Southeastern Iowa Community College- John Wilkins

[SaintLouBrave22]

This isn't smack, it's the truth...if you really want to know, ask Wilkins, he'll confirm what I just said. Also, if Wilkins is firmly committed, why has he already visited Iowa State multiple times?

Gosh, maybe like every other college student he has friends there?


I visited Illinois State, U of I, Iowa State, Drake, Northwestern, Northern Illinois, USC, Notre Dame....well, you get the picture...

Anyways, just because I visited, does that mean I'm going there? No!

I visited because I had friends there....aren't college kids allowed to go out of their designated area?!

[Beninator]

This isn't smack, it's the truth...if you really want to know, ask Wilkins, he'll confirm what I just said. Also, if Wilkins is firmly committed, why has he already visited Iowa State multiple times?

Well, there aren't too many places to party in the state of Iowa, and it's getting too cold and wet to party in a cornfield with the cows!

[cyismydog]

Gosh, maybe like every other college student he has friends there?


I visited Illinois State, U of I, Iowa State, Drake, Northwestern, Northern Illinois, USC, Notre Dame....well, you get the picture...

Anyways, just because I visited, does that mean I'm going there? No!

I visited because I had friends there....aren't college kids allowed to go out of their designated area?!

He was there on an unofficial visit with the coaching staff, on the sidelines for the Iowa-ISU game, and has arranged an official visit there. As far as my credibility, I have broken several commitments to both Iowa State and Marquette, and I write for Daniel Poneman...why would I make this stuff up?

[Garland 22]

I have no insider information but this statistic from the Sporting News doesn't bode well for Bradley. But statistics are like your mother in law they lie:

Only 9% of D1 Basketball players who sign with a school out of highschool and then fail to qualify ever end up playing basketball for the original school they signed with.

I am confident that Jim Les is treating him just like everyother recruit - working his butt off to get John here next spring.

I think it would be a little naive to think he's just going to honor his commitment to Bradley (which was 1 of only a handful of schools who offered due to the perceived eligibility issues). Other schools are after him and that is confirmed by the staff themselves. Do I think he will end up at BU, hopefully, but he is just a recruit right now.

[Da Coach]

That stat, if accurate, is influenced by the fact that many of those recruits who don't qualify never get recruited by the original school again. Many coaches simply move on and recruit someone else to replace the original recruit, or the recruit never gets qualified, or the original school changes coaches, or other reasons.
In cases where the recruit continues to say he is committed to the school, the percentage has to be far higher.
That said, I am sure other coaches will make a strong effort to recruit JW. Many coaches accept a verbal commitment, and don't try to recruit a kid, but some don't let that stop them if it's a kid they want. JW is a talented kid, and I think Bradley still has a great shot at him, but nothing is guaranteed.

[ER3]

I think most of us felt that our best chance to see Wilkins in a BU uniform was if he was somehow cleared by the NCAA to enroll and play hoops last year...
Once that didn't happen, it left us in a position where we just have to wait and see what Wilkins decides to do. Without the LOI, we really don't have much to hang our hat on, unfortunately. If a better opportunity comes along, you really couldn't fault the kid for taking it.
I'm sure the coaching staff is doing everything they can to continue to recruit him in hopes that he will one day turn his verbal into a signed LOI, but we'll just have to wait and see how it all turns out.
I hope he ends up in a BU uniform, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me at all if he didn't.

[jeffsu]

Based on the video interviews and all kinds of media interviews with John and his Dad, he seemed incredibly excited about BU. Does that mean I'm naive enough to think he won't go explore other options? No. But it DOES mean that he thinks Bradley is pretty great and that others will have to measure up to us (and our coaching staff) during other visits.

Plus, if you have some free visits to other places.. why not take them??? Would be fun.

[mexicobufan]

It would be great if the PJ Star would try and get an interview with him to get it directly from John. The last time that was done he said he was headed to BU and that he had told his jc coaches not to take calls from other schools. I know we have some fans headed to his game next weekend, can you ask if he is still a Brave?

[jeffsu]

Again, not knowing recruiting rules... isn't he technically a recruit, so even if we're at the game, we can't have contact? I'm clueless on this stuff, someone fill me in!

