Leading off today: The college selection process used to be simpler for most teens with Division I talent. Recruiters zeroed in on prospects by watching film, taking in some games in-person, and making home visits. AAU tournaments attracted hordes of college coaches competing to be seen by potential recruits.
There weren't as many options for players to consider, nor was there much more to discuss beyond whether there was a scholarship offer on the table.
Donna Ditota of Syracuse.com gave us good insight into some of what has changed over the past couple of decades -- specifically in the era of the transfer portal and NIL -- while profiling Chittenango native Ryan Moesch.
Moesch was first-team all-state in Class A basketball as a junior, then left Chittenango to attend Cushing Academy, which competes in the NEPSAC. The 247sports website rates the guard as the 137th best player in the class of 2026.
That makes Moesch somewhat of a tweener: He holds 24 Division I offers, but most nearly all are from the low- and mid-major ranks. Providence is the only true high-major offer thus far; the big schools have been putting less stock recently in swarming AAU ball to unearth hidden gems, so additional offers might not be forthcoming.
As Ditota explains, that's where things get complicated.
If he locks in now with a second-tier D-I program, he'd be regarded as a good catch and be in line for significant playing time right out of the gate. But the transfer portal could completely rip apart his suitor's roster or flood it with unexpected new depth. Foreign imports -- there's an unprecedented average of more than two per Division I school roster -- also constitute competition and often arrive late in the process.
If he waits to commit, will there be as much NIL money available as there is now? And once he does commit, can he keep channels open with other schools -- just in case. A sudden coaching departure can change everything on a moment's notice, sometimes forcing players out or leading to them exiting of their own volition.
"I think, like, everything will figure itself out," Moesch said. "I think I'll go to a good spot, for sure. But it's definitely stressful. I'd say it's super stressful."
Looking for a little help in NYC
Our most recent Big Apple helper has moved on, so the New York State Sportswriters Association is looking for someone who can lend us a hand with New York City updates (CHSFL, but especially the PSAL) during the football season.
We're looking for someone who's able to compile the city's weekend scores each Sunday morning and assemble at least a primitive ranking of the top few teams in each class. (Side note: The PSAL website is, to put it charitably, underwhelming when it comes to timeliness.)
There's a small stipend involved. If you're interested, send me an email at jmoriello@yahoo.com and we can discuss it.
She's at it again
If I recall correctly, she's been doing this now for four seasons, but Peru's Maggie Garrow pulled double duty again on Saturday by suiting up for a girls soccer game and then commuting to Shenendehowa to kick a pair of extra points in a football victory against Kennedy Catholic.
Coming attraction
We're getting our proverbial ducks in a row for fall season weekly rankings, and I'm happy to announce that we'll be adding bi-weekly rankings in boys and girls volleyball beginning next week, courtesy of the New York Volleyball Coaches Association.
Football and boys and girls soccer will be rolling out in short order as well.
