re: **Official** Barbee Has Been Fired

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I'm obviously ignorant about the Nike stuff. ..

I just find it crazy that a kid chooses a school based on sneakers

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LOL basketball recruiting is a whole different ballgame.

It's not the shoes. It's Nike paying for the expenses of the AAU teams they sponsor. Those teams are in turn are very inclined to turn their players to schools that are Nike sponsored. If they don't, Nike cuts ties and the money goes away. AAU coaches also benefit from getting kickbacks from colleges when they can push kids to schools. The latter is just what I've heard though...

Pretty simple business model. If you don't have good access to AAU players you aren't not going to get the better players IMO. Basketball recruiting is even dirtier than football and you really have to "play the game" as the talent pool is so small.

quote:

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LOL basketball recruiting is a whole different ballgame.

It's not the shoes. It's Nike paying for the expenses of the AAU teams they sponsor. Those teams are in turn are very inclined to turn their players to schools that are Nike sponsored. If they don't, Nike cuts ties and the money goes away. AAU coaches also benefit from getting kickbacks from colleges when they can push kids to schools. The latter is just what I've heard though...

Pretty simple business model. If you don't have good access to AAU players you aren't not going to get the better players IMO. Basketball recruiting is even dirtier than football and you really have to "play the game" as the talent pool is so small.

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Actually its more that the AAU coaches make a ton of money from Nike and they then "influence" the players that they coach to make the "right" choice.

Lo and behold, that "right" choice turns out to be a Nike school.

Its as dirty as the Marianas Trench is deep.