[tornado]

you are probably allowed casual contact, such as saying hello - but ...here are the precise limits and
I am quoting this directly from the NCAA regulations..
Since you could be viewed a representatives of ther university, then you must follow these rules regarding what contact is NOT allowed...

Just to be sure anyone wearing Bradley attire does NOT cross the boundaries...you probably had better not say a word to Wilkins...
Note the rules say you can exchange greetings, but in the definitions paragraph it hints that if you go to his school and say anything, it could be construed as a "contact".


From the "Division I Men's Basketball Coaches Recruiting Guide"

"DEFINITIONS
Contact
A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or the
prospect’s parents, relatives or legal guardian(s) and an institutional staff
member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in
excess of an exchange of a greeting. Any such face-to-face encounter that
is prearranged (e.g., positions himself/herself in a location where contact is
possible) or that takes place on the grounds of the prospect’s
educational institution or at the site of organized competition or practice
involving the prospect or the prospect’s high school, preparatory school, two-
year college or all-star team shall be considered a contact,
regardless of whether any conversation occurs."

http://ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/c6737e004e0b874d89d6f91ad6fc8b25/Men%27s+Basketball.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=c6737e004e0b874d89d6f91ad6fc8b25

also...This is from the "Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete"
"Contact. A contact occurs any time (there is)..any face-to-face
contact with you or your parents off the college's campus and says
more than hello. A contact also occurs if (there is)..any contact
with you or your parents at your high school or any location where
you are competing or practicing."

http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/2009-10%20CBSA_Web5f0f3230-c5fb-422c-8c69-a572338d05be.pdf

[SaintLouBrave22]

you are probably allowed casual contact, such as saying hello - but ...here are the precise limits and
I am quoting this directly from the NCAA regulations..
Since you could be viewed a representatives of ther university, then you must follow these rules regarding what contact is NOT allowed...

Just to be sure anyone wearing Bradley attire does NOT cross the boundaries...you probably had better not say a word to Wilkins...
Note the rules say you can exchange greetings, but in the definitions paragraph it hints that if you go to his school and say anything, it could be construed as a "contact".


From the "Division I Men's Basketball Coaches Recruiting Guide"

"DEFINITIONS
Contact
A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or the
prospect??™s parents, relatives or legal guardian(s) and an institutional staff
member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in
excess of an exchange of a greeting. Any such face-to-face encounter that
is prearranged (e.g., positions himself/herself in a location where contact is
possible) or that takes place on the grounds of the prospect??™s
educational institution or at the site of organized competition or practice
involving the prospect or the prospect??™s high school, preparatory school, two-
year college or all-star team shall be considered a contact,
regardless of whether any conversation occurs."

http://ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/c6737e004e0b874d89d6f91ad6fc8b25/Men%27s+Basketball.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=c6737e004e0b874d89d6f91ad6fc8b25

also...This is from the "Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete"
"Contact. A contact occurs any time (there is)..any face-to-face
contact with you or your parents off the college's campus and says
more than hello. A contact also occurs if (there is)..any contact
with you or your parents at your high school or any location where
you are competing or practicing."
http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uplo...72338d05be.pdf

Hate to break this to you guys, but as much as you'd like to believe you are that important, none of you are actual athletic representatives of the university...

Unless you're on the university payroll and none of us know that...

[cpacmel]

Hate to break this to you guys, but as much as you'd like to believe you are that important, none of you are actual athletic representatives of the university...

Unless you're on the university payroll and none of us know that...

That's not exactly true:

You are a ???Representative of Athletics
Interests??? and will always retain the identity
if you:

???

are or ever have been

a member of Booster club

???

are or ever have been

an employee

???

have ever purchased

season tickets for
any of athletic programs

???

are the spouse

of a
department employee

???

have ever

made a donation to the athletics program (either time, services
or financial)

???

have ever

helped to arrange or have provided
summer employment for enrolled
student-athletes or for prospects who have
signed an offer of admission
??? have ever assisted in providing any
benefit to enrolled student-athletes or their
families

???

have ever

been involved in any way
with the athletics program
that would trigger inclusion as a

???representative of athletics interest.???

