If you can’t lean on recruits from your region, you’ll have trouble maintaining a competitive level and that’s been a theme in the Pitino era. Good players from New York, Georgia, Texas etc. are not coming here every year nor can a program like this afford to make trips out to see those kids so establishing those relationships in your state and region is vital.
Entire classes don’t need to be from Minnesota, entire classes don’t need to be from the region but coaches can get in-state or regional recruits on campus a lot easier as we’ve seen this year. There were more kids in during the summer and fall than I think we’ve ever seen prior in the Pitino era. They’ve missed on in-state prospects in this cycle but the approach has been awesome and they may have found a bit of a gem in Mitchell. The issue is that hasn’t always been the case and while coaches haven’t come out and said it, I’m sure the previous approach and emphasis on the East Coast has burned some unrepairable bridges....lotta egos in High School/AAU sports.
Reality is Pitino got this job way before he was ready and I think just now is finding his footing as the leader of a program but recuriting has always been his downfall. Kids like Garcia and Tyrell Terry (who’s had a good start at Stanford) should be lay ups for this program and now they’re headed to comprable programs out of state. I think he’ll be successful in his next stop but the window for an upswing has come and gone. We’ve hit a ceiling.
