Inside Kentucky’s Recruiting Roadblocks: A Deep Dive into JMI, NIL, and Closing-Table Drama
KSR takes an inside look at Kentucky basketball's recruiting and the impact of JMI and Mark Pope's efforts.
Inside Kentucky’s Recruiting Roadblocks: A Deep Dive into JMI, NIL, and Closing-Table Drama
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In talking to sources, JMI, in conjunction with the UK basketball staff, is requiring prospective student-athletes to sign away NIL rights that would normally be untouched at any other school. A highly structured brand partnership agreement is something uncommon at other schools, but it is something Kentucky has pursued in accordance with JMI, making this arrangement unique to the current landscape of college basketball recruiting.
“I will say that Kentucky is the only school I’ve dealt with that even has anything remotely like this in their contracts,” one anonymous source said.
just fire everyone if this **** is true
“I will say that Kentucky is the only school I’ve dealt with that even has anything remotely like this in their contracts,” one anonymous source said.
just fire everyone if this **** is true
Just finished reading that after the link in another thread. Pretty damning all around, really. Instead of being all one or the other, it sounds like JMI and Pope are both problems in their own way, which is the worst possible scenario. Such an all around failure may not be easy to fix.
Mitch at fault for both
The only thing I take from that article about Pope and Hart are they have integrity on what they say and promise. Maybe having a smart, hard working coach that loves the University as much as anyone on this board isn’t important to some. It damn sure is important to me
Yeah…idk what I think about this. A line like this: “sign away NIL rights.” What kind of NIL rights? Whoever put that quote in the article without being more specific should be questioned for journalistic integrity. That’s not good reporting.
I’m so disappointed after reading that article. Hard not to be sad at this point. I hope the team turns things around but I’m really concerned about the future of the program at this point
Pope’s control of his emotions is troubling.
I had a feeling he was messing up somehow and now we know what the problem is.
Sounds like the fiduciary(JMI) is failing to adjust to the current conditions in which they operate, which is rapidly evolving. Hence, are failing to represent the best interests of their clients effectively in the current market.
I'm not a lawyer but I know what a fiduciary is and is not. I presume them to be a fiduciary in this scenario, as that seems to apply here. A fiduciary can not hurt EITHER party's negotiating position and still serve their role.
I'm not a lawyer but I know what a fiduciary is and is not. I presume them to be a fiduciary in this scenario, as that seems to apply here. A fiduciary can not hurt EITHER party's negotiating position and still serve their role.
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lol at Matt Jones talking that article up at all especially in relation to JMI.
The takeaway is much more negative Pope about the recruiting than JMI.
The takeaway is much more negative Pope about the recruiting than JMI.
Can't be true @Verbal Kint II, told us that JMI is the best in the business. And we're just "KSR sheep".
Well that didn’t make me feel any better about the situation we’re in. I found this paragraph notable:
“Kentucky tries to cover as many categories as possible when in negotiations for that money,” one agent with direct dealings with UK told KSR. “It’s like a marketing guarantee where they pay an up-front fee, whatever it is, and they try to use the player’s name, image, and likeness to recoup that money through endorsements and company sponsors.”
This is total speculation on my part. It makes me think the $22m number (which I’ve always doubted) is plausible, because JMI is willing to pay more upfront for guys who will sign away more of their marketing rights, with the expectation that they’ll recoup part of that investment later in a way other collectives aren’t trying to do. That seems like a creative idea, but only a good idea if it works... So far that doesn’t seem to be the case. It also could hurt more with the top recruits than mid-tier guys, because the top guys probably expect their “brand” to be more valuable and are less inclined to give up control over it.
“Kentucky tries to cover as many categories as possible when in negotiations for that money,” one agent with direct dealings with UK told KSR. “It’s like a marketing guarantee where they pay an up-front fee, whatever it is, and they try to use the player’s name, image, and likeness to recoup that money through endorsements and company sponsors.”
This is total speculation on my part. It makes me think the $22m number (which I’ve always doubted) is plausible, because JMI is willing to pay more upfront for guys who will sign away more of their marketing rights, with the expectation that they’ll recoup part of that investment later in a way other collectives aren’t trying to do. That seems like a creative idea, but only a good idea if it works... So far that doesn’t seem to be the case. It also could hurt more with the top recruits than mid-tier guys, because the top guys probably expect their “brand” to be more valuable and are less inclined to give up control over it.
“He overpaid for this year’s roster by a lot, and it’s kind of showing in a way, his inexperience a little bit – whether it’s in a negotiation or understanding player market value or valuation,” one source said. “I think he’s struggling to understand how this higher level of college basketball, how the world works.”
“In negotiations, you can’t have emotions involved. We’re all just doing a job here,” one source directly involved in multiple recruitments said. “Mark, I think he takes it so personal – which is good in a way, but not in negotiations. At the end of the day, I don’t give a **** where my kid goes as long as the people do what they say they’re going to do, ‘We get him better and we do good business.’ But it was really hard to do good business because his emotions got in the way of everything.”"
