The 2015 class is odd

[JFCats22]

Just seems like a strange group

Ben Roberts ‏@NextCats
So, the top 7 committed players in Scout rankings for 2015 are going to: UK, LSU, Maryland, Cal, Marquette, Miss. State & UNLV. What a mix.

 

[Cantwaitfor8]

This will be a good indicator of how successful cal has been with getting these kids to the league. When so many go elsewhere and other coaches have to prove they can develop, teach, and get these one and done types to the league. I am doubtful all will find the success they feel they are sure to be.

 

[Joneslab]

Could mean that you've got a bunch of guys who never got tight on the AAU circuit and don't want to play with each other. The behind-the-scenes stuff at the McDonald's game was sort of scoffed at, but that may really be an issue with this class. They genuinely don't seem to want to have anything to do with one another.

 

[GonzoCat90]

I'm also starting to wonder if it has something to do with the fact that they're just not very good overall.

Simmons aside, who has family connections at LSU, look at the actual ability of the kids going other places. Maybe they aren't comfortable on that big stage. Maybe they know they aren't one and done and will get buried behind an elite 2016 class. Or maybe the coaches at those schools know and don't want to clog the roster.

If nothing else, it's just a very different set of priorities than we've seen from other classes.

 

[gossie21]

I'm also starting to wonder if it has something to do with the fact that they're just not very good overall.

Simmons aside, who has family connections at LSU, look at the actual ability of the kids going other places. Maybe they aren't comfortable on that big stage. Maybe they know they aren't one and done and will get buried behind an elite 2016 class. Or maybe the coaches at those schools know and don't want to clog the roster.

If nothing else, it's just a very different set of priorities than we've seen from other classes.

There is not one elite recruit with enough self-awareness to think this way.

 

[KentuckySir]

It's okay last year was the exception. Not every year we will have 10 burger boys. Relax guys we are fine. You guys are stressing for zero reason.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Newman is good...I do not think there is any doubt he would have started at UK this year.

 

[reignof cats]

newman to msu might help us with Jaylen Brown. GBB

 

[gossie21]

It's a weird class, most of them just wanted to stay home or had some other type of family relationship with the school they committed to.

LSU - Simmons - Godfather an assistant coach
Cal - Rabb - hometown school.
Marquette - Ellenson - brother plays at Marquette, plays in state.
UNLV - Zimmerman - hometown school
Miss St - Newman - home state, father's alma mater

The one outlier would be Stone going to Maryland.

 

[GonzoCat90]

There is not one elite recruit with enough self-awareness to think this way.

You're right, I'm reaching for any kind of method to all this madness.

 

[UK_Johnny24]

Who cares as long as we get Murray. If some idiot wants to go to Miss St or UNLV go on have fun getting no attention when you could be in the spotlight.

 

[reignof cats]

Who cares as long as we get Murray. If some idiot wants to go to Miss St or UNLV go on have fun getting no attention when you could be in the spotlight.

Zimmerman is a home town vegas kid. He aint taking skal off the floor. Plenty of spotlight there though.
Newman wants to try to be a pg. He is a Miss boy. Not going to take TU or Briscoe off the floor. StarkVegas not too much spotlight at all.

Would love to get Murray or even Brown now. Brown and Newman did not like playing with each other.
GBB

 

[wcc31]

It's a weird class, most of them just wanted to stay home or had some other type of family relationship with the school they committed to.

LSU - Simmons - Godfather an assistant coach
Cal - Rabb - hometown school.
Marquette - Ellenson - brother plays at Marquette, plays in state.
UNLV - Zimmerman - hometown school
Miss St - Newman - home state, father's alma mater

The one outlier would be Stone going to Maryland.

^ And that one was about a shoe/apparel company.

 

[RondoBaller21]

It's okay last year was the exception. Not every year we will have 10 burger boys. Relax guys we are fine. You guys are stressing for zero reason.

Yeah but if we only land that juco, we will still only have 9 players, and that's a big problem. He has to start landing some guys.

 

[gossie21]

Yeah but if we only land that juco, we will still only have 9 players, and that's a big problem. He has to start landing some guys.

Not true at all.

In 2011 Calipari got the team to play way over their talent level and only played 6 guys (Knight, Liggins, Miller, Jones, Harrelson and Lamb).

In 2012 the most solid unit Calipari only played 6 in his usual rotation (Teague, Lamb, MKG, Jones, Davis, and Miller...... Vargas and Wiltjer played spot minutes).

Next year Calipari has at least 6 players (Ulis, Briscoe, Matthews, Poythress, Lee, and Labissiere) that he can rely on. He also has Hawkins who is a defensive specialist to provide minutes, and hopefully Willis will improve enough on defense to help out in spots. It would be nice to add one of the top studs still available. It would certainly improve our team. But we are by no means looking at a "Big Problem."