Get Gary Parrish in Vegas in late July and...

Gary Parrish serves up one of his 'things are getting worse, not better' college basketball recruiting columns.

The well-rounded recruiter?

It just seems hard to believe this is true or at least the predominant theme nowadays.

But maybe the Dalonte Hill mold is truly is the exception.

What college presidents and athletic directors demand is success and that emerges primarily from recruiting. The rest is icing on the proverbial cake so to speak. If you can get it as part of the package, great, if not, well, wins will suffice, won't they?

Not necessarily Nor-Cal related...

Hey, there are many reasons Prospect X didn't sign (or did) with your favorite college team. Eric Prisbell (now with USA TODAY) is out with another in the never-ending supply of stories involving benjamins, college recruiting and the I-got-to-get-mine crowd.

Opportunity produces motivation which leads to what we have the so-called adults doing now, a 'system' in which the individuals possessing the talent are bartered like pork bellies while being recipients of the least of the largesse.

Rob Dauster provides a guessing game -- and if you can't guess the winner then any of the Las Vegas casinos will gladly fly you free-of-charge to Sin City.

Find the fit

Richard Obert has a piece on Dame and fit and no, that is not the name of the latest detective series on USA.

What college coaches are looking for

The information in this article rings true but what's missing is that any of the coaches here or elsewhere, especially in D-I, will take on a head case or a personality project if the talent gamble is deemed, at the time, worth it.

"Unrealistic self perception is an epidemic"

Coach Adam DeSautel delves into the "I'm a D-1 player despite the lack of offers" syndrome.

The best rejoinder to this I've come across was during an interview with a high school senior basketball player who offered that playing level would not define his college experience.

Offered a twinkle in the eys of the parents

Read these pieces -- here and here -- on college recruiting and wonder why the adult in the situation would bother, other than for p.r.

Let's check the Vegas odds for who will be the first to offer an embryo? Make that dibs on a NYC (not yet conceived).

Yet another read on college basketball recruiting

Responding to any email sent to you from Nigeria, divorce and college recruiting.

Name three things that can majorly reduce the numbers in your bank account.

Yes, that's a bit over the top (notice the qualifier) plus there's always the question of who in the West Coast Conference, Western Athletic Conference and Big West Conference could afford to subterfuge $$$ to recruits even if so inclined? Or more accurately, who in these conferences has the necessary connections to have dollars bestowed upon certain recruits? Maybe another is does the WCC, WAC and Big West have talents who 'merit' such financial largesse?

But the practice (which makes it sound like an art that those inclined must work on to perfect) is alive and well, in the power conferences.

jc25 at the "A Sea of Blue" site recently wrote a column on college basketball recruiting -- utilizing material from Dave Telep, Dan Wolken, Gary Parrish and Dan Wetzel -- that opens and then closes with the following quotes respectively:

"Imagine every bad thing you hear about college basketball recruiting. Multiply by it 10. That's 20% of how dirty it is."
- Jonathan Tjarks

and

Just got a text from a college coach about the Mike Beasley story. Here's what it said: "We have kids going to college who don't want to go to college. If the NBA doesn't want them, then the D League should be set up for them. But the sad fact is that these kids are getting paid more money to go to college for a year than to play in the D League."

Here's the link to jc25's article.

Feedback on the proposed recruiting changes

Jeff Borzello has college basketball coaches, club team coaches, prospects and parents all reacting to the proposed NCAA recruiting changes.

We like these kinds of features

It's always enjoyable to read these types of pieces -- a young baller who was unknown nationally but not any longer. It's not Bay Area-related but still worth a look.

Phoning it in

Not northern California related but Jeff Eisenberg serves up a feature on what Wednesday was like for one particular 2013 prospect. There's more than a scent of rediculousness in the air.

Loved the headline of this article

Pete Thamel of the New York Times has another compelling article up on college basketball recruiting and the writer of the headline deserves extra credit.

Key quote: "That guy is a cancer to everything he touches”

We ask: how can someone have your best interests in mind when the level of his bank account is determined by someone else?

Really liked this

It's about some of the former top prep basketball players in Arizona but still very applicable to northern California. Yes, it's very hard to resist the overtures of the best-looking guy or gal but it's all about fit, fit, fit.

Getting lost in a major conference
Richard Obert
AZCentral.com

Too often, players get over-recruited, sign with a major conference and end up being spectator more than contributor. It happened at Arizona State with former Phoenix Pinnacle center Taylor Rohde, who committed to Herb Sendek during his sophomore year.

It's happening now at Arizona with ex-Phoenix North guard Daniel Bejarano, who early in his prep career figured he'd be headed for big things at Texas. The jury still is out on whether Bejarano will have a break through with the Wildcats and get any meaningful minutes. It likely won't happen this season. And whether he stays or not, that's to be determined by his post-season interview with coach Sean Miller. 

Ex-Goodyear Estrella Foothills guard Corey Hawkins, a two-time Small Schools Player of the Year, may only get more minutes at ASU this year if players ahead of him struggle or are injured. He is being patient. 

Former Sunnyslope star guard Royce Woolridge is a cheer leader at the end of Kansas' bench...

Go here for the remainder.

Recruiting: 10 things you should know

Here a former college basketball player (UCLA and San Diego State) outlining the realities of recruiting:

Recruiting: 10 things you should know
Jerica Williams

6/04/10 - For a high school student-athlete, the recruiting process often feels like the most exciting, exhilarating, yet stressful, process you may ever experience. With one decision determining the most important four years of your life, how can you make the right decision?

In addition to the many variables that go into choosing a school, there are high school coaches, parents and friends constantly giving opinions to influence the decision. Those opinions, along with what college coaches are telling you, could make the process overwhelming.

Ultimately, the decision is that of the player.

Below are 10 things to know about the recruiting process:

1. You are not the only one coaches recruit
.
Just like you have options, they do, too. Honest coaches will tell you upfront that you are not the only person they are recruiting at your position. You need to know that many coaches will recruit up to five people at a position. So it may be a good idea to ask, “Where do I rank on the list of people you are recruiting for my position this year?”

2. College basketball is a business. You are an investment.

Student-athletes look for the best institution possible, and colleges look for the best investment of time and money since a college scholarship is so valuable. While the recruiting process should be an enjoyable experience, the business side requires you to work hard to maintain the best possible position...

Go here for the remainder.

Some very solid recruiting advice

Came across this site, which features a pair of articles offering recruiting advice:

Recruiting – A Sweet Dream or Your biggest Nightmare? Part 1
Coach Toon

Creating the right recruiting fit is a two-way street. Whether the recruiting road ends in a dream or a nightmare is the responsibility of the recruiter and the recruit! Preparation is key to a happy ending. It is imperative for the prospective student-athlete and the college coach to do their homework.

If you are the coach of a prospective student-athlete, help them get properly prepared for one of the most impactful decisions they will ever make – where to go to college. Have them start with what I call “The Grid”. The grid is a chart of all the things the athlete deems are important in their decision vs the schools they are considering. Sample criteria the athlete may consider include the following:

Go here for the remainder.

Here is Part Two.