Ayton cuts list with UK, KU, and Zona as top 3

[Slowwalker]

http://www.aseaofblue.com/2016/7/11/12152644/deandre-ayton-cuts-list-with-kentucky-wildcats-on-it

The No. 1 player in 2017 has his top three set.

Five-star center DeAndre Ayton is now down to three schools in consideration for his likely one year of college basketball. Ayton's high school, Hillcrest Hoops, posted the news on Twitter Monday that the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2017 class had set his final list, which includes the Kentucky Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks.

UK and KU are widely viewed as the two teams to beat for Ayton, and regardless of what his 247 Crystal Ball says, the Wildcats are right in the mix if they want to be. John Calipari and his staff have only begun to pursue Ayton harder in recent months after showing little interest in him up until around May.

On the other hand, Bill Self and his staff have been pushing hard to get Ayton since closer to January. While the Jayhawks still remain the favorite, UK will be firmly in the running if they continue to push for him and give him a 'committable' scholarship offer.

That's where things get interesting.

UK is in the running for fellow five-star big men Mohamed Bamba and Nick Richards, while WKU commit Mitchell Robinson is a possible option. It's realistic to think UK gets two of those guys, but not all of them.

Calipari has to determine how likely it is that Ayton is eligible to play college basketball if he chooses to, or if he'll be another Terrance Ferguson/Emmanuel Mudiay/Brandon Jennings type of player, who signs with a school, but ends up leaving them at the altar.

Ayton has continuously said he has no eligibility concerns, but there's just too much smoke here for UK to go all-in on him the way KU will with guys like Josh Selby, Ben McLemore, Jamari Traylor, Cheick Diallo, Cliff Alexander, Josh Jackson and other recruits with eligibility concerns.

That list shows how much of a hit-or-miss it can be, and Cal has steered clear of those kinds of recruits recently. Will he feel more confident with Ayton playing for them than their chances at Bamba, Robinson and Richards, or do they end up passing on Ayton for a better shot at other elite bigs?

The good news is, for now, both Bamba and Richards plan to wait and make their decisions in the spring, so Calipari should have a firmer grasp on Ayton's situation by then. Ayton has decided when he'll commit, but has said the fall is a possibility.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Can someone explain what Ayton's eligibility issue is? Tks.

 

[Slowwalker]

I thought this quote was rather entertaining....When does the list end?

"there's just too much smoke here for UK to go all-in on him the way KU will with guys like Josh Selby, Ben McLemore, Jamari Traylor, Cheick Diallo, Cliff Alexander, Josh Jackson and other recruits with eligibility concerns."

 

[Slowwalker]

Can someone explain what Ayton's eligibility issue is? Tks.

I believe he is behind on schoolwork, but claims that with summer school, the NCAA has told him that he is on track to being eligible. I can't remember where I read that. I think that the school he goes to offers only online courses and isn't really known for caring much about academics.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Lot of the articles from Peach Jam and a Parish Article talked about his eligibility. How he had a few more classes to finish up, and so far the NCAA claims his eligibility is fine (or will be on the completion of those classes). I get the sense that everything is alright, for now. He came over from the Bahama's (and not the resort portion) not too long ago. Maybe the schooling and new lifestyle took some getting used to?

Here's a good article that probably answers most questions about Ayton, his family, and eligibility:

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2015/08/03/deandrey-ayton-recruiting-2017-top-prospect-bahamas

Sounds like there were some less than savory handlers early on, who have since been removed from the picture.

 

[mj2k10]

Lot of the articles from Peach Jam and a Parish Article talked about his eligibility. How he had a few more classes to finish up, and so far the NCAA claims his eligibility is fine (or will be on the completion of those classes). I get the sense that everything is alright, for now. He came over from the Bahama's (and not the resort portion) not too long ago. Maybe the schooling and new lifestyle took some getting used to?

Here's a good article that probably answers most questions about Ayton, his family, and eligibility:

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2015/08/03/deandrey-ayton-recruiting-2017-top-prospect-bahamas

Sounds like there were some less than savory handlers early on, who have since been removed from the picture.

