It is now official, the first boy and the first girl to have committed from the class of 2020 "both as 8th graders" have changed their commitment. The boy from Penn State to Duke and the girl from Syracuse to North Carolina. On the surface it looks like the early committing worked out for both of these players.
My question is: Will this cause a domino effect?
Goes to show that the new junior year restrictions are a very good thing. Committing 5 years outs leaves lots of things that all need to pan out, players, programs, coaches. Too much to meet all expectations when things come together five years down the road. As far as a domino effect, probably won’t see too much of this going on. It is a very tough deal to be switching programs now as a 2020, All the top programs are done or close to done with this recruiting class. Some have ability to jockey obviously, but player options are certainly narrower with much less $$ available. This bailing out on verbals is yet another danger of early recruiting that the coaches are happy to have gone!
How does this show the jr year restrictions is a good thing. This now limits the players. If a player wants to get committed earlier who cares, so what if they de-commit or change their minds. For goodness sake the coaches have no problem changing their minds. I say good for both of these student athletes that they had the foresight to commit and then to take advantage of a better offer.
Now, the colleges have more power. They get to see the players as more mature players and students. all the recruits have to do is make the grades and the ACT/SAT marks. NO simple task at these schools. Understanding the top players dont play by the same rules as others, but these schools boast some high SAT ranges.
Now the real proof will be 15 years from now, to see if it sticks, or will we see (like i suspect) a cyclical process of early recruiting lasting a few years only to change back to a Jr year commit schedule for a few years.
Schools always said they would pouch kids if there was an early recruiting process or not, so who cares. If you are good enough, you will always get the calls/feelers from the better schools what have you until the day you sign, if your student is smart enough to attend why wouldnt you entertain that option.
