RE: NIU Hoops Recruits for 2022-23
In a vacuum, sure, you want stability. But that simply isn't the case anymore in college hoops.
Just look around the MAC. Tons of stars (MAC stars) and top performers and/or future pieces on teams are leaving.
Akron is losing Brian Trimble, Ali Ali, and 6'10" freshman Sekou Kalle. Ball State is losing freshman Luke Brown, Tyler Cochran, Basheer Jihad, Payton Sparks and Jaylin Sellers. Bowling Green is losing Caleb Fields, Joe Reece, and freshman Cameron Young. Buffalo is losing David Skogman and Jeenathan Williams. CMU is losing Cameron Healy and Oscar Lopez. EMU is losing Bryce McBride and freshman Mo Njie. Ohio is losing their two best players in Mark Sears and Ben Vander Plas. Toledo is losing 6'10" freshman Mihai Carcoana, frehsman Arnór Eythorsson, and sophomore Jamere Hill.
Comparable, what we're losing is much less than what some other...better...teams are losing.
We're currently losing 6 players. 4 of them are graduating. One other is a JUCO transfer who barely played and the other is a freshman who also barely played.
Of the two guys who could be returning...they are easily replaceable. I predicted Manual would transfer, I still wouldn't be surprised if Kon departs (for reasons I'll point out below) and kinda get why Myrick is leaving (but wish he was staying but also...he didn't show anything this year but was apparently hurt a lot too).
Also, it's to be understood that anytime a coach is fired, they're going to lose players for whatever reason. I think most didn't bat an eye at any of last year's transfers except for Cochran who may have either 1) over-rated his own value or 2) was made the school fired a coach he was really close with and who was also terrible (from all reports, this seems like the case).
So, it is what it is.
Next year, we have 2 seniors so there probably won't be as much turnover. But, I'm sure someone will transfer. Either way, it happens.
Montgomery had this problem too but I like how Burno is handling it better. Monty would have freshman classes of like 6 or 7 players a few times and you simply can't expect all of those guys to stick around. The second they realize they're 2nd or 3rd on the depth chart behind guys who are either in the same class as them or a year behind them, then they often will bounce looking for playing time (typically at a D-II or lower program).
Burno seems to be mixing incoming freshman with JUCO transfers (ie, sophomores and juniors) so you spread the class distribution around a bit avoiding a log jam and creating a hierarchy of sorts.
Anyway, expecting players to stay for 4 years in a program nowadays is unrealistic. There's always going to be turnover with how the portal is designed.
A good coach just figures it out and figures out how to work it to his advantage.
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