As a note, XB is one of the highest rated prospects in the portal. Based upon his actual body of work, slenderman has racked up a fairly unimpressive resume.
Then you go to Frankie Collins, who is looking to join his fourth college program in as many years. Next year have Cam'Ron Fletcher, who MSU tried recruiting but got undercut by Kentucky and is now in search of his third college team, and is ranked 10 points lower than book, but has much better numbers and could probably snap book in two. Still, you have a list of vagabonds with no attachment to anyone.
An interesting guy for MSU would be Bryson Tucker who played AAU with guys like Scott and Ward. The question is whether he wants to go back to the DMV or is he looking broader. He is a long wing with athleticism, but was average at IU. Is he better than Renaux who had better numbers? Either way, you are taking a risk.
In sum, the portal is vagabonds or guys who got to a place and in their first year it did not go as planned and are now looking for their second team in as many years because of a coaching change, lack of playing time, or just culture fit. Tre Donaldson is a good player, but he had never been north of the Mason Dixon line and felt that Michigan cold for the first time. I suspect he will wind up closer to Tallahassee where he grew up. In addition, he never seemed to gel with DM who is a very different guy than Pearl is. It is all a crap shoot you hope to get right, but many in the portal are like Mikey in the Life cereal commercials, they don't like anything are always looking for the better deal. When I started with a law firm out of law school, we referred to certain types of women as LBDs. They were the kind of woman, who you would be out with, but always had their eye out for the better deal - someone richer who could provide them a better life. LBDs were universally hated by most except for those who they were with until the inevitable happened, they once again find a better deal and leave them hanging. Many in the portal are LBDs - always looking for the better deal. So, watch out what you wish for, because there are more wolves than sheep out there.
Then you go to Frankie Collins, who is looking to join his fourth college program in as many years. Next year have Cam'Ron Fletcher, who MSU tried recruiting but got undercut by Kentucky and is now in search of his third college team, and is ranked 10 points lower than book, but has much better numbers and could probably snap book in two. Still, you have a list of vagabonds with no attachment to anyone.
An interesting guy for MSU would be Bryson Tucker who played AAU with guys like Scott and Ward. The question is whether he wants to go back to the DMV or is he looking broader. He is a long wing with athleticism, but was average at IU. Is he better than Renaux who had better numbers? Either way, you are taking a risk.
In sum, the portal is vagabonds or guys who got to a place and in their first year it did not go as planned and are now looking for their second team in as many years because of a coaching change, lack of playing time, or just culture fit. Tre Donaldson is a good player, but he had never been north of the Mason Dixon line and felt that Michigan cold for the first time. I suspect he will wind up closer to Tallahassee where he grew up. In addition, he never seemed to gel with DM who is a very different guy than Pearl is. It is all a crap shoot you hope to get right, but many in the portal are like Mikey in the Life cereal commercials, they don't like anything are always looking for the better deal. When I started with a law firm out of law school, we referred to certain types of women as LBDs. They were the kind of woman, who you would be out with, but always had their eye out for the better deal - someone richer who could provide them a better life. LBDs were universally hated by most except for those who they were with until the inevitable happened, they once again find a better deal and leave them hanging. Many in the portal are LBDs - always looking for the better deal. So, watch out what you wish for, because there are more wolves than sheep out there.
