More and more D-1 players who transfer are using the JUCO route so they won't have to sit out a season. Ty Outlaw is a good example for men's basketball. Players also feel that they'll get more looks from recruiters if they play a year of JUCO ball. Taylor Emery was a high school super star who originally signed with Tulane. She decided to transfer after freshman season. Alexis Jean went the JUCO route for another reason but one year at that level landed her in a better place than Kennesaw State (where she spent her freshman season).

High level JUCO basketball consists of D-1 transfers and players who didn't receive D-1 offers and want to improve their game and gain more exposure to D-1 recruiters. Other JUCO players go that route because of academic qualification problems. There are some quality JUCO programs but it's a level below D-1 and better than D-2. Using professional baseball levels as an example, JUCO is like AAA baseball in my opinion with D-1 being the major leagues, D-2 being AA, and D-3 being A level. I'm not expert but that's how I see JUCO athletics.