Let's talk Recruitment... In 2020 when the pandemic hit, I felt bad for the soon to be seniors. I was sad and felt Lauryn was cheated because she wouldn't get to experience the full "summer basketball" finale. Although we ended up in a great situation (Shout out to the Arkansas State University Women's Basketball coaching staff). Some days I wish she was able to experience the official college visits, but I can't complain about the outcome. I often wondered how that would effect her and her decsion, but I remember thinking, "This is going to suck for the class of 2022 and 2023. Here's what happened...and before I get attacked by the basketball "Guru's," this is my personal opinion...take it for what it is... Think about the number of scholarships a team has...those who played in 2020 were given the extra year (we'll call them plus one kids from here on out). The following year, the class of 2021 came in...because those who were given that extra year actually used that extra year, that cut the number of available scholarships. So the class of 2021 chose D1 (redshirt), D2, D3, NAIA, JUCO, etc with the hopes of entering the portal when the plus one kids left and securing that D1 spot. Are you following me...because it's about to get tricky.


During my daughter's recruitment process, I asked a D1 coach how she felt about the transfer portal and she todl me she'd take a transfer over a freshman any day. Even though I didn't like it, I understood. With that being said, for the class of 2022 and 2023, they're competing against their classmates...the plus one kids, and the transfor portal...and let's add... a lot of the plus one kids are in the portal as well...chasing one more opportunity at a ring. This is important because it appears the cycle willnever end and the number of students in the transfer portal will continue to increase...and here's a hard truth...everybody won't land in a better position...many won't have a position at all... My advice to the class of 2022 & 2023...keep your head up. Keep Working. Find a school and a program that are aligned with your goals. Dont let anyone influence you to do something that benefits their goals and not yours. Things will get better...Keep fighting and keep working...never give up...The opportunity is on the way.