High School Football

[coachnorm]

https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2025-05-25/prep-football-will-never-be-the-same-transfers-nil-money

I thought I would add a little high school football to fellow elitedoggers. I understand that this is from another region. Maybe some fellow elitedoggers can expand on this from what they have seen from their area of the country? Things are getting bad in California when the LA Times have already crowned the survivor of Mater Dei versus St John Bosco champions. I would love to see an Atlanta team beat them out BTW.

[parabrave]

Norm it's been going on around Mississippi for years. Remember SP. sometimes family members got jobs at a certain furniture company. Then Oak Grove started getting players. Look at teams that start a kinda dynasty and see where the kids are originally from.

[Extendedcab]

I guess Pee-Wee league is next. Sports in general is going down the old proverbial toilet. What a shame, nobody seems to play for the love of the game anymore but for pure money - greed - incentives! SMH!

[coachnorm]

Norm it's been going on around Mississippi for years. Remember SP. sometimes family members got jobs at a certain furniture company. Then Oak Grove started getting players. Look at teams that start a kinda dynasty and see where the kids are originally from.

Hi parabrave,

You stated look where the players are originally from. It sucks when private schools have vans picking up players from distance, then you find out that the outreach stretches to the Fiji and Samoan Islands? Sadly, those Los Angeles organizations rule over the public-school community. As a former JUCO and Public High School Football Coach, I resent those coaches speaking at clinics and seminars BTW.

The Southeast High School Football community at least has public schools free of the private school dominance. The private schools now are fighting with each other in Los Angeles for dominance while public schools get further dominated?

[parabrave]

Hi parabrave,

You stated look where the players are originally from. It sucks when private schools have vans picking up players from distance, then you find out that the outreach stretches to the Fiji and Samoan Islands? Sadly, those Los Angeles organizations rule over the public-school community. As a former JUCO and Public High School Football Coach, I resent those coaches speaking at clinics and seminars BTW.

The Southeast High School Football community at least has public schools free of the private school dominance. The private schools now are fighting with each other in Los Angeles for dominance while public schools get further dominated?

Down here it's usually the big public schools that pilfer the private schools, except Jackson, for star players. t

[Political Hack]

They've got several programs in Georgia offering NIL money for transfers. Parents just have to be willing to move into the district. Buford just dumped $62 million into their new football stadium. Carrollton's indoor facility is ridiculous. Gainesville's high school stadium has suites. Norcross has/had the largest high school Jumbotron in the nation. Grayson, the defending state 6A champs, has a kid rumored to be making 6-7 figures as a high school Jr/Sr. Things have gotten crazy in Georgia.

Gwinnett and Cobb county produce an unbelievable amount of talent. If State could create a pipeline to Gwinnett/Cobb Counties for the big three sports, we'd compete for championships a lot more than we do now.

[parabrave]

They've got several programs in Georgia offering NIL money for transfers. Parents just have to be willing to move into the district. Buford just dumped $62 million into their new football stadium. Carrollton's indoor facility is ridiculous. Gainesville's high school stadium has suites. Norcross has/had the largest high school Jumbotron in the nation. Grayson, the defending state 6A champs, has a kid rumored to be making 6-7 figures as a high school Jr/Sr. Things have gotten crazy in Georgia.

Gwinnett and Cobb county produce an unbelievable amount of talent. If State could create a pipeline to Gwinnett/Cobb Counties for the big three sports, we'd compete for championships a lot more than we do now.

Heck the 2 catholic schools in Atlanta probably puts more money in their football programs than most FCS schools. Jackie hit the ATL hard. Merls hit LA hard and was strarting to make inroads in the New Orleans area,

[coachnorm]

They've got several programs in Georgia offering NIL money for transfers. Parents just have to be willing to move into the district. Buford just dumped $62 million into their new football stadium. Carrollton's indoor facility is ridiculous. Gainesville's high school stadium has suites. Norcross has/had the largest high school Jumbotron in the nation. Grayson, the defending state 6A champs, has a kid rumored to be making 6-7 figures as a high school Jr/Sr. Things have gotten crazy in Georgia.

Gwinnett and Cobb county produce an unbelievable amount of talent. If State could create a pipeline to Gwinnett/Cobb Counties for the big three sports, we'd compete for championships a lot more than we do now.

