What To Do When The Coach Quits and Leaves You Hanging

In response to my article, "Prepare Jr. for Adversity! “a parent wrote:

Larry - let me ask you this. My son was recruited to play at a number of D3 colleges, offered spots on three teams, decided on one. We had both verbal, and written correspondence confirming his playing on the team. Coach quits, new coach starts 3 weeks before school starts. We are committed, registered, paid and ready to move in. Son starts school with all the team members like the team already exists.

Does all the conditioning (5am), open gyms, study tables with the team up to season start this past week. Finds out he is not going to be rostered, cut actually. A year of being recruited, multiple offers, a press release confirmed by the prior coach about his being on the 2009-2010 team. New coach brings one kid from prior school, of course he makes it. Add insult to injury, my son and a teammate (6.8kid) both recruited, both came, both room together. He was kept. We are beyond belief, actually crazed at this point. Kid's just destroyed, humiliated. Adversity I get this I can't. This will about kill his chances for anything next. What would you do in this case? Talking to the coach would be total BS at this point - seen enough of other coaches do the "well his or that...."

For point of reference, kid is 6.4, Starter at a 2000 kid high school, Senior Team Captain, good stats, team finished top 5 in the state, only team to beat the team that won State, and two of those kids on that team are going Marquee Level D1. Would love to hear your comments.

Dear Anonymous (and son):

Wow! Believe it or not, I feel your pain! Here are my comments and suggestions:

Run to the roar!

This IS adversity! Let it make you, not break you. This could be a blessing in disguise. Did you know that there are many kids, some even have D1 scholarships, that do not even get a sniff of the court in their freshman year?

I talked with a parent this morning whose son finished HS in 2006 and attended his first college class just a few weeks ago. This young man also played his first collegiate BB games last week. By the way, he scored 20 and 26 points in the two games he played in and is well on his way to receiving a full college scholarship. He did not give up and neither should you!

After you and your son dry the tears, I have some good news tempered with some reality. The good news is that you do NOT have to give up on the dream. The reality is that you have got some work to do if you want to achieve the dream. The only guarantee is that you will get nothing if you do nothing.

If you can PLAY and you want to play, do NOT surrender without a fight! Your resume along with the fact that multiple coaches recruited you indicates that you have some ability and that there is a market for you.

It is difficult, but forget the past!

Coaches move, that is a reality that more athletes need to consider when involved in this process. This has happen before and it will happen again (not necessarily to you). College coaching is like any other job. Coaches get fired or move on to better jobs. This can happen at anytime; there is nothing that you can do about it. New coaches bring new systems and preferences for certain types of players; and as you are now aware, sometimes they bring players with them. It is not fair, but it is a reality in college sports.

Decide to do the WORK necessary to fulfill your dream.

Work hard to get good grades; there will be no success without them). This can also help to get scholarship money later if you need it. Stay in shape and work to improve your skill level. When the next opportunity presents itself, you have to be ready! Take advantage of everything that is available to you (i.e. tutors, athletic facilities, etc.). Get over the pain and attend the BB games. Study the teams, players, and coaches. Learn everything that you can. Perhaps you will discover a team in need of your particular strengths. Who knows? If you get invited to one of these schools next spring, you can impress the coach with your knowledge of his team and his system. Who knows? Look at it this way, whoever gets you for next season will be getting a more mature, stronger, better skilled player who has proven that he can handle college level work and has four years of playing eligibility left. That gives you an advantage over some graduating HS seniors!

Expose yourself.

There is a school out there for you; this just was not the one. Start by contacting the coaches that were interested in you. Find out what you need to do to get back on their lists for next season. Contact the coach who changed jobs and let him know of your situation. You may not fit in his new situation, but he does know other coaches. He thought enough of you to recruit you; perhaps he will recommend you to a colleague. Note that you will still have to prove that you can play. Find and contact other schools similar to the ones that recruited you. Fill out their athletic interest forms.

Locate unsigned senior and Jr. College exposure events to play in during the spring of 2010. Inform interested coaches that you will be playing. If they cannot attend perhaps they will check out reports from the event and invite you for a campus visit.

You are still in the “recruiting process” mode, so, you need to follow the same rules where possible. See my article, “How to Catch a College for Jr.” for more information.

