Hot tub time machine recruiting. Who you bringing to UK if you could go back to the past?

[Son_Of_Saul]

The first rule: be reasonable. Let's say you could take back footage of guys and show Rupp, Pitino, etc. how they turned out. Even so, remember that we were on guys like Webber, and they didn't want to be here. So the first rule is this: who could we reasonably land at UK if we had the time machine?

Here's some of my guys:

I'd show Rupp footage of Oscar Robertson.
I'd show Joe B. Hall footage of Larry Bird.
I'd show Sutton footage of Shawn Kemp (and tell him to turn a blind eye to the jewelry thing). I'm also showing him footage of Gary Payton, who would have been obtainable with major offers only from Texas El Paso, Oregon State, and St. John's. You put Payton and Kemp together at Kentucky?
I'd show Pitino footage of Gary Trent, Kerry Kittles, and