This will probably blow your mind. The top high school football program in America, Mater Dei of Santa Ana, does not have a varsity game field. M.D. just rents a junior college facility for their five home games. M.D. has to schedule out of State games because of it dis favor within the State BTW. M.D. has received huge money from regional sports networks also. Unlike the SEC sharing television revenue, M.D. dies not have to share money with the Trinity League?

St. John Bosco, maybe number 2 in the nation, has its own methods. It does not have a great stadium. Tickets sell out in minutes after offer. If a regional sports network does not pay for the game, SJB just streams the game itself. You have to pay for all games to access any one game stream? Again, unlike the SEC, SJB does not share revenue.

SoFi Stadium offers venue for Mater Dei versus St. John Bosco game. Again, another huge payday for both programs because the sponsored game will air nationally. This means national payday.

[Todd4State]

I can't see NIL ever catching on in Mississippi because there are so many poor communities there are going to be a lot of schools that simply won't be able to afford it. Like if you play for Ethel High School- how much can their boosters realistically pay a player?

I know recruiting was and has been going on in Mississippi High Schools for years both public and private and I have heard stories about certain players "living with an uncle who has an apartment/house in the school district."

The private schools in Jackson are recruiting a lot more than now. When I was in school it was kind of kept within the realm of "plausible deniability" in other words the only players that were being recruited were players that fit the general profile of the private school- meaning it was only white players. That's certainly not the case now and we've seen JPS being raided by the four country club schools although it seems to me that Prep isn't doing it quite as much. And they probably won't unless they aren't winning championships. They have lost the Championship to Hartfield two years in a row so it might be coming- which to me is a powder keg because they have way more money than the other three country club schools. I could totally see them recruiting players from the suburban public schools if they aren't already which they probably are- as well as JPS.

You can look at Jackson State's roster and you'll several players that went to Prep, JA, MRA, Hartfield and other private schools.

Then you have Greenville Christian who basically horded all of the best players in the delta for a season now. I'm not sure what is stopping them now but I could totally see a school like Pillow Academy or Washington School doing the same thing and becoming a pretty good team.

But it's so crazy to me because when I was in school the only kids that transferred to another school because of sports was because they usually got cut from the baseball team or they weren't playing at all in football. Now I see kids on X committing to high schools and then you have IMG in Florida- it's just crazy to me.

Now, if the private schools start to raid the public schools you are definitely going to see some of the bigger ones like Madison Central, Northwest Rankin, Brandon, Germantown, etc. start to offer money to players because they're going to have to if for no other reason than to keep theirs away from the private schools at least in Jackson and maybe DeSoto County like Olive Branch and DeSoto Central. And then you're going to see schools like Tupelo, Oak Grove, and maybe Oxford paying players just because they can.

[parabrave]

I can't see NIL ever catching on in Mississippi because there are so many poor communities there are going to be a lot of schools that simply won't be able to afford it. Like if you play for Ethel High School- how much can their boosters realistically pay a player?

I know recruiting was and has been going on in Mississippi High Schools for years both public and private and I have heard stories about certain players "living with an uncle who has an apartment/house in the school district."

The private schools in Jackson are recruiting a lot more than now. When I was in school it was kind of kept within the realm of "plausible deniability" in other words the only players that were being recruited were players that fit the general profile of the private school- meaning it was only white players. That's certainly not the case now and we've seen JPS being raided by the four country club schools although it seems to me that Prep isn't doing it quite as much. And they probably won't unless they aren't winning championships. They have lost the Championship to Hartfield two years in a row so it might be coming- which to me is a powder keg because they have way more money than the other three country club schools. I could totally see them recruiting players from the suburban public schools if they aren't already which they probably are- as well as JPS.

You can look at Jackson State's roster and you'll several players that went to Prep, JA, MRA, Hartfield and other private schools.

Then you have Greenville Christian who basically horded all of the best players in the delta for a season now. I'm not sure what is stopping them now but I could totally see a school like Pillow Academy or Washington School doing the same thing and becoming a pretty good team.

But it's so crazy to me because when I was in school the only kids that transferred to another school because of sports was because they usually got cut from the baseball team or they weren't playing at all in football. Now I see kids on X committing to high schools and then you have IMG in Florida- it's just crazy to me.

Now, if the private schools start to raid the public schools you are definitely going to see some of the bigger ones like Madison Central, Northwest Rankin, Brandon, Germantown, etc. start to offer money to players because they're going to have to if for no other reason than to keep theirs away from the private schools at least in Jackson and maybe DeSoto County like Olive Branch and DeSoto Central. And then you're going to see schools like Tupelo, Oak Grove, and maybe Oxford paying players just because they can.

well I know of a couple of former MLB players who live in the burg that will probably Infuse capital in PCS in a few years.

