Anon Question for 2027 Recruits & Commits

[Anonymous (d5e7)]

Recruiting is changing so much and it's fascinating. I'm noticing that some top schools are getting their entire class of likely top choice recruits to commit right after their visit, cancelling future planned visits. This is potentially a good thing. I think the class of 2025 was the first class where athletes could take unlimited official visits and some girls took full advantage going on many many visits, which seemed like a ton of fun for them, but it unfortunately pushed out the process for those who were waiting to see what spots might be left after the top recruits made their choices. That said, I wonder why so many are commiting so quickly? Are they all THAT SURE that they've found their top choice and want to be done? I know visits are tiring, but they are also fun and informative. So I'm curious, is something else going on? Do schools/coaches put very short time limits on offers, so that a recruit must give up future visits if they want the spot? Do recruits now strategically schedule their visits in the order of what they think their choice of schools is? Or are there incentives to commit early? Is anyone with a '27 (or who knows the deal) willing to share?

 

[Anonymous (f751)]

Not a 27, but a 26 and have many close friends that are 27s. To answer your question, I believe there are several different explanations that I have observed, some perhaps more prominent than others.

• Because of social media, instagram, tiktok, snapchat, these girls are incredibly connected, even if they are across the country. In many cases they have participated in DP camps together or competed against each other, but either way, they do "talk" alot and there is a little bit of group-think going on with this class. I know many of them tried to plan officials together so they were going on the same visits for example.
• $$$$, this is the first class that has the genuine opportunity for money to be in the conversations of recruitment. Yes, prior classes talked about NIL and the opportunities to potentially make extra money, but now revenue share is in full effect and some programs do have money to pay girls just to join the team (And I have heard some insane numbers, not sure if I believe them but $$ is real). As much as we like to think we are above being driven by $, the money is real and a definite motivator.
• In some cases, you are correct, there are offers that are time limited. Although the current top recruits going through their visits all have offers that are not going away. Theoretically there will come a point where the program will press for an answer, but they are not giving them a deadline to commit. But it does happen and it is real.
• There is confirmation bias at play here. Most of them by the time they get to their official visits, they already have a school they want. The visit is only really to confirm their leanings (besides being a fun reward for their work). Visits are not as informative as you think, all questions are typically answered before they come on campus. The visit is about seeing the team, the facilities and culture at play. If they go on the visit, and no flags show up, they are like, what's the point on going on more? Especially if they have done at least one prior.

Anyway those are my observations