To Anonymous: If you decide to continue to pursue your dream, email me at, TheDad@TheBBConnection.com and I will help.

Others: I invite you to share your comments, suggestions and experiences below.

Prepare Jr. for Adversity!

So, Jr. (my term for your BB player) wants to play college basketball. Many high school players share this dream and they all need to know that the path through collegiate athletics is littered with obstacles, challenges, and adversity. Players who know that the path will not always be rosy and who get good advice during difficult times tend to have the best chances for success.

My son, who is currently a student athlete at Arkansas Tech, prepared long and hard through physical and academic adversity to be ready to play BB during the 2008-09 seasin. One week before the beginning of the season, he came down the wrong way on a knee, and that was it. Surgery quickly followed and rehab is currently under way. How will he deal with this new challenge? Will he allow his academics to slip? Will he exert the effort and hard work necessary to rehab and fulfill his dream? What will he learn from this experience? Will this situation make him bitter or better?

One certainty for every college athlete is adversity! The coaches may ride Jr. very hard. Jr. may not get the playing time he expected. The school may change coaches in midstream. The school may recruit “Mr. Basketball” at Jr.’s position. An injury could occur. Academic issues may threaten Jr.’s eligibility. The team may not like Jr. and make things difficult for him. This list can go on and on.

Adversity MUST be viewed as opportunities to develop Jr.’s character. That nasty attitude may not be discovered until pressure is applied. Jr. may have never realized that his work ethic needs adjustment if he had not been benched. The opportunity to play college ball and get a great education may have never been appreciated until it was temporarily taken away. Parents, it IS YOUR JOB to help Jr. understand that the path to success goes straight through adversity!

The distress call

As a parent, how do you respond when Jr. calls pouting about a problem? During his freshman season, my son Mike, called me concerning a coach’s decision to make him run “Stadiums” (running up and down stadium steps). Mike felt that this was unfair because the coach misunderstood the circumstances that led to the “punishment”. How did I respond? Well, though I privately agreed that the coach was a bit unfair, I asked my son, “WHY are you calling ME? I am not your coach; you can run the “Stadiums” or quit the team. This is up to you!”. I then hung up the phone. Fortunately, Mike made the right decision. Not only did he run the stadiums, but his level of play improved, including a couple of double-doubles and a 16 point effort in 14 minutes to end the season. If I had patronized him, I would have destroyed an opportunity for my son to mature as a person and a player. I have a hard and fast policy when it comes to my son’s coaches, “I allow them to coach (without interference) and I parent, case closed!

This reminds me of a scene from the movie, “Remember the Titans”. Head football coach, Denzel Washington tells one of his assistant coaches who chooses to play a player that Denzel had benched, “You are not helping these kids by patronizing them, you are…crippling them for LIFE!”.

Coach Herb Sendek of Arizona State highlighted these truths during the 2008 RCS Sports’ Parent and Coaches Recruiting Workshop when he shared “The Vinny DelNegro Story”. I have published this clip on YouTube and you can view it by clicking below.

The Dad

View video on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dcqpHJih2c

The Serious Business of Career Planning

This state of recruiting address delivered by George Raveling, Nike’s Director of Worldwide Operations, at the 2007 RCS Sports Parents and Coaches Recruiting Workshop is a classic that every parent and every player MUST listen to! If Junior wants to have a collegiate basketball career then STOP…don’t pass GO…don’t sign that letter of intent until you consider this information from Coach Reveling. Invest some time to listen now and received dividends for years to come.

Here are a few topics covered by Coach Raveling:

• Tips: Preparing for college
• Developing a five year plan
• Preparing for life, not just an athletic scholarship
• Working WITH your player
• Personal, academic and athletic development
• Taking control of the recruiting process
• Evaluating a College: The Campus Visit
• Preparing questions for recruiters

View these videos when you have time to carefully consider what is being said and take good notes.

To order the entire workshop on DVD featuring six dynamic speakers along with questions from the audience,, click here;

http://www.basketballconnection.net/PCW/Order+PCW_DVD.html

You can also preview and order the 2008 workshop at the link above.

Here are the Videos:

Part 1

Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adcre7b7wdQ

Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re8CleWHDns

Part 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJDwbvsCn6I

Part 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLCNEYRVHMc

Part 6 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwAUKHtmDxA

Choosing a High School for Your Basketball Player

Recently, a parent sent me this email…

Hi,

In terms of getting recruited by any college (small or big), how important is the High School a kid attends?

