There’s been a lot of talk and rumors about Bronny’s future, but it seems like nobody really knows what’s going on. The latest is that he’s possibly going to USC, but why would he pick them? They don’t need him, and he’s not going to play ahead of the other guys. Plus, his dad LeBron thinks he’s a one-and-done player who is better than current NBA players. Um, okay then. Maybe if they just said they were looking for the best fit for Bronny, colleges would be happier to have him. But this notion that he’s leaving after one year and is better than current NBA players has understandably scared off coaches who don’t want to be the guy who plays him just a handful of minutes. Honestly, who knows where he’s going? Anyone got any ideas?

Let’s face it, we’re dealing with the scion of a billionaire who everyone knows, so it’s not really a surprise that nobody knows what’s happening. But we can assume that control drives the conversation. Control of the environment. Control of access. Control of development. Control of how the kid is used on the court. It’s like being a helicopter parent, but with a billion dollars. We get it, at a certain level. But college coaches, deep down in places they don’t talk about at parties, will tell you they want nothing to do with the circus. So which option will offer the James camp the most control? Maybe a desperate Nike-affiliated program like Oregon, but a semi-pro option like Overtime Elite makes a lot of sense. They’ll play ball with whatever LeBron wants. And they’re sending kids into the NBA Draft lottery this summer. So, figure out which venue is most permissive to the whims of an extremely rich and famous parent, and we might have our answer.

Ok, let’s move on to something a bit less confusing. There are quite a few transfers still looking for a new school. Whose choice are you most curious about? Honestly, could every school just send us a personalized roster in September with all the players added and subtracted? Because we can’t keep up. But there are a ton of interesting transfers out there, like L.J. Cryer leaving Baylor for Houston, or the Caleb Love experiment at Michigan. However, we’re really intrigued by Hunter Dickinson. This guy is talking to Maryland, Georgetown, Kansas, and Kentucky. Does he stick around in Michigan and make the Wolverines even more interesting with Caleb Love? Or does he head back to Maryland, to the school he didn’t like because it didn’t properly recruit him out of high school, and compete against Michigan? Or maybe he’ll slide on over to Kentucky, assuming Oscar Tshiebwe will be gone? Or will he join up with Ed Cooley’s merry band of transfers and elevate Georgetown back to prominence? Oh, and did we forget to mention that he’s an outspoken handful? So no matter where he goes, the headlines won’t stop with the decision. Bring it.

Now, whose relocation plan are we most excited about? Well, first of all, can we stop saying “That being said” in every announcement? We get it, you said it. You don’t need to say you’ve said it. Just say the thing and get on with it. Okay? Okay. Moving on, we have two curiosities, one for each side of the college hoops. What’s up with Ryan Nembhard leaving Creighton right after they were on the very cusp of the Final Four? He had all the NIL enticements he could want, so what gives? And Aneesah Morrow is by far the most productive available transfer in the country. We’re talking about 25.7 points and 12.2 rebounds per night. Holy moly. We’re really curious about her motivations. Does she just want to win, which wasn’t happening at DePaul? Or does she want to win while taking 20-plus shots a game? Time will tell.

Okay, let’s switch gears and talk about coaches and coaching hires. Rick Pitino was the best choice in our opinion. Bringing him to St. John’s was a no-brainer, and we’re glad they didn’t mess it up. Sure, he comes with baggage and risk, but if you want to make the Red Storm relevant again, this is the easiest and most direct route. And on the worst side of things, we have Ole Miss bringing in Chris Beard. Sure, he’s a good coach and will win games, but he was charged with a crime and missed a game while he was going through a bond hearing in handcuffs and prison stripes. Sorry, but that’s just not a great look. That being said (ha!), we’re here to listen to other arguments. What do you think?

Beard and Will Wade were undoubtedly the two most cynical hires of the carousel. But we can’t say “worst” since they were hired solely to win basketball games, and they will do that. Ole Miss might get away with it if they get enough supporters excited and willing to spend money on the product, but it might be a more laborious build than the school wants. On the other hand, Micah Shrewsberry at Notre Dame was one of the best available fits, and he was a great hire. Ed Cooley at Georgetown is also a solid choice. But with Shrewsberry at the helm, we’re wondering if the school will relax its standards to permit more undergrad transfers to accelerate a rebuild. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Finally, after all of the movement stops on all fronts, we’re wondering if we’re headed towards a Rise of the Blue Bloods in 2023-24, at least in men’s hoops. We see rosters at Duke and Michigan State getting more experience and talent, and it’s hard for us to believe that some of the big names will be vulnerable. The Champions Classic game between Duke and Michigan State is going to be lit, and we’re excited that so many guys are returning to college. The NIL may have taken some hits, but it heightens the allure of returning to college, which is good for the sport. We loved the NCAA Tournament this year, but let’s face it, it was pretty meh. When the big names are better, it helps everyone. We’re putting our pompoms down now.

Serious News: nytimes