Five-star basketball recruit Alkins still likes Kentucky
- Thread starter preacher_tom
- Start date
Cal was asked at his last presser about whether or not he was finished recruiting. He said, "I don't know."
I think it comes down to Briscoe. If he leaves, I think UK makes a push for Simmons or Alkins.
I think it comes down to Briscoe. If he leaves, I think UK makes a push for Simmons or Alkins.
I think it will come down to the positioning of the 2017 class as well. Although UK is in on some elite guards, taking Simmons might be the preferred method if Cal sees him as a sophomore starter at the point (over Trae Young).
G - ?Simmons?/ Young
G - Trent Jr./ Matthews
F - Petty / Matthews
F - Vanderbilt
C - Ayton
G - ?Simmons?/ Young
G - Trent Jr./ Matthews
F - Petty / Matthews
F - Vanderbilt
C - Ayton
I agree - if Ulis or Briscoe return - we don't add another guard. We would be ECSTATIC if one of them returned anyway. I see Charles as more of a 3 than a guard, so if we lose all three of Murray, Ulis and Briscoe - adding another guard - so we have a three guard rotation of Fox, Monk and another recruit makes a lot of sense.
Assuming our 3 guards leave - here is a possible scenario.
If Briscoe returns (which I doubt, he is unreal) - here is what I think our starting five would be the following.
Either way, next year is going to be SPECIAL!
Assuming our 3 guards leave - here is a possible scenario.
- PG - Fox - Hawkins
- SG - Monk - Alkins or Simmons would be the first guard off the bench for both PG and SG
- SF - Gabriel - Matthews
- PF - Bam - SKJ
- C - Humphries - Wynyard
If Briscoe returns (which I doubt, he is unreal) - here is what I think our starting five would be the following.
- G - Fox
- G - Briscoe
- G - Monk
- F - Gabriel
- C - Bam
Either way, next year is going to be SPECIAL!
If three UK guards leave, then it makes sense Cal brings in one of Alkins/Simmons to go with Fox and Monk. Btw Kobi's first game:
CourtCred @courtcred Nov 20
Kobi Simmons with the breakaway dunk! @JordanKobi finished with 27pts, 13rebs, 6assts in debut and got the W
CourtCred @courtcred Nov 20
Kobi Simmons with the breakaway dunk! @JordanKobi finished with 27pts, 13rebs, 6assts in debut and got the W
I've always heard the term, "Embarrassment of Riches" but I've never actually experienced it. If we add another top guy to this class, I think this term could apply. Don't get me wrong - I want all the best guys and I want to stomp on the neck of every opponent. But geez, it almost doesn't seem fair!
I prefer Alkins over Simmons.
Also I seriously doubt Alkins will want to play behind or with Monk but I could be wrong . I love Simmons mainly because he is a future 1st rounder who loves UK will all his heart. Give me that anyday.
With 7-8 scholarships likely open in 2017 I would definitely support taking another guard this class so we don't need to sign seven or eight guys in one class. Obviously Cal could do it but it would be stressful.
I don't think we will add anyone else.
All three of our starting guards will leave, but we will have Fox, Monk, Matthews as our main rotation guys at guard with Seniors Hawkins and Mulder fighting for backup minutes. There's not much room for anyone else.
I think our rotation will look like this:
Guards
Fox(1 spot)
Monk(1-2 spots)
Matthews(2-3 spots)
Forwards
Gabriel(3- 4 spots)
Willis(3-4 spots)
Killeya-Jones(4-5 spots)
Adebayo(4-5 spots)
Humphries(5 spot)
Hawkins, Wynyard, and Mulder fight for spot minutes.
All three of our starting guards will leave, but we will have Fox, Monk, Matthews as our main rotation guys at guard with Seniors Hawkins and Mulder fighting for backup minutes. There's not much room for anyone else.
I think our rotation will look like this:
Guards
Fox(1 spot)
Monk(1-2 spots)
Matthews(2-3 spots)
Forwards
Gabriel(3- 4 spots)
Willis(3-4 spots)
Killeya-Jones(4-5 spots)
Adebayo(4-5 spots)
Humphries(5 spot)
Hawkins, Wynyard, and Mulder fight for spot minutes.
I would love to see UK add Alkins as i think he is going to be a beast during his one year of college basketball, but if i'm being honest, i just can't see that kid coming here with all the talent we have committed so far. I hope i'm wrong. It just seems Alkins is one of those alpha male type of guys and will not want to come off the bench for any school in the country. In his mind, he thinks he's just as good as any player in the country. Not that that is a bad thing. You want all of your players playing with confidence. It's just with Monk on the team, i don't see this kid coming our way. Either way we are going to be loaded and if not this kid, i'm sure Cal will bring in Simmons if Simmons wants to be a part of our championship run and then taking over his SO year of college basketball.
![[roll]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/roll.r191677.gif "roll [roll]")
I hadn't thought that far ahead, so maybe Cal will add another guy. I can't see it being Alkins or Simmons. Those guys want minutes and they just aren't available here.
I could see Cal signing a 4-star, top 40-50 range guy who won't mind sitting for a year.
As for 2017, it will be a large class. Probably 7-8 guys. Cal has had big classes like that before. He brought in seven for this season (counting Wynyard). In 2013 we had an eight man class.
If we have enough players we need to play fast and press. When you play this style you need depth as guys tire out.
