Zaon Collins 6'1 2021 4 Star PG has Arizona on his final 4 list

[Jdmarti]

He's from there maybe he wanted to stay home. I would have thought the same.

[mvpreed2]

Crazy. From a biased and uninformed perspective, I really thought that he would go to USC...or even assu. Nice to see that UNLV can lure the locals again.

I believe the bigger issue is that elite prospects are beginning to shun the elite programs and elect to attend the "smaller" schools instead.

We just saw unanimous 5* prospect (Christopher) from 2020 class turn programs like Kentucky/USC/Arizona/UCLA away to attend ASSU?
Now we have Collins, a top 40 prospect, turn down three PAC-12 programs to stay home and go to UNLV?
I can understand the "stay home" pitch as it has worked (sort of) for programs in the past landing the elite prospect.
I believe I came on here and told the story of me having a conversation with the parent of an elite 2015 prospect here in California that chose to stay home to be closer to home?
Pops was pushing for Arizona or Kentucky, but the prospect wanted to stay closer to home to be with his moms and stayed with the local school, which was crazy because we thought we had him locked up already smh...

[KansasCityCats]

COVID is definitely messing with the power-5 schools' abilities to land the biggest recruits, but I like it that way.  Spread the love so kids aren't fighting for playing time, and allow the other programs to showcase a high end kid or two.

Arizona and UCLA both have serious depth at the guard position, so I assume that played a huge role in Zaon's decision.  Next year, we could possibly have Akinjo, Baker, Terry, Kriisa and KJ Simpson on the roster.  That's 5 guys that could bring the ball up the court, which is to UNLV's recruiting advantage.

[Jdmarti]

I know the player you are speaking of mvpreed2.
I will chritopher  was going to Kentucky  but he waited to long to make a decision  an they landed 2 wing player  an they stopped  stopped  recruting him.

However  ,I think  some players are electing to stay home with the pandemic.

[mvpreed2]

COVID is definitely messing with the power-5 schools' abilities to land the biggest recruits, but I like it that way.  Spread the love so kids aren't fighting for playing time, and allow the other programs to showcase a high end kid or two.

Arizona and UCLA both have serious depth at the guard position, so I assume that played a huge role in Zaon's decision.  Next year, we could possibly have Akinjo, Baker, Terry, Kriisa and KJ Simpson on the roster.  That's 5 guys that could bring the ball up the court, which is to UNLV's recruiting advantage.

I did not think of things this way KCC.
Yes I knew the pandemic would cause some prospects to stay closer to home, but Collins could have went to ASSU and been better off talent wise.
Then again, this is what I was referring to about California/Arizona being hot beds and prospects (or their parent/guardian/handler) does not want to let them come.

I also did not realize we are going to have so many PGs/CGs next season.
To be able to have five bodies that can bring the ball up, and to only play 2-3 of them at a time, someone is going to get buried on the depth chart.

[mvpreed2]

I know the player you are speaking of mvpreed2.
Christopher was going to Kentucky but he waited to long to make a decision and they landed 2 wing players and they stopped recruiting him.

However, I think some players are electing to stay home with the pandemic.

I did not know that Kentucky was his school of choice.
I always thought (without any inside information) that is was going to be USC/UCLA.

As for the 2nd prospect, I was referring to Ivan Rabb, which I don't know why I was trying to keep it a secret since that was so long ago but yeah...

[KansasCityCats]

I don't know why there are so many stories about recruits staying near family because of COVID. Seems odd because the last thing you need is an infected college kid seeing his elderly family. Regardless, it's a recurring theme.

[mvpreed2]

I don't know why there are so many stories about recruits staying near family because of COVID. Seems odd because the last thing you need is an infected college kid seeing his elderly family. Regardless, it's a recurring theme.

I believe the notion is that the families "think" that they would be able to keep an eye on the kid since he/she is so close to home.
The thing that parents do not understand is that they can monitor what THEIR child is doing while they are at home, but you can't control the actions of the hundreds of students/staff/faculty that your child could come into contact with while they are at school; nor the amount of people that they could come into contact with.

This notion of "Six Degrees Of Separation" is what is scaring parents about their child contracting of this virus, BUT sending your child to ANY institution of higher learning is going to heighten your child's chances of getting it.
It doesn't matter where the school is (to me), but for some reason(s), the parent/guardians believe that they can reduce the risk by keeping them closer to home.
The only way to reduce the risk is to keep them IN the home, not close to home, but I do not tell people what/how to raise their children because I hate when people try to tell me how to raise mine.

[KansasCityCats]

Collins' family may be the exception, but I think that a majority of families allow their athletes/kids to hang out with friends, family, trainers, coaches and others that are socially distanced.

At the university level, student athletes will be monitored closely by coaches, trainers and academic advisors. It would be drastically safer to be isolated in a locss as toon away from home, yet I obviously understand why some families opt to be bear their kids. Seeing your kid provides peace of mind...

[mvpreed2]

Collins' family may be the exception, but I think that a majority of families allow their athletes/kids to hang out with friends, family, trainers, coaches and others that are socially distanced.

At the university level, student athletes will be monitored closely by coaches, trainers and academic advisors. It would be drastically safer to be isolated in a locss as toon away from home, yet I obviously understand why some families opt to be bear their kids. Seeing your kid provides peace of mind...

And a false sense of security that they are being safe and doing what they are supposed to be doing.
As a man, with a son, I know what I was trying to do at 18 at a JUCO, I can only imagine what my seed would be trying to do as a high profile athlete at a school with what a student body of 30K?
I won't finish that statement, but most of us men on this site know what/where I'm going with that.
Parents try to act/ignore the fact that their children participate that activity, but come on now...