Ansley Almonor to visit

[Catfan2226]

Works for me.

Very well could be and I'm fine with it. It's a solid roster with experience. Get them on the same page and I think we are in for a surprise in Pope's first season.
I really like the way this roster has been built. Pope was looking for fits, he's got them.

 

[moses1uk]

We will jump to a top 10 in all rankings after signing this dude . Might go 40-0

 

[Catfan2226]

We will jump to a top 10 in all rankings after signing this dude . Might go 40-0

Wouldn't that be some shit, would prove you are wrong about him wouldn't it.

 

[JonathanW]

Backup 4 who shoots around 39% from 3 on a large number of attempts! No brainer! Pope is building a “team” and not just stacking 5 stars

Is he a 4? I don't think so. 6'7, and rebounds right around 5.0/30min, which is about what Edwards did and 40% less than Theiro.
I'm not saying I wouldn't take him. I'm just saying he is more a backup 3 than a backup 4. Which isn't bad since our only 3 is actually a 6'5 guard (Oweh). Don't think the very thin 6'5 Brea or 6'6 FR Chandler are 3's.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Why did anyone sad face this post? Odd. Hell...just 1 of those guys would be a good addition and we will almost certainly get 2.

Idk man it doesn’t make sense to me either, there are some that think the roster sucks right now and that’s just not true

 

[SemperFiCat]

Wouldn't that be some shit, would prove you are wrong about him wouldn't it.

You think he's miserable now? He'd really lose his ish if he turned out to be right.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

I think so, and I think that’s a damn good team under the circumstances. Anyone sad facing this is living in a false reality.

Agree, if they get Lanier, Kentucky will have 2 of the most efficient players In college basketball last year in Lanier & brea. But somehow that roster sucks

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

There's some serious hurt feelings in this thread.....

 

[WhiskeyCityCat]

You only add this dude if you know you’re gonna get rejected by superior talent

We already added our starting PF and C. No "superior talent" is going to join our roster for these positions. This guy is a perfect back up IMO.

 

[track42]

Idk man it doesn’t make sense to me either, there are some that think the roster sucks right now and that’s just not true

We will just have to wait and see what our record is. Doesn't matter what anyone thinks but that will tell the tale.

 

[9timeChampion]

all our transfers have played division one ball more than unproven freshmen..

 

[UKWildcats1987]

He's a backup. It's a low risk high reward signing.

 

[LXWildcat]

Sounds like this will be a quick boom.

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This is a kid with no sources lol he’s just guessing

 

[warddr]

Considering he is a quality bench player that shoots the ball well, he would seem to be a great pickup. We have to be realistic that starters are not going to want to come to sit the bench. We also need to get used to roster building that is built on scheme and strengths (a 4 that can come off the bench and shoot from deep) as opposed to trying to stockpile talent and hope the pieces come together.

 

[EliteBlue]

He was a pf in the worst conference in the nation . He’s not a SEC pf. Way undersized . No other D1 team wants him that’s the facts not a opinion

You do understand we need guys for practice and that are willing to get 15min or less, right?

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

We will just have to wait and see what our record is. Doesn't matter what anyone thinks but that will tell the tale.

No doubt, but as constructed the roster isn’t terrible. They need one of laneir poplar and Robinson, and they will be fine

 

[NerlensCat]

We will jump to a top 10 in all rankings after signing this dude . Might go 40-0

I think we got to the crux of the problem, the class isn’t ranked high enough. Well, that way of thinking didn’t work out for the last 9 years for the last coach. How about we not lose our sh!t about rankings until we actually see what Pope can do with them!! He deserves the benefit of the doubt until he gets at least one normal recruiting class under his belt.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

If almonor decides he wants to go play starters mins somewhere, noah waterman from BYU just entered the portal

 

[maysvilleky]

Simple fact…we don’t know how this team will gell until the actual season gets here. What we do know is that it is the most College experienced team that UK has had in many years!

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Wrong I posted many times my support for Pope . Dispute that you say I’m miserable . You’re no one I don’t care about your opinions

Look, if you identify as a jerk, we must accept that according to the current world order

 

[moses1uk]

As a Transfer​

247SPORTS TRANSFER RANKINGS​

88

• OVR317
• PF

Well he’s ranked 317 in the portal and 52 best pf . It’s MJ reborn

 

[MachineHead1]

As a Transfer​

247SPORTS TRANSFER RANKINGS​

88

• OVR317
• PF

Well he’s ranked 317 in the portal and 52 best pf . It’s MJ reborn

 

[Elliott Tim]

I’m good with it.. Everybody’s gotta remember, it’s ALL about the coaching and we’ve finally got one that can do so🙏

Me too, but they never give weight to what I think.

 

[ib4ky]

"SUPERIOR TALENT" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Didn't Division-2 subpar talent Mr. Gohlke say hello to TWO future NBA Draft TOP-10 picks, and (Supposedly) TALENTED elite players in NCAA Round-1, by outscoring those two freshmen phenoms 32-13 in far less minutes played????

 

[kywildcat41035]

Sounds like maybe today….

 

[BBNinSC]

As a Transfer​

247SPORTS TRANSFER RANKINGS​

88

• OVR317
• PF

Well he’s ranked 317 in the portal and 52 best pf . It’s MJ reborn

Who is right here? The head coach at Kentucky or some hayseed jackass that spends his days posting bullshit on the internet? Hmmmm

 

[UKSanders]

Is he a 4? I don't think so. 6'7, and rebounds right around 5.0/30min, which is about what Edwards did and 40% less than Theiro.​

I'm not saying I wouldn't take him. I'm just saying he is more a backup 3 than a backup 4. Which isn't bad since our only 3 is actually a 6'5 guard (Oweh). Don't think the very thin 6'5 Brea or 6'6 FR Chandler are 3's.

