The impact on future star recruiting

[NewJerseyHawk]

I hate to break the news to RU fans but winning games has ZERO impact on other top recruits.....Top recruits want exposure and the ability to improve their game and draft status.

Fans are delusional into thinking this is a RU issue in regards to negative recruiting. No smart basketball fan (most aren't unfortunately) will combine winning games and attach that to Ace and Dylan (or any other player).

The only thing that would negatively impact Dylan and Ace, would be their actual individual performances and to date, RU and what they have done, have kept up their stock or enhanced it.

Coope Flagg playing vs SMU, Wake Forest, Notre Dame and a down UNC program, isn't fooling any true NBA scouts. The ACC is not a good conference to gauge a player or his skill set right now.

What happens if this player visits RU (class of 2026).....what will these same fans say.....??? If you have no clue, it shows immediately......(same HS and teammate of 2025 RU signed, PG, Lino Mark.

 

[CranfordKnight]

Yeah, remember how people thought that Pikiell making the NCAA the first time in 2021 would, bam, kick RU recruiting up a notch or two with the Class of 2022? Well, Pikiell parlayed that success and PR into a Zero-for-Top 250 class and signed, gulp, Chol, Woolfolk and Simpson. Yeah, that was awesome! So, I don’t think the Dylan/Ace experiment will move the needle much. Expect a steady stream of meh 3-stars and zero Top 100 kids. Deal with it for the next few years.

I know he's dropped a bit to just outside the top 100 composite, but you do realize Chris Nwuli, signed for next year, is still the #61 recruit on ESPN, don't you?

 

[Nycrusupporter]

I hate to break the news to RU fans but winning games has ZERO impact on other top recruits.....Top recruits want exposure and the ability to improve their game and draft status.

Fans are delusional into thinking this is a RU issue in regards to negative recruiting. No smart basketball fan (most aren't unfortunately) will combine winning games and attach that to Ace and Dylan (or any other player).

The only thing that would negatively impact Dylan and Ace, would be their actual individual performances and to date, RU and what they have done, have kept up their stock or enhanced it.

Coope Flagg playing vs SMU, Wake Forest, Notre Dame and a down UNC program, isn't fooling any true NBA scouts. The ACC is not a good conference to gauge a player or his skill set right now.

What happens if this player visits RU (class of 2026).....what will these same fans say.....??? If you have no clue, it shows immediately......(same HS and teammate of 2025 RU signed, PG, Lino Mark.

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Dylan and Ace have done nothing to diminish their draft status coming here, but players and their advisors want to be on winning teams and want to be able to compete in Tournament, and this year will definitely hurt Pike’s ability to convince another elite player coming here, and I am not even sure why you would highlight a kid who isn’t even committed to visiting here, never mind come here. Dylan and Ace are getting a lot of buzz and attention now, but in March everyone in the basketball world will be talking about Flagg and whether he can carry Duke to a National Championship. Whether the ACC is good or not has no impact on how scouts view Flagg, Duke has already played 4 ranked teams and split those games, which is why they are sitting ranked #4. Scouts love Flagg because he is always the best player on the best team, or this year on one of the best teams, he is super competitive and plays winning basketball and is seen as a winner. Every recently updated draft projection still has him unanimously ranked first. Now it only takes one GM to fall in love with someone else, but Flagg is the consensus top pick.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Sounds like the next Larry Bird, though Bird carried teams sometimes all by himself.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

Dylan and Ace have done nothing to diminish their draft status coming here, but players and their advisors want to be on winning teams and want to be able to compete in Tournament, and this year will definitely hurt Pike’s ability to convince another elite player coming here, and I am not even sure why you would highlight a kid who isn’t even committed to visiting here, never mind come here. Dylan and Ace are getting a lot of buzz and attention now, but in March everyone in the basketball world will be talking about Flagg and whether he can carry Duke to a National Championship. Whether the ACC is good or not has no impact on how scouts view Flagg, Duke has already played 4 ranked teams and split those games, which is why they are sitting ranked #4. Scouts love Flagg because he is always the best player on the best team, or this year on one of the best teams, he is super competitive and plays winning basketball and is seen as a winner. Every recently updated draft projection still has him unanimously ranked first. Now it only takes one GM to fall in love with someone else, but Flagg is the consensus top pick.

How many advisors do you know personally??

If I had to wager, it's fewer than myself.....

