...that just doesn't match the reality but I see it spread around here a lot. I'll use Nickel as an example of how it actually happens. The first way is guys put their name in the portal and allow themselves or someone in their life to be contacted (maybe parent, HS coach, AAU coach) that's the simple way. I'll use Nickel as a hypothetical on the other ways - way #1 is a school that would like Tyler Nickel in the portal reaches out to his HS coach or AAU program director and says something like "hey, I saw VT is losing some guys, is Nickel going into the portal, let us know if he does we would be interested" and then probably in the reply to that convo you get an idea of how much money could be out there. Another way is someone in Tyler's life, lets say his dad, still has contacts from the people who recruited him and reaches out to them and goes "Hey, we haven't made a decision yet but Tyler is thinking about maybe getting into the portal, would your school be interested and what type of situation would that be?" It isn't some kind of shady thing taking place, it's usually parents and basketball people just asking around and weighing pluses and minuses.