Is it better to play for a small, unknown, Div 3A High School but where a kid will get plenty of playing time and run up his stats or should he transfer and play for a very well known Div 5A High School that has a reputation for producing good players, faces much better competition and is more well known?

Thanks in advance for any input you may have!

Blake

Here is my reply...

Blake,

This is a great question and I believe that the answer is “it depends”. How good is your player right now? How much potential does he have for improvement (always get a second opinion on this)? What college level do you intend to target (High D1, Mid-Major, D2, NAIA, JC, D3)? Top level talent will generally be discovered and recruited despite the high school level. For other players, “getting seen” and “being recruited” is more about developing your kids playing ability and marketing than being at a particular school. I believe that the selection of a school however, is very important. The school should be one that helps to develop your player’s academics, character and playing ability. All of these elements are important to college recruiters. Low ratings in any of these areas could cost you up to $100,000 in college scholarship money (or more depending on the school)! Here are some additional factors that should be considered when selecting a high school.

The Right School Values Academic Preparation

In an era when many of today’s schools do not give students homework, attention must be given to a schools academic history. If “Jr.” (my term for your BB player) is fortunate enough to receive a college scholarship, it is not worth much if he cannot keep it because of academic deficiencies. Some schools are better than others at college prep. Test score histories do not always paint an accurate picture. I know of one school destruct that actually moves “slower” and/or “problem” kids into a special program so that the district’s test score averages look better. Talk to parents that are familiar with the school that you are considering. Talk to counselors about special SAT/ACT preparation offerings.

Academic achievement is very important! If Jr. does not receive a full athletic scholarship, academic money may open up other playing opportunities. Some schools have the option to offer partial scholarships. If Jr. can get the other required monies via academic funding, he becomes more attractive to certain schools. You will still have the benefit of a full scholarship in this case.

Some of the better academic schools are in NCAA Division 3. These schools cannot offer athletics scholarships, but they do offer academic, leadership and grant monies. Schools like Hanover College in Indiana play an excellent brand of basketball. If Jr. earns a degree from a school like Hanover, his financial future is pretty much secured! Do not overlook the value of academic preparation!

One more note on D2, D3 and NAIA schools. The best players in these divisions DO get opportunities to display their skills to professional scouts in events like the Collegiate Basketball Invitational.

The right school = the right coach!

It is important to find a HS coach who cares about kids and is willing to work for them. Some coaches just want to play and go home. Look for a “teacher” who cares and who will contact schools that you may become interested in. A good teacher will help to develop your player. If Jr. is not a tier 1 player or is not “lucky” enough to “be seen”, you are going to have to do some marketing work. A cooperative and concerned HS coach is invaluable to this process.

Jr.’s high school coach could have a huge impact on his recruitment. The opinion of high school coaches is highly valued among many college coaches. If the coach has a low opinion of a player’s ability or character, it will negatively impact recruiting.

It is important to surround your kid with the best people possible. A good coach will ensure that a kid with the ability to play at the college level will have opportunities to play and develop even if he is behind a “superstar” on the depth chart.
Find out what others are saying about the coach at the school you are considering.

The Value of PT

When D1/D2 coaches attend a high school game, it is usually to see a kid that they already know about. Occasionally, they will spot someone else that is playing well. So, if your kid is getting minutes, he has a chance to be seen, no matter how slight. Playing time (PT) IS important to recruiting. A kid has no chance of “being seen if he is not on the court. Placing Jr. at a school where he will get a legitimate shot at PT (he has to earn it) enhances his recruiting possibilities. If there are numerous players with Jr.’s skill set that play the same position, you may want to consider another school.

The Value of Competition

If Jr. is a highly skilled player, he should have no trouble getting playing time at a 4a or 5A high school. Good competition usually helps a player to get better. Coaches do consider the level of competition when evaluating a player, although it is just one factor. If two kids grade out equally and one kids plays 5A and the other kid plays 3A, the 5A kid will likely get the nod. Note also that 4A and 5A teams tend to get more media coverage.

Strong competition will prepare Jr. for the next level where he will compete against even better players. As a matter of fact, there are several college freshmen players that are already impacting their teams. Many attribute their readiness to play to the fact that they frequently played against good competition in HS and on the summer ball circuit. See these recent ESPNU articles about freshmen who are ready to play and are having an immediate impact.

