I don't think most people are even expecting him to average what he did at Pitt. His whole existence is going to be the gravity he pulls on the court. Best case scenario is he is an improved version of Mulder in my opinion.
BB Recruiting Cats have offered ex-Pitt guard Cam Johnson
- Thread starter JRowland
- Start date
I don't think most people are even expecting him to average what he did at Pitt. His whole existence is going to be the gravity he pulls on the court. Best case scenario is he is an improved version of Mulder in my opinion.
Green, Diallo, Johnson, Baker, Alexander, Vanderbilt, Washington, WG, Bamba, Richards, SKJ, and Humphries would make for a more talented roster than last year and equal 2012/2015 as Cal's greatest collection of talent on any one team, IMO.
Diallo, Johnson, WG, SKJ, and Hump as experienced players mixed in with Green, Baker, Alexander, Vanderbilt, Washington, Bamba and Richards. What a dream it would be for Calipari to coach.. ZERO weaknesses that I can see. Green, Diallo, and Vanderbilt are decent shooters. Johnson and Baker are assassins. Johnson and Vanderbilt give us true Small Forwards like we have sorely missed the last few years. WG, Washington, Bamba, Richards, Humphries, and SKJ would be the greatest frontcourt in college basketball.
And as an added bonus, I can only really see Johnson, Diallo, Bamba, and (probably 1 or 2 at most of WG, Washington, Richards, Vanderbilt, and Hump) leaving after one year. That would be A LOT of returning talent.
If Calipari makes this happen, I think it will be another 2012/2015 type year where UK is often playing in a different league than it's opponents. Add on the type of depth any other coach would die for, the team couldn't be "held hostage" by any player that is having a bad attitude, practicing bad, slouching on defense, or having an off night. There's a multitude of backups at each position on the floor except for possibly PG.
Good Lord, I am excited for Calipari to bring these players on board and for next season to start!
In my completely worthless opinion as always!
Diallo, Johnson, WG, SKJ, and Hump as experienced players mixed in with Green, Baker, Alexander, Vanderbilt, Washington, Bamba and Richards. What a dream it would be for Calipari to coach.. ZERO weaknesses that I can see. Green, Diallo, and Vanderbilt are decent shooters. Johnson and Baker are assassins. Johnson and Vanderbilt give us true Small Forwards like we have sorely missed the last few years. WG, Washington, Bamba, Richards, Humphries, and SKJ would be the greatest frontcourt in college basketball.
And as an added bonus, I can only really see Johnson, Diallo, Bamba, and (probably 1 or 2 at most of WG, Washington, Richards, Vanderbilt, and Hump) leaving after one year. That would be A LOT of returning talent.
If Calipari makes this happen, I think it will be another 2012/2015 type year where UK is often playing in a different league than it's opponents. Add on the type of depth any other coach would die for, the team couldn't be "held hostage" by any player that is having a bad attitude, practicing bad, slouching on defense, or having an off night. There's a multitude of backups at each position on the floor except for possibly PG.
Good Lord, I am excited for Calipari to bring these players on board and for next season to start!
In my completely worthless opinion as always!
He doesn't have to be elite, he has to extend the defense and knock down shots. Whatever else he gives is gravy. He is definitely better than any other 'play next year' option out there, IMO, and a guy who was capable of scoring 20-25 points against Top 25 teams would be big.
my question is..
can he REALLY play defense? and then knock down open shots? Sometimes your leg isn't there when you actually play the level of defense coach cal asks of you.
To me, that's still a big question mark even if you were on a DI team. Being on Cal's team and other top tier teams are just on a different level.
We have zero need for 2 sg along with 1 sf . We ain't taking Smith and Baker together. It will be Cam or Knox and Smith or Baker along with Bamba.
Huh? Early was a beast inside and could stroke it . Cam is Wing all the way. Literally there games are totally different. If you gave the ball to early within 10 feet his last year he was scoring and he could pick and pop the 3. Cam is more a guy who will come off screens and drill a shot. He isn't a star on next year's team but IMO will be the 4th or 5th scorer.
I'm of the mind that if you take an average player and surround him with really good talent, he'll look better than average. Take a good player and do the same, he'll look really good. IMO, Johnson's strengths would be amplified and his weaknesses lessened playing on Kentucky's team as opposed to Pitt's team. Better coaching, better competition for an offseason in practice, better players to help him out.
If we get him and Bamba that gives Cal so much flexibility with his lineups. He could put a team on the floor of
6'6
6'8
6'8
6'11
6'11
He could go small and be extremely quick as well with Greene, Alexander, Diallo, Vanerbilt, and Washington on the floor(I know not likely but he could do it)
This team could really fun if we can get Johnson and Bamba
6'6
6'8
6'8
6'11
6'11
He could go small and be extremely quick as well with Greene, Alexander, Diallo, Vanerbilt, and Washington on the floor(I know not likely but he could do it)
This team could really fun if we can get Johnson and Bamba
Your life as a shooter is dictated by the other things the defense has to pay attention to. The 2013 Kentucky team was a great demonstration of that. When you have virtually no playmaking off the dribble, shooters become neutralized. I don't think Wiltjer or Mays took an open shot that entire year.
But I think you're exactly right, he'll be elevated when he's surrounded by better athletes/talent.
The kicker for this team won't just be height -- it'll be wingspan. Shai, Richards and Bamba (pending) all have freakish wingspans.
Kyle Wiltjer didnt need to be a great defender for us in 2012 because of the cast around him. I assume Johnson is a better defender than he was. I think you're over blowing this guy's defensive deficiencies when we really don't know yet how how he is in that end.
Meh, Wiltjer barely played during NCAA tourney. He only played because 2012 was extremely thin. 2012 was one of Coach Cal's thinnest line up.
Keep in mind that he only played 2 years at Pitt and one of those was under Stallings. The team rebelled against Stallings during the year so I am not sure we can really critique him based on what he did at Pitt. I think you are very right that Cal will do wonders with this kid.
If all Johnson does is help spread the floor and knock down open looks off the bench then great. Anything on top of this is gravy. He is the type of player that is a solid role guy and then boom in the tournament gets you a big game with key plays and helps you advance.
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