The Bomber Wrote:Hey Hoops,
Got a question for ya. Certain "gurus" have hinted that UNC might sign more people than we expect. Now that sounds great, but when you count scholarships, it doesn't add up, obviously. So the question is, do we end up with someone transferring, someone leaving early for the pros, Noel paying his own way for three more years or what? Any thoughts on the matter?
Interesting that you ask, as I just had dinner with a wise and knowledgeable friend that has been a Tar Heel fan for quite sometime, and he knows his stuff. We were discussing the upcoming season and recruiting, and we stumbled across the same questions about scholarships.
I am really confused about the rules the NCAA has put in place for basketball scholarships. Of course we all know about the 5-8 rule, but when I was counting out spots on the roster, it just didn't seem to work out.
Because it is summer we are all so engulfed in the recruiting front that we look for any possible way to get that next recruit. Of course there is never space for them all, especially when you are Carolina, but it seems like we should be able to have more scholarship players on our roster.
While many believe a transfer opens up a scholarship and enables another recruit to come in and take the spot, from what I have gathered, it appears that a transfer only hurts a program. Think about it: when Adam Boone, Brian Morrison, and Neil Fingleton transferred three scholarships did not open up. Last season we could have had three more scholarship players on our roster. But as we all know, the scholarships of those three players that departed did not automatically become available.
Getting back to your question......it is possible that we might bring in a 4-man class. Honestly, I don't see how it is going to happen, but by the way Roy is recruiting, he must believe there is some way it could be possible. There are rumors that Jackie Manuel and/or Damien Grant might possibly leave, but I think that they would have announced a transfer by now. In any case, from the situation I just posted above, I don't see how a transfer will open up another scholarship to give to a 2004 player.
While many are so hyped up in getting the best recruiting class in the country, I wouldn't mind a 3 man class if it meant that we kept all of our other guys. I think it is possible that we may see some of these guys pay there own way. I doubt they look at it like this...but if you think about all of the money most of these guys will make in 3-4 years, then the tuition will quickly and easily be paid off.
As the summer progresses, there will be 3 names to watch: Brian Johnson, JR Smith, and Shaun Livingston. I really think Brian Johnson is the last piece to this puzzle and the best bet. He will give us more in the frontcourt where we need something. In addition, I just don't see Raymond Felton leaving after 2 years. I doubt Livingston will pay his own way, especially when he has other offers from big schools. However, JR Smith might find a way to come here. It is more probable that he would pay his own, seeing to his strong desire to come to North Carolina. Think about it, Louisiville (JR Smith's other favorite) has no room for him now. I don't see a guy as talented as JR Smith going to school (somewhere in the Big East) where he doesn't want to be.
As I am as confused as you are, I really couldn't give a straightforward answer regarding NCAA rules for scholarships. I am going to try and do some research about the scholarship rules concerning transfers and players leaving early too.