[Political Hack]

This will probably blow your mind. The top high school football program in America, Mater Dei of Santa Ana, does not have a varsity game field. M.D. just rents a junior college facility for their five home games. M.D. has to schedule out of State games because of it dis favor within the State BTW. M.D. has received huge money from regional sports networks also. Unlike the SEC sharing television revenue, M.D. dies not have to share money with the Trinity League?

St. John Bosco, maybe number 2 in the nation, has its own methods. It does not have a great stadium. Tickets sell out in minutes after offer. If a regional sports network does not pay for the game, SJB just streams the game itself. You have to pay for all games to access any one game stream? Again, unlike the SEC, SJB does not share revenue.

SoFi Stadium offers venue for Mater Dei versus St. John Bosco game. Again, another huge payday for both programs because the sponsored game will air nationally. This means national payday.

IMG runs a similar model, likely after Mater Dei and SJB. But they have multiple teams now ranging from National to locally based teams. Gwinnett and Cobb are sinking major money into their programs right now. Carrollton too. More money = more talent. It's becoming the professionalization of youth sports.

[coachnorm]

IMG runs a similar model, likely after Mater Dei and SJB. But they have multiple teams now ranging from National to locally based teams. Gwinnett and Cobb are sinking major money into their programs right now. Carrollton too. More money = more talent. It's becoming the professionalization of youth sports.

https://www.6atexasfootball.com/forum/main-forum/224493-georgia-bans-img

https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-high-schools-sondheimer-20180412-story.html

https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/2016/08/16/texas-football-teams-were-asked-not-to-schedule-img-academy-georgia-teams-now-banned-from-doing-it/

IMG ran a recruiting combine in Los Angeles. The California powers that be acted on that and passed prohibitions on all high schools from scheduling IMG with crushing penalties for non-compliance. After California made its move, Georgia followed suit with Texas close behind. IMG is not recognized in Florida and does not participate post season BTW?

[parabrave]

https://www.6atexasfootball.com/forum/main-forum/224493-georgia-bans-img

https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-high-schools-sondheimer-20180412-story.html

https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/2016/08/16/texas-football-teams-were-asked-not-to-schedule-img-academy-georgia-teams-now-banned-from-doing-it/

IMG ran a recruiting combine in Los Angeles. The California powers that be acted on that and passed prohibitions on all high schools from scheduling IMG with crushing penalties for non-compliance. After California made its move, Georgia followed suit with Texas close behind. IMG is not recognized in Florida and does not participate post season BTW?

Maybe so but how many of their players still get college scholarships and/or get pro contracts out of HS.

[Goldendawg]

Not just HS football. "Recruiting" in Girls 2A and 3A basketball has become cutthroat here in NE MS.

[Pinto]

MHSAA is gutless. We played in a spring jamboree in Oxford and they recruited one of our kids (Kid went D1). MHSAA sent the transfer papers to me while kid was still enrolled in my school. I denied it but MHSAA approved it anyway. The form was signed by none other than Rickey Neaves. The Dad came in a week later and said Oxford told him he had to withdraw his son so he could play football for them.

[Pancho]

the gutless comment is spot on. biggersville and booneville high are some of the best recruiters in the whole state for basketball

[Political Hack]

https://www.6atexasfootball.com/forum/main-forum/224493-georgia-bans-img

https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-high-schools-sondheimer-20180412-story.html

https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/2016/08/16/texas-football-teams-were-asked-not-to-schedule-img-academy-georgia-teams-now-banned-from-doing-it/

IMG ran a recruiting combine in Los Angeles. The California powers that be acted on that and passed prohibitions on all high schools from scheduling IMG with crushing penalties for non-compliance. After California made its move, Georgia followed suit with Texas close behind. IMG is not recognized in Florida and does not participate post season BTW?

I believe a Saudi group bought IMG for a billion or three... getting their hooks into the young athletes early. Some of the private schools around north atlanta recruit too, but not like IMG. My son has been invited to IMG camps and we've declined so far. Our high school is turning into "Transfer U" which makes me think you either play the game or get left behind, but it really sucks for the kids who want to have a traditional high school and/or college experience. I'm not sure he fully understands the norm is now to transfer 3-4 times should he decide to play college ball.

