One mom is asking for your help making sure talented high school athletes have the best chance to achieve their dreams, whether they are rich or poor. She says she fears they won’t because of the NCAA’s new ban on colleges recruiting at camps off campus.
Why did the ban happen?
The Southeastern and Atlantic Coast conferences proposed the end to satellite camps. Why? Last year, many Big Ten colleges started recruiting around the country at camps. Colleges in those conferences felt it was unfair competition in their region.
You can find her petition on change.org.
Her son is Cass Tech wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. He says camps have made him who he is. Since middle school he has been going to the Sound Mind Sound Body football camp in Detroit for the chance to play before hundreds of college coaches. Coaches there recruit.
“From my perspective that camp is all about offers,” said Peoples-Jones.
Last year 200 kids who went to Strong Mind Strong Body got scholarships, but that is not all they take away.
“Two years ago we had Brady Hoke and Urban Meyer and they stressed the importance of academics,” said Donovan.
He listened. Donovan has a 3.9 GPA at Cass Technical High School.
His mom started her petition against the NCAA ban because she says parents can’t afford to take kids to college after college. Satellite camps provide life changing exposure to coaches from around the country.
Cass Tech Coach Thomas Wilcher this ban may lower recruiting costs for colleges, but it is also hurting kids.
“It is about helping kids,” said Thomas Wilcher, Cass Tech Football Coach & Athletic Director. “Who has the big budget? A parent that makes $30,000? Or a college that makes millions?”
University of Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh says the decision will impact thousands of kids. He hosted numerous camps around the country last year.
“For most all coaches, it is always about an urgency to help the youngsters in their own programs and in the spirit of football,” said Harbaugh of why he supports the now banned satellite camps.