Rose, Griffin are comfortable as the focus of their teams

Hickson scores 31 on 12-for-12 shooting to power NC State

Take Advantage of Recruiting Services

No matter which school Jr attends, ensure that the recruiting services in your area know about him. Make sure that Jr’s stats along with any published articles about Jr. are available to these services. In the Houston area, we are fortunate to have RCS Sports and the incomparable Jim Hicks. If Jim hears that your kid can play, he will find a way to evaluate him. Many colleges subscribe to these services. A good report can open some doors.

Do not overlook the value of “Summer Ball”

Summer basketball nay actually play a bigger role than the HS in recruiting because coaches have more time to watch players during the summer. Use the same care when selecting a summer team as you do for HS.

Conclusion

Work to place Jr. at the highest level that he has a realistic opportunity to compete for playing time. The school should value academics and have special college prep offerings. The school should have a head coach who cares, teaches and will work with you in the recruiting process.
.
The Dad

Parents/Coaches: If you have an opinion on this subject, please submit a commen!

What is Your Recruiting IQ? - Take the Test!

What is your recruiting IQ? Here is a little 7 question test that should get you to thinking about how knowledgeable you really are. The answers follow the test along with some related links that will help you to understand the answers. Can you score 100%?!

1) How many Basketball College Scholarships are awarded each year in the United States?

[ ] 700] 1,000[ ] 1,200 [ ] 1,500[ ] 1,800

2) How many Basketball College Scholarships are awarded each year to Jr. College players?

[ ] 100[ ] 300 [ ] 450 [ ] 500 [ ] 600

3) When a college scout evaluates a player, which of these characteristics is LLEAST looked for?

[ ] Rebounding [ ] Scoring [ ] Hustle [ ] Defense [ ] Passing [ ] Ability to penetrate

4) If your son is entering his senior high school season and no schools have shown an interest in him even though he has shown the ability to play college ball; what is the most important thing that you should do?

[ ] Call college coaches [ ] Tell Jr. to “Get with it” [ ] Tell Jr.’s coach to “get with it”
[ ] Learn how to market Jr. effectively [ ] Put off buying that new car

5) Most non blue-chip players who receive basketball scholarships get them because:

[ ] They make very high SAT scores [ ] they score lots of points in a game
[ ] They send out a concise resume to a school [ ] someone opens a door for them

6) Which item below is MOST important when it comes to receiving a basketball scholarship at a NCAA school?

[ ] A high SAT/ACT score [ ] A recommendation from a HS or AAU coach [ ] A clear criminal record
[ ] Being a Clearing House qualifier ] Lead the team in scoring

7) What is the MOST important thing that you can do to ensure that your athlete has an opportunity to develop into the type of [layer that college coaches will want?

[ ] Ensure he is in a winning program [ ] Get him an athletic trainer
[ ] Surround him with people of character and knowledge [ ] Enroll him in as many summer cams as possible
[ ] Put a BB court in your back yard

Answers:

1) 1,200

2) 600

3) Scoring

4) Learn how to market Jr. effectively

5) someone opens a door for them

6) Being a Clearing House qualifier

7) Surround him with people of character and knowledge

I will comment on the test soon in another blog article.. Meanwhile, here are some related links

Do you only have Division I eyes?

Basketball Recruiting?

Getting Your Kid Seen.

How to Catch a College for Junior

Should Pregnant College Athletes Lose Their Scholarships?

Should pregnant college athletes lose their scholarships? KCOH sports personality Ralph Cooper posed this very question to his listeners on his 7/21/2007 talk show. The Dad attempted to call in and share his opinion, but, my cell phone dropped the call before KCOH could pickup the line. Therefore, the Dad will sound off here.

First of all, I believe that the NCAA should not enact a rule at that level, I believe that the policy regarding this situation should be left to each institution. Whatever rule or policy that they enact should be clearly stated in the letter of intent signed by the student athlete. The athlete should know “exactly” what the school requires and what the penalty is for violation of the policy.