He's probably OK, because the NCAA has pretty much backed off denying opportunities to kids who put in any kind of effort academically. The days when it wasn't unusual to see 10% or more of the top 100 recruits declared ineligible are long gone. A kid has to really go out of his way (In other words, be a complete non-student) nowadays to be declared ineligible, and it seems like Ayton makes the effort.

But there are going to be question marks around him right until the end. I'm guessing his educational background wasn't the greatest, and when he came to the US, he initially attended some tiny little charter school in San Diego that appears to cater to international students. That seemed legit enough, but then last year came the Hillcrest Prep/Starshine Academy fiasco. Ayton moved to Phoenix to play with Marvin Bagley for some glorified club team/Findlay Prep wannabe. The NCAA investigated, and found no evidence that any of the basketball players were ever actually entering a classroom, and the online courses that were allegedly making up for that didn't meet their certification requirements.

Take a kid a kid who might already be behind academically, throw out at least a full semester of classwork, and who knows how it plays out in the end?

 

[Willy4UK]

Maybe KU can do for Ayton what they did for Darrell Arthur's high school math scores.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

It's one of the few bad things you take with Calipari, among all the good: Scrutiny. The more UK is involved with DeAndre Ayton, the more the NCAA will pry. In the past, I usually rather stay away from these kids. Calipari can get the next best guy, and we won;t have to worry about year-long distractions or even a post-season sanction (the type of sanction that UNC/Duke wouldn't have if THEY got Ayton)..

But it's been 7 years now, with the brightest search-lights on Kentucky, and zero issues have come out. Not one. Cal is doing it the right way, Bell is as well. So I'm fine to take a chance with Ayton. He seems like the real deal.

 

[KMKAT]

Eligibility issues don't scare off Kansas anytime. Been there, and then their guys don't get the minutes they expect.

Check Diallo comes to mind.

 

[westerncat]

If Sandy Bell say he is good to go then I don't think we have much to worry about. I agree if he picks UK the NCAA will put him & UK under a microscope. We just have to trust that Cal and Bell know what is going on.

 

[Hoskins21]

Kansas lock

Sincerely,

Kansas fans

 

[North Carolina Blue Wildcat]

The NCAA investigated, and found no evidence that any of the basketball players were ever actually entering a classroom, and the online courses that were allegedly making up for that didn't meet their certification requirements.

Sounds like these kids are perfect for UNC!!!

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I'm sure Cal/Bell are checking all corners for issues. But if they already offered, I guess they are confident with what they've seen.

 

[Blueblood22]

If Goodman starts putting out articles that Ayton will never play college ball, you can bet KU is feeling like UK has taken the lead in his recruitment.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Bledsoe

Noel

Skal

All of them were eligible. If UK goes in on Ayton, I'm fine with it (and no, Kanter was a separate issue altogether so don't even go there).

 

[J-FIELDS23]

Eligibility issues don't scare off Kansas anytime. Been there, and then their guys don't get the minutes they expect.

Check Diallo comes to mind.

This is what I find so hilarious about Kansas and especially their fan base when they constantly criticize Cal for having so many OADs. They recruit more sketchy players than any other top program in CBB, but since their guys don't develop like ours, they think they're righteous because those underdeveloped guys end up staying longer than a year or leaving because of academic problems.

 

[UofKBlue]

Have Cal contact the kids high school and have them create fake courses with fake assignments. Cleared.

 

[TheBlueDisciple]

I thought this quote was rather entertaining....When does the list end?

"there's just too much smoke here for UK to go all-in on him the way KU will with guys like Josh Selby, Ben McLemore, Jamari Traylor, Cheick Diallo, Cliff Alexander, Josh Jackson and other recruits with eligibility concerns."

Ben and Jamari were partial qualifiers which simply meant they had to sit out a year. That year certainly benefitted them both and KU. KU was fine with the year off because there was other depth at their positions. They did not have severe eligibility concerns. Cliff had zero eligibility concerns when recruited. The actions his parents took occurred later. Josh Jackson has no eligibility concerns.