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

Dylan and Ace have done nothing to diminish their draft status coming here, but players and their advisors want to be on winning teams and want to be able to compete in Tournament, and this year will definitely hurt Pike’s ability to convince another elite player coming here, and I am not even sure why you would highlight a kid who isn’t even committed to visiting here, never mind come here. Dylan and Ace are getting a lot of buzz and attention now, but in March everyone in the basketball world will be talking about Flagg and whether he can carry Duke to a National Championship. Whether the ACC is good or not has no impact on how scouts view Flagg, Duke has already played 4 ranked teams and split those games, which is why they are sitting ranked #4. Scouts love Flagg because he is always the best player on the best team, or this year on one of the best teams, he is super competitive and plays winning basketball and is seen as a winner. Every recently updated draft projection still has him unanimously ranked first. Now it only takes one GM to fall in love with someone else, but Flagg is the consensus top pick.

He highlighted the player because he’s got an RU offer and Coach Smoke is his recruiter.

 

[Nycrusupporter]

He highlighted the player because he’s got an RU offer and Coach Smoke is his recruiter.

Smoke was much closer to Darius Acuff and couldn’t get him on campus, and that was before this disastrous season. Stokes isn’t coming here.

 

[Ridge 22]

I know he's dropped a bit to just outside the top 100 composite, but you do realize Chris Nwuli, signed for next year, is still the #61 recruit on ESPN, don't you?

What is your point? I take it to mean that somehow you feel this means recruiting is doing just fine, correct?

 

[CranfordKnight]

What is your point? I take it to mean that somehow you feel this means recruiting is doing just fine, correct

I know reading isn't your strong suit, so no need to engage with you.

 

[Ridge 22]

I know reading isn't your strong suit, so no need to engage with you.

That's one approach to a response I guess. You seem angry. It was a legitimate question. Honestly trying to understand what the point of a comment like that is. Is that actually a meaningful accomplishment and does it honestly move the needle on the programs trajectory?

 

[whofrewdatmataRU13]

This may be a stupid take but, Harper and Bailey are most likely going to make a ton of money in the NBA. Would they have been able to direct some of their NIL money to other players so they could have had a better supporting cast? I know an 18yo probably isn't thinking of doing that, but would have been a smart move.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

This may be a stupid take but, Harper and Bailey are most likely going to make a ton of money in the NBA. Would they have been able to direct some of their NIL money to other players so they could have had a better supporting cast? I know an 18yo probably isn't thinking of doing that, but would have been a smart move.

Wouldn't it have been a smart move for alums to fund NIL to acquire better players? That would have been a smart move too.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

Smoke was much closer to Darius Acuff and couldn’t get him on campus, and that was before this disastrous season. Stokes isn’t coming here.

He's posing a hypothetical using that player, is that so hard to understand...lol...some of you guys just want to argue over nothing and muck up every thread in the process.

 

[CranfordKnight]

That's one approach to a response I guess. You seem angry. It was a legitimate question. Honestly trying to understand what the point of a comment like that is. Is that actually a meaningful accomplishment and does it honestly move the needle on the programs trajectory.

It's not my job to explain my posts to you because you are too dense to read what I was responding to.

 

[Ridge 22]

It's not my job to explain my posts to you because you are too dense to read what I was responding to.

Got it. Thank you

 

[R1766U]

I hate to break the news to RU fans but winning games has ZERO impact on other top recruits.....Top recruits want exposure and the ability to improve their game and draft status.

Fans are delusional into thinking this is a RU issue in regards to negative recruiting. No smart basketball fan (most aren't unfortunately) will combine winning games and attach that to Ace and Dylan (or any other player).

The only thing that would negatively impact Dylan and Ace, would be their actual individual performances and to date, RU and what they have done, have kept up their stock or enhanced it.

Coope Flagg playing vs SMU, Wake Forest, Notre Dame and a down UNC program, isn't fooling any true NBA scouts. The ACC is not a good conference to gauge a player or his skill set right now.

What happens if this player visits RU (class of 2026).....what will these same fans say.....??? If you have no clue, it shows immediately......(same HS and teammate of 2025 RU signed, PG, Lino Mark.

View embedded media

Stopped reading your post after this sentence which is not true:

“I hate to break the news to RU fans but winning games has ZERO impact on other top recruits”

ZERO impact? Cmon. Minimal maybe. But absolutely not ZERO impact.

