Article on Matt Haarms

[HICATFAN]

Interesting... would love his "D" presence!!!
Adding Matt Haarms could give UK “enormous fan favorite” as well as rim protector
by Larry Vaught
By LARRY VAUGHT

If Kentucky is able to land 7-3 Purdue transfer Matt Haarms, just what would it mean for the Wildcats.

I couldn’t think of anyone who might have better insights on Haarms than Mike DeCourcy, who not only works as a Big Ten Network studio analyst but is also a Sporting News columnist.

“He is an excellent defender. He can be a game-changer at times,” DeCourcy said about Haarms. “He has great size and bounce and excellent timing. I think he would definitely be an asset for the Wildcats if he were to choose UK.”

DeCourcy says what he likes best about the 7-3 Haarms is that he can be effective at both ends of the court.

“He is not a great post scorer, but he has very good hands and can hit consistently from 10-12feet. He has made 3’s on occasion,” DeCourcy said.

Haarms has over 200 career blocked shots and has played in numerous big games for Purdue the last three years.

Kentucky will have at least six true scholarship freshmen on next year’s team along with a sophomore — Keion Brooks Jr. — and redshirt freshman — Dontaie Allen. The Cats have also already added one grad transfer in Creighton guard Davion Mintz.

“I think Haarms is more an energy guy than a leader. He helps drive your team forward even when he’s not in the game,” DeCourcy said.

Haarms is a player that should be embraced by Big Blue fans, too, because of his personality and playing style.

“I think he would be an enormous fan favorite. He plays with a lot of personality. He is very invested in his team,” DeCourcy said.

“That’s one reason people were so surprised to see him transfer. He just seemed to love Purdue so much.”

AlohaCat

 

[Orville Boggs]

1 season with Kenny Payne and Cal and he's a lottery pick!

 

[UKhoopCat]

We need him badly...the key to a Final Four team with the young talent we have coming in. Please pick UK, Matt!

 

[davekersey]

we might know the outcome today

 

[southvillecat]

we might know the outcome today

You feel good about I’m coming to Kentucky?

 

[davekersey]

Yes

 

[kywildcat41035]

We've had news every day this week..
Monday- Quickley declared for draft
Tuesday- Richards declared for draft
Wed- EJ declared for draft
Thursday- Toppin transferred in
Friday- Is this Haarms day to transfer in????

 

[WildMoon]

I was reviewing his stats but I think he'll be a monster at UK.

I believe he played with wrong style last year resulting in not maximizing his abilities. His sophomore stats looks better than his junior stats.

At UK he'll be much better version of what he did sophomore season.

 

[blubo]

If haarms does commit to uk will cal look to add anyone else?

 

[kyjeff1]

If haarms does commit to uk will cal look to add anyone else?

Hopefully Kuminga. We know he's trying to.

 

[blubo]

Hopefully Kuminga. We know he's trying to.

Has he reclassed to ‘20?

 

[YardCat]

Haarms will be a dunking machine, the pick and rolls and lobs will be exciting.

 

[$Z71$]

We should know his decision in the next 5-6 hours or less.

 

[kyjeff1]

Has he reclassed to ‘20?

Not yet, but it would go against the grain if he didn't. He's way too advanced for high school ball.

 

[IndyCat1995]

Personally, I'm salivating at what Cal can do with a mobile big man like Haarms.

I like Matt Painter but he did not get the most out of him

 

[Lil Spears]

He will be ours I do think.. Im excited, its going to happen.. All signs are pointing to us. It should come out today. Exp with our talents coming in. This year will be fun.

 

[thack_kat]

He’ll just be like all the rest and leave at the end of the year ... just kidding, I’d love to add him to this team.

 

[kyjeff1]

Personally, I'm salivating at what Cal can do with a mobile big man like Haarms.

I like Matt Painter but he did not get the most out of him

From the Purdon't games I've seen, it seems like Painter doesn’t focus on points in the paint as much.

Even when they had Caleb Swanigan and Isaac Haas, they didn't pound the ball on the paint as often as you would think.

At 7' 3", Haarms should be able to play just like Richards did and hopefully have success doing it. Also, I'm hoping he can defend the rim. That's another thing you don't see enough of with Purdue. It's just a different type of ball.

Hopefully Haarms commits and maybe one more in the form of a big-butt guy.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

Haarms to UK has been well known by even the average fan the last week or two.

I think he’ll be very solid for us.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

My optimistic, toes-crossed, fingers-crossed roster projection:

Haarms - 9 points, 5 rebounds
Brooks - 10 points, 6 rebounds
Kuminga - 15 points, 5 rebounds
Boston - 11 points, 4 rebounds
Clarke - 14 points, 4 rebounds
------
Askew - 6 points, 3 assists
Mintz - 6 points, 2 assists
Jackson - 4 points, 4 rebounds
rest of the team: 5 points, 5 rebounds

 

[HerrosHeroes]

If haarms does commit to uk will cal look to add anyone else?

Yes, Kuminga.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

My optimistic, toes-crossed, fingers-crossed roster projection:

Haarms - 9 points, 5 rebounds
Brooks - 10 points, 6 rebounds
Kuminga - 15 points, 5 rebounds
Boston - 11 points, 4 rebounds
Clarke - 14 points, 4 rebounds
------
Askew - 6 points, 3 assists
Mintz - 6 points, 2 assists
Jackson - 4 points, 4 rebounds
rest of the team: 5 points, 5 rebounds

We would be Preseason numero uno and favs to win it all SOS.

