Based on the success the state of Florida has had over the years in producing elite talent, it's a valid argument to question why the Miami program has been unable/reluctant to keep the top local talent home. It's not nitpicking the least bit when we watch our team struggle but put on the TV and watch in-state recruits help other teams. It baffles me how some folks don't see the opportunity and advantage that we could have if we recruited locally.
This was certainly true 10+ years ago when Miami was one of the dormant programs in the ACC, but with the success Miami has had in recent years it is no longer the case. Most local and in-state kids would jump at the opportunity to play at Miami.
Miami did NOT recruit Jamier. There were lots of moving parts to Jamier's recruitment, but to make a long story short... Providence made Jamier a priority and they ponied up. End of story.
This stretches back beyond Vern Jr, this has been a problem for DECADES. It's not an accident that out of the last four coaches that have been at Miami, two of whom are HOF FINALISTS(Ham and L), only one had any significant success recruiting South Florida, and that was Frank Haith. Even then, Haith missed out on the elites, and towards the end of his tenure, he started going heavier in the Carolinas.
I am not arguing about Miami not recruiting this guy but has Miami every gotten a kid from Coach Reece? I can only recall Nike kids getting his major guys... E1T1 into the Florida Rebels EYBL -- Way of Oakridge. I haven't followed his teams as closely as I have moved out of the area.
For the record, I'm in now way shape or form criticizing Miami for not going after Jamier. We had no shot unless we were willing to do something crazy like back up the Brinks truck, offer Jalen and give his dad a job. LOL!!! Reece will be Reece and yes in year's past he usually gives the swoosh first dibs on all his top kids. Now with NIL in play I expect that it won't be as automatic as before. It is what it is. I'm not high on Jalen as you seem to be. I could be wrong but just don't think he's a year 1 contributor at the ACC level. I think it'll take him til his 2nd or 3rd year before he sees the floor. With the transfer portal and how kids seem to be bouncing on the daily, I just don't think we should be recruiting a 5'10" PG for down the road.
Apples and oranges. Florida basketball in the 90's was no where near where it is today. The state of Florida has produced close to 40 NBA players (this does NOT include the imports at IMG, Montverde, etc.) since Coach L has been at Miami. Anyone who was arguing back in the 90's that Miami should prioritize the state didn't have the data to support their case. The data today says otherwise.
Do you really want to be THAT guy? The one who announces to everyone that the coach can't be criticized about anything because he is above reproach.
I agree with a lot of what you say here, but my only retort would be to your recruiting aspect and that is we'll never truly know until we start recruiting and offering more kids in Florida. Back in the day, Miami had every reason not to recruit in state. Back then the talent pool was bare. Today, it seems to me it's the other way around. Miami has every reason (lots of talent, local ties, proximity to make better evaluations, etc.) to recruit in Florida. I think our staff is beginning to turn the corner on their approach with Florida prospects. Let's all hope it pays dividends.
I agree with most of this post and tend to agree with most of your other post but I have to push back on you saying that "but what L does is somehow not effective, because he isn't offering kids down here, outside of the elites." Thats just a straw man. I never said that and neither did anyone else.
Going back to the resurrection of the program in 1985, recruiting High School talent HAS been a frustrating problem in terms of landing top players.. Why that is, idk (I'd love to ask Coach L for his take on that).