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Caleb Wilson will commit in 01/23

So you're moving the goalposts now. An elite freshman? If that's what they need, they're not gonna get that from Wilson. I promise you whether he comes here or goes to North Carolina, he's not going to average 20 and 10.
Not moving the goalposts at all, besides Baylor name me a national champion that didn’t have a nba draft pick or a elite freshman player?
 
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Not moving the goalposts at all, besides Baylor name me a national champion that didn’t have a nba draft pick or a elite freshman player?
I don't disagree that you have to have NBA talent to win it all, but you stated talented freshmen and then said elite freshman, but that's not the case. Look at the Final Four last season, how many elite freshmen were there? Castle? And I wouldn't call him elite. Talented on a talented team, but not elite. UK will have talent next season, but if they win it all, it won't be because of a freshman who will average 11 and 7. Do you think UConn would have not won it all with a junior who could averaged the same numbers as Castle?
 
In UK, he has to play in system

However, UNC, he can have all the balls in his hands, and he can do any decision he wants, just like Ian Jackson this year (although they play in different positions)

He may not care about winning, but just showcase his skill to make his draft prospect higher.

So he goes to UNC is more logical. UNC is worse team but he has more "freedom".
Haven't heard Ian Jackson's name one time this season.

That's why I think Wilson ends up at UK.
 
I don't disagree that you have to have NBA talent to win it all, but you stated talented freshmen and then said elite freshman, but that's not the case. Look at the Final Four last season, how many elite freshmen were there? Castle? And I wouldn't call him elite. Talented on a talented team, but not elite. UK will have talent next season, but if they win it all, it won't be because of a freshman who will average 11 and 7. Do you think UConn would have not won it all with a junior who could averaged the same numbers as Castle?
I don’t think you need multiple to win like CCC did, but I do think you do need one star(if you get them), and another good one if you can. With UConn maybe, but castle is from February on last year was elite defensively and was scoring.
 
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It just depends what Wilson wants his playing situation to be like, playing with experience or playing with youth, barring any unforseen transfers out of either school.

As it stands now (and on 1/24) UNC could have more returning experience (based on no transfers out and no 25/26 portal info) and UK will have more freshmen talent (based on current commits).

Potential 2025/26 rosters
UNC:
6-1 JR Cadeau, 29-mpg, 10-ppg
6-3 SR Trimble, 30-mpg, 13-ppg
6-6 SO Powell, 24-mpg, 7-ppg
6-8 SR Lubin, 16-mpg, 6-ppg/ 6-9 FR Wilson
6-10 SO Washington, 18-mmg, 6-ppg
Two incoming 6-4 SG, ranked #44, #62

UK:
6-3 FR Lewis/ 6-1 SO Perry, 6-mpg, 2-ppg
6-4 FR Johnson
6-4 SR Oweh, 27-mpg, 15-ppg
6-9 FR Wilson (??)
6-10 JR Garrison, 18-mpg, 6-ppg/ 7-0 FR Moreno

2025/26 Playing time: UK
2025/26 Experienced teamates: UNC
Less pressure: UNC
Distance from home: Same, Chapel Hill and Lexington are both 380-miles from Atlanta.


I'm leaning UNC, but hoping UK.........
If not Wilson, maybe Ament........
 
I totally get the argument wanting to add top tier portal guys over freshman at this point. But we are going to have some talented veterans on our team next year regardless. Having an NBA lottery pick, to me, puts our team on a higher level than a good transfer.
 
In UK, he has to play in system

However, UNC, he can have all the balls in his hands, and he can do any decision he wants, just like Ian Jackson this year (although they play in different positions)

He may not care about winning, but just showcase his skill to make his draft prospect higher.

So he goes to UNC is more logical. UNC is worse team but he has more "freedom".
Or he could just be after the money and UNC is offering more
 
I don't think it's unrealistic to infer that UK can land two guys in the Butler/Oweh level of skill for the cost of one Caleb Wilson.

Let UNC pay the kid $2 million for 11 points and 6 rebounds per game. We'll take two All-Conference level players for that price.
I read the Wolf kid went to Michigan for an NIL deal of $750,000. I’m sure we could find someone like that with the 2 million we’d save on Wilson.
 
