Isn't the academys all about richer teams molding "draft players" to suit their needs. I don't see how anything good can come out of this. Academys actually guarantee you a good pick if you put money into it. So basically, I can win the league, put money in the academy (no investment in the draft ofcourse) and get a better 18yo than a team that relegates?
I like that the draft is a unpredictable. TL is flooded with great talent every season and great 18yo's are not expencive either. You don't need a perfect trainee, the sooner people get that, the better. You can cap a pot4 trainee with decent starting skills in 1-1,5(max) season(s) with lvl5 trainer. Pot7 player capped is already a solid starter in divI (1568 teams out of ~50k). Superstar is only needed, if you plan on improving the player, while playing in the top division. How many managers actually train their player to NT from scratch? You can prolly do it in a small country, but not in a competitive country.
I've seen great estonian draftees go for 10-50k, which are over 50sp (no ft or st included) and have atleast pot7. What else do you need?