Rivals Roundtable: Should hoops schools be better in football?

Rivals.com analysts chime in on some current topics in the world of high school recruiting.

ROB CASSIDY, Southeast: It can be a problem and the issue is budgetary. I think fan support is capable of being spread around, and no football recruit in the history of the world looks at a school and says, "I'm not going there because the basketball team is too good." The problem only arises when a school pours all its resources into basketball at the expense of football facilities and other areas that prop up a strong football program. Money restrictions created by an important basketball program are real problems. A successful basketball team is not.

MIKE FARRELL, Recruiting Director: I don’t think it’s an excuse that those schools use; I just think it’s a reality. Schools recruit against basketball powers heavily, telling recruits that they won’t get the same attention as they would at a football school, that there isn’t as much emphasis on football at those schools, numerous different ways to negatively recruit against them. I know for a fact that schools in the Southeast have been using that against UNC to steal players out of North Carolina and it’s worked quite a bit. I also know coaches who recruited at UNC who said it hindered them and it was something they needed to fight against in recruiting battles. So it is a legit obstacle for sure.

ADAM FRIEDMAN, Mid-Atlantic: I think the excuse that they are basketball schools is a cop-out. Having great facilities, a passionate fan base and great gameday atmosphere should be viewed as an asset and something the football department should be able to capitalize on. Duke is starting to turn a corner thanks to excellent coaching on the field, smart and energetic coaches that can recruit, and a commitment to finding good players that will develop into major contributors and difference makers.

ADAM GORNEY, National/West: It is absolutely a legitimate excuse but it can be overcome. Athletic budgets have only so much money and if basketball facilities need to be built or there is an uneven focus on the basketball and football programs then, yes, the football team could suffer in recruiting. That world is so super competitive that every advantage matters so facilities and stadiums and everything else could influence a recruit. But look at what Duke has done in recent years. Indiana has gotten much more competitive in football. There are built-in obstacles for sure but that doesn't mean the teams have to be in the cellar forever.

JOSH HELMHOLDT, Midwest: Schools where basketball tradition outweighs football tradition can face real obstacles when it comes to dispersal of funds between the two programs. When competing against the likes of Alabama, Florida State and Ohio State where football is king, traditional basketball schools may not have the funds at their disposal to put as many coaches on the road, field as big of a recruiting staff or build the facilities that attract recruits.

NICK KRUEGER, Texas: I believe the notion that a school has to predominately be a basketball or a football school is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Look at the effort that Kentucky is making for example; committing to a $110 million football stadium renovation. Mark Stoops gradually strengthens that program, which shows that it’s not all about Coach Cal in Lexington. Both Duke and North Carolina have found varying levels of success on the ACC gridiron recently, and while they might not overtake their hoops counterparts in terms of success anytime soon, they are proving each year that they are more deserving of being taken seriously as football programs.

WOODY WOMMACK, Southeast: No, if anything I think success in basketball should lead to success in football. We've seen schools like North Carolina use big-time basketball games to host recruits on official visits. Duke has a done a great job recruiting in football over the past few years and its success on the field has reflected it. The bottom line is players want to go where they can win and go to the NFL and regardless of how a school's basketball team does, those will still be the biggest selling points in recruiting.

ROB CASSIDY, Southeast: The boring answer is that I'm impressed with the reputation the camps have built in just a few short years. These days, I have top prospects asking about the camps months before the schedules are even released. The eagerness for players to compete in these events has been striking. The less self-promotional answer is that the 2018 class of defensive backs in Florida is truly special. In South Florida alone, Patrick Surtain Jr., Asante Samuel Jr., and Al Blades all have a chance to be truly special. There are a number of other high-level cornerbacks through the state as well.

MIKE FARRELL, Recruiting Director: The battle for No. 1 in the 2017 class is an amazing one. Trevon Grimes was a standout at the Orlando stop and is one of the top wide receivers I’ve seen in years. Najee Harris dominated in LA and is a special running back prospect in the same category as guys like Leonard Fournette and Adrian Peterson historically. And Marvin Wilson is such a non-stop competitor at defensive tackle with such a great work ethic that he’s a rarity at his position, a guy who just doesn’t stop working whether it’s drills or one-on-ones and rarely takes plays off. Those are our current top three in the country and they all showed out.

ADAM FRIEDMAN, Mid-Atlantic: Players know that the Rivals Camp Series is best places to find elite competition. Each of the camps I've covered so far have featured players looking to compete and to get better. I love the intensity of this 2017 class and it is trickling down to the younger players in attendance.

ADAM GORNEY, National/West: My No. 1 impression is that the players at the top of the Rivals.com rankings are out to prove it and are not backing down. Top-ranked prospect Marvin Wilson was outstanding at the Rivals Camp Series stop in Dallas, dominated one-on-ones with speed and power and took over when he wanted to. The same could be said for No. 2 Najee Harris, the five-star Alabama running back commit. He was unstoppable at the Los Angeles event and is so physically impressive that he looks like a college running back already. Reports are that No. 3 Trevon Grimes was great in the Florida camp as well so recruits have backed up their reputation so far.