Spend the money on one or two known commodities instead of a freshman dice roll. Smart money makes money.

I'd much rather have two mature bodies with proven college stats.
Well the staff wants him bad so apparently they don’t agree. That is good enough for me because they have shown they know what they are looking for.
 
I don’t think you need multiple to win like CCC did, but I do think you do need one star(if you get them), and another good one if you can. With UConn maybe, but castle is from February on last year was elite defensively and was scoring.
I think the sample size is too small. NIL and the transfer portal has changed college basketball like never before.
 
I think Wilson is important to get Pope's first 5 star outside the state of KY. If the fit is right for UK, Pope and Wilson then we need to be agressive in getting him but not to the point of paying a crazy amount.
I don't think Pope will overpay any kid.
Pope is too much about positive energy and wanting to be here.
I think Mark would pull out of a recruitment if the dialogue was all about money.
 
One point to consider for the value of transfers folks, the 5th year guys from the COVID year will be gone next year. Should help bump back up a little bit the value of talented freshmen.

Just use tomorrow’s game between us and Bama. Those two great rosters were built with 11 expected super seniors(at least 5th year in college).

Transfers will still be extremely valuable but college basketball will look different next year. We will look different next year.
 
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I think the sample size is too small. NIL and the transfer portal has changed college basketball like never before.
Exactly this. This is not your father’s NCAA.

For better or worse, it’s changed forever.

Talent is always going to rise to the top but the timing of that rise is always in question.

The game is now run with experienced talent. And the more experience the less important individual talent becomes.

Of course you want a team full of John Walls or AD’s. But they just aren’t out there.

Pope appears to building with experience, player development and top tier freshmen that are coachable.

Then molding that group into a team.

This season is just a glimpse of what he wants since it had to be cobbled together quickly.

Our future under Coach Pope is bright. If Wilson wants to be part of it then come on down. If not, move along.

The UK train is moving on either way.
 
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One point to consider for the value of transfers folks, the 5th year guys from the COVID year will be gone next year. Should help bump back up a little bit the value of talented freshmen.

Just use tomorrow’s game between us and Bama. Those two great rosters were built with 11 expected super seniors(at least 5th year in college).

Transfers will still be extremely valuable but college basketball will look different next year. We will look different next year.
Not if they allow 5 years like they're considering.
 
Not if they allow 5 years like they're considering.
I hope not.
That's a horrible idea.
If I'm Adam Silver, the moment the NCAA votes to allow a fifth year I reinstate HS eligibility for the NBA draft.
By adding a fifth year plus the pay for play, the NCAA would be positioning itself as a pro league competitor instead of of a feeder system.
If the NCAA wants to make professional college players out of guys like Hunter Dickinson, I'd bring the Flagg's and Dybanasta's straight to the league.
 
In UK, he has to play in system

However, UNC, he can have all the balls in his hands, and he can do any decision he wants, just like Ian Jackson this year (although they play in different positions)

He may not care about winning, but just showcase his skill to make his draft prospect higher.

So he goes to UNC is more logical. UNC is worse team but he has more "freedom".

Lol....ok. UNC has become a dumpster fire.
 
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Freshmen. If he comes here, great. If not couldn't care less. Go somewhere else. Bring in a seasoned player with a proven track record of high contribution. We don't need a squad of wishy washy freshmen.
 
Why are you posting here?? You're obviously a UNC fan that has posted a 1,000 times in this thread alone about how much better UNC would be for Wilson. UNC is not UNC of the past.
I just predict wilson to unc

If you think me as unc fan

That is it

If wilson actually commits to us, I will be happy to be proven wrong, make my apologies and give all my support to Wilson
 
In UK, he has to play in system

However, UNC, he can have all the balls in his hands, and he can do any decision he wants, just like Ian Jackson this year (although they play in different positions)

He may not care about winning, but just showcase his skill to make his draft prospect higher.