I was expecting to play fast last year and force the pace of the game but very seldom we did that. When we did we were outstanding and dominated everybody. When we walked the ball up the court and pounded the air out of the ball we would play down to our opponents level and not capitilaze on the ability of our bigs able to run the court.
I was expecting to play fast last year and force the pace of the game but very seldom we did that. When we did we were outstanding and dominated everybody. When we walked the ball up the court and pounded the air out of the ball we would play down to our opponents level and not capitilaze on the ability of our bigs able to run the court.
If it's me, I sign Alkins right now. I love the kids that don't mind showing that the WANT to come to U.K.
If Alkins still wants to come to U.K., even after we have Fox and Monk, that tells me that he won't mind being a 2-year player, if that's what it takes. Rivals has him ranked as the No. 9 player in the 2016 class.
If Alkins still wants to come to U.K., even after we have Fox and Monk, that tells me that he won't mind being a 2-year player, if that's what it takes. Rivals has him ranked as the No. 9 player in the 2016 class.
Last year's team was not built to press. They had the depth, but not the quickness. This year, we have both.
Twins, Booker, WCS, Lee, lyles, Hawkins, Towns and Ulis are all more than good enough to play faster than what we did. That's a fact because their was several times where we played much faster and looked unbelievable doing it.
When Dakari is in the game that's a different story.
When Dakari is in the game that's a different story.
That team was built to play smothering halfcourt defense and pound teams in the halfcourt on the offensive end.
It worked well enough to win 38 games. Hard to argue with success.
I really think there is nothing to see here....players keep schools in their lists for the publicity. He asked to come to Madness at the last minute and UK said no. And I haven't heard of us doing any recruiting with him since.
Agreed.
Simmons and Alkins were backup plans for Fox and Monk.
If we sign any more players, it will be for future depth, IMHO. Some guys willing to ride the pine for a year or two and then provide depth in the future.
I just can't see Simmons or Alkins being willing to take on that role. They will likely be the star attractions at OSU and NCSU or somewhere like that.
Considering the guard class in 2017 isn't particularly impressive right now, if a combo guard like Simmons, who wants to be a PG, but really needs to work on his game, would be willing to come off the bench next year, with a chance to start as a sophomore, that would be ideal.
I don't see Simmons being OAD no matter where he goes. Alkins strikes me as the kind of kid who wants to be the man somewhere. Since UNC has a team full of solid role players, I can see him going there. Roy is desperate enough to hand him the keys and promise him anything. I also don't think the NCAA is going to do a damned thing to them.
I don't see Simmons being OAD no matter where he goes. Alkins strikes me as the kind of kid who wants to be the man somewhere. Since UNC has a team full of solid role players, I can see him going there. Roy is desperate enough to hand him the keys and promise him anything. I also don't think the NCAA is going to do a damned thing to them.
Alkins and Monk would give UK it's best scoring combo on the wing since Anderson/Mercer in '97.
Considering what Fox, Gabriel, Bam, and SKJ would also bring to the floor, that's scary as hell for opponents.
Considering what Fox, Gabriel, Bam, and SKJ would also bring to the floor, that's scary as hell for opponents.
Unless Cal sells either of them on a rotation spot in the backcourt/wing positions, which is entirely plausible.
G Fox (30 minutes)
G Monk (30 minutes)
G Alkins or Simmons (25-27 minutes if Alkins comes; less minutes here if Simmons comes and more minutes for Charles)
F Gabriel (30 minutes)
C Bam (30 minutes)
With Matthews (20 minutes), Humphries (15-20 minutes), and SKJ (10-15 minutes) in reserve. All 8 would play, with a few guys seeing 32 minutes a game or so. There's your eight man rotation.
It could happen, despite our fan bases' lofty and hopeful sentiments toward guys like Willis, Mulder, Hawkins, etc.
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SKJ could be Cal's uber athletic guy off the bench, allowing Gabriel to move to the three spot at times. Still, Simmons would have a chance to start at the wing next season, although I feel that even in the scenario where Kobi came here, your presumption is more probable that by March/April, Cal would probably have a bigger group out there with Humphries, Bam, Wenyan, and the dynamic duo in the backcourt. That would be a long, highly skilled unit.
Lot of things about recruiting are still not very well understood. As long as he has scholarships available, Calipari makes a push for every player on his recruiting priority list. Even Simmons, who has not been a top tier target for us since Fox was offered, hears from Calipari or Payne every week according to his Dad. Humphries, Willis, Hawkins, Mulder, Matthews will be back. I think Ulis and Lee will also be back, and Briscoe will be gone, but that is up to Ulis, Lee, and Briscoe to decide. I'm sure a lot of people will disagree with me about Ulis, but the only thing that matters is whether an NBA GM is willing to invest a draft choice in him. None of us knows that yet. If Briscoe or Ulis leaves, there will be a scholarship available for Alkins. But, does Alkins want to sign with a team that already has Fox, Monk, and our returning guards? I doubt it. Fans are only thinking about class rankings, but these top players want playing time so they can attract NBA attention. Let's not compare Alkins' situation to Devin Booker, because Alkins has a much higher ranking and a lot more options than Booker had. Monk was Calipari's top wing target. When Calipari took commitments from Fox and Monk, he knew he was taking them ahead of Simmons and Alkins. Give Charles Matthews a year in our strength program and our guards will be the best in the country by far.
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