The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Top Ten Reasons for entering the transfer portal.
1. Everyone else is doing it.
2. My girlfriend attends the school to where I am transferring.
3. Disrespected. Coach hated me.
4. I hated the coach.
5. They made me go to class.
6. I want to build my college resume.
7. Want to go somewhere to win a national championship.
8. Didn’t have the major I wanted.
9. They promised me I would be great.
10. No smoothie machine in the training center. The facilities s*cked.

So, how many scholarships are open??? I counted 9 non-seniors on the roster and incoming players. So, four? I realize that any the seniors that stay won't count towards the 13 allowable ones.

(04-28-2021 09:04 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  So, how many scholarships are open??? I counted 9 non-seniors on the roster and incoming players. So, four? I realize that any the seniors that stay won't count towards the 13 allowable ones.

Returning players: Gio, Jacobs, Carry, Hernandez, Davis,
Seniors: Beck, Hamilton
Freshmen: Sullinger, Rollins, Hornbeack.

(04-28-2021 08:54 PM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  Top Ten Reasons for entering the transfer portal.
1. Everyone else is doing it.
2. My girlfriend attends the school to where I am transferring.
3. Disrespected. Coach hated me.
4. I hated the coach.
5. They made me go to class.
6. I want to build my college resume.
7. Want to go somewhere to win a national championship.
8. Didn’t have the major I wanted.
9. They promised me I would be great.
10. No smoothie machine in the training center. The facilities s*cked.

Thanks, Cleveland. So, if I undrstand the rules, they have 5 open scholarships.

(04-29-2021 07:25 AM)Muskrat Wrote:  Thanks, Cleveland. So, if I undrstand the rules, they have 5 open scholarships.

Technically, yes. But that would also mean Kent State is willing to 'pay' for the two extra scholarships.

And, well, so .... we're talking about Kent State. Therefore, the more likely number is 13.

Considering the climate we're in right now, and the timing, finding three scholarship players the caliber Kent needs is a tall task by itself. Even if Kent did pay for the two extra, I'm not sure it would be worth it, unless the long term plan is to redshirt the three freshmen.

I'm guessing Kent might get one of them to agree to a redshirt, maybe two in a blue moon, but highly doubt all three.

Everything is messy right now, but I kind of look at this like being a Cleveland Indians fan. It sucks to lose players you like, but I'm confident that the people we have in charge will be good at replacing them because of their track record. Sendy has done a great job of rebooting the team each year so I think he's well equipped to adjust to this well.

Recruiting for next year might be tough because we really don't have much of an opening in the rotation on the perimeter. One thing he's done great with is finding transfers who have to sit a year to fill the final spot or two. That's a thing of the past of course. If I were him, I would be looking for talented a guard who sustained a big injury and may have to miss next year anyway. That would be a good way to fill one of the final roster spots with value instead of giving it to someone who won't crack the rotation then leaves after the year.

VC has Nuga headed to UNLV as of yesterday

https://www.mwcconnection.com/2021/4/30/...-to-roster



:( :(

As of now, 34% of D I college players on a roster this past season have either entered the portal and selected a new school or have entered the portal and are still undecided.
I'm not sure what all that says regarding the current state of D I basketball. An NCAA report published in February of this year stated, "That said, about 40% of all men’s basketball players who enter Division I directly out of high school depart their initial school by the end of their sophomore year." I'm sure that 40% figure will be eclipsed.

This was inevitable.

BREAKING NEWS

The N.C.A.A. president, under pressure to reshape college sports, told The Times he would push to let athletes cash in on their fame this year.
Saturday, May 8, 2021 8:46 AM EST

Florida and four other states are poised to allow players to make endorsement deals starting this summer, and with universities in other states anxious about losing recruits, the N.C.A.A. is moving anew toward extending similar rights to college athletes across the country.

I thought it was interesting that Hartford announced it was dropping down to D3 yesterday. Big time college sports are out of control.

I’ve been saying that for years the difference between haves and have nots has been getting blown wide open. Used to be the P5 and G5 but now there’s another tier amongst the P5 programs, it’s insane, couple that with the transfer portal nonsense and free transfers it become an absolute joke. I wonder how many that used to gripe about the NCAA having too much control are wishing they had some of it back...but it’s gone now, there’s no going back.

I've been saying that for years, also, Polish Hammer. I have mixed emotions. I always felt that athletes should have more "rights". But, I also realized that the other side of the coin was that we would eventually have the mess we are now seeing. Back in the late 1970s the power football conferences (and Notre Dame) formed the CFA to push for their right to yank football TV broadcast rights away from the NCAA. They eventually got their way due to a US Supreme Court decision in 1984. At the time I realized that that was just the first step. The big-time programs don't need the NCAA. There is nothing to stop them from dropping out and forming their own organization. They haven't because they have so far found the NCAA useful. I don't know how long it may take but I'm confident the day will come when almost all schools will be small-time and only the handful of economically rich schools will be big-time and garner virtually all the media attention. I foresee some sort of mixed university/semi-pro/minor league situation with players getting salaries of some sort, maybe even signing contracts. I started following college sports in the mid-1950s, to the extent that there was any to watch on TV or listen to on the radio then, and the college sports world then compared to now is barely recognizable.