[War Machine Dawg]

Norm it's been going on around Mississippi for years. Remember SP. sometimes family members got jobs at a certain furniture company. Then Oak Grove started getting players. Look at teams that start a kinda dynasty and see where the kids are originally from.

Accusing SP of recruiting is laughable. There were tons of legacy last names on those teams, all of them the stars. I could drive you around Panola County and show you where most of those families live, all within a few miles of each other. Most of them in the Pope area.

And if SP were recruiting, they wouldn't have fallen off like they have. But they hit a generation gap between the last cycle of greats and the next. Won't be much longer until those iconic last names start to resurface and SP goes on another run. Don't think they'll ever dominate like that last cycle, but they'll be back in contention.

[redstickdawg]

In Louisiana, HS's are split between select and non-select, select has residence boundaries for the students that 'are to be adhered to', non-select are a combination or private and magnet schools which do not have limited boundaries. It has become a joke as there are non-select schools all of sudden getting highly recruited athletes to transfer across the state or even state lines to play for certain schools. The non-select have been almost openly recruiting and haven't heard about NIL deals, but that doesn't mean they aren't happening.

[Goldendawg]

the gutless comment is spot on. biggersville and booneville high are some of the best recruiters in the whole state for basketball

Don't know much about Biggersville in the HS Girls "Portal" but here is some Booneville "Stats":

12/13 Season - All Booneville Players -13-12 lost first round of playoffs.

13/14 - Transfer from Baldwyn - 28-6 State Champs

14/15 -Another Baldwyn transfer - 32-3 -State Runner Up

15/16 -Biggersville transfer - 28-1 -Champs

16/17 -Corinth transfer - 27-6 -State Runner Up

17/18 - 20-6 -Lost first round of playoffs

18/19 - 13 -13 -Lost in Division tournament

19/20 - 10 -16 -Lost in round 1 of playoffs

20/21 - 6-14 - Lost in Division Tournament

21/22 - Multiple transfers from Baldwyn (1) & Ingomar (3). - 30-2 - State Champs.

22/23 - Transfer from Blue Mountain - 30-3. State Champs.

23/24 - Transfer from New Site (Another good recruiter) -26 - 2 State Runner up.

24/25- Transfer from Ashland - 24-5 - State Champs.

25/26 - TBD with rumors they are after at least one to two starters at other area teams.

It's the Wild , Wild West at many NE MS Programs.

[Todd4State]

Accusing SP of recruiting is laughable. There were tons of legacy last names on those teams, all of them the stars. I could drive you around Panola County and show you where most of those families live, all within a few miles of each other. Most of them in the Pope area.

And if SP were recruiting, they wouldn't have fallen off like they have. But they hit a generation gap between the last cycle of greats and the next. Won't be much longer until those iconic last names start to resurface and SP goes on another run. Don't think they'll ever dominate like that last cycle, but they'll be back in contention.

I think South Panola losing Willis Wright and whoever their legendary strength coach was- I can't remember his name hurt a lot.

[Todd4State]

In Louisiana, HS's are split between select and non-select, select has residence boundaries for the students that 'are to be adhered to', non-select are a combination or private and magnet schools which do not have limited boundaries. It has become a joke as there are non-select schools all of sudden getting highly recruited athletes to transfer across the state or even state lines to play for certain schools. The non-select have been almost openly recruiting and haven't heard about NIL deals, but that doesn't mean they aren't happening.

In New Orleans you have so many Catholic schools they have been literally recruiting students for years and not just in football. And then you have John Curtis which is essentially in the same boat as the Catholic schools.

[Todd4State]

well I know of a couple of former MLB players who live in the burg that will probably Infuse capital in PCS in a few years.

I can completely believe it.

[Todd4State]

I believe a Saudi group bought IMG for a billion or three... getting their hooks into the young athletes early. Some of the private schools around north atlanta recruit too, but not like IMG. My son has been invited to IMG camps and we've declined so far. Our high school is turning into "Transfer U" which makes me think you either play the game or get left behind, but it really sucks for the kids who want to have a traditional high school and/or college experience. I'm not sure he fully understands the norm is now to transfer 3-4 times should he decide to play college ball.

If MSU is smart- and of course we play nice when it comes to football- we'll turn MSMS into a football mill.

At least that is what Ole Miss would do.

[Political Hack]

If MSU is smart- and of course we play nice when it comes to football- we'll turn MSMS into a football mill.

At least that is what Ole Miss would do.

That would be a huge win for University and is a great idea.