Mike Bibby isn't shy about where he stands on the new money-driven world of college basketball recruiting. For the Sacramento State coach, the NIL era has turned recruiting into a negotiation table, but he refuses to let cash be the first topic of conversation.
"I try not to talk about money at all. You know, I try not to talk about it at all to where it's like, you know, if that's the first thing the kid ask about, I don't want to," Bibby says . If a recruit's first question is about the size of the check, Bibby's interest fades fast.
Bibby's approach is simple, if a player is more focused on NIL dollars than basketball, he's not the right fit for his program.
"When you get on the phone, the first thing he says, well, I'm getting this from something. That's the first thing you say. I don't want it."
He's seen how quickly the conversation can shift from development and opportunity to a bidding war and he's not playing that game.
"I can break y'all something just to live, you know, live a little bit, but when you come in and start with this school is giving me this much, how much are you going to give me? Go get with that. That sounds janky like that right there, but you know, at the end of the day, that's all going to pan out for what it is."
For Bibby, the real value in college basketball is still about growth, accountability, and team culture. He wants players who are hungry for the right reasons, who want to compete, improve and be part of something bigger than themselves.
The NIL revolution might have changed the rules, but it hasn't changed Bibby's standards. He's not against players making money, but he's not interested in running a program where money is the only motivation.
Recruiting in 2025 is a different beast and Bibby knows it. Agents and handlers are everywhere, tossing around numbers and trying to up the price on every player.
"There's people that run those situations. You know there are guys that send you 30 people. There's another guy. Hey, I got a guy that got some players. You know I mean there's like 50 of them. 50 of the guys that got players. So they they got 10 to 15 players. Boom, boom, boom. And then they throw money out there."
Bibby's response is always the same: if you're chasing the biggest bag, Sacramento State isn't your spot.
At the end of the day, Mike is betting on culture over cash. He's looking for players who want to be coached, who want to be held accountable, and who see college as more than just a paycheck. If NIL is your first priority, Bibby's not your guy, and he's perfectly fine with that.
After all, players who prioritize the bag that early in their basketball careers over skill and character development will probably never have successful basketball careers when they turn pro. Maybe that's the reason for those bidding wars; they realize they won't get that kind of money anywhere else after college.
