(2017) SF Kris Wilkes to UCLA

[bnkepner 1,509]

This last week ESPN released their latest rankings list of the top 25 recruits of the class of 2017. Kris Wilkes is number 17. Listed as the top recruit from the state of Indiana for the class and is the only kid from Indiana in the top 25 list

[biteoftheapple 4,115]

Wilkes with a big game, while Michigan and Virginia coaches in attendence.

https://twitter.com/JeffRabjohns/status/561379087399530497

[HoosierRob 1,042]

Virginia needs to get outta the state

[LockdownD 2,237]

Virginia needs to get outta the state

Poacher!

[Alford Bailey 12,359]

He is the real deal. Put some weight on that frame and watch out.

[ccgeneral 38,084]

@Coach_Rick57: 6'7 '17 Kris Wilkes will be visiting Butler on Saturday and IU on Sunday. 

[hoosierpap 14,300]

Jeff Rabjohns @JeffRabjohns
North Central (IN) 2017 F Kris Wilkes offered by Butler during visit this morning, per AAU coach Mike Peterson.

[Hutch89 2,939]

Jeff Rabjohns @JeffRabjohns
North Central (IN) 2017 F Kris Wilkes offered by Butler during visit this morning, per AAU coach Mike Peterson.

Don't even think about it Kris

[hoosierpap 14,300]

UA Indy Hoosiers @Indyhoosiersbba
Wilkes paved the way for Hoosiers in win over Team Thad shooting 53% 9/17 ending with 23 pts 14 rbs.  Scruggs 15pts, 9 rbs and Smith 14 pts.

[ccgeneral 38,084]

UA Indy Hoosiers @Indyhoosiersbba
Wilkes paved the way for Hoosiers in win over Team Thad shooting 53% 9/17 ending with 23 pts 14 rbs.  Scruggs 15pts, 9 rbs and Smith 14 pts.

He led the way last night to with 20.

[IUHoosier5 1,554]

Check the Michael Porter Jr. thread for an interesting comment from Wilkes

[ccgeneral 38,084]

‏Wilkes has been tearing it up. 

 

‏@EvanDaniels: UA Finals: Five-star wing Kris Wilkes goes for 27 & 15 in a semi-finals win | Story: http://www.scout.com/college/basketball/recruiting/story/1564584-ua-finals-kris-wilkes … 

[IUsafety 2,775]

@Indyhoosiersbba: Univ of Maryland Terps latest school Hot on the trail of 2017 6'8 F Kris Wilkes

[HoosierTrav 7,747]

@Indyhoosiersbba: Univ of Maryland Terps latest school Hot on the trail of 2017 6'8 F Kris Wilkes

. Worries me. Wilkes is an Under Armour kid and Maryland is their flagship program. Those who think this doesn't matter, aren't being very realistic. The shoe wars are heating up again.

[Alford Bailey 12,359]

. Worries me. Wilkes is an Under Armour kid and Maryland is their flagship program. Those who think this doesn't matter, aren't being very realistic. The shoe wars are heating up again.

See Diamond Stone. UA kid.

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

. Worries me. Wilkes is an Under Armour kid and Maryland is their flagship program. Those who think this doesn't matter, aren't being very realistic. The shoe wars are heating up again.

Not trying to call you out, but do you have statistics/insider knowledge to support this?

[Bobman1 2,909]

Not trying to call you out, but do you have statistics/insider knowledge to support this?

http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/eye-on-college-basketball/25261949/the-nike-under-armour-battle-for-high-school-stars-is-heating-up
This is in reference to him saying the Endorsement Wars are heating up again.

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/eye-on-college-basketball/25261949/the-nike-under-armour-battle-for-high-school-stars-is-heating-up
This is in reference to him saying the Endorsement Wars are heating up again.

Thank you for linking this article.

What I garner from this article is that high school students are interested in enjoying the moment. When presented with multiple options, they will pick the one that is the most interesting/appealing/flashy at that time. Can anyone provide data on how allegiances to shoe companies have impacted college recruiting? I just haven't seen a reliable source of information to justify that the "Shoe Wars" exist at the collegiate level.

[Alford Bailey 12,359]

Thank you for linking this article.

What I garner from this article is that high school students are interested in enjoying the moment. When presented with multiple options, they will pick the one that is the most interesting/appealing/flashy at that time. Can anyone provide data on how allegiances to shoe companies have impacted college recruiting? I just haven't seen a reliable source of information to justify that the "Shoe Wars" exist at the collegiate level.

Somebody posted an article in another thread. 40% plus of college coaches said they had lost a recruit to shoe company influence.

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

Somebody posted an article in another thread. 40% plus of college coaches said they had lost a recruit to shoe company influence.

Coaches saying that they "lost" a recruit isn't exactly the reliable information I'd like to see. I'll look around and see if I can find data that shows how many recruits stick to their shoe allegiances from high school to college.

 

Here's some:

 

"A Courier-Journal database shows that 58 percent of the Rivals.com's top 10 seniors in the signing classes beginning in 2011, the first class from the Nike-backed Elite Youth Basketball League, came from Nike clubs, and of those, 69 percent, or 20 players, committed to college teams sponsored by that apparel company. Four committed to adidas-sponsored colleges.

 

By comparison, nine top-10 players have played for adidas-sponsored travel teams in those five classes, and only two went to adidas-sponsored colleges. Six went to Nike schools, according to the database, and one, a current senior, remains undecided.

 

Since the 2010 class, 75 percent of recruits signed by the Nike-sponsored University of Kentucky came from Nike-backed travel programs. During the same period, 43 percent of the signees at adidas-sponsored U of L came from Nike clubs.

 

Indiana University, another adidas-sponsored school, signed five players from Nike programs — or 25 percent of its high school signees — and 11 players from adidas programs during that period."

 

But here is the point that I think really matters and lessens the importance of any of the above data:

 

"Nike sponsors 45 of the 65 "power five conference" programs compared to adidas' 11, Under Armour's eight and Russell Athletics' one. With 15 of the 20 teams in the last five years' men's Final Fours affiliated with Nike, it then follows that, if Nike can maintain a stronghold on the bulk of top-rated club players and have deals in place with most of the country's top college programs, many of those athletes would be likely to continue the connection at the next level."

 

Essentially, the winners are playing for or with Nike.

 

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2014/10/17/analysis-nike-schools-land-top-recruits/17458319/

 

Check out the interactive charts about halfway down the article. Pretty interesting display of shoe company affiliations. If you look at the player charts, you can see that there is plenty of jumping from brand to brand. I'll still argue that shoe company allegiances aren't as important as some make it out to be; it's all about who can "pay" you the most now.

 

This article by SBNation stating that the shoe wars are "heating up", supports this claim only with specific situations, and not aggregate data. 

 

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/8/14/9150941/james-harden-nike-adidas-college-basketball-recruiting-influence

 

This article has very little credibility in my opinion.