This perspective is fundamentally flawed and ignores the modern reality of roster construction. The idea that you can ignore the portal and rely solely on high school development is a fast track to mediocrity. Look at the numbers. Programs that actively manage the portal, like Oklahoma State, consistently outperform developmental models in win totals. The portal isn't about panic, it's about strategic acquisition to fill immediate gaps that high school recruits can't address for two or three years. Your argument about "culture" is romantic but disconnected from results. A sustainable program today uses every tool available. Relying only on three-star high school players means you're willingly accepting a talent deficit against teams that blend development with portal hits. Sending one guy to a pro day is a nice story, but it doesn't win championships. The teams competing for titles are using the portal to accelerate their timelines, not just to watch their own players leave. The blueprint isn't Iowa, it's finding the right balance, and dismissing a core mechanism of the sport as a "circus" is how you get left behind. The data on roster turnover and success rates for portal-heavy teams proves this. You build a lasting culture by winning, and you win by getting the best players, however they arrive on your campus.