> I think the level of play at the college level is great

Of course it is. That's the problem.
The corruption starts when kids are being recruited in middle school.
Here in NJ, kids have transferred from one high school to another, played one basketball game there, and transferred back.
The real corruption is at the coaching and administrative levels.

Rutgers is supposed to be a state college.
One would assume that at least of few of its athletes might be from NJ - or at least Pa or NY, right?
Check this out:
http://www.nj.com/rutgersbasketball/index.ssf/2018/01/shots_hit_round_the_world_inside_story_of_rutgers.html
When coaches are paid millions of dollars on the assumption that they'll (one way or the other) produce winning teams, this is what happens to what was once a great school.




Since Tiger brought all the TV money into the sport, high school and collegiate golf are going in the same direction.
These kids have full time coaches in middle school.