6'6" out of suburban KC.  3-star prospect

https://x.com/KeatonW34/status/1828978875252257202

Combo guard. Has an offer from Illinois

Also Minnesota and appears to have recently visited SIU, MUST, and Peewee

Not many 2025s have hit the list so far. Definitely could use a couple of solid guys for next year.

I’d say tough competition, but it is all about the money.

Committed to Illinois

If the staff was serious about filling our six (eight?) scholarships we would have won this one. What does Illinois have that we don't?

To all of you who believe that NIL money is buying players, and players away from Drake, can you provide proof that it's actually happening? I haven't seen any hard evidence. Maybe I'm naive but some of these kids come from families with money, and maybe not a ton of money, but still, it may be enough that their kid is on a full ride scholarship and going to the school and basketball program he likes best. Without NIL entering the picture. 

Just ask the coach.

Moving forward.....

Even before NIL, when is the last time Drake beat out a Big 10 or Big 12 team for a recruit?  (Tucker DeVries does not count 😀). The pecking order has not changed with NIL.

I'm honestly a little confused by this, if nothing else they are a MUCH larger school than us and most likely have a much larger NIL fund. Not to mention all of the other potential upsides a large school can have. We often lose out to larger schools, I thought we were all used to it, lol.

I think the post was sarcasm 

Driftless, I’d recommend googling for some stories. Just did and here’s the first link that popped up about a womens basketball recruit looking at NIL: https://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/nil-news/top-2026-womens-basketball-recruit-discusses-how-nil-will-factor-into-decision-brad9

This isn't Drake specifically, but there are a few players out there making 7 figures.  From everything I've read, a starter at a P5 team will make on average $300,000-400,000 a year.  I don't know how much NIL money Drake has, but it's not in that ballpark.

It's not like guys are deciding whether to take an extra $40-50,000.....we're talking life changing money here

A Drake finds and develops players.  They gain a little notoriety (KO).  They might not be even that good.  One dimensional players.  (KO)  They come and offer $250,000 dollars...Texas Tech. And away goes KO to sit on the bench. Yesufu.  Simple as that.

Moving forward.....

Are there any rules in the NCAA when it comes to paying the players?  Let's have some fun.  How about thinking outside of the box.  What if the Valley rewards the players with a percentage of the money made in the NCAA tournament.  If the team can finish and win game one, doesn't choke in the last four minutes of the game (like Drake), or get food poisoning, the Valley team(s)  would make even more money each round they advance.  Let's say, ohhhhh, 50%!

It just might encourage players to compete in the Valley over other conferences, until other conferences start doing it too.

In 2023, SEC teams played in 17 tournament games and earned the highest estimated payout of $34 million, according to Sportico. Big 12 teams were next, playing in 16 games and earning an estimated $32 million. If the Valley champion advances to the Sweet 16, the Valley would be rewarded three games, or $6 million.  The Valley would make $3 million... the players $3 million.  

15 (scholarships) X 12 (teams)= 180 student athletes =  $16,666.00

Now, maybe only the team(s) that makes it to the tournament should be rewarded. That would probably be one team, sadly, 15 players X $3 million (half of the $6 million prize)= $200,000... Who knows.  Just throwing it out there.

UGh, sorry, I am way off topic.  Sorry, thought it was specific to a recruiting post.

Thanks for the link Bulldog4life24.

revenue sharing is coming soon

One would think so. It would be great if the Valley led the way.

This is slightly unfair on KO, I think he has the ability to start for a decent level P5 in the next few years.

The courts are leading the way.