That being said, here is my take. When a student athlete signs a letter of intent to play athletics for an institution of higher learning, it is a two-way commitment. The school agrees to pay tuition, fees, cost of books, room and board, etc., the student agrees to maintain an acceptable GPA and commits to doing everything Iin her power to aid the success of the athletic program. This includes maintaining a high level of physical fitness and abstaining from conduct that will be detrimental to the team or the university (drug use, illegalities, public disorder, and unethical behavior, for example).

A school’s investment in the student athlete goes beyond academic costs and room and board. Many dollars are spent in the recruiting process. These expenses include travel, scouting services, background checks and other costs. This money is spent not only to find good student athletes, but to locate good citizens who will honor their commitment and bring honor to themselves and to the institution. Big time college athletics is a business and losing players and scholarships can affect the bottom line.

When an athlete ‘chooses’ to engage in behavior that is dangerous to themselves or that endangers their ability to contribute at a high level to their team, in essence, they are betraying the trust that the institution has placed in them. They are also endangering the future that they have worked so hard to be positioned for. Both parties are endangered in this case.

Athletes make these decisions, unfortunately, all to often. Sometimes, no one knows and they get away with it. But sometimes they get caught. When you get caught, there is a price to pay. Pregnancy is seriously “getting caught” and carries a serious penalty. A new person is now coming into the world and many decisions and adjustments are now inevitable.

What should the institution do? The player has violated (except for the case of rape) her commitment to her team and athletics program. There should be a “penalty” for this violation. Others should know that if they make the same choice and they “get caught” that there are consequences.

This is a difficult situation to deal with. Fairness, compassion, and the needs of the individual and the institution will be impacted by the schools policy.

Here is the policy that I would implement. I would allow the athlete to retain her scholarship for 1 additional semester following the current one. At that point, the scholarship would be revoked. After the birth of the child and a reasonable time for physical recovery, I would give her an opportunity to prove that she can still earn a spot on the team. If she is willing and puts in the work and earns her position, her scholarship would be renewed for the remainder of her athletic eligibility.

This solution can cost the school a scholarship position for up to two years depending on when the athlete has to withdraw from playing. The athletic program has to absorb this loss in addition to losses it normally has due to injury and other reasons.

The athlete loses a scholarship but can continue her education during her period of pregnancy (if health permits). The remainder of her education may be in jeopardy, but she has an option to earn an athletic scholarship again if her health permits and she chooses to make that sacrifice.

I believe this should apply whether he athlete is married or not. In either case, the athlete knows that pregnancy is not compatible with their commitment to the institution. Married athletes certainly face a higher risk as there are no 100% foolproof methods to prevent pregnancy. I assume many coaches shy away from married female athletes for this reason.

Is the student athlete left at the mercy of the athletic department at this point? Yes. If the coach does not want her back for some reason other than playing ability, she will not be offered that scholarship again. Unfortunately, this is a reality in college athletics today. The 1 year “renewable” scholarship gives schools some leverage when it comes to retaining athletes. In this case, the athlete placed herself in a dangerous situation scholarship wise. I have to believe that in most cases, if the student is otherwise a good citizen, a good student, a hard worker, and a good team player, she will get a legitimate shot at renewing the scholarship. Otherwise, she will tend to reap what has been sown.

There is a lesson to be learned here. If you have worked hard to obtain an opportunity that will benefit you for the rest of your life, you should work harder to keep what you have earned and not throw it away. There are many decisions that are made BEFORE the decision that leads to pregnancy. Other than rape, the sex act is a choice. The quality of our lives is generally a result of the choices that we make.

Wait! I can hear those who say that the student did not choose to get pregnant. That is technically correct. However, the student DOES choose to risk pregnancy by participating in the sex act. The person who plays Russian roulette does not choose to die, but he does choose to risk the possibility of death even though the odds are in his favor.

Our culture teaches us that premarital sex is normal and should be accepted when engaged by consenting adults. Very rarely are the negative personal, physical, and emotional consequences that can accompany this choice portrayed in the vast array of media and entertainment options available to our kids.

Parents, educate and prepare your children to the best of your ability BEFORE they leave home!

THE DAD

Here is what others are saying:

Reports prompt NCAA to review pregnant athletes policies – From ESPNU

Schools Should Hold Line on Pregnant Athletes

Should pregnant athletes lose their scholarships?

