MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Jameswys]

Just saw on Twitter that Steve Bell (West MI basketball camp/AAU director) tweeted — "Sam Hargraves to Olivet." Not sure who Steve's sources are, but could be big news...

I just don't get this move at all

Same. Feels to me like he must:

1) not be happy at Alma
2) believe he can pull better recruits to Olivet than Alma
3) not want/believe he can get the Calvin job

Right?

This is the reason I heard, but that's pure rumor.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

12 posts ... I'm sure you know something, but interesting for a newbie. I do know the finalists as well. Not sure I agree completely on head scratcher/jaw dropping ... but so I don't reveal anything, I won't say more.

So Dave - if Hargraves was indeed one of the names you were aware of at the time of this post, then I agree with your assessment on it not being head scratcher/jaw dropping.  IMHO it's significantly so much more whacked out then either of those two descriptions, that I don't have the right words to describe it.  I mean, what the.....

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Olivet release:

https://www.olivetcomets.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20190329i50p8s

[HOPEful]

12 posts ... I'm sure you know something, but interesting for a newbie. I do know the finalists as well. Not sure I agree completely on head scratcher/jaw dropping ... but so I don't reveal anything, I won't say more.

So Dave - if Hargraves was indeed one of the names you were aware of at the time of this post, then I agree with your assessment on it not being head scratcher/jaw dropping.  IMHO it's significantly so much more whacked out then either of those two descriptions, that I don't have the right words to describe it.  I mean, what the.....

I heard Brooks Miller is the leading candidate to fill the Alma vacancy. And that Trine, knowing this, has already been in discussions with KVS

[DrDutchman]

Sam Hargraves was the Jaw Dropping/Head Scratcher that I had mentioned previously, the other finalist was a D1 assistant. I was always assuming that maybe Hargraves was using the interview as a practice for the Calvin Job, but I can see how it is 'easier' to recruit to Olivet than Alma.

[KnightSlappy]

I'm not super sure why it would be easier to recruit to Olivet than Alma. It's closer to Lansing, which is a talent hub, but only by 20 minutes or so. What other reasons would there be? Does Olivet have drastically lower tuition rates or admission standards than the rest of the league?

Some answers to my own questions:
2019-20 Tuition per year per institution websites:
Olivet: $27,700. Total cost: $38,792
Alma: $41,138, Total cost: $52,782(!)
Calvin: $36,100, Total cost: $46,900

[sac]

It would be trippy if Ernst took the Alma job, he played there ya know.

or Matt Neil

[sac]

I'm not super sure why it would be easier to recruit to Olivet than Alma. It's closer to Lansing, which is a talent hub, but only by like 20 minutes or so. What other reasons would there be? Does Olivet have drastically lower tuition rates or admission standards than the rest of the league?

Some answers to my own questions:
2019-20 Tuition per year per institution websites:
Olivet: $27,700. Total cost: $38,792
Alma: $41,138, Total cost: $52,782(!)
Calvin: $36,100, Total cost: $46,900

History is kind of mixed, its a matter of the amount of time and effort you put into recruiting.  I've seen Alma around Lansing a lot, until Ernst I did not see Olivet as frequently which was always a curiosity to me.  Despite all the efforts I can only think of Doug Bradfield and Cole Kleiver as guys Alma's been able to land from Lansing area schools.  The same as Hope (Granger, Lewis).   

Despite its relative proximity to Lansing, Olivet has not pulled as many kids from the big basketball schools as you might think until Ernst who built this years entire starting 5 from Lansing kids (though none were recruited out of high school to Olivet).

There is a difference in admissions and aide.

[Jameswys]

I'm not super sure why it would be easier to recruit to Olivet than Alma. It's closer to Lansing, which is a talent hub, but only by like 20 minutes or so. What other reasons would there be? Does Olivet have drastically lower tuition rates or admission standards than the rest of the league?

Some answers to my own questions:
2019-20 Tuition per year per institution websites:
Olivet: $27,700. Total cost: $38,792
Alma: $41,138, Total cost: $52,782(!)
Calvin: $36,100, Total cost: $46,900

As you noted Olivet is a lot cheaper, it's the cheapest in the MIAA. Olivet also offers a lot of scholarships. They have several programs including Lansing Promise, which offer significantly lower tuition if you are from a certain school district. Overall Olivet's actual price is lower than the sticker price for many students.   

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I'm not super sure why it would be easier to recruit to Olivet than Alma. It's closer to Lansing, which is a talent hub, but only by like 20 minutes or so. What other reasons would there be? Does Olivet have drastically lower tuition rates or admission standards than the rest of the league?

Some answers to my own questions:
2019-20 Tuition per year per institution websites:
Olivet: $27,700. Total cost: $38,792
Alma: $41,138, Total cost: $52,782(!)
Calvin: $36,100, Total cost: $46,900

As you noted Olivet is a lot cheaper, it's the cheapest in the MIAA. Olivet also offers a lot of scholarships. They have several programs including Lansing Promise, which offer significantly lower tuition if you are from a certain school district. Overall Olivet's actual price is lower than the sticker price for many students.   

I get that all of those things may make recruiting "easier" at Olivet so to speak, but given how "difficult" it is to recruit at Alma (just as a comparison to Olivet in this context), Hargraves had a pretty good recruiting class last year.  In fact I always though he did really well recruiting to Alma.  So does that mean with an "easier" task now that he is at Olivet, even bigger things can be expected?

[HoopsCoach]

Surprising for sure w Hargraves but all the thoughts here make sense.

Earlier post... guards Jason Dietz and Nate Davis are actually quite athletic. Need some meat BUT are both north of 6 feet and are primed to make a step up. Don't forget Danny Beckman - made 6 triples in a game last season and gets after it on D even if smaller. Definitely feels like Gamm can step in for Towns and Vree keeps getting better and better as a backup to Granger.

[Jameswys]

On other thing to note, according to the Olivet press release Coach Hargraves has a very young child (8 months). I wonder if his wife's family is from the area or if he's looking long term for his family. There are some excellent school districts within a half an hour of Olivet's campus (including Olivet Community Schools, with the elementary school next door to Cutler).

[sac]

So fair question, did Hargraves spurn Calvin or does Calvin have their man?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

So fair question, did Hargraves spurn Calvin or does Calvin have their man?

I was wondering the same thing.  Also wondering if the Olivet process got going so quickly, that he was already into the process before KVS announced his retirement.  Could the timing of this all have played a part??

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So fair question, did Hargraves spurn Calvin or does Calvin have their man?

I was wondering the same thing.  Also wondering if the Olivet process got going so quickly, that he was already into the process before KVS announced his retirement.  Could the timing of this all have played a part??

I believe Olivet had their finalists at least selected, if not interviewed, by the time Calvin came open.  I also image, despite the history and prestige, Olivet might be a less stressful, more stable opportunity.