The Lead

There was a time when high school football players would decide where they wanted to go to college by visiting a few schools, talking to coaches, and then making a decision with their family. But those days are long gone. Today, The Athletic's Ari Wasserman takes us inside the over-the-top world of college football recruiting, and explains how one specific aspect of recruiting -- the photoshoot -- has become an important part of getting blue chip prospects. Plus, why arguably the most hyped high school football player in history, Arch Manning (the nephew of Peyton and Eli) is taking a very different approach, and keeping his recruiting activities low-key and simple.

Related stories from Ari Wasserman:

https://theathletic.com/3217713/2022/03/30/arch-mannings-unique-approach-to-recruiting-and-the-coach-behind-it-all-theres-no-red-carpet/

https://theathletic.com/3103611/2022/02/01/horses-luxury-cars-and-the-photo-shoots-growing-influence-in-college-footballs-recruiting-landscape/

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This year's race for NBA Most Valuable Player is one of the tightest in recent memory. Two-time winner Giannis Antetokounmpo is making a strong push to become just the ninth three-time winner. The reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, is putting up historic numbers night after night. And in Philadelphia, Sixers center Joel Embiid kept his team at the top of the East through a tumultuous year while averaging 30 points a game. Today, The Athletic’s Sam Amick joins us to talk about his recent exclusive interview with Embiid, where the Cameroonian big man shared his thoughts on the Ben Simmons saga, the acquisition of James Harden and if Philly has enough to go all the way. Plus we break down this historic MVP race by making the case for each of the top contenders.

Read Sam Amick’s full interview with Joel Embiid: https://theathletic.com/3213386/2022/03/28/joel-embiid-unplugged-on-the-mvp-trusting-daryl-morey-his-new-partner-james-harden-and-still-having-a-long-way-to-go/ 

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The Women's Final Four tips off tonight, and there are some mouth-watering matchups: Top-ranked South Carolina, led by national player of the year Aliyah Boston, square off against relative underdogs Louisville, led by fiery guard Haley Van Lith. Then, UConn will play in its fourteenth consecutive Final Four (yes, you read that correctly), and will hope that shooting sensation Paige Bueckers can lead them to victory over the defending champion Stanford Cardinal amd reigning Final Four MVP Haley Jones. The Athletic's Chantel Jennings joins us to break down the key matchups and storylines to follow, and to discuss how the electric slide, Barack Obama, and Jimmy Kimmel have factored into the tournament. Plus, after the uproar over inequality during last year's NCAA tournament, how much have things really changed?

More from Chantel Jennings:

https://theathletic.com/author/chantel-jennings/

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We are in unprecedented territory in the men’s NCAA Tournament, with a March Madness matchup we’ve never seen before: Duke vs. UNC, on Saturday night, in New Orleans. Today, The Athletic’s Brendan Marks — who covers both teams for The Athletic — takes us behind the scenes to look at key turning points for the Blue Devils and the Tar Heels, and how Mike Krzyzewski and Hubert Davis have gotten the most out of their rosters at the exact right time. Also on this episode: We break down the key performers for both teams, from Paolo Banchero to Mark Williams to Brady Manek and Armando Bacot.

Follow Brendan Marks's coverage of Duke and UNC basketball: https://theathletic.com/author/brendan-marks/?source=theleadpodcast

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After dispiritingly missing out in 2018, The U.S. Men are once again on the brink of World Cup qualification thanks in large part to the play of star forward Christian Pulisic. The Chelsea winger has endured an up and down campaign with his club in recent months, but on the back of a recent upturn in form the 22-year-old came into the National Team setup with a point to prove. Today, The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio takes us through the match against Panama where Pulisic’s talismanic performance helped drive the USMNT to a decisive victory and tells us just how high this team’s ceiling can be if Pulisic is firing on all cylinders.

Read all of Paul Tenorio’s U.S. National Team and MLS coverage: https://theathletic.com/author/paul-tenorio/ 

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We’re moving into the homestretch of the NHL regular season, which means the greatest postseason of them all – the NHL playoffs – are just a few weeks away. Today, The Athletic’s Eric Duhatschek gives us an early look at the NHL playoff picture, explains which teams made smart moves at the trade deadline, and states, with impressive confidence, which teams will meet in the Stanley Cup Finals.

More from Eric Duhatschek:

https://theathletic.com/author/eric-duhatschek/

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The Toronto Blue Jays got an MVP-caliber campaign from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2021, but the team came up just short of the playoffs on the final day of the season. Today, The Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath tells us how the Jays responded after the disappointment of missing out, and how they’ve rebuilt their roster after the losses of Robbie Ray and Marcus Semien to set the bar even higher in 2022. Also on this episode: how Canada’s vaccine rules are impacting the Jays, and their rivals, and what to expect when Rogers Centre has a full house for the first time since 2019. 

Follow Kaitlyn McGrath’s coverage of the Blue Jays: https://theathletic.com/author/kaitlyn-mcgrath/?source=theleadpodcast

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It has already been an unbelievable ride for the Iowa State Cyclones, a No. 11 seed that has made a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Today, The Athletic’s Jesse Temple tells us how this team — led by first-year head coach T.J. Otzelberger — has pulled off an unthinkable turnaround, going from 2-22 a year ago to now sitting on the verge of the Elite Eight. Plus, the role that the transfer portal has played in Iowa State’s surprise success, and whether they can keep it going against Miami on Friday night.

Read Jesse Temple’s full story about the Cyclones: https://theathletic.com/3203762/2022/03/23/how-iowa-state-went-from-2-22-afterthought-to-sweet-16-darling-im-pretty-sure-everybody-had-us-last-in-everything/?source=theleadpodcast

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A year ago, Oregon basketball player Sedona Prince shamed the NCAA into a moment of reckoning. Her video about the "weight room" provided to women athletes in the NCAA tournament bubble stirred up a debate over discrepancies between the men's and women's tournaments, and turned Prince into an overnight celebrity. The Athletic's Charlotte Carroll caught up with Prince and her mother a year later, and she joins us today to explain how Prince's life was transformed by the video, how she is using her massive social media platform today, and how her actions influenced this year's tournament. Plus, Charlotte breaks down some of the more impressive performances we've seen in the first two rounds, and gives us her pick to win it all.

Read Charlotte Carroll's full story about Sedona Prince:

https://theathletic.com/3180730/2022/03/14/mom-i-did-a-thing-how-oregons-sedona-prince-found-her-strength-and-power/

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The NFL offseason has had no shortage of storylines. Quarterbacks are playing musical chairs, big name free agents are on the move, and one of the best receivers in football was traded. Today The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones helps us make sense of it all by breaking down the controversial Deshaun Watson trade, Davante Adams’ move to Vegas, and Matt Ryan’s new start in Indy. Plus she reveals who she thinks will come out on top of the increasingly daunting AFC West.

Read all of Lindsay Jones’ NFL coverage: https://theathletic.com/author/lindsay-jones/

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