So I have heard that over all this years crop of Freshmen are suppose to be behind other classes due to COVID. I have not followed any of the recruits signed by Cal. So I want to know what are your expectations for next season for this class of Freshmen? Should any of them start from day 1? By the end of the season will UK be a force to reckon with or will Cal miss another NCAA tournament?
#1 Recruiting Class
- Thread starter giffhawk
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He will probably miss the tournament next year. I'm assuming that was the response you were hoping for, or if I said we'd be good you would have said we'd suck, because you are obviously just trying to start shit about the best class in the country. Come on man, shitty try.
Great, yes, and yes. I agree with @bowie reply.
All five may start, it really depends on who returns and who we bring in from the portal. Just too early to tell. I expect at least three to start.
Wagner will likely start at PG. Edwards will likely start on the wing. Bradshaw will likely start down low. Wagner and Edwards are top 5, maybe the top two. Bradshaw is close to top 5. They will greatly improve our athleticism.
Dillingham is another top 10 and also has a good chance to start.
Sheppard is a top 25 guy and the least likely to start, but he is probably the highest basketball IQ guy in the class and might be the best on the team next season.
Cal might start all five, he has always wanted to win it all with an all Freshman starting five. But it would essentially be a four guard lineup, which Cal generally hates to play, so it’s unlikely all five will be on the floor very much if any at all.
This overall class isn’t as strong as classes in the past, but they aren’t playing the classes of the past. Hard to tell what impact they will have next season. With NIL more talent is coming back to the college game every year. This includes our own team.
I look for Cal to likely use all five in the rotation, regardless of how many start.
Wagner will likely start at PG. Edwards will likely start on the wing. Bradshaw will likely start down low. Wagner and Edwards are top 5, maybe the top two. Bradshaw is close to top 5. They will greatly improve our athleticism.
Dillingham is another top 10 and also has a good chance to start.
Sheppard is a top 25 guy and the least likely to start, but he is probably the highest basketball IQ guy in the class and might be the best on the team next season.
Cal might start all five, he has always wanted to win it all with an all Freshman starting five. But it would essentially be a four guard lineup, which Cal generally hates to play, so it’s unlikely all five will be on the floor very much if any at all.
This overall class isn’t as strong as classes in the past, but they aren’t playing the classes of the past. Hard to tell what impact they will have next season. With NIL more talent is coming back to the college game every year. This includes our own team.
I look for Cal to likely use all five in the rotation, regardless of how many start.
Whether they miss the tournament or win it all… Kentucky’s overall body of accomplishments will still be light years ahead of your program.
Not so sure. Cal has shown a reluctancy to use homegrown talent. As far as the others are concerned, no doubt they are good players but will be young and all will have to adjust to the speed of the college game. If we have a good nucleus of returning players to mix in with this group, livingston, reeves, CJ, and Collins for example, could make for a pretty good team. If we have to rely solely on the incoming freshmen to carry us then I’d say a very good chance we are again a bubble team next year.
I'm going to guess we get Ugonna, Thiero, Livingston, Fredrick, and an outside shot at Reeves.
Starters would be:
Wagner
Reeves / Dillingham
Edwards
Livingston
Bradshaw
Bench:
Dillingham (if Reeves returns)
Fredrick
Thiero
Shepherd
Ugonna
Seems like a really good team on paper, with no transfers. But so did this year for us and UNCheat. Just never know how it all turns out.
Livingston and Edwards at the 3/4 is a nightmare for other teams. Both shoot just enough to keep defenses honest, along with Reeves/Fredrick/Dillingham will keep the floor open for Wagner.
Starters would be:
Wagner
Reeves / Dillingham
Edwards
Livingston
Bradshaw
Bench:
Dillingham (if Reeves returns)
Fredrick
Thiero
Shepherd
Ugonna
Seems like a really good team on paper, with no transfers. But so did this year for us and UNCheat. Just never know how it all turns out.
Livingston and Edwards at the 3/4 is a nightmare for other teams. Both shoot just enough to keep defenses honest, along with Reeves/Fredrick/Dillingham will keep the floor open for Wagner.
I think some have Wagner and Dillingham roles mixed up . Dillingham is more likely to be the starting Pg and Wagner is more likely to be the SG. Rob is more of a PG while Wagner is more of a combo guard. Not sure what Reeves or CJ does with freshman who are expected to start . Will be interesting to see .
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We had GREAT Freshman classes in the past. The one common denominator of all our classes, is a "Lack of good coaching." When you get these "Hot-shot" Freshman in, their only goal is to get to the Next Level as soon as possible. Cal's major goal is to get them there after their Freshman year. If you think I'm wrong, read his book, "I Coach For The Names On The Back Of The Jersey," by Mike Rutherford. Read "Players First by John Calipari, June 5, 2014. Players First gives a very honest picture of what's important to Cal, and it isn't, Winning Championships. His primary goal is to make the families of these young men, Wealthy. I have no problem with them getting wealthy, in fact I think it's great, but I feel his first objective should be to hang banners. That's what he is being paid to do.