He isn't a thin 6'7 guy though. At 6'7 220, he could be a versatile guy to back up either the 3 or the 4. His highlights appear to reveal a few things:

• Good spot up shooter, so he would help space the floor at either the 3 or the 4
• Good passer - fits within the offense Pope ran with his bigs at the top of the key
• Questions/weaknesses?
  • Plays below the rim (didn't see a single dunk in his highlights)...appears crafty as he scores with baby hooks, floaters, jumpers around the lane, so he may be able to score against bigger SEC post defenders, but it is a question mark. This is also a major factor when defending opposing bigs.
  • quickness? if he backs up the 3, he may struggle to defend opposing SFs/SGs on the perimeter.
  • Handles: doesn't show elite handles for a wing, but adequate for calculated drives.

Transfer portal highlights

Against good (P5 level) competition, his box score is mixed:

2022-2023 NCAA tournament
Purdue 1 pt, 2 rebs, 0/4 FGs, 0/2 3pt FGs... but he was the on defending Zach Edey during the last couple minutes, and he hustled to get his hands on the ball and should've save possession up 3 pts with 30 secs left, but the officials missed the foul call on Purdue. Played good positional defense and did a decent job trying to box out Edey
Purdue highlights (end of game)

2023-2024 season

Illinois 20 pts, 3 rebs, 7/16 FGs, 4/9 3pt FGs​

Seton Hall 6 pts, 1 reb, 2/13 FGs, 2/9 3pt FGs​

​

​

Bottom line to me... looks like someone who shouldn't be the starting 4 as I think he would struggle playing there too much, but looks like he could potentially provide valuable depth at 2 different positions.​

 

[LXWildcat]

Sounds like maybe today….

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This kid does not have any sources, just throwing stuff at the wall hoping it sticks

 

[Trollsensor]

This kid does not have any sources, just throwing stuff at the wall hoping it sticks

You sound mad. Are you jealous of this kid?

 

[permdaddy]

No downside here.

We have schlorships
Likely won't cost a lot of NIL
Likely he doesn't expect to start or play 30 minutes a game but is willing to come here
Capable of playing more minutes if there are injuries

 

[CrimsonCats]

I feel like I’ve been a little less bullish about our overall roster than most around here, but I don’t think this guy would be a bad addition at all. It’s just a fact that you’re not going to get a full roster of players capable of starting at the power conference level out of the portal and get half of them to accept backup roles. If he is in fact willing to come off the bench here instead of starting at a small school, he fits the profile very well of a capable backup who has a defining skill, which is 3 point shooting in his case. You need guys like this in order to build a complete team.

 

[LXWildcat]

You sound mad. Are you jealous of this kid?

I’m not mad but it’s annoying how many people claim to be “insiders”

 

[Trollsensor]

I’m not mad but it’s annoying how many people claim to be “insiders”

I'm just messing with you. It's a boring day at work. You are absolutely correct. We have no insiders. The national guys get the scoop before any of our "insiders"

 

[moses1uk]

Who is right here? The head coach at Kentucky or some hayseed jackass that spends his days posting bullshit on the internet? Hmmmm

40-0 after signing that dude

 

[screwduke1]

You think we get 2 of Lanier.Robinson and Poplar?

Yes. I dont have inside information or anything like that...but it just looks likely to me IMO.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Almonor averaged 16.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Hit 39.4 from the three. Was a two time All-NEC honors. Has one year left. Had to play mostly the 5 position last season but is a true four. Pope throwing out scenario's for the final scholarships and one could be redshirting a veteran so we would have him next season after losing several older guys. Probably according to who the other two we get.

 

[TopCatCal]

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If we get Almonor, UK will have 3 point snipers running out their ears.

Koby Brea - .498% from 3 point range
Kerr Kriisa - .424% from 3 point range
Otega Oweh - .377 from 3 point range
Andrew Carr - .371 from 3 point range
Then add in high school recruits Travis Perry, Collin Chandler & Trent Noah. All 3 deadly from 3 point range. There won't be another team in the country with as many 3 point weapons as UK will have next year. Then if we also get

Chaz Lanier - .440% from 3 point range
Ansley Almonor - .394 from 3 point range

This team will be hard to guard

 

[kywildcat41035]

This kid does not have any sources, just throwing stuff at the wall hoping it sticks

Sounds like another source

 

[TheDude73]

Post me the list of schools interested in him . You’re about to look goofy , what I said was a fact

As far as goofy goes, you pretty much own that title in this thread today. Free and clear, all yours buddy.

 

[G-PIP]

Is he a 4? I don't think so. 6'7, and rebounds right around 5.0/30min, which is about what Edwards did and 40% less than Theiro.
I'm not saying I wouldn't take him. I'm just saying he is more a backup 3 than a backup 4. Which isn't bad since our only 3 is actually a 6'5 guard (Oweh). Don't think the very thin 6'5 Brea or 6'6 FR Chandler are 3's.

JW, I would have to disagree with you a little here. 6’7” 220lbs. is big enough for the PF spot, at least in college. I think I read that Almonor even played Center too last season. Edwards’ best position last season was as a college PF – he was a horrible starting SF option for any team interested in contending for a championship or probably even a Power 5 conference title. I’m not saying Edwards was a great PF – actually Thiero was better in basically every way – but I thought he was capable of defending most college PFs as well or better than he could defend a SF, and that’s probably true for Almonor as well.

I also think Brea and Chandler are good SF options – again in college. Brea is what – 200 to 205 lbs. that’s not skinny in basketball terms. And Chandler is supposedly 6’6” now and had some good hops coming out of high school.

Not saying you’re wrong, just that I look at those players differently and I don’t think it's unreasonable to do so.