GWRising, most of us do not go to college with the mindset that we have to stay at the first school we went to all four years.  I could have tried to go to Harvard (OK, OK, hear me out) with the understanding that a Harvard degree would be invaluable but with the fear that the workload or curriculum might be too difficult for me to withstand.  So, I try it and if it turns out that I need to lower my sites a bit, I would have transferred.  

I understand you are trying to make a fairly broad point but you're doing so in such a way that would suggest that any player who was not playing as much as he would like could not possibly be justified by a decision to transfer.  You opted to take Tyler Brelsford out of the equation but let's bring him back in and let's compare his situation to JNJ's.  I think you could make a much stronger argument that JNJ should have finished this season as a Colonial.  While he may not have been playing as much as he would have liked, who is to say that he would not have been able to craft a role for himself on this past season's team that he could have come to embrace?  He would have not given up anything by waiting until season's end.  By contrast, Tyler has theoretically been recruited over to the point where he would likely have been the 5th guard on next year's team.  If Tyler had competed to the point where JC viewed him as a budding superstar, then I don't believe JC brings in both the VA Tech and UCONN transfers.  Since this wasn't the case, Tyler had to see the writing on the wall (yes he could have competed, but what odds would you have given him that he'd be playing more next season than this past season?) so his decision to transfer becomes entirely understandable.  
 

Gwmayhem wrote:

GWRising, most of us do not go to college with the mindset that we have to stay at the first school we went to all four years.  I could have tried to go to Harvard (OK, OK, hear me out) with the understanding that a Harvard degree would be invaluable but with the fear that the workload or curriculum might be too difficult for me to withstand.  So, I try it and if it turns out that I need to lower my sites a bit, I would have transferred.  

I understand you are trying to make a fairly broad point but you're doing so in such a way that would suggest that any player who was not playing as much as he would like could not possibly be justified by a decision to transfer.  You opted to take Tyler Brelsford out of the equation but let's bring him back in and let's compare his situation to JNJ's.  I think you could make a much stronger argument that JNJ should have finished this season as a Colonial.  While he may not have been playing as much as he would have liked, who is to say that he would not have been able to craft a role for himself on this past season's team that he could have come to embrace?  He would have not given up anything by waiting until season's end.  By contrast, Tyler has theoretically been recruited over to the point where he would likely have been the 5th guard on next year's team.  If Tyler had competed to the point where JC viewed him as a budding superstar, then I don't believe JC brings in both the VA Tech and UCONN transfers.  Since this wasn't the case, Tyler had to see the writing on the wall (yes he could have competed, but what odds would you have given him that he'd be playing more next season than this past season?) so his decision to transfer becomes entirely understandable.  
 

 How about if Tyler gave it a shot first and then if it didn't work out he would have 3 years left? That's the point - some guys relish competition and are willing to let the chips fall where they may. Some guys run from it. If Tyler truly thought he was a ball player at the level of GW then why would he care who GW brought in?

What are we teaching kids and young adults ... that they can change schools like underwear? We have kids going to 4 high schools, playing on 6 AAU teams and now going to 3 colleges. It's always about the opportunity until the merry go round stops. Then the cold hard reality of life strikes that while you were so busy chasing opportunity you missed the opportunity right in front of your face - to grow as a person and learn to accept and deal with adversity. That lesson will carry you much farther in life than playing a few more minutes here or there.

 

danjsport wrote:

GWRising wrote:

danjsport wrote:

How dare a kid look after himself??? Team first is a fine attitude, but can we please be realistic. Jc surely promised Tyler an opportunity to compete for a position to start, and probably told him he would compete for pg playing time. This off-season saw the team add depth to that position, pushing Tyler out, Tyler was not going to play a lot. His opportunity even to compete diminished significantly.

What’s changed is that players are not punished for wanting to play. Rather than sitting on a bench while considering sitting out a year, the players can move. And the value that they get (I.e education, room, board) is the same everywhere. If my options are to make the same amount wherever I go, I’m going to the place where I can play. Wouldn’t you?

First of all how do you know what JC promised Tyler? Were you there?

