Swanigan decommits from Michigan St
- Thread starter KiwiJeff
- Start date
Nothing that hasn't been reported nationally. People were surprised when he committed to MSU, everyone thought he was a lock for Cal as soon as Jaylen Brown committed there. Now Goodman is saying Purdue. Very squirrelly stuff.
I still have a feeling he ends up playing at Cal for his guardian's old Purdue buddy Cuonzo Martin. Who knows. Man this hoops recruiting culture is out of control.
Apparently he never signed the LOI at MSU? I do agree - and extend to football - the collegiate recruiting of these two sports is crazy. It is amazing a kid can tweet his commitment to a school, but not be a man of their word. I am no longer shocked about kids not ending up where they are supposed to - I forget which player it was but a few years ago a FB recruit in the south selected a school because it had a Chic-Filet on campus...
Since coaches can pull an offer anytime up until signing day, no kid should be held responsible for a verbal. Coaches don't pull offers all that often, but its mostly because it hurts their rep when they do, not because they have any effing integrity.
A lot of kids get pressured into verbaling, being told there is only one spot open for their position and someone else may take it. Kinda like a salesperson pressuring you to close by telling you supplies are low or the sale is about to end. I'd advise a kid to verbal if he liked an offer to hold a spot for himself, but tell him to keep looking to make sure.
I think the idea that when a kid verbals that he has signed his named in blood or given his word and put his integrity on the line is wrong. These are 16 year old kids being recruited by mature coaches who are slick enough to be paid millions to run programs.
We are disappointed as fans when kids decommit from our programs, but I don't see it as an integrity issue at all. The verbal means nothing in that regard.
A lot of kids get pressured into verbaling, being told there is only one spot open for their position and someone else may take it. Kinda like a salesperson pressuring you to close by telling you supplies are low or the sale is about to end. I'd advise a kid to verbal if he liked an offer to hold a spot for himself, but tell him to keep looking to make sure.
I think the idea that when a kid verbals that he has signed his named in blood or given his word and put his integrity on the line is wrong. These are 16 year old kids being recruited by mature coaches who are slick enough to be paid millions to run programs.
We are disappointed as fans when kids decommit from our programs, but I don't see it as an integrity issue at all. The verbal means nothing in that regard.
Well said. There's already too much pressure on these kids. An early signing period hasn't stopped the craziness for BB. I realize the coaches like to know who they're going to have, but they're getting paid to manage the process. If I'm a highly touted recruit, my scholie will be there. The 2 & 3 stars might want to lock something up so they get a good school. Offers aren't binding in any way, why should kids be criticized for changing their mind?
I know they're paid handsomely but I'd hate to make my living kissing the posteriors of high school kids. I've been saying that for a while.
Interestingly, Swanigan is quoted in the Detroit Free Press as saying that when he called Izzo to inform him that he was committing to MSU, the first thing Izzo said was "You sure that's what you want to do?" Apparently it was as much of a surprise to Izzo as anyone. There is also intimation in the article that Swanigan really likes MSU but his dad, former Purdue hooper Roosevelt Barmes, has other plans for him. Izzo was on a radio show before Swanigan de committed saying that he was going through a situation with a recruit similar to the situation MSU football went through with prized DL recruit Malik McDowell last year, when McDowell verballed to MSU but his mom wouldn't let him sign the LOI. She really wanted him to go to either Alabama or Michigan. I generally agree with your post, but this whole reality of adult handlers making decisions for the kids is pretty sick IMO. Sometimes it's not the kid changing his mind-it's an adult changing it for him. See Robert Foster for further reference.
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