 

[kyups01]

I get that we need this guy at this point...but people are acting like hes the white Anthony Davis.

 

[kywildcat41035]

My optimistic, toes-crossed, fingers-crossed roster projection:

Haarms - 9 points, 5 rebounds
Brooks - 10 points, 6 rebounds
Kuminga - 15 points, 5 rebounds
Boston - 11 points, 4 rebounds
Clarke - 14 points, 4 rebounds
------
Askew - 6 points, 3 assists
Mintz - 6 points, 2 assists
Jackson - 4 points, 4 rebounds
rest of the team: 5 points, 5 rebounds

I want this roster right here I hope we get Haarms and Kuminga... Dont forget Ware and Allen and the other 2 I mentioned above we possibly could go 10 deep or at least practices will be very challenging!

 

[LineSkiCat14]

His presence would be great for not only a young team, but one that has several brand new faces, both freshman and other transfers. Reid Travis and Sestina did this pretty well. Lots of energy. And your teammates feed off of it.

 

[Mojocat]

I get that we need this guy at this point...but people are acting like hes the white Anthony Davis.

Certainly, fans will go overboard (in both directions, he's either Anthony Davis or a complete and utter bum, depending on whom you listen to on this site). Listen to DeCourcy.

 

[Cats192]

Yes

Dave readin House of Blue again

 

[Cats192]

He'll be a great addition. Hope he announces today or tomorrow and we can go ahead and count him.

 

[tmuck]

He'll be a great addition. Hope he announces today or tomorrow and we can go ahead and count him.

Throw us non premium guys a little bone here. How confident are the insiders that we get him?

 

[UKhoopCat]

We should know his decision in the next 5-6 hours or less.

It's over 6 hours now and my refresh button is about down.

 

[IndyCat1995]

We should know his decision in the next 5-6 hours or less.

What happened?

 

[$Z71$]

It's over 6 hours now and my refresh button is about down.

Lol we will see. I still stand by it.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Lol we will see. I still stand by it.

Still waiting...

 

[bucsrule8872]

If we sign Haarms, we have our needs met. We will have two guys at every position (that’s without Toppin being eligible).

Cal will then have 11 on scholarship and will be extremely selective with who he adds to the roster. I think he will look to add one more, but only an elite superstar level guy like Kuminga or Banchero.

If there are no elite level guys who want to come here, he rolls with the 11 he has, IMHO.

Cal talks about “too many mouths to feed” and rarely goes above 11 scholarship guys.

Now if Toppin has to sit, maybe he adds one more after seeing what happened this past season when he was short on players because of injuries. He might add another guy for depth.

 

[JASUN74]

I’d love to add the big guy to the roster, but what I really would love this season and from now on is 14 players on scholarship. Just so we can actually have some competition in practice and they can feel like a whole team. With only 10 or less players you’re always worried about injury’s and if you do happen to have one you can’t even scrimmage. I understand all the guys who think no one any good at all would sit on the bench! I just happen to disagree and think some pretty good players out there out of the thousands playing high school basketball would absolutely give a couple years of practice with a chance to become a better player in the future to become a Kentucky player.

Anyway, I’d sure love to add Haarms and think he could put Kentucky over the top with all the talent we’ll have next year. I’m getting more and more excited about this great bunch of talented players everyday. WOW, talk about the talent, the athlete abilities. I pray we get to see next season play out and can’t wait to see all these kids get a chance to play college basketball again.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

“He is not a great post scorer, but he has very good hands and can hit consistently from 10-12feet. He has made 3’s on occasion,” DeCourcy said.

Just what we need. A 7-3 guy who is not a great post scorer but can on occasion hit the 3.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

“He is not a great post scorer, but he has very good hands and can hit consistently from 10-12feet. He has made 3’s on occasion,” DeCourcy said.

Just what we need. A 7-3 guy who is not a great post scorer but can on occasion hit the 3.

Yeah that kinda worries me.

Edit- if we had a legit big man returning (Richards) or a legit big man coming in this would be awesome but relying solely on Haarms as our big makes me slightly nervous.

 

[drbubba]

He would become a much better post scorer. Nazr did, Nick did.

 

[kyjeff1]

“He is not a great post scorer, but he has very good hands and can hit consistently from 10-12feet. He has made 3’s on occasion,” DeCourcy said.

Just what we need. A 7-3 guy who is not a great post scorer but can on occasion hit the 3.

If he's going to play the 5 at UK, he's going to have to post up in the paint, drop step and score. He's going to have to develop some over the shoulder hooks and spin moves too.

Cal will make him post up, that's his calling card.

If MH commits to UK, hopefully he gets a couple months in the gym with Kenny. If not… .. yikes.

 

[Cychologist]

From the videos, it looks like he plays the five on the defensive end and the stretch four on the offensive end of the floor.

Maybe Cal can convince him like he did CAT that he needs to develop an inside game as well to be effective at the next level.

I would love to see Cal sign him. We know the Cats will play a little different style next year anyway and Haarms could fit in. If Cal signs him, I don’t look for him to sign anyone else.

But I won’t “count my chickens before they hatch.”