Selby and Diallo were the only two who KU really rolled the dice with.

 

[Slowwalker]

Ben and Jamari were partial qualifiers which simply meant they had to sit out a year. That year certainly benefitted them both and KU. KU was fine with the year off because there was other depth at their positions. They did not have severe eligibility concerns. Cliff had zero eligibility concerns when recruited. The actions his parents took occurred later. Josh Jackson has no eligibility concerns.

Selby and Diallo were the only two who KU really rolled the dice with.

Every one of these players, minus Jackson, had red flags around their recruitment. This list is honestly just the tip of the iceberg. Not only did most of them have academic issues, many Kansas recruits have had some serious behavioral issues as well. If you call McLemore having to sit out a year because he attended a school that got closed down due to loss of accreditation from poor academic performance and then attending Oak Hill and being kicked off the team and out of school not a severe eligibility concern, what is? Selby and Diallo were not the ONLY two recruits that KU has rolled the dice with? Not even close.

 

[KnowsAllTellsAll]

Every one of these players, minus Jackson, had red flags around their recruitment. This list is honestly just the tip of the iceberg. Not only did most of them have academic issues, many Kansas recruits have had some serious behavioral issues as well. If you call McLemore having to sit out a year because he attended a school that got closed down due to loss of accreditation from poor academic performance and then attending Oak Hill and being kicked off the team and out of school not a severe eligibility concern, what is? Selby and Diallo were not the ONLY two recruits that KU has rolled the dice with? Not even close.

Everyone had red flags? Then why did Calipari offer Selby, Diallo and Alexander? (Don't think he offered Jackson, because I believe Jackson's mom did not like Kentucky?) Did they have red flags or are you making this up?

 

[Rhavicc]

There was no red flag with Alexander. His family took money from an agent in the middle of a season. Nobody can foresee when that happens.

Jackson wasn't offered by UK because of his mother's comments about Kentucky, again, no red flag.

Selby and Diallo were the only ones that had flags during their recruiting process, but Selby's gigantic red flag came out the day after he committed to Kansas. Diallo's was well known for a long time, but what not a huge deal (it was merely a matter of whether his credits would transfer). It is a dice roll nonetheless.
While I don't fully agree with Slowwalker, he's 100% correct as it pertains to McLemore. That was a hellacious dice-roll, arguably a bigger one than the Ayton case, because the NCAA has at least made it clear how Ayton will become eligible with a guarantee prior to him playing college ball.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Is Ayton good enough to roll the dice on? Is he worth possibly losing Bamba or whoever else if we take him and then get left empty handed because he isn't eligible?

 

[Slowwalker]

Everyone had red flags? Then why did Calipari offer Selby, Diallo and Alexander? (Don't think he offered Jackson, because I believe Jackson's mom did not like Kentucky?) Did they have red flags or are you making this up?

Did I say that we didn't offer them? I said they had issues around their recruitment. We have offered and gotten multiple guys who had issues and/or questions. Some get cleared, some have to sit out a year, stop playing in the middle of the year, or have to sit a few games, whatever...

 

[Smashcat]

Is Ayton good enough to roll the dice on? Is he worth possibly losing Bamba or whoever else if we take him and then get left empty handed because he isn't eligible?

All three coaches recruiting him know they could wind up empty handed. Fingers crossed it works out best for UK.

 

[wcc31]

There was no red flag with Alexander. His family took money from an agent in the middle of a season. Nobody can foresee when that happens.

I don't know about that. There's a reason Calipari didn't give Alexander much attention.

 

[mebeblue2]

Kansas lock

Sincerely,

Kansas fans

according to Matt Scott every recruit is going to KU

 

[mebeblue2]

Is Ayton good enough to roll the dice on? Is he worth possibly losing Bamba or whoever else if we take him and then get left empty handed because he isn't eligible?

i think it is possible and would be great to land both Ayton and Bamba
we are going to need at least 2 maybe 3 top players at the 4/5 positions next year
if Ayton commits to Zona then we know he is going overseas

 

[Aike]

Has anyone ever checked out the possibility of enrolling a kid with troubled academics -- while he is still in high school -- in college classes, then substituting those grades for high school grades? Sort of like AP classes but actually taken at a unversity?