So he goes to UNC is more logical. UNC is worse team but he has more "freedom".
But with Pope's system, it's built on freedom of movement. Cutting, passing, shooting 3s, running the floor, high tempo stuff. Robinson pretty much does whatever he wants or so it seems and he's starting to excel at it. Not much more freedom than a coach allowing you to shoot 25ft 3s and basically encourage it (as long as it is a good shot).
 
Ian Jackson average 20 pts in current games and is likely a top 20 draft pick this year. He is one of the hottest freshmen in the college
But, you really don't hear about him all that much. Unless you watch UNC games, they aren't a good enough team to garner much attention.
 
Loved Wallace's game. Shame he was saddled with the CNLEBUK and was dinged up health-wise for several games.
Cason Wallace is a winning player definitely, even he is off on offence in one night, he could still make huge contribution in defense. He could be a solid contributor of a deep tournament run team. Imagine him in a more coached team like Uconn... He is not the star you anticipated for, but every college team wants and could use him even just in freshman version
 
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But with Pope's system, it's built on freedom of movement. Cutting, passing, shooting 3s, running the floor, high tempo stuff. Robinson pretty much does whatever he wants or so it seems and he's starting to excel at it. Not much more freedom than a coach allowing you to shoot 25ft 3s and basically encourage it (as long as it is a good shot).
Caleb Wilson statement of UNC

North Carolina: “Coach (Hubert) Davis is a great guy on and off the court. North Carolina is a prestigious university with basketball or without. They have great team and I feel like I could go on that team and step up and become the man at North Carolina. I definitely feel like it’ll be a great opportunity with Elliot Cadeau possibly returning, that would be a great guard to play with.”

He mentioned being "the man" in UNC, in UK, he can not be "the man". Being "the man" is more likely to have higher draft stock
 
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For me, it's more than just getting a good player with this kid. It's not lost on me that MM and JJ are in state kids. They are Popes highest ranked talents thus far. It will ease my mind a ton when Pope starts getting the elite kids that he wants when we don't have the in-state advantage.
 
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Caleb Wilson statement of UNC

North Carolina: “Coach (Hubert) Davis is a great guy on and off the court. North Carolina is a prestigious university with basketball or without. They have great team and I feel like I could go on that team and step up and become the man at North Carolina. I definitely feel like it’ll be a great opportunity with Elliot Cadeau possibly returning, that would be a great guard to play with.”

He mentioned being "the man" in UNC, in UK, he can not be "the man". Being "the man" is more likely to have higher draft stock
You're not fooling anyone.
 
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Caleb Wilson statement of UNC

North Carolina: “Coach (Hubert) Davis is a great guy on and off the court. North Carolina is a prestigious university with basketball or without. They have great team and I feel like I could go on that team and step up and become the man at North Carolina. I definitely feel like it’ll be a great opportunity with Elliot Cadeau possibly returning, that would be a great guard to play with.”

He mentioned being "the man" in UNC, in UK, he can not be "the man". Being "the man" is more likely to have higher draft stock
Dillingham, Sheppard and Booker say hi
 
For me, it's more than just getting a good player with this kid. It's not lost on me that MM and JJ are in state kids. They are Popes highest ranked talents thus far. It will ease my mind a ton when Pope starts getting the elite kids that he wants when we don't have the in-state advantage.
Acaden Lewis is elite, whether he is a 5 star or not.

We are also a top 10 team right now, with wins are 5 top 15 teams.

If your mind is ill at ease over anything Pope is doing, maybe try meditating? Seems like he’s able to put together impressive teams capable of beating anyone, even on short notice.
 
I hope not.
That's a horrible idea.
If I'm Adam Silver, the moment the NCAA votes to allow a fifth year I reinstate HS eligibility for the NBA draft.
By adding a fifth year plus the pay for play, the NCAA would be positioning itself as a pro league competitor instead of of a feeder system.
If the NCAA wants to make professional college players out of guys like Hunter Dickinson, I'd bring the Flagg's and Dybanasta's straight to the league.
They are going to do the 5th year.


And the NBA couldn’t care less.

They love the one and done because it protects them from classic busts like Kwame Brown.


They get to see if a guy is the real deal then they want him away from the college asap.


They don’t want to have to have to untrain guys.
 
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