Yep another shit stirring sock.
A lot of the class debates can be talked about regarding age too. For instance, DJ Wagner is currently 17 yrs old as a SR. Not to fire too many shots but Jalen Suggs turned 17 his Soph season in HS. So one guy is going to be more mature physically and ready for college game than another in all likelihood. Does matter in how ready physically and mentally a player may be for CBB.
I worry about shooting. Wagner nor Dillingham are considered great shooters. Really need Reeves back.
And that one year difference is huge at his age.
Cal will want to start Wagner, Livingston, Edwards, Bradshaw, Ugonna. Only half kidding.
I keep forgetting just how young DJ Wagner is . Crazy he’s been a starting guard for Varisty at Camden since a freshman considering how young he is .
Except for RS, guarantee you the other 4 have been promised starting positions or guaranteed playing time.
I agree that could have the makings of a nice team, but to quote the old Wendy's commercial, "Where's the Beef??" Somewhere albeit through the portal or what, we are going to have to get some bruisers in here to bang with some of these teams. Kinda like those 2 brothers that Arkansas has. I love the class we have coming in, dont get me wrong. But when your big men are all under 225lbs, its not gonna work.
That's insane to think he was 14 when he started out and was expected to dominate and put Camden back at top of state. Now his season is over too. NJ State HS Association got a break with the fight because they now have a reason instead of the eligibility/transfer angle they were going to push forward to ban them from Postseason.
Flip side of this class is Justin Edwards is currently 19 yrs old. So he'll be more mature entering CBB.
If properly utilized Oscar would be a great addition to the team but he just can’t camp in the lane for 35+ a game. 25-30 minutes use of him and another big body from the portal to help out would certainly round out the team and would also look to add another Grady/reeves type shooter. Cannot have enough shooters on a team.
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How much of that "homegrown talent" was unanimous top 50 and McDonald's All-Americans?
I don’t think Tshiebwe will be back. Cal is wanting to utilize his shot blockers/rim protectors next season. Wouldn’t be surprised to see two of Collins. Onyenso, and Bradshaw to start. We have struggled defensively without a legit shot blocker inside.
Edwards will probably end up being our best player next season.
It will be like if I went out and bought myself a beautiful baby grand piano. I don’t know how to play the piano.
Problem is, Cal doesn’t like small ball. He won’t play Livingston at the 4.
If Livingston is back, I think he will keep him at the 3. Edwards is skilled enough to play the 2 and Cal loves having a 6’6+ guy at the 2.
I also think he will play two shot blockers, with Collins(I think he is going to get a shot next season) and Bradshaw play the 4 and 5.
Starters
G Wagner
G Edwards
F Livingston
F Collins
F Bradshaw
Reserves
G Dillingham
G Fredrick
G Sheppard
G Reeves
F Thiero
F Onyenso
F Ware
But I could see Reeves leaving if this looks like it’s the roster. Just not a lot of minutes for him with those guards and wings coming in and Livingston coming back. Fredrick is in the same situation, but he might stick it out, especially if his fiancée is back for the Lady Cats.
Yeah he was 14 here . I think his game was mature at that age. He didn’t grow a lot afterwards and he isn’t athletic so I think he came somewhat of a boring prospect . Some of his peers caught up with him now and he’s a lil bit underrated by the board now due to shooting worries . Even at 14 he already looked like the leader of the team . I think he will surprise some at Kentucky .
High basketball IQ don’t mean crap to cow patty
Not really. He probably starts if he comes back. I just don’t see him coming back. He wanted out after last season. Probably goes the G-League route. But with NIL, who knows?
Good God, bucs. Surely that wouldn’t be a starting lineup Calipari would go with. Of course, we’re forecasting here without seeing these guys in college, but I would greatly fear that lineup could end up being an SEC bottom-feeder. It just does not seem that those pieces would fit well at all.
I like the other projected starting lineup (Wagner, Reeves, Edwards, Livingston, Bradshaw) much better. Although, depending on the roster next season, that still might not be my preferred lineup or, of course, yours either.
He's always doing the interviews and I guess I just thought he was all 8n here. He gets a lot PT and definitely needs another year. Another year with a lot more talent around him and who knows. He might end up drafted if he keeps improving but he ain't going anywhere after this year. I mean NBA wise. Hopefully he's smart enough to come back after his brother who was better stayed I'm college the full time.
I think we get Ugonna , Ware, Fredrick , Therio , Collins back. We add the 5 recruits and then add a SF in portal .
Dillingham , Wagner , Edwards , Bradshaw and Collins start. Fredrick Ugonna and Thiero play a ton too.
Dillingham , Wagner , Edwards , Bradshaw and Collins start. Fredrick Ugonna and Thiero play a ton too.