Second of all even accepting that he did make such a promise ... the promise was an opportunity to compete not a promise of the result of that competition. We've come to an inflection point in college basketball and in many other aspects of life. Most kids really don't want to compete ... rather they want a result guaranteed and handed to them. As a coach said to me recently ... we are no longer preparing them for the journey of life rather we are preparing the journey of life for them. This will not end well for either college basketball or society in general.
 

Was I there?  Of course not.  Am I willing to bet that Tyler got an offer with at least an opportunity to compete.  Yes.  But he doesn't have that opportunity.  He just got two guys brought in ahead of him that weren't here when he committed.  Guys who were likely assured good roles and good minutes, or they would have transferred elsewhere.  His opportunity to compete against Lincoln Ball and JNJ and maybe a freshman coming in is very different than having to compete against Bishop and Bamisile, and Adams, and Freeman.  All while not being able to get minutes at the position he believes is most valuable. The concept that these guys don't want to compete is insane.  Of course they want to compete.  It is what they do for a "living" (that they aren't paid in cash for).  Want to make a market where players stay? The solution is easy- pay them and give them contracts.  

Why doesn't he have an opportunity? So if Tyler came out and lit up practice all Fall you really think JC wouldn't play him or play him over other guys? What you are saying is that he doesn't think he can compete which is very different than saying he has no opportunity to compete.

But didn't he have to compete with Maceo, JNJ, Bishop, Harris and Ball before? Now it's Adams, Basimile, Bishop, Harris and Freeman. Five guys same as before.

GWRising wrote:

danjsport wrote:

GWRising wrote:

First of all how do you know what JC promised Tyler? Were you there?

Second of all even accepting that he did make such a promise ... the promise was an opportunity to compete not a promise of the result of that competition. We've come to an inflection point in college basketball and in many other aspects of life. Most kids really don't want to compete ... rather they want a result guaranteed and handed to them. As a coach said to me recently ... we are no longer preparing them for the journey of life rather we are preparing the journey of life for them. This will not end well for either college basketball or society in general.
 

Was I there?  Of course not.  Am I willing to bet that Tyler got an offer with at least an opportunity to compete.  Yes.  But he doesn't have that opportunity.  He just got two guys brought in ahead of him that weren't here when he committed.  Guys who were likely assured good roles and good minutes, or they would have transferred elsewhere.  His opportunity to compete against Lincoln Ball and JNJ and maybe a freshman coming in is very different than having to compete against Bishop and Bamisile, and Adams, and Freeman.  All while not being able to get minutes at the position he believes is most valuable. The concept that these guys don't want to compete is insane.  Of course they want to compete.  It is what they do for a "living" (that they aren't paid in cash for).  Want to make a market where players stay? The solution is easy- pay them and give them contracts.  

Why doesn't he have an opportunity? So if Tyler came out and lit up practice all Fall you really think JC wouldn't play him or play him over other guys? What you are saying is that he doesn't think he can compete which is very different than saying he has no opportunity to compete.

But didn't he have to compete with Maceo, JNJ, Bishop, Harris and Ball before? Now it's Adams, Basimile, Bishop, Harris and Freeman. Five guys same as before.

Tyler would be severely disadvantaged in the competition.  First, recruiting power conference players, and then benching them (not starting them) would come with consequences for future recruitment of transfers and the players' respective AAU programs.  This is far different than recruiting over Tyler, because the coachspeak is just that Tyler "didn't want to compete for the time."  So Tyler would not just have to "light it up" in practice, but would need to get the opportunity in practice to do so, and do so at a clip so much more superior than Adams or Joe or Bishop (and maybe even Amir) that the coach would start him ahead of those guys.  If you tell me politics plays no role in who gets starting gigs, I'll tell you you're lying. 

And, if Tyler needed to improve that much--he'd probably have less focus on the all important education you want him to get back to. 
And if you think Tyler coming in looking at the competitors you listed for last year is the same as this years, you're crazy.  Now, I don't blame JC for getting better (or trying to).  But let's not bash a kid for also wanting to give himself a better opportunity.