[SaintLouBrave22]

That's not exactly true:

You are a ???Representative of Athletics
Interests??? and will always retain the identity
if you:

???

are or ever have been

a member of Booster club

???

are or ever have been

an employee

???

have ever purchased

season tickets for
any of athletic programs

???

are the spouse

of a
department employee

???

have ever

made a donation to the athletics program (either time, services
or financial)

???

have ever

helped to arrange or have provided
summer employment for enrolled
student-athletes or for prospects who have
signed an offer of admission
??? have ever assisted in providing any
benefit to enrolled student-athletes or their
families

???

have ever

been involved in any way
with the athletics program
that would trigger inclusion as a

???representative of athletics interest.???

Can you provide documentation?

It just doesn't seem feasible that certain institutions would have over 80k so called "representatives" of their university just by purchasing season tickets...


Thats like saying because I stay in John Q Hammons hotels on business trips and for conferences that I am a representative of the hotel chain.

[tornado]

not so fast....
the NCAA has defined athletic boosters and alumni as acting in the university's interest, thus they ARE defined as representatives.

but don't just believe me...go read it for yourself...

Here is the definition of a "booster"...and the qualification about assisting in recruitment is the one you may get caught on...
"Under NCAA rules, a “Representative of the Institution’s Athletics Interests (also known
as a “Booster”) is any individual who:
?· Made any type of contribution to the University or athletics department;
?· Joined a booster club or
any sport specific support group;
?· Provided benefits (e.g., summer jobs) to prospective or enrolled student-athletes or
their families;
?· Assisted, in any manner, in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes;
?· Participated as a varsity athlete;
?· Parents or legal guardian of an enrolled student-athlete;
?· Promoted the athletics program in any way.
Note: Once an individual is identified as a “Representative of the Institution’s Athletics Interests,”
the person retains that identity FOREVER."

"member institutions are accountable under NCAA rules for the actions of
“representatives of the institution’s athletics interests”"

"NCAA rules consider both boosters as “representatives of the institution’s athletics interests”
in limiting activities in areas such as recruiting prospective student-athletes"

"..NCAA rules specific to boosters and booster clubs..
A code of conduct that requests athletics representatives to agree to adhere
to NCAA rules and to contact the institution’s compliance office or athletics
director before interacting with student-athletes or prospects.."

"All boosters, alumni, friends, and other Athletics Representatives,
who are NOT employed by the University, are prohibited from making contact (in person, by phone,
by fax, by letter, by email or instant messenger or internet chat room) with a prospective student-athlete
for the purpose of encouraging participation in the (university's) athletics program."

https://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?key=/ncaa/ncaa/legislation+and+governance/committees/future+task+force/relationships/boosters.doc

BTW-- some schools publish a primer for their students and boosters to outline these rules...
here is one such "NCAA Tips of Do’s & Don’t for Boosters"
http://www.conferencecarolinas.com/c...r_Boosters.doc.

[cpacmel]

Can you provide documentation?

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ilsu/genrel/auto_pdf/booster-compliance.pdf

http://athletics.siuc.edu/OCSS/BOOSTERS.pdf

The term “Representative of Athletics Interests” is interchangeable with the term “athletic representative,” “representative,”
“booster,” “alumni,” “friend of the university,” or “fan.” This is true even if you no longer contribute to the athletics
program.
YOU ARE A REPRESENTATIVE OF ATHLETICS INTERESTS IF YOU:
1. Are or ever have been a member of a Saluki athletic booster organization;
2. Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or a booster organization;
3. Are or ever have been involved with the recruitment of a Prospect;
4. Have provided benefits to an enrolled student-athlete or their relatives or friends;
5. Have otherwise been involved in promoting Southern Illinois University’s athletic program (e.g., alumni and
friends);
6. Provide or have helped to arrange employment for student-athletes;
7. Are the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of an enrolled student-athlete;
8. Are or ever have been a season ticket holder.
ONCE A BOOSTER . . . ALWAYS A BOOSTER.
According to the NCAA, once an individual has been identified as a Representative of Athletics Interests, he or she retains
this identity forever, even if that person no longer contributes to the institution’s athletics program.

A RECRUITING CONTACT
Any face-to-face encounter between a University staff member or a Representative of Athletics Interests and a Prospect or

the Prospect’s parents or legal guardians during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting.

i think it's pretty much okay to say things like "nice game" or "good luck this season" and the such. Or "hope you have a good visit" if the player is on campus. But anything beyond that stuff is where it gets iffy.