[catpower]

Maybe UVM is out of the mix in the end because of NIL, or maybe not. For as much grousing as we're all going to do about it, not everything is money-motivated. They're from Utah; they're likely Mormon. Just tell them about Joseph Smith's birthplace or something.

Also, being on a top team, which instantly means you go to some NIL heavy school, isn't a lock either. Snow isn't some known JUCO power; this seems to be the first time in a long while they've been ranked. Also, rankings are rankings on the performance of the team. It probably means there is some talent there, but it's also a good indicator of coaching and scheme and all that. It's no different from what we'd see watching NCAA ball. I just sampled the NCJAA D1 All-American teams from last year, which is 30 guys across three teams, plus the NJCAA D1 national champs you've got the following schools represented

1st team: Fresno State, Abilene Christian, UT Arlington, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, East Carolina, UCF, Oklahoma, Florida State, Cal Baptist, Liberty

2nd team: UTEP, Lamar, SE Missouri State, Coastal Carolina, UNC Wilmington, UT Martin, St. Bonaventure, (two are still at their JCs currently, another looks like he's rehabbing an ACL injury outside of schooling)

3rd team: Clayton State (D2), East Carolina, South Florida, Coastal Carolina, Omaha, West Georgia, Quinnipiac (2025 commit), Missouri State, Portland State, Austin Peay

Barton CC (2024 champions): St. Bonaventure (same guy as the 2nd team AA), SIU Edwardsville (x2), Missouri State, Minnesota-Crookston (D2), Kansas Wesleyan (NAIA), Parkside (D2), Eastern New Mexico (D2)

So yeah, some of those guys probably got some money at a handful of those schools. But the rest? Sorry, you can't tell me with a straight face that Portland State or Omaha is offering up NIL. A good amount of these guys are contributors to their teams. Some, from the smaller schools averaging double figures, might jump in the portal and get their bag. Others who aren't contributing might realize their bag payments are now over and will go elsewhere, and a good chance for little to no money. So is life in this age. And the national title-winning team that went 28-1 last year had 4 D1 guys, two who went to a school that likely has no NIL. Both contribute, too.

Like anything in recruiting, you compete with others, but JUCO recruiting isn't someplace where only the big schools play. Lots are in there, and frankly, UVM still has a lot to sell to guys who probably once felt overlooked or underappreciated at their last stops (which in some cases was a D1 school). Yes, it's harder to get the guys UVM was getting with ease over the last 7-8 years without an NIL foundation. Guess what? That's true of 90% of their one-bid peers. All this is doing is opening up a new avenue, and while we all should encourage NIL being a part of the program's future, this whole doomerism shit that absolutely no basketball player with talent is going to want to come to UVM now from some people here is getting pretty old, really fast.

 

[Mr quint]

Quick stat/background scour on Garrett (6-9 205) and Finlinson (6-8 185): the two leading scorers for Snow College, which is currently the #1 ranked JUCO team in the country. Both playing in their 2nd year of JUCO, though Finlinson also played one season at Utah Tech, where he only appeared in 2 games and judging by Snow's website might be getting a RS year for that? Finlinson shoots well from the perimeter (34%), while Garrett is going to be more effective inside the arc. Both good rebounders. Garrett has good looking defensive numbers (25 steals and 29 blocks in 19 games). Both Utah HS kids, where I believe we've made some efforts to sniff around in the last few years.

Both have a lot of mid/low-major offers, but nothing crazy high. It does look like Finlinson took a visit to Missouri State earlier this year, but can't see for sure where either one of them have taken any other visits.

On the surface, these seem like great offers. Fits nicely into some of what we’ll need positionally next year. Excited to see how this plays out.

 

[ccd494]

Part of this is also that JuCo isn't what JuCo was in the 90's. JuCo used to have top end talent who didn't qualify for D-I academically.

Academic non-qualifiers basically don't exist anymore.

 

[catpower]

To add, while non-qualifiers basically don't exist anymore, the portal has pushed more players who were eligible out of HS but didn't get any looks because some schools are only doing portal business to junior colleges. That'll probably be the case even more if that ruling that they'll get 4 years to play after 1-2 at JC gets put into place officially...and with it being a decidedly cheaper option than going halfway across the country to a Northeast prep school for many low/mid-major types (even if some of these preps might offer aid), you'll see more of it. Get older and stay older is the new name of the game, so be ready for 20 year old freshman and 24-25 year old seniors...most of whom are only going to leave school with a bachelor's despite going to college (counting Juco) for 6 years.

 

[mainejeff]

To add, while non-qualifiers basically don't exist anymore, the portal has pushed more players who were eligible out of HS but didn't get any looks because some schools are only doing portal business to junior colleges. That'll probably be the case even more if that ruling that they'll get 4 years to play after 1-2 at JC gets put into place officially...and with it being a decidedly cheaper option than going halfway across the country to a Northeast prep school for many low/mid-major types (even if some of these preps might offer aid), you'll see more of it. Get older and stay older is the new name of the game, so be ready for 20 year old freshman and 24-25 year old seniors...most of whom are only going to leave school with a bachelor's despite going to college (counting Juco) for 6 years.

Considering there is a push to make retirement age in this country 70-something….I guess 24-25 year old college grads isn’t too big of deal.

 

[ball_of_rubber]

Hey, it works for hockey

 

[Alumni96]

 

[godanesgo99]

love it when people use perspective in their photos. From the pic above, he looked like he was a 7 footer. naaaaah 6'1"

 

[jtmac]

On the surface, these seem like great offers. Fits nicely into some of what we’ll need positionally next year. Excited to see how this plays out.

We could use some of this scoring. Finlinson with 35 pts.

 

[Alumni96]

 

[Alumni96]

Had 30pts, 9 rbs, and 6 assists in his last game against College of Southern Nevada. Reminds me a little of AD.

For the true sickos among you here's a link to the game against CSN.

Committed to Charleston Southern

 

[Alumni96]

 

[Alumni96]

Committed to Cal St Fullerton

 

[Alumni96]

 

[Alumni96]

 

[mainejeff]

 

[Alumni96]

 

[Alumni96]

 

[Alumni96]

 

[Alumni96]