TOP ? recruit presses college to accept teammate too???

Athletic Recruits
1

<p>Someone sent me this–I find it appalling. I think any coach worth his salt would say–forget it buddy–Either come and play here, be humble, honorable and honor the NLI you signed…or don’t. We don’t need egos like this from highschool kids. </p>

<p>++++</p>

<p>Top recruit to Clemson: Take my teammate, too</p>

<p>The nation’s top high school football prospect has unwittingly exposed one of the uncomfortable aspects of college recruiting. </p>

<p>And in so doing, he has shined a bright light on a practice that no one wants to admit exists. </p>

<p>Rising senior Robert Nkemdiche, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive end from Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga., has been the object of college coaches’ desires for several of years now. Like the princess at the ball, Nkemdiche has had plenty of suitors, including Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss (where his brother, Denzel, currently plays). </p>

<p>Robert Nkemdiche verbally committed to Clemson on June 14 – a coup for Tigers coach Dabo Swinney, who was roommates with Nkemdiche’s high school coach, Mickey Conn, when both played at Alabama. </p>

<p>But now the commitment may be in doubt. </p>

<p>On Friday, Nkemdiche told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “I am waiting on Clemson to offer Ryan” a scholarship. </p>

<p>Ryan is Ryan Carter, a 5-11 safety at Grayson High who, by all indications, is very talented. In fact, Carter has an offer from Ole Miss, but he has not yet been approached by Clemson. </p>

<p>Now, Swinney’s in a pinch, since Nkemdiche is suggesting that his commitment might be a package deal. </p>

<p>"When that happens (signing Carter), it’s over … it’s a done deal … it’s locked,‘’ Nkemdiche told the AJC.</p>

<p>Earlier this week, another Nkemdiche teammate and friend, quarterback Nick Schuessler, decided to give up his scholarship to Mississippi State for a preferred walk-on role at Clemson.</p>

<p>In the not-yet-fully-developed mind of a 17-year-old, that sort of thing makes perfect sense. Nkemdiche probably believes his actions are noble – he’s looking after his friends. </p>

<p>The negative implications of this quid pro quo deal probably haven’t dawned on him. </p>

<p>What would his Clemson teammates think, not just of Nkemdiche, but of Carter and the coaches who acquiesced to such demands? And what kind of precedent does it set if a high school kid can demand scholarships for his entourage? </p>

<p>The saddest part of the entire affair is the lack of outrage or surprise. That is because, in truth, this sort of thing happens all the time. </p>

<p>Friends and family of top recruits often find their own stock vaulting as signing day draws near. And close high school teammates get recruited, not because of their own talent, but because of their relationships with a superstar. </p>

<p>From a coach’s perspective, it’s worth it. If Cam Newton had asked Gene Chizik to bring the entire Blinn College backfield to Auburn, Chizik would have been foolish not to do it. Even with a signing limit per class, bringing on a few questionable signees in order to get a franchise player can make a lot of sense. </p>

<p>Deals like the one Nkemdiche is floating are a part of recruiting.</p>

<p>To the best of anyone’s knowledge, this is the first time a recruit has made his demands through the media. The fact that Carter has an offer from Ole Miss (one of the eye-raising 246 verbal offers Hugh Freeze made in his first months in Oxford) has only thickened the plot. </p>

<p>"If Clemson doesn’t offer Ryan, it would make me look at Ole Miss a little more, it would,‘’ Nkemdiche said to the AJC. "It’s very important that I have my boys with me.‘’ </p>

<p>What happens in this case could have long-term implications. </p>

<p>You can bet other coaches are paying attention, as are all future top recruits.</p>

2

<p>Apparently the news story twisted Nkemdiche’s words but if this is true - I really don’t think 5 players to get 1 is worth it.</p>

3

<p>That is pretty ridiculous. If I were a coach, I’d have serious concerns about a kid entering the program who is blatantly putting his own (buddies) interests ahead of the best interests of the team. Not to mention the potential for abuse. The NCAA can barely keep a handle on boosters offering jobs, cash and cars to the family members of blue-chip recruits - how are they going to police any payoffs and favors between ‘package deal’ recruits and their superstar counterparts?</p>

4

<p>[Oakton’s</a> Coyer sisters commit to play basketball at Villanova - Recruiting Insider - The Washington Post](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/recruiting-insider/post/oaktons-coyer-sisters-commit-to-play-basketball-at-villanova/2011/02/03/AFVylUBG_blog.html]Oakton’s”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/recruiting-insider/post/oaktons-coyer-sisters-commit-to-play-basketball-at-villanova/2011/02/03/AFVylUBG_blog.html)</p>

<p>Early press on this story had the more talented (basketball) sister pulling her twin along. Interesting, but perhaps not as controversial.</p>

5

<p>Utterly ridiculous. If the coach isn’t firm or let’s this go another step he is going to have some serious issues in the future managing his team. If he let;s this go, he might as well start looking for a new job, because he isn’t going to last very long at Clemson. </p>

<p>I would start recruiting (now) a new defensive end that doesn’t come with baggage. It is better to deal with an issue like this from a position of strength.</p>

6

<p>this isn’t news, if you were recruited back in the mid to late 70’s and into the 80’s. In fact it was part of the enticement for coming to certain schools, it was all part of the plan it’s that after about 1985 it became a very "me " kinda thing and hence school quit packaging the recruit process in that way. So, because he asked them to “hook his boy up” should not really be an issue. What really surprises me is that Clemson really isn’t a big football powerhouse and I know that they did that same thing for basketball recruits in 1976 with one of my homeboys signed with them. he ended up --putting the “D” on UNC’s Phil Ford and helped Larry Nance to get to the league.</p>

7

<p>I recently heard of a package deal at Brown</p>

8

<p>Agree with Fenway. This is a very fundamental litmus test of how the Coach sees his program and his role as leader of the program. If the Coach caves in now, the next question of the Superstar will be “Why isn’t my boy starting? If Coach isn’t going to make him a starter with me, I need to find another program that will.” And, in the meantime, the rest of the team will have already lost respect for the Coach. </p>

<p>Easy decision = “Thanks for verbally committing. We hope you sign a LOI, but we are not going to be offering a scholarship to your friend.”</p>

9

<p>UK basketball national championship, UL basketball 1980 national championship (pre-internet and all this communication three of my friends from hometown were on that team)</p>

<p>and Clemson football 1982–Homer Rice and Devin Allen(buddies & high school teammates) so please.</p>

<p>As far as a test of the coach,the teams that win present that as part of the offer----when they say what do you need. Now on this site, because of the people here would never be that caliber of competitor no they wouldn’t know about that nor would they have to worry about being put in that position, but when you are a top shelf “A lister” it’s just different.</p>

10

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<p>too funny!</p>