socaltownie;842296817 said:
Could we get an update/outline of the dates that are in play? As I understand it (but surely wrong):
http://www.nationalletter.org/
So the next window will be April 16 through May 21th (for our 2014-2015 targets who are:_____&______&________
and then
November 12th through 19th (with likely early verbals) for 2015-2016 targets who are ____&_____& ________&________
The spring period is for kids graduating this year, 2014, only. Rabb and any other 2015 grads would sign during your second date range (November 2014), or spring 2015.
Kids can give VERBAL at any time and at any age/grade, but it's not official until they sign during the periods of their senior year. A 2015 grad cannot sign, making it binding, until next November. A 2016 grad cannot sign until Nov 2015. If a student doesn't sign during the November period, he must wait until the following spring period. You cannot sign as a junior, whether fall or spring period.
Back to verbal... A school may have 3 scholarship slots available, and they may offer to several more than that, on a first-come first-serve basis. These are the dangerous rocks underneath the flowing waters that Shocky mentioned. Offers can disappear if a new recruit shows up, if others give their verbal before you do, or if some other situation develops (behavior, on-court disappointing performance, etc.)
As players try to figure out the best situation for them, based on many factors (academics, location, teammates, coaches, etc.) it can be important not to dilly-dally and let actionable offers disappear.
If a kid gives a verbal outside of the official signing date ranges, a coaching staff will honor that and not have an actionable offer disappear come the official signing day.
First-come First-serve, therefore, rules the day. Wait too long in hopes of something seemingly better, or because you are simply not yet sure, and you run the risk of missing out. It's a delicate dance on both sides. Coaching staffs only have so many scholarships to offer up each year, so receiving an offer for one is not to be taken for granted.
...did I read that correctly that the Austrian "had" an actionable AZ offer, but since it's written in past tense that he no longer "has" an actionable offer? Ouch! There may be no better response than to get revenge against them on the court in conference play 2 times a year!