Maybe one day I can be as smart of a basketball fan as you.

 

[R1766U]

Wouldn't it have been a smart move for alums to fund NIL to acquire better players? That would have been a smart move too.

Very smart to throw hard earned money to kids who are going to college for free and looking to make millions in the NBA in hopes that we can have a competitive season. Great investment. Especially at a perennial losing school like Rutgers. Cmon.


That ship has sailed here. Not happening.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

Very smart to throw hard earned money to kids who are going to college for free and looking to make millions in the NBA in hopes that we can have a competitive season. Great investment. Especially at a perennial losing school like Rutgers. Cmon.


That ship has sailed here. Not happening.

Then why are we asking Dylan & Ace to use some of their monies to get better players...lol

 

[RU848789]

Agree . In all honestly before they got here I’m not sure they were both pegged as top 3… by having no supporting cast we’ve allowed them to put on a show

Absolutely. Best thing to happen to Ace this season, from a draft perspective, was Dylan being out last game.

 

[93RUDoc]

First of all, if we don't have money to pay, we aren't getting top players anyway. With the price of top guys continuing to skyrocket (what..8mm for Dybantsa?!?!?) we might not have been able to get Ace and Dylan, even with all the connections, one year later. And lord knows what this looks like in two or three more years.

But assuming we can keep up with the bank needed for top guys. I'm actually not sure what is going on this season would turn a top guy away. Maybe I'm too cynical from being in gyms for years and years, but kids and parents and uncles want to be featured. And so far we are doing everything in our power to let Ace and Dylan SHINE out there. There is no way anyone can say all the 20/30 balls and the triple doubles and the iso ball leading to these crazy highlights game after game is hurting their status. All these scouts care way more about Dylan looking like the best player in Vegas by a mile, or Ace just hitting NBA shot after NBA shot on the road in a hostile environment, than if RU makes the tournie.

I think the bigger question is, is it in Rutgers best interest to go after these types of kids? We shall see, but the early returns are probably not (and for the record I love Ace and Dylan and will always root for them for picking RU no matter what happens rest of season). I mean if we had infinite money, and could surround them with legit veterans, sure. But it's probably better to try and build through recruiting and player retention and use the cash for that route and then try and find one Spencer/Young/Yeboah type of impact transfer every year and then add a role player or two. Keep Grant, Dortch and Lathan, get your frosh class in the building, and then go out and get one impact transfer/roll player and let's go to work.

I just don't think losing 9-10 guys every season will ever work here, unless we find a Mark Cuban to let us go out and win the portal. Good luck with that.

Nice post, After Ace/Dylan leave, let Pikeill go back to what he does best, defense and developing players over time into a cohesive unit, I like his recent recruiting classes. It will take more time w/ ups and downs but hopefully won't have this weird mish-mash of a team with no identity.

 

[GotEmmm]

As tremendously disappointing as this season has been so far (and in all likelihood will continue to be), I’m starting to think this idea that no good recruits will ever want to come here again is overinflated.

Recruits have short memories. Good ones have come previously when the program was a disaster. There are so many factors at play, especially in the world of NIL now. This may just be my way of making myself feel better, but I’m almost excited for Pikiell to get slightly better players than he previously could, but get back to his physical, defense first style.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

Stopped reading your post after this sentence which is not true:

“I hate to break the news to RU fans but winning games has ZERO impact on other top recruits”

ZERO impact? Cmon. Minimal maybe. But absolutely not ZERO impact.

Maybe one day I can be as smart of a basketball fan as you.

ZERO

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

As tremendously disappointing as this season has been so far (and in all likelihood will continue to be), I’m starting to think this idea that no good recruits will ever want to come here again is overinflated.

Recruits have short memories. Good ones have come previously when the program was a disaster. There are so many factors at play, especially in the world of NIL now. This may just be my way of making myself feel better, but I’m almost excited for Pikiell to get slightly better players than he previously could, but get back to his physical, defense first style.

The truth is always somewhere between the sky is falling & we’re a Final Four team.

 

[Knight Shift]

An infomercial about missing the tournament or even worse the Big Ten Tournament?
I can imagine it would be a lot of "Yes the team stunk but that shouldnt reflect on Ace and Dylan. They did their part."

Separate Ace and Dylan from the team results.

It will really test "all press is good press" for HC Pike.

May I suggest a song for you?