Transfer Portal in High School

[Bobref]

There has been a lot of talk in other threads about the increase in high school transfers by athletes. Trying to get some sort of a handle on it. Is this a legitimate concern, or have the alarmists made a mountain out of a molehill? If you are aware of a transfer that involves a football player, record it here and we’ll try to keep track.

[Coach Lou]

Elkhart has received a number of transfers for this coming season.

A couple of them are big time players from Mishawaka.

[Bobref]

29 minutes ago, Coach Lou said:

Elkhart has received a number of transfers for this coming season.

A couple of them are big time players from Mishawaka.

I assume these are not students who live in the Elkhart school district?

[temptation]

5 hours ago, Bobref said:

There has been a lot of talk in other threads about the increase in high school transfers by athletes. Trying to get some sort of a handle on it. Is this a legitimate concern, or have the alarmists made a mountain out of a molehill? If you are aware of a transfer that involves a football player, record it here and we’ll try to keep track.

Somewhere in between?

[RegionFBFan]

5 hours ago, Bobref said:

There has been a lot of talk in other threads about the increase in high school transfers by athletes. Trying to get some sort of a handle on it. Is this a legitimate concern, or have the alarmists made a mountain out of a molehill? If you are aware of a transfer that involves a football player, record it here and we’ll try to keep track.

I don’t have any numbers or names but in the Region specifically I’m hearing of a lot of Illinois players transferring into CP, HC, LC, Munster. Historically, I believe that LC and Munster have been net losers in transfers meaning losing more kids to Illinois Catholic League schools.

CP under Buzea who came from Homewood Flossmor has increased his activity with Illinois kids as well as other Region schools.

Hanover which is very close to the state line has been getting some now as well. I’ve heard that they have quite a few with some being very good players.

All could be just rumors but that is what I’m hearing.

[BTF]

5 hours ago, Coach Lou said:

Elkhart has received a number of transfers for this coming season.

A couple of them are big time players from Mishawaka.

Elkhart already boasts 3000+ students. Add recruiting to the equation and this program could be dangerous with an average coach. It won't even take a great coach.  Did I hear this is happening at schools like Warren Central? Someone please riddle me how Northrop, Harrison, Columbus North, Portage, and Jeffersonville are suppose to compete with this. 

[Coach Lou]

Elkhart has also received a few transfers from Goshen.

Also hearing Northridge is benefitting from some transfers as well.

Last year transfers helped Northwood.

[Bobref]

32 minutes ago, RegionFBFan said:

I don’t have any numbers or names but in the Region specifically I’m hearing of a lot of Illinois players transferring into CP, HC, LC, Munster. Historically, I believe that LC and Munster have been net losers in transfers meaning losing more kids to Illinois Catholic League schools.

CP under Buzea who came from Homewood Flossmor has increased his activity with Illinois kids as well as other Region schools.

Hanover which is very close to the state line has been getting some now as well. I’ve heard that they have quite a few with some being very good players.

All could be just rumors but that is what I’m hearing.

Interesting that with people crossing state lines, the “transfer portal” is not necessarily a zero sum situation, i.e., whatever one Indiana school gains, another loses.

[BTF]

Student A is next man up. Student B transfers in from another school and takes Student A's position. Does Student A:

a) Be a good teammate, accept his status as 2nd string, and help his team get better. 

b) Tell his coach to "go pound sand" and look for other opportunities. 

The obvious answer in my opinion is b. Leave your program and let them worry about the issue of "depth." 

[RegionFBFan]

55 minutes ago, BTF said:

Student A is next man up. Student B transfers in from another school and takes Student A's position. Does Student A:

a) Be a good teammate, accept his status as 2nd string, and help his team get better. 

b) Tell his coach to "go pound sand" and look for other opportunities. 

The obvious answer in my opinion is b. Leave your program and let them worry about the issue of "depth." 

I think there are a lot of other factors in play when making that decision. Skill level ie average hs player or next level player, multi sport athlete, friend group, girlfriend, both teams success history, likelihood of clearing IHSAA and I’m sure there are others.

If I have realistic expectations of playing at next level so an above average player,  likely transfer only after eliminating position change on current school team.

[BTF]

14 minutes ago, RegionFBFan said:

I think there are a lot of other factors in play when making that decision. Skill level ie average hs player or next level player, multi sport athlete, friend group, girlfriend, both teams success history, likelihood of clearing IHSAA and I’m sure there are others.

If I have realistic expectations of playing at next level so an above average player,  likely transfer only after eliminating position change on current school team.

Zero sum game. You have a winner and a loser. 

[BLACKGOLD2007]

On 6/25/2024 at 4:10 PM, BTF said:

Student A is next man up. Student B transfers in from another school and takes Student A's position. Does Student A:

a) Be a good teammate, accept his status as 2nd string, and help his team get better. 

b) Tell his coach to "go pound sand" and look for other opportunities. 

The obvious answer in my opinion is b. Leave your program and let them worry about the issue of "depth." 

In that situation, If I am student A, I would look for a smaller school in my area and go there. If you are second string at a Penn size school you will likely start at a 2 or 3A school. Depth at those levels hurts. Which then turns you into Student B, and the cycle continues. 

 

[psaboy]

Is there any site that lists or tracks the transfers? 

[temptation]

25 minutes ago, psaboy said:

Is there any site that lists or tracks the transfers? 

You serious Clark?

[psaboy]

8 hours ago, temptation said:

You serious Clark?

Yes, Eddie, I am. There should be a "app" somewhere?? 😀

[temptation]

1 hour ago, psaboy said:

Yes, Eddie, I am. There should be a "app" somewhere?? 😀

It bad enough that schools and coaches have no shame, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on it becoming a public stunt.

Edited July 1, 2024 by temptation

[CoachMack219]

On 6/25/2024 at 2:20 PM, RegionFBFan said:

I don’t have any numbers or names but in the Region specifically I’m hearing of a lot of Illinois players transferring into CP, HC, LC, Munster. Historically, I believe that LC and Munster have been net losers in transfers meaning losing more kids to Illinois Catholic League schools.

CP under Buzea who came from Homewood Flossmor has increased his activity with Illinois kids as well as other Region schools.

Hanover which is very close to the state line has been getting some now as well. I’ve heard that they have quite a few with some being very good players.

All could be just rumors but that is what I’m hearing.

RegionFan you are mostly correct here, based on my sources/ information. LC/ Munster lost guys, per usual, and I do not believe they added anyone at either place, from Illinois or otherwise (again, based on the intel I have). That's probably the extent of you being "incorrect" though as the rest of your post is very accurate, based on the information I have. CP allegedly got a few Illinois folks, Hanover got at least 1 from over the border, and I'm sure Merrillville had at least one transfer come in (this last point is pure speculation based on historical data lol). 

[Irishman]

On 6/30/2024 at 10:06 PM, psaboy said:

Is there any site that lists or tracks the transfers? 

I don't think anyone tracks individual transfers, but you can always find updates for total number of them on the IHSAA website. Go to the About Us link and click on Meeting Minutes. The Executive Committee pdf posts total transfers. This is a screen shot from the June 20 meeting and has total transfers from June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024. 

[WestfieldRocks]

Obviously there is no real "transfer portal" like in college sports. Yet transfers look to be exploding in certain schools. So does the IHSAA now look the other way, or don't they have enough manpower to track all of these kids to see which are legit transfers? You know, like parents moving into a school district because of a job, as an example? Or like it was decades ago in Marion County, when township kids would sometimes play for 2-3 different schools by moving into a different relatives home within another district than their own home district?