"The PORTAL" aka "The GREAT Reset"

 “The transfer portal is killing seniors’ college dreams” AAU Coach

If you are tied into high school / college athletics- this is the narrative you might hear.  From one vantage point this makes perfect sense, but we see the concept of the transfer portal as a full reset in college athletics and allow the nature order of selection to take shape.

We are not here to discuss the rationale behind transferring or the BS players go through, but merely to point out the art of transferring has always been prevalent however today with “the portal” we are now able to count the actual transferees . This, coupled with the NCAA’s transfer policy has taking transferring to an epic level, but as previously stated transferring is not new “thing”.  

We would admit the "transfer portal is shifting the way recruiting is being done" narrative seems to be accurate and we would suggest the concept is NOT bad for the sport. Allow us the opportunity to explain.

Obviously, college programs would prefer capable older players compared to younger less experienced players, but as it relates to high school student-athletes most will STILL be able to achieve their goal of playing on a college stage. 

Think about this “trickle down” theory, most nationally recognized i.e. “top 100 players” of the world will continue to be recruited on the “Power 5 level” and in the “arms race” called recruiting this will always be the case and from we sit the issue with “the portal” will be players ranked 101 and lower.  Such players, many of which received questionable advice will initially have their “goals” derailed, but it will force such players to lower the expectations to a more suitable and realistic situation. In essence, attend a college best suited for the ability and skill level. This “pushing down” of the talent pool will eventually reset the whole system for division 2 skilled student-athletes will actually attend a division 2 college as opposed to seek division 1 attention. 

We would admit, [with few exceptions] the portal serves merely as “musical chairs” for the major programs and top level student-athletes, but from our vantage point the current state of “the portal” will (we hope and pray) force AAU directors, HS coaches, parents and players to re-adjust to more obtainable and sustainable goals all the while focusing on controlling the controllables. Which in this case,  are (but not limited to) excelling in the classroom, focusing on skill development, organically playing as much as possible, maintaining a high level of fitness, being involved in extra curricular activities and creating a “brand” that can be marketed in the future. 

Basically, (for the most part), “the portal” will allow the talent pool to settle at it’s proper level...

#theend