JOSH HELMHOLDT, Midwest: Seeing No. 1 Marvin Wilson again this past weekend, there is definitely an similarity between he and last year's No. 1, Rashan Gary, in the work ethic and motor department. Every time I have seen Wilson live - from the Dallas RCS last year to the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge and Under Armour Future 50 - he has brought the same intensity, and that intensity usually exceeds that of the others around him. The battle for No. 1 in 2017 will be on-going right up until next winter, but after seeing Wilson again this past weekend he certainly brings the mentality that no one is going to outwork him for that honor.

NICK KRUEGER, Texas: The sunburn that I got on my face last week in Dallas left a lasting impression for sure. Otherwise, I think that Baron Browning is the most physically impressive linebacker that I have seen at a camp this year. He immediately reminded me of 2016 LB Ben Davis, who finished his high school career as a five-star and tops at the position in the Rivals100. Browning is currently the No. 3 linebacker and of a similar build to Davis, so the comparison isn’t that big of a stretch. I think the major difference between the two is that Browning seems better adjusted to his athleticism at this point heading into his senior season than Davis was at the same time last year.

WOODY WOMMACK, Southeast: Midway through the series, it's safe to say we've done a great job at the very top of the Rivals rankings. After watching Trevon Grimes and Najee Harris in person, it's clear they are among the top three prospects in the country. The nation's No. 1 overall prospect, Marvin Wilson, took his turn to impress this past weekend in Dallas and dominated as well. The three will be battling for the top spot all cycle and I've been very impressed with them so far.

ROB CASSIDY, Southeast: I’ve said this before, but Mac Jones still isn’t going to Kentucky. The four-star quarterback is committed to the Wildcats and spends a lot of time wearing a Kentucky hat to 7-on-7 events and camps. It’s all very nice, but I can’t see him actually signing with UK in February. Jones committed to Kentucky early in the process, and interest in him continues to grow. Jones is visiting Arizona, Cal and Arizona State in the coming week. I see the Sun Devils as a real threat to flip his commitment.

MIKE FARRELL, Recruiting Director: I don’t have a region as a national guy but I’ll say Najee Harris. I know Alabama is a big-time program and being the running back there even for a year can lead to NFL millions, but it’s so far from his home and support group that I think in the end he will stay on the West Coast or possibly go someplace slightly closer. It’s tough to say this early, but he’s clearly the highest-rated flip candidate on the board.

ADAM FRIEDMAN, Mid-Atlantic: There aren't a ton of highly rated commitments right now in the Mid-Atlantic. A few to keep an eye on are Rivals100 defensive back Jermani Brown. He is so far from home (California) and from Arizona State that some of the East Coast teams are hoping to make him change his mind. Another candidate for this category just committed on Thursday, but it will be a fight to the end for Virginia Tech to keep Hendon Hooker. A lot of what happens to him down the line depends on Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and a few others schools. I'm not saying Hooker will flip but it's something to keep an eye on.

ADAM GORNEY, National/West: I have no solid proof on this one so it's completely a guess but I think four-star Greg Johnson, who committed to Arizona recently, will definitely consider other schools. That is by no means to say he's going to flip but if he wants to play with five-star receiver Joseph Lewis then SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten schools become a real possibility and that could put significant pressure on the Wildcats moving forward.

JOSH HELMHOLDT, Midwest: Rivals250 defensive end James Hudson committed to Kentucky last summer. He then went out, had a monster junior year and generated additional college interest. Spring visits to other programs are likely for Hudson, with Michigan State and Tennessee being two programs that present serious competition to the Wildcats. Hudson's teammate, Michael Warren, is also committed to Kentucky, as are several Toledo-area prospects he knows well. And, Kentucky has done a very good job of keeping its Ohio-based commitments in-the-fold over the last few years. This is a recruitment to watch this spring and summer, but not necessarily a sure-fire flip.

NICK KRUEGER, Texas: Robert Barnes is currently part of a talented foursome of defensive backs already committed to Oklahoma in 2017. While it’s possible the Sooners could be calling it good with that group, Barnes could seek an opportunity where he is the crown jewel of another program’s secondary. He has recently been offered by Notre Dame and has a visit scheduled for next month, but it’s going to take a lot of effort to sway any of Oklahoma’s commitments this season, who have shown plenty of interest in becoming one of the nation’s top recruiting classes.

WOODY WOMMACK, Southeast: It's always tough to predict a commitment flip but I would keep a close eye on Alabama commitment Xavier McKinney. The Rivals100 defensive back has been committed for a while, but Clemson, Georgia and Florida are all making a strong push. If anything we could see him re-open his recruitment first rather than just flip. But either way I think he's a name to watch.