Over half of sons coached by dad in D1 average less than 1 PPG

Sports are supposed to be one of the only true meritocracies in the world, where everyone is on an even playing field, and it’s not about who you know or where you come from, but rather what you’re able to accomplish in competition.

Unfortunately, that isn’t reality. Many people are given access and opportunities solely due to their connections. Now, damning numbers are surfacing on just how out of place these people are.

Multiple athletes on men’s basketball Division 1 rosters this season are in the unique position of having thier fathers serve as their team’s head coaches. However, it would appear that these players aren’t rostered for their hoops prowess alone, if their production is anything to judge by.

More than half of the athletes in this unique position are averaging less than a single point per game, according to one TikTok statistician.

@strictlybball Every father-son duo in college hoops! #strictlybball ♬ original sound – StrictlyBBall

However, it’s worth noting that the players aren’t the only ones taking advantage of their familial ties. It can happen in the coaching ranks as well.

Many felt that former Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl stepped down so close to the start of the season so that the university would be forced to promote his son, Steven Pearl, who also played for his father at the University of Tennessee, from associate head coach to replace him.

Now, Bruce is going on the record and confirming as much.

“Am I rooting for my son to make the NCAA Tournament? Of course I am. Did I help my son get the (Auburn) job, nepotism? Of course, I did,” Pearl said during an appearance on Don’t @ me, an Outkick podcast.

Unfortunately for Auburn, the Tigers won all of one game in February, and facing an increasingly likely reality where they’ll have to watch elite teams like the Miami RedHawks, where the players and staff earned their way to the top, play in the NCAA tournament from afar.