NBA analyst Jalen Rose keeps it 100. Earlier this month Rose weighed in on the Louisville recruiting scandal. Rose was a Michigan basketball star and NBA veteran, so he shared his experience about his official visits to four schools: U-M, Michigan State, Syracuse and UNLV.
“I want to paint a picture,” Rose said. “What you see at a bachelor or bachelorette party is what happens on a recruiting visit.”
And if you’re not familiar with such parties?
“Yes, there is drinking,” Rose said. “Yes, there is members of the opposite sex that are present. Remember, they’re trying to woo me to the campus.
“And as a 17-year-old kid, first off, if I’m not getting laid, I’m not coming. I’m not signing. I’m not coming.”
Rose dropped those comments on the October 6th installment of his podcast, “Jalen and Jacoby” keep in mind Rose was speaking on his thoughts as a 17-year-old kid, not the 42-year-old man he is today.
The idea of recruiters using social “perks” isn’t a new one – remember the scene in Spike Lee’s hit, “He Got Game,” when Ray Allen’s character, “Jesus Shuttlesworth” went on a college visit, with Rick Fox showing him the other side of college life? It’s been happening for awhile.
Rose went on to add:
“No. 1, I’m out of the ‘hood, so I’m safe,” Rose said. “No. 2, I have access to unlimited funds, because I’m a high school kid who’s not paying for dinners, who’s not paying for anything. And it’s almost like my birthday, because their No. 1 job is to show me a magnificent time — as a matter of fact, the time of my life.
“When I’m at a Michigan vs. Notre Dame game, and they’re playing against Rocket Ismail and he runs back two, we’re on campus having a really good time,” he said. “We’re hanging out, champagnin’ and campaignin’, hanging with my potential future teammates … yes, of course women and dating are part of that scenario.”
Rose said he was served alcohol and introduced to young women – he said none were escorts, he didn’t need that boost – on his visits to MSU, Syracuse, UNLV “and you know where I went.”
