Recruiting: What’s More Important, Attending Your Dream School or Going For the Best Opportunity?

Joel Berry and Jalen Lindsay are both top prospects in the 2014 class that have declared at one point or another that North Carolina is their “Dream School”.  Isiah Hicks committed to UNC just hours after Carolina made him an official offer.  Hicks chose to attend the University he always dreamed of and committed to Carolina almost immediately.

Berry on the other hand received his offer and is still considering UNC among a group of 11 confirmed offers.  In today’s world of instant news and recruiting analysis at your fingertips unlike any other time in history, players potential decisions are mulled over from every angle the minute they become a hot prospect.

Not only do fans now have a better understanding of where their teams stand with the prospects they are pursuing, the players themselves have a much better idea of where they stand and how they potentially fit with prospective programs.  It’s easy to assume that a player like Berry would follow the actions of Hicks and declare his intentions to attend Chapel Hill upon his high school graduation, if it were only that simple.

College sports are not judged by the best place for the player anymore, often times, the decision is made based upon what program will get said player to the next level the fastest.  So if you are a player like Berry or Lindsay, your decision isn’t necessarily about what jersey you grew up dreaming of wearing anymore.  It’s about where you can get the most playing time and exposure while also developing your game for the next level.

Players must now decide if a team other than their one on their favorite T-shirt is a better fit for them.  The evolution of the game has a lot to do with this new trend also.  Gone are the days of Dean Smith, Roy Williams and other top coaches refusing to start freshman or allow them to be the face of the program.

Freshman and young players in general are now not only playing large roles, often times, they are “the man” on many big time programs.  Programs like Kentucky usher in large groups of freshman each and every year and have been wildly successful in doing so.

At the end of the day it’s about what the player believes is right for him and where his priorities lie.  While there is nothing wrong with Isiah Hicks committing to the program of his dreams the same day he receives his offer.  Nothing is wrong with Joel Berry considering all his options and deciding whether it’s best for him to go somewhere he can start right away or if he wants to go with his heart.

A college decision for these kids is the biggest thing that has ever happened to them in their young lives.  Rushing them or asking them to simply go with their heart without taking their time is unrealistic.  Personally, I’d like to believe that if I were a top prospect, I would go where my heart takes me and play my butt off until it’s my time, even if that means coming off the bench for a year or more.  The fact is nobody that isn’t in this situation can say for sure what they would do when the choice could be the difference between millions of dollars.

What would you do?