Rick Ross Is The Best Recruiting Tool In College Basketball

Note: Rick Ross’ flight to Memphis was reportedly diverted when the rapper suffered a seizure. He’s fine, but you’d have to think it’s unlikely he performs tonight JK JK JK YOU CAN’T STOP THE BAWSE.

In case you haven’t heard, Friday night marks the first official practice for college basketball programs all over the country. Or, as it’s otherwise known, MIDNIGHT MADNESS. But of all the promotions planned across the country, Memphis wins, and it’s not even close.

I’m sorry, but if you enlist The Teflon Don to perform at an NCAA-sanctioned event, you automatically win the day. As if we didn’t have enough reasons to love Josh Pastner. When CBS’ Gary Parrish asked about Ross’ performance Pastner said it up his program’s “street cred”. Only he’s dead serious.

Pastner’s like John Calipari on Adderall, except he’s so genuinely enthusiastic about everything, it’s kinda charming. Via CBS Sports:

“The benefit is that it gives you a little street cred,” Pastner told CBSSports.com on Friday moments after announcing the rap superstar will perform at Memphis Madness on Oct. 14. “The kids love it. It’s a great recruiting tool.”
“It’s all about recruiting,” Pastner said. “A young kid, even a freshman or sophomore, might come to see a practice, then see 19,000 people and Rick Ross. Those things stay in your mind. You say, ‘I want to be on that floor someday. I want to play for the Tigers someday.’”

This logic reminds me of Aziz Ansari’s Raaaaaaaaaandy video.

You go to a comedy club, and they’re like, “Which is your favorite comedian?”

And you’re like, ‘I don’t know, that guy... Which one... Oh the guy with the DJ. Oh, I remember him. He’s the only one that had a f****n DJ.

And Memphis is the only school that has Rick Ross MC’ing basketball practice. BAWSE.

And here’s to hoping it really does pay recruiting dividends, because that may ultimately lead to Pastner rocking a Maybach Music chain on the sidelines. Whatever it takes to recruit, ya know?