2008 Woodie Awards
Recruiting antics have gone way too far for Division I prospects
Joe Brown
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: Sports
High school athletes looking to get into Division I sports are almost willing to do anything.
Just ask Kevin Hart.
The Fernley High School (Nev.) student made national news last week by announcing that he was going to accept a football scholarship to Cal, picking the Golden Bears over the Oregon Ducks.
Just one small problem: neither team recruited him.
In a move that would make Vince McMahon grin in approval, the whole thing was a hoax by Hart.
If he could not be a Division I football player, he wanted to imagine for one day that he was.
Apparently, playing campus legend mode in NCAA 2008 would not be enough for Hart.
This fiasco added onto the already circus-like atmosphere that has been a part of college recruiting.
Numerous scouting Web sites rate these athletes on their talent and potential like Roger Ebert rates movies.
Terrelle Pryor, the top rated quarterback in the country, had a press conference shown on ESPN to say that he had not chosen where he wanted to go.
High school prospects have proven nothing against college talent, yet they are treated like they are the big man on campus.
Take a look at Jimmy Clausen, the anointed "savior" of Notre Dame.
He showed up in South Bend, Ind. in a Hummer limo and flaunting his California state championship rings just to sign a piece of paper.
All that hype could not save the team from losing nine games, a record for futility for the Fighting Irish.
This is not just a problem in college football. If you want to see how ludicrous recruiting becomes, take a look at basketball.
Every team is trying to get the Kevin Durant or Greg Oden-type player who will make their program a national powerhouse. To find players of this caliber, scouts can go to disturbing lengths to get their man.
Ten high school sophomores are currently committed to schools they will not play in for another three years. Ryan Boatright, a 14-year-old out of Illinois, chose where he was going to play college basketball (USC) before he chose which high school to attend.
Just ask Kevin Hart.
The Fernley High School (Nev.) student made national news last week by announcing that he was going to accept a football scholarship to Cal, picking the Golden Bears over the Oregon Ducks.
Just one small problem: neither team recruited him.
In a move that would make Vince McMahon grin in approval, the whole thing was a hoax by Hart.
If he could not be a Division I football player, he wanted to imagine for one day that he was.
Apparently, playing campus legend mode in NCAA 2008 would not be enough for Hart.
This fiasco added onto the already circus-like atmosphere that has been a part of college recruiting.
Numerous scouting Web sites rate these athletes on their talent and potential like Roger Ebert rates movies.
Terrelle Pryor, the top rated quarterback in the country, had a press conference shown on ESPN to say that he had not chosen where he wanted to go.
High school prospects have proven nothing against college talent, yet they are treated like they are the big man on campus.
Take a look at Jimmy Clausen, the anointed "savior" of Notre Dame.
He showed up in South Bend, Ind. in a Hummer limo and flaunting his California state championship rings just to sign a piece of paper.
All that hype could not save the team from losing nine games, a record for futility for the Fighting Irish.
This is not just a problem in college football. If you want to see how ludicrous recruiting becomes, take a look at basketball.
Every team is trying to get the Kevin Durant or Greg Oden-type player who will make their program a national powerhouse. To find players of this caliber, scouts can go to disturbing lengths to get their man.
Ten high school sophomores are currently committed to schools they will not play in for another three years. Ryan Boatright, a 14-year-old out of Illinois, chose where he was going to play college basketball (USC) before he chose which high school to attend.