So...you're telling me we hire a under-qualified coach? Who should have never been hired? You don't say.
“In negotiations, you can’t have emotions involved. We’re all just doing a job here,” one source directly involved in multiple recruitments said. “Mark, I think he takes it so personal – which is good in a way, but not in negotiations. At the end of the day, I don’t give a **** where my kid goes as long as the people do what they say they’re going to do, ‘We get him better and we do good business.’ But it was really hard to do good business because his emotions got in the way of everything.”"
So...you're telling me we hire a under-qualified coach? Who should have never been hired? You don't say.
There are some concerning things in that article for sure. HOWEVER the optimistic side of me that will cope through anything says maybe Pope didn't think he needed to pay 12 million (assuming the 22 million number is correct) or so for a few studs. Maybe he was thinking "I can make a Denzel Aberdeen a stud, or Otega, or Jasper, or whoever at a cheaper price while getting the benefit of depth on top of it. I want to see how he does this upcoming cycle. High school is not looking good at all right now, but Stokes isn't off the board (officially at least) and neither is Collins. If he doesn't get either of them, but a few portal studs and I mean STUDS then I'll be less concerned. If the misses pile up again I'll be way more panicked.
Complete s***show! JMI is a major barrier, but Pope isn’t built for this! Just damning stuff!
More like, hes totally green and was like a kid with 100 dollars in toys R us.
Don’t know the stupid f*cking ads all over the page keep it from staying loaded. Great job on3!
I know the contract with JMI isn't going away, but it sounds like completely cleaning house at this point might be the best move going forward. This clearly isn't working so far.
Who cares how much he loves UK. This article just said he can't recruit, and is totally green to this level of CBB. Dude is a rookie and is not cut to coach this program.
Yep, he struggled to form a coherent sentence (more than 5 words) during a friendly interview with Leach. He is a big baby.
Go offer Bruce his contract. We get a nice little 5-6 year run. Should be more established up and comers out there, by the time he hangs it up.
Ah, well, if this article says it, it MUST be so. Sheep
We knew he wasn’t cut out for this up front. How can anyone be surprised? The highest ranked recruit he’s ever pulled is Colin chandler.
Mitch Barnhart has done irreparable damage to our athletics programs all for the sake of whatever idealized version of college athletics he is still desperately clinging on to.
Lifetime contracts to coaches, no mitigation clauses, 60-day payment windows, a TWENTY FIVE year contract with JMI to run our NIL while NIL is still in its infancy. All the while he refuses to hold a press conference or otherwise answer to any of the fans questions or concerns. In fact, he time and time again reacts in a hostile manner to fans and media. The man shouldn’t be allowed near a contract negotiation for the rest of his life.
How in the world does he still have a job?!?
Lifetime contracts to coaches, no mitigation clauses, 60-day payment windows, a TWENTY FIVE year contract with JMI to run our NIL while NIL is still in its infancy. All the while he refuses to hold a press conference or otherwise answer to any of the fans questions or concerns. In fact, he time and time again reacts in a hostile manner to fans and media. The man shouldn’t be allowed near a contract negotiation for the rest of his life.
How in the world does he still have a job?!?
Nobody can have a conversation with that guy. Lol cowgirl gets emotional
We have to do something fast. Really concerned about the future right now. Who in their right mind hires Pope with his resume? Mitch knew Pope would bow down before him.
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Coaches are negative recruiting against Pope/UK too. Not looking good. I don't think he gets a 3rd year. If he does, you're looking at 15+ losses.
Also, this should dispel some of the "we'll, coach X was decent at their previous job. Imagine what they can do with UK's resources!". No, you have to be very, very good to coach here from the start.
JB
JB
Seems like a circus act with Mitch Barnhart as the Head Clown.
I haven’t read the article, but this alone sounds like something that would scare away many high-level recruits and their agents. Just seems like a horrible idea.
With the way this season has started, the missed recruits, and now this article, this is about as negative that I've been about UK basketball in a long time. I hate feeling that way because I had really high hopes coming into this season. Everything just seem to have a bad vibe right now. We need some good news.
I guess I thought we had a GM to negotiate all of these contracts. Not sure why Pope is in there negotiating money. But if he is, "we're kentucky, we're not getting into a bidding war" is just lazy.
Being Kentucky gets you to the table. You still have to finish. Mitch can't retire soon enough.
Edit: I didn't know we actually don't have a GM? Wow.
Being Kentucky gets you to the table. You still have to finish. Mitch can't retire soon enough.
Edit: I didn't know we actually don't have a GM? Wow.
I looked at Ukathletics.com and Nick Robinson is the Director of Men's Basketball Operations. Not sure what that entails, but he's on the roster.
If I remember correctly, I thought Mark Fox was the GM/Asst. Coach?