(05-08-2021 06:17 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  I've been saying that for years, also, Polish Hammer. I have mixed emotions. I always felt that athletes should have more "rights". But, I also realized that the other side of the coin was that we would eventually have the mess we are now seeing. Back in the late 1970s the power football conferences (and Notre Dame) formed the CFA to push for their right to yank football TV broadcast rights away from the NCAA. They eventually got their way due to a US Supreme Court decision in 1984. At the time I realized that that was just the first step. The big-time programs don't need the NCAA. There is nothing to stop them from dropping out and forming their own organization. They haven't because they have so far found the NCAA useful. I don't know how long it may take but I'm confident the day will come when almost all schools will be small-time and only the handful of economically rich schools will be big-time and garner virtually all the media attention. I foresee some sort of mixed university/semi-pro/minor league situation with players getting salaries of some sort, maybe even signing contracts. I started following college sports in the mid-1950s, to the extent that there was any to watch on TV or listen to on the radio then, and the college sports world then compared to now is barely recognizable.

I agree ... like many things in life, be careful what you ask/wish for. Yes athletes have always deserved more 'rights.' but the unspoken part of that (and many other rights) is responsibility and common sense. Sadly, more and more this hs become all about 'ME,' be that the athlete, the sport or the institution.

Sadly, THE COMMON GOOD ... is no longer a part of the equation, and that is the key element to making all these things work. My hope is this is the last season we'll see over 1,000 players in the transfer portal, much less 1,500 and counting.

But we'll see. It may be double that in 2022.

Has anyone heard or seen any updates on the recruits that are likely to fill the (3) open scholarships?
Returning players:
Malique Jacobs
VonCameron Davis
Gio Santiago
Tervell Beck
Justyn Hamilton
Jeremiah Hernandez
Sincere Carry

3 recruits:
Jalen Sullinger
Julius Rollins
Cli'Ron Hornbeak

Verbal commits has the following players listed as recruits for KSU, but not sure how updated it is?
Dannie Smith (JUCO)
Abdoulaye Thiam (JUCO)
Mark Wise (HS Senior)
A.J. Neal (HS Senior)
Tahron Allen (HS Senior)
Sangolay Nile (HS Senior)

O'Neal's and Jordan's names are still hanging fire in the portal. Maybe one or both will stay. According to my math, 35% of the roster players across the nation this past season are in the portal. Many have picked the new place to take their talents. I wonder if Senderoff has been recruiting some of those still available players?

There was an article in today's Canton paper about GlenOak hiring a new coach. It spent some space talking about the new coach wanting to keep players there, rather than having them transfer. At least in Ohio, the number of HS athletes switching schools has really ballooned over time. It's just the state of sports now, at all levels.

According to verbal commits, O'Neal had one other offer and Jordan had 6 when they decided on Kent. They both committed before the start of their second JUCO season but neither of them took a big step in their second season. The lack of previous recruiting interest coupled the fact that the transfer portal is so full, I would imagine they're both having a hard time getting D1 attention. If I had to bet, their best options will be providing experienced depth at a school that's willing to pay to go over 13 scholarships (good luck finding minutes there) or come back to Kent and probably play a similar role to what they had last year. I'd be curious if coming back is an option for them. We could probably find higher ceiling options in the portal.

Agree, anti-zip.

I used to like the NBA, but I almost never watch anymore. The idea of the top players jockeying around in attempts to create "super teams" turned me off. I don't begrudge the players their right to do so, but it drastically lessened the entertainment value for me. I used to follow the local high school scene, until players started doing the same thing as NBA players. The ever increasing player movement in college has also lessened the entertainment value for me, but I will still follow Kent State, of course, but I probably will never enjoy it as much as I once did.

(05-16-2021 07:54 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  According to verbal commits, O'Neal had one other offer and Jordan had 6 when they decided on Kent. They both committed before the start of their second JUCO season but neither of them took a big step in their second season. The lack of previous recruiting interest coupled the fact that the transfer portal is so full, I would imagine they're both having a hard time getting D1 attention. If I had to bet, their best options will be providing experienced depth at a school that's willing to pay to go over 13 scholarships (good luck finding minutes there) or come back to Kent and probably play a similar role to what they had last year. I'd be curious if coming back is an option for them. We could probably find higher ceiling options in the portal.

O'Neal committed to Bowling Green right after he left Kent. His HS coach is now an assistant there. So Kent needs at least one post player to replace him and Pippen.

Frankly, Jordan's return would not be bad at all. His 3-point shooting was not as advertised, but as a reserve off the bench he provided decent defense, rebounding, and ballhandling. Would not be surprised if 3-point shot emerged as jucos often produce better their second year over their first.