If so, colleges should just set up a program like North Carolina's AF-Am department which the NCAA obviously can't touch, give high school kids a collection of fake college grades, and bring them on board -- you could even brag about their ability to do well in college classses, sort of like Rashad McCants making the Dean's List.

Wouldn't that be every bit as honorable and legitimate as giving out fake grades once kids are actually on campus?

Dual credit classes exist now. They are geared toward college bound students rather than trouble cases.

Not a stretch to think someone could put that together though.

 

[LukaszObrzut]

awhile back in a periscope Ayton seemed to be in love with KY even when KU was the only one recruiting him.

He specifically stated that if he was in this years class and albeit KY was recruiting him he would've been a CAT bc of Bam.

 

[wcc31]

I think we could get him but I just don't think he ever plays college ball.

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

I know most Ku fans think this kid is locked up for Self and Ku, but if it turns out this kid has the grades to play college basketball, i wouldn't be so confident if i'm Ku fans. Cal knows how talented this kid. We all know it's not about talent with Ayton. Cal would love to see Ayton play college basketball and do it here at Kentucky. When it becomes known the kid has the grades, i think his recruiting takes a turn and it becomes known Kentucky is the choice. While the grades are still in question, Ayton is playing it smart and keeping Self and Ku at the top. We all know Ku is a big time basketball school and Self is a decent coach. If it comes down to it, i like our odds if it's Cal vs Self for an elite recruit and his one year of college basketball. While it is still unknown about the kid's grades, we will let Self and Ku think they have the lead on Kentucky with Ayton.

 

[true blue1]

I hope the kid qualifies, he's a beast.

 

[westerncat]

If he has the grades and plays CBB then he needs to look at how each school puts players in the draft. Kansas does not do a great job putting players in the NBA like UK does.

 

[KnowsAllTellsAll]

If he has the grades and plays CBB then he needs to look at how each school puts players in the draft. Kansas does not do a great job putting players in the NBA like UK does.

http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball...sketball-players-nba-kentucky-kansas-top-list

 

[Dablueman]

http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball...sketball-players-nba-kentucky-kansas-top-list

How many bigs. That were drafted high and have great contracts that play so Embiid doesn't count. We got Cousins. Noel. Ad. WCS.Lyles. Towns. Randle. Jones and Patterson. All first rounders since 2010. Why would a big go to Kansas. It's not about just making it. It's about making it to where u have to survive for more than a couple seasons.

 

[BoulderCat]

Cal has shown a great ability to see through the smoke. Self, not so much.

 

[Slowwalker]

http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball...sketball-players-nba-kentucky-kansas-top-list

http://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/conferences/Big-12-Conference/3/Kansas/54/nba-players

Current players in the pros is laughable.

 

[KnowsAllTellsAll]

How many bigs. That were drafted high and have great contracts that play so Embiid doesn't count. We got Cousins. Noel. Ad. WCS.Lyles. Towns. Randle. Jones and Patterson. All first rounders since 2010. Why would a big go to Kansas. It's not about just making it. It's about making it to where u have to survive for more than a couple seasons.

How many top 10 bigs has Kansas landed out of high school compared to Kentucky?

How many top 30-100 bigs who had no chance at playing in the NBA have gone on from KU to earn a paycheck in the NBA?

 

[Slowwalker]

How many top 10 bigs has Kansas landed out of high school compared to Kentucky?

How many top 30-100 bigs who had no chance at playing in the NBA have gone on from KU to earn a paycheck in the NBA?

Provide the names.

 

[KnowsAllTellsAll]

http://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/conferences/Big-12-Conference/3/Kansas/54/nba-players

Current players in the pros is laughable.

Not sure that list is accurate. Black and Aldrich are still in the NBA. Also, the twins are doing quite well given they weren't highly rated coming out of high school (believe they were in the 40-70 range).