The NBA is drafting them, higher, it seems, all the time. So why doesn't ND get aggressive recruiting them? European basketball players.
The source of their strength is part of the problem. If a European 15 year old is a BB star, he turns pro and plays with men. He gets coached hard and gets better or goes home.
In the U.S., similar 15 year olds play for their high school and AAU team. If their coach is too demanding, they change schools or AAU teams.1
The challenge for a U.S college MBB coach is to find a Euro kid who is talented and not yet a pro. He could start with Tony Parker the Spurs former all-star point guard who has a BB school in France. Find out how good players are who have not turned pro and are set to finish high school. Build a relationship with Parker and expand the ND network throughout Europe. Jack might hire a qualified young guy to work Europe, build the network, identify prospects, then bring in NDMBB recruiters. It should not take more than one, maybe two years to evaluate the field of young players willing to go to great U.S. university rather than turning pro.
I think it is fair to guess that ND is better known in Europe than nearly any other American university that plays in time basketball.
Can't compete with NIL acquisition money or portal players that fit at ND? Go to Europe. At least find out it's potential
1. Chris Broussard and Jason McIntyre (J Mac) on The Herd, June 2, 2023.
The source of their strength is part of the problem. If a European 15 year old is a BB star, he turns pro and plays with men. He gets coached hard and gets better or goes home.
In the U.S., similar 15 year olds play for their high school and AAU team. If their coach is too demanding, they change schools or AAU teams.1
The challenge for a U.S college MBB coach is to find a Euro kid who is talented and not yet a pro. He could start with Tony Parker the Spurs former all-star point guard who has a BB school in France. Find out how good players are who have not turned pro and are set to finish high school. Build a relationship with Parker and expand the ND network throughout Europe. Jack might hire a qualified young guy to work Europe, build the network, identify prospects, then bring in NDMBB recruiters. It should not take more than one, maybe two years to evaluate the field of young players willing to go to great U.S. university rather than turning pro.
I think it is fair to guess that ND is better known in Europe than nearly any other American university that plays in time basketball.
Can't compete with NIL acquisition money or portal players that fit at ND? Go to Europe. At least find out it's potential
1. Chris Broussard and Jason McIntyre (J Mac) on The Herd, June 2, 2023.