NCAA Dootle A-Zone

Pregnant athletes deal with loss of scholarships

Pregnant College Athletes and Athletic Scholarships

Jai Lucas: Opportunity and Hard Work Equals Success

The Dad highly recommends viewing the May 14, 2007 Web broadcast of “Nothing But Net” featuring a one hour interview with Jai Lucas and his High School coach, Bruce Glover. Jai signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Florida at a Bellaire High School press conference earlier in the day. This show was my personal favorite in the improving “Nothing But Net: (NBN) series. This broadcast may have been the most watched show to date as excited Florida fans and jilted coaches tuned in to see the newly signed McDonald’s All-American. (I do not know if NBN tracks viewers.)

Why did I like the show? Why do I recommend it? Because, Jai Lucas is an over-comer! I found myself rejoicing with this kid. Many people will say that with his Dad’s (former NBA star and coach John Lucas) influence, success was inevitable. But, there are hundreds of kids who have successful and influential parents who have failed in their pursuits. Most kids in Jai’s position will tell you that following big footsteps leads through a mine-field of potential pitfalls.

Jai was labeled too small and too short to ever become an All-State player at the 5A level, much less a McDonald’s All-American. During the summer following Jai’s 8th grade school year, Poppa John asked Bellaire High School BB coach Bruce Glover if Jai could make his varsity squad as a 9th grader. After watching the “too small”, “too short” kid play, the candid coach responded, “No, but perhaps he can make it s a 10th or 11th grader”. Apparently, Jai did not accept “No” as a final answer, he just went back to work in the gym. History tells us that Jai started at point guard for 4 ears at Bellaire. Did Poppa John’s influence help to kick in the door? Well, let’s just say that it did not hurt. Coach Glover says that once he gave Jai the ball to run the point, he never gave it back.

Opportunity may open a door for you, but you must be ‘prepared’ to take advantage of it. The pressure to perform in a situation like this is enormous. Just imagine what you will have to endure if you do not produce! Imagine the ire of parents whose budding young superstar will have to take a back seat to this ‘little’ kid or find another bus. Some Bellaire parents have done just that; the Dad has talked with them. Their situation may not have been ‘fair’, but it was very real.

Jai Lucas cannot change the fact that he is john Lucas’ son. He has to live with that reality. He has to deal with the expectations. He has to deal with the legacy. He has to deal with the haters. The one’s who do not think that it is fair that he is Jai Lucas. Jai has had to deal with on court taunting, unnecessary rough stuff as insecure players feel it necessary to ‘prove’ that they are better.

Opportunity is a wonderful thing, but it can seem like a curse if you are not prepared to walk into the doors that open for you. Jai prepared himself with a work ethic that few can maintain. Jai decided to use the pressure and taunting to motivate him instead of allowing it to make him angry and bitter. Jai continued a workout regime that includes three or four sessions per day beginning at 6 a.n. This schedule has evolved from a regime to a lifestyle for Jai. Most kids Jai’s age find it too difficult to maintain a schedule like this for more than a few weeks. When Coach Glover expressed doubt about Jai’s ability to make the varsity as a 9th grader, Jai improved his game so dramatically over the summer, that he reversed Coach Glover’s words. Most kids see rejection as a message to give up. Jai on the other hand has learned to turn doubt and hating into what Bobby Bouche (The Waterboy) would call “tackling fuel”. (By the way, if you have never seen ‘The Waterboy’, go out and rent it today!)

Jai has risen above his critics, doubters and haters to become a high school All-American and has signed a letter of intent to play with the two-time NCAA Champion Florida Gators. He has an opportunity to compete for the starting point guard position as a freshman. I like the fact that Jai is not gloating but rather thanking everyone who doubted that he could make it. This is truly a remarkable story about a remarkable kid. I just rejoice with Jai and look forward to watching him on TV next season.

If kids would take the time to consider Jai’s obstacles and not just look at his opportunities, they would learn some helpful secrets about life. The most important principles include:
o Hhard work produces results
o hating produces nothing
o Doubters are generally blind to the potential inside of you

Go Jai, you just sold a subscription to he ESPN NCAA Baskeball Game day (or whatever it is called). The Dad will be watching!

THE DAD

Here are some internet references to Jai’s signing:

Gators Sign Point Guard Jai Lucas

Jai Lucas chooses Fla., informs Patterson via text

Gators beat Kentucky for prized recruit

UK loses top prospect to Fla.