stage can be as big for Sarah at RU as it will be at Duke. The B1G is becoming pretty tough.
No words for UConn. Sarah, please! Don't do it!😣