Someone more familiar with recruiting has told me there are other factors that relate to why there may be more junior college players in Division I, and why many colleges are recruiting them more--
There is simply more talent at the juco level now than there was a few years ago, and there are other benefits for the D1 schools to go after jucos now. Now, most major schools recruit jucos, where very few of the top schools did in the past. There are many high D1 coaches who never went after jucos in the past, but now are very involved with juco players.
Also, more stringent academic requirements in the past few years have caused a lot more talented kids to go the juco route. And the Graduation rate numbers that the NCAA uses also makes it favorable to go after a juco, rather than for a college to take a chance on academically marginal high school kids. I have also heard that a lot of kids who may have played football in the past, are now concentrating on basketball, because even if they don't have great grades, they can still go the juco route, and eventually get into a 4-year school with a basketball scholarship. While some jucos do play football (not nearly as many as play basketball) there aren't as many colleges that recruit juco football players. So this has pushed a lot more athletes into junior college to play basketball.
The trend to recruit jucos is not just with Bradley, it's increasing everywhere.
There is simply more talent at the juco level now than there was a few years ago, and there are other benefits for the D1 schools to go after jucos now. Now, most major schools recruit jucos, where very few of the top schools did in the past. There are many high D1 coaches who never went after jucos in the past, but now are very involved with juco players.
Also, more stringent academic requirements in the past few years have caused a lot more talented kids to go the juco route. And the Graduation rate numbers that the NCAA uses also makes it favorable to go after a juco, rather than for a college to take a chance on academically marginal high school kids. I have also heard that a lot of kids who may have played football in the past, are now concentrating on basketball, because even if they don't have great grades, they can still go the juco route, and eventually get into a 4-year school with a basketball scholarship. While some jucos do play football (not nearly as many as play basketball) there aren't as many colleges that recruit juco football players. So this has pushed a lot more athletes into junior college to play basketball.
The trend to recruit jucos is not just with Bradley, it's increasing everywhere.
.......I still trust the coach's with what they put on the floor even though the results lately have not been good! The team needs a leader on the floor and DR or JC do not have that quality!I had hoped that Merfeld would take the place of Chuck B as a coach with major experience to get JL thru the games....Merfeld might still be finding his way or is hesitant not to make waves his 1st season....not sure but JL sure misses Chuck B on the bench!:wink: The in game substitutions have been very confusing and seem to lack a purpose......this team has the talent to compete in this league but has not lived up to it's talent level come game-time! Let's all hope things turn around for the last few games and get this ship back on course! I am also tired of the 6'6-6'5 line up that gets pounded on the glass on a nightly basis....we need to play at least 2 BIGS at a time......news flash , TW is not a BIG IMO! I bet DC could get 4 fouls a game-3 pts and 3 rbs in the same # of mins Salley gets.....BOOK IT!:mrgreen: Welcome to the board SRW!
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