Makes sense why Iowa would be upset about C.J. Fredrick’s alleged exit strategy
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – I still believe at its core that the NCAA the transfer portal means well, and plays a valuable role, by empowering student-athletes.
If head coaches can come and go as they please, then student-athletes should have the same option.
That has been my way of thinking for years, and still is to this day.
But I’m also willing to admit that the transfer portal has some serious flaws, perhaps the most serious being the environment it has created, an environment in which currently there are more than 1,000 men’s basketball players in the portal.
And with that many players, just think of how many people are influencing those players, both in good ways and bad ways.
Some coaches are now using the portal to rebuild rosters rather than recruit high school players, and that isn’t good for high school basketball or for college basketball in the long run.
Some coaches also are tampering, according to other coaches, and needless to say, that isn’t good for the game, either.
It’s important to remember that the current circumstance is somewhat unique for transfers due to the lack of restrictions caused by the global pandemic.
But even when things return to normal, student-athletes will have one chance to transfer during a five-year window without having to sit out.
So the transfer portal is here to stay, and even head coaches that don’t like it, still have to use it in order to stay competitive.
Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery would fall into that category. He has made it abundantly clear that he has concerns with the transfer portal. But Fran McCaffery also knows that he has to use it in order to fill holes, that in some cases, were caused by the transfer portal.
Players are even transferring from within conference with former Penn State guard Jamari Wheeler and former Indiana center Joey Brunk both now at Ohio State, and with former Northwestern small forward Miller Kopp now at Indiana.
But it’s the tampering stuff that is most serious because it’s so hard to regulate and to prove. And those who are good at tampering, or bending the rules, probably are also good at covering their tracks due to having experience.
Some Iowa fans have accused Kentucky of tampering in the case of shooting guard C.J. Fredrick, who announced earlier this week that he has entered the transfer portal. It also has since been reported that Kentucky has contacted Fredrick.
Fredrick’s uncle, Joe Fredrick, issued a statement on Facebook in which he denied that any school has tampered with C.J., and he accused Iowa of being childish, both with its one-sentence press release announcing that C.J. Fredrick had entered the portal, and with University of Iowa Compliance having posted a reminder on Twitter that a prospective DI or DII transfer needs to be entered into the transfer portal before any contact or communication occurs.
Iowa seems more upset than childish in this case. And it is certainly Iowa’s right to be upset if it believes that any tampering might have occurred.
But it’s also Joe Fredrick’s right to deny the accusations, to defend his side of things, and to defend his nephew.
This has turned into an unfortunate he-said vs. he-said controversy, with hurt feelings, heavy resentment and friendships that probably are lost forever.
Joe Fredrick also claims that C.J. Fredrick had clear communication with the Iowa staff about the rumors and with how the rumors started. Joe also said he was clear about his concerns throughout the season whatever that means.
Concerns about what?
On the flipside, at least from what I’m hearing from very reliable sources, is that Fran McCaffery until last Sunday was convinced that C.J. Fredrick would return next season based on their post-season conversations.
Fran McCaffery certainly gave that impression last Wednesday when he talked about Fredrick’s status during a zoom conference with the media.
McCaffery said Fredrick was about a week from returning to workouts, and was eager for him to return.
It just seems hard to believe that Fran McCaffery, knowing him the way I do, would push that narrative to the media if he didn’t think it were true.
It also seems hard to believe that Fran McCaffery would push that narrative if C.J. Fredrick and his family had been upfront and transparent about C.J.’s desire to enter the portal.
What would Fran McCaffery have to gain by pushing a false narrative to the media, knowing the truth would soon come out?
It just makes no sense.
Joe Fredrick’s tactics also deserve questioning because it has been proven that he was interacting with Kentucky fans during the season on Facebook, saying help was on the way.
Joe didn’t specifically mention his nephew, but it seemed pretty clear what he meant.
This is the same Joe Fredrick who has been a close friend with Fran McCaffery for over 30 years, dating back to the days when Fran McCaffery was an assistant coach at Notre Dame and Joe was a player for the Irish.
This is the same Joe Fredrick who has called KCJJ radio without being asked several times to gush over Fran McCaffery and to thank him for giving his nephew a chance to play big-time college basketball when most other coaches didn’t believe in C.J. Fredrick enough to offer him a scholarship.
So it’s confusing why Joe Fredrick would feel a need during the season to communicate with Kentucky fans on Facebook with cryptic messages.
That doesn’t seem like a good way to treat a friend, and the person who believed so strongly in your nephew.
It seems that Joe Fredrick is now trying to create a narrative on behalf of C.J. Fredrick that justifies their handling of things, while making Iowa out to be the villain.
When healthy, the 6-foot-3 C.J. Fredrick has been a productive shooting guard and has shown the ability to make big shots, and to play defense.
His problem has been staying healthy, with each of his past two seasons hampered by lower leg injuries.
There is a good chance that C.J. Fredrick would have been Iowa’s No. 1 option on offense next season should Joe Wieskamp choose not to return for his senior season.
The stage was set for C.J. Fredrick to play a lead role for the head coach who supposedly meant so much to him, and yet, C.J. still has chosen to leave Fran McCaffery.
It just seems odd.
The best thing for both sides is to move on.
But I also wouldn’t blame UI officials for investigating if they truly believe that tampering might have occurred.
It probably won’t accomplish anything. But sometimes, just putting forth the effort is reward enough if you feel you’re in the right.