If you watch the NCAA Tournament, you notice that its mostly all upperclassmen and graduates. Very few freshmen. Not even a lot of sophomores. The reality is that a 22-23 year old mid-major player is simply better than your typical P6-level freshman. In the past, you would see freshmen making big contributions either as starters or bench players. That's just not the case anymore. When a reporter asked Boeheim why they didnt use the portal, his reply was that they couldn't because they had HS kids signed but said it almost regrettably.
I think now, your mid-majors will be the new JUCOs. As P6 programs take fewer HS players, mid-majors will get better recruits but when they get good, they will transfer up. So for a P6, you are getting that kid at 20 or 21 instead of 18 and you can better assess his skill level.
If I'm Pitt, I'd probably only take HS kids ranked in the Top 100-125 and maybe not more than 2. The rest have to be from the portal.
I think now, your mid-majors will be the new JUCOs. As P6 programs take fewer HS players, mid-majors will get better recruits but when they get good, they will transfer up. So for a P6, you are getting that kid at 20 or 21 instead of 18 and you can better assess his skill level.
If I'm Pitt, I'd probably only take HS kids ranked in the Top 100-125 and maybe not more than 2. The rest have to be from the portal.