Package deals have seemingly been going on for as long as coaches have been recruiting players.
The arrangement, which typically involves hiring the father or coach of a top recruit, has often paid dividends. Kansas' last two national titles have been aided in large part by package deals. Danny Manning and Mario Chalmers won Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors in 1988 and 2008, respectively, while their fathers watched from the bench.
In recent years, package deals have received increased scrutiny.
Kansas State took heat in 2006 when it hired Dalonte Hill, who just so happened to be the AAU coach of eventual one-and-done, program-changing star Michael Beasley.
More recently, USC hired Dwayne Polee, whose experience before being named director of basketball operations for the Trojans in 2007 was limited to a season as an assistant at Los Angeles Southwest Community College in 2000-01. But Polee's son, Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.) junior Dwayne Jr., is a stud basketball recruit who has committed to USC.
John Wall, meanwhile, is the No. 6 player in the ESPNU 100. The Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.) senior will be an instant-impact star wherever he goes. Incidentally, his AAU coach, Dwon Clifton, became director of player development at Baylor this past summer.
Baylor immediately became the presumed front-runner for Wall's services, but as of press time he said Memphis and Kansas were his leaders, with the Bears still in the picture.
Wall could very well be the exception to the rule, but normally when a school hires someone close to a top recruit, it also lands the player.
In addition to the cases of Beasley, Polee, Manning and Chalmers, Villanova hired Paterson Catholic (N.J.) coach Jimmy Salmon back in 1996. Salmon just happened to coach the nation's best player, Tim Thomas, who eventually played for Villanova.
Whether or not Wall inks with Baylor, package deals aren't against the rules. So unless the NCAA does something about them, they won't be going away anytime soon.
Ryan Canner-O'Mealy covers high school sports for ESPN RISE.
Featured Profiles
Sneakersensei
- How do the Georgia Bulldogs find their way into the heart of a confirmed New York (and Syracuse) fan? Have at him! More
