Anon College Recruiting experience, insights and opinions

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I found the recruiting process to be very time consuming, emotionally draining, and ultimately heartbreaking. That was about 8 years ago. I’m glad to see some of the new changes, and I’ve seen gymnasts who were never on the radar get scholarships and walk-on spots their senior year.
You do need to start earlier than Junior year, as the spots are filled pretty much on June 15th for the class year of the rising juniors.
I wish all of you good luck and good stamina if your gymnast is starting the recruitment process.
 
In my little gym family, for the 2024's we are bumping up against the dead period (I think it starts in December) where coaches cant contact recruits. We have had a few 2024 who are just now getting official visit invites and are trying to squeeze a visit in before the dead period and then season. It's interesting that these gymnasts are being offered walk-on spots at major SEC programs. Part of the appeal is team NIL deals. These are solid gymnasts but by no means elite. Havent made nationals and only 1 year L10. It seems these larger SEC schools are going to be expanding their rosters because they can with NIL. Which at the end of the day is good for all of our gymnasts.
 
Just linking in another great thread on college recruiting...

 
Some updates from our gym world and what is happening with 2024s.
  • Walk-ons are definitely benefiting from NIL and the larger programs. While these girls are not given "deals" per se, they are offered a platform or a type of job board where they can sign up for various compensation, make a post about a local bank - $300, do a handstand for a restaurant - $400, etc. Some of the big names have hired agents that seek bigger deals ala Avery Neff
  • I have read on and around message boards that certain conferences have gone to only offering 4 year scholarships. Technically all scholarships are 1 year affairs that can be renewed/cancelled by program but if a program commits to 4 years then it is assumed they will always be renewed. I can say the the B10 and the SEC do not offer 4 year scholarships as a rule (I am sure there are top names that do get them). These programs are offering 1 or 2 year scholarships with a "lets see how it goes" after.
  • Scholarships and walk-on spots are being offered up to the December dead period as well as official visits being offered during the spring. So good to know for future recruits that all is not lost if you dont immediately have contact and offers from programs in the summer.
 
This is a very helpful and informative post. Our daughter is an 8th grader currently competing as a level 7 and has multiple state titles at this time. She has interest in competing at the college level if it’s an option in the future but really wasn’t sure if/when she’d know if she was even on track to be noticed.
 
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so just saw Sophia Greaves (Olivia’s sister) posted about joining Auburn. So she is a very low scoring level 10. This is where I don’t understand recruiting and NCAA at all.…….
 
This is where I think NIL is going to make an impact on roster size at these schools that have large NIL opportunities like Auburn. It also shows the benefit of being in the right gym with coaches that have connections and relationships with colleges. Opportunities definitely exist for girls that perhaps previously weren't available.
 
This is where I think NIL is going to make an impact on roster size at these schools that have large NIL opportunities like Auburn. It also shows the benefit of being in the right gym with coaches that have connections and relationships with colleges. Opportunities definitely exist for girls that perhaps previously weren't available.

I would actually just look at this as that she has a freshman sister at the same school that is very high scoring. Olivia Greaves could potentially be a future superstar in the Auburn line up. Auburn in not very deep and they are losing Suni (who is running AA). They are also losing Gobourne. Plus you have Stevens as a senior running AA and Brush a senior running 2 events. Olivia Greaves is out with an ACL (again) but this is what you have with her. Why not keep her happy by pulling her sister in?

 
I would actually just look at this as that she has a freshman sister at the same school that is very high scoring. Olivia Greaves could potentially be a future superstar in the Auburn line up. Auburn in not very deep and they are losing Suni (who is running AA). They are also losing Gobourne. Plus you have Stevens as a senior running AA and Brush a senior running 2 events. Olivia Greaves is out with an ACL (again) but this is what you have with her. Why not keep her happy by pulling her sister in?


Exactly, but you can do something like this because NIL allows you to offer a scholarship that doesnt count against your limit. If they were stuck at only 12 scholarships, there is no way this would happen
 
Exactly, but you can do something like this because NIL allows you to offer a scholarship that doesnt count against your limit. If they were stuck at only 12 scholarships, there is no way this would happen

Interesting conversation going on here again.

Why would there not be "walk-on" spots without NIL? Colleges do not offer NIL scholarships. Some of the colleges promote that the have great NIL deals... but that is all.

Here is NILSU...

 
Interesting conversation going on here again.

Why would there not be "walk-on" spots without NIL? Colleges do not offer NIL scholarships. Some of the colleges promote that the have great NIL deals... but that is all.

Here is NILSU...

Exactly. It is a recruiting violation to use NIL as a recruiting tool. They cannot guarantee an athlete anything when it comes to NIL.
 
so just saw Sophia Greaves (Olivia’s sister) posted about joining Auburn. So she is a very low scoring level 10. This is where I don’t understand recruiting and NCAA at all.…….
I haven't looked into her scores or routines but just have to say that there may be more going on beyond the scores. She may be a specialist working particular skills that the coaches believe will pay off for their team? She may have agreed to be an student assistant. Who knows... Just saying not to assume it is based solely on her sister. And there are many other spots on other teams based on "who you know" so why not?
 
I haven't looked into her scores or routines

I have. Looks as if she has starting coming around very late. Decent stuff going on but with zero scoring consistency. Definitely has great potential but that potential is not reality as of yet.

There are many athletes out there of this caliber. Looks like she could potentially make the line up and be a contender in many other schools with time. Auburn seems like a reach with their ability to recruit.

This is all just my opinion. Odd choice for Auburn in my opinion (except for one reason).

 
Who knows... Just saying not to assume it is based solely on her sister. And there are many other spots on other teams based on "who you know" so why not?

This is very true... weird stuff going on in recruiting sometimes. I will state that she doesn't seem to be an obvious choice for Auburn... that's as much as I'm going to state on that front though.
 
My kid is not even close to competing gymnastics on a a NCAA level.

And recruiting is a 2 way street. Before I let her “waste” a visit I’d want to know what the schools have to offer? Do you have scholarship, walk on only……. And where they see her as a fit……
 
And recruiting is a 2 way street. Before I let her “waste” a visit I’d want to know what the schools have to offer? Do you have scholarship, walk on only……. And where they see her as a fit……

Very true... you want to know the basics and if the basics don't line up then there is no point.

However... if they want you... they are going to show you all that and then some. And if they are top tier D1 or any SEC... they are going to seriously throw down if you go on an official visit. And they are good at it... they are going to know you better than you know yourself... they will try to make you believe that their school is the only school that you fit in at.
 
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