Rating Recruiting Classes vs Newcomers

One of the common practices among recruiting gurus is that they are rating and analyzing incoming recruiting classes, but very few people take a more holistic approach and rate all the new players that will be joining a team for the next season. To illustrate this, here are the types of new players joining teams:

Freshmen

Junior college transfers

Division 1 transfers

Redshirts (medical or developmental or for any other reason)

Prop 48 and other academic non-qualifiers

Most recruiting analysts only look at the first two groups of players when analyzing a class. Well what's the difference between a junior college transfer and a d1 transfer? Neither one played for the team last year. Same for redshirts and prop 48 and freshmen.

I understand that from a purely recruiting perspective they look at the first two groups because they are covering available recruits for each class. But when you analyze the incoming talent of a team to evaluate their chances for the next season, you can't ignore the other groups!!!

Then of course comes the confusing question of where to put the transfers. Do you include them in the year they made the transfer or the year they will be eligible to play?

Shopping spree: College t-shirts for $7 at Amazon today only!

The t-shirts of these 35 popular colleges in intercollegiate athletics (okay, mainly basketball and football) are on sale today only at Amazon for $7 per t-shirt. These 100% cotton short sleeve Soffe t-shirts qualify for free shipping if your total is $25 or more.

New players for Iowa and Southern Illinois

CSTV's Hodge Repor(t) informs us that Steve Alfordless Iowa has picked up a 2009 in-state big man, while defense 1st and defense 2nd Southern Illinois has picked up a guard.

As reported yesterday, Greg Monroe is down to five teams. Unfortunately one of them is Duke, and Coach K can cloud the minds of recruits and their parents using his Darth Vader skills. I think Monroe would do fine if he goes to any of the other four colleges in his list. But not Duke!!!

The Final Five are revealed!

No, I'm not talking about Battlestar Galactica, but the final five teams in Greg Monroe's list. CSTV's Hodge Report has the list of five. This is not a surpring list, as it has some of the usual and expected suspects.

Meanwhile, more updates from the Hodge Report: Iowa State adds a ...mann, Andy Adam Kennedy adds a big guard at Ole Miss, Boise States goes juco, and Centenary, William and Mary, and Weber State add one each.

Shopping: NCAA branded wind jackets $12 today

Today only, at Amazon, windjackets from Campus Yard, from twenty five of the most popular (in terms of sports) colleges are on sale for $12 each. You can get free S&H if your order is $25 or more. Hint: If you are under $25, you can buy a gift certificate and send it to yourself :) Here are the 25 major NCAA colleges participating in this promotion. Remember this is only good today (Saturday).

Super prep Shaun Livingston featured on today's Outside the Lines!

Today's episode of Outside the Lines (OTL) features former super prep star Shaun Livingston and his injury train. ESPN's OTL page.

If you want to find out what stories OTL will be featuring each day, be sure to sign up for their email list. Here is a short description of the Livingston Centerpiece from the OTL email:

A routine landing gone awry on a breakaway lay-up dropped Shaun Livingston to the floor in obvious pain. Last year, on February 26, the Clippers guard, and fourth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, suffered tears to every major ligament in his left knee, including a torn lateral meniscus and patella dislocation just days after setting a career high 14 assists. Due to various injuries, Livingston has yet to play a full NBA season. Despite rehabbing five days a week, Livingston will likely miss at least the first half of this season but he remains optimistic about his return. Today on Outside the Lines, another look at Livingston's recovery as he moves forward in his rehab after a devastating knee injury.

Coach Dracula Ratface blows smoke and nets the Polish Dunker!

Sad news for Oleg Czyz as he will probably Josh Mc Roberts (a verb) his college career collecting Cameron Crazy Dust on the bench at Duke. He committed to Duke according to CSTV's Hodge Report. I'm sure Coach Ratface K used his Polish heritage as a way to lure him in. Well Oleg, I hope you keep in touch with the other colleges on your list, because you are going to be looking for a place to transfer in a couple of years. Did you call Jamal Boykin before commiting to Duke? Do you wanna be the next Martynas Pocius? How about Eric Boetang, and dozens more!

But they don't listen, do they? Well, enjoy the Coach K Experience in the bowels of the Cameron Open Door stadium :-)

Meanwhile the Lord of the Rings (aka Billy the Diva Kid Donovan) grabbed a top 20 forward from the 2008 class. And his new recruit can deliver a knock out punch (at least in ...name)