In order to manage my expectations and broaden my knowledge base, I was wondering if someone could answer the following questions regarding the graduate transfer process.
Do graduate transfers sign a letter of intent? If not, is there some kind of binding commitment that is made between the school and the student athlete? Not really, the process is so short that there's no reason to fuck around.
When do the fans hear about such a commitment? Is it after the student athlete graduates from their current undergraduate school in May? I think it's usually very late in the school year of after
Do graduate transfers schedule visits during April? I don't believe so
Is the competition for graduate transfers is less intense as compared to recruiting high school freshman? Most schools already have used their full compliment of scholarships, or do graduate transfer attend their graduate school as some kind of "walk-on", maybe getting academic scholarships or a fellowship and are thus not counted as a scholarship player? They are real players who count as scholarships but they have to transfer to a school that offers a graduate program that their undergraduate school doesn't offer and enroll in such a program. So yes, with many ships already committed and that additional limitation it's a little less competitive I guess.
A graduate transfer would have to consider the following:
Does this school have a scholarship for me?
Does the team need my skills or will I be competing with three other guys for minutes?
Does the coach have the ability to develop me further?
Do I like the coach?
Does the team's style of play fit my game?
Do I like the players on the team?
Does the team offer me an opportunity to "get noticed" by the group he plans to begin his career with?
All logical questions that you would hope the kids take into account for their own good with regard to basketball. But if they do not really intend on pursuing their grad degree or a future in pro hoops they might also pick a school that lets them better participate in their favorite hobbies or vices or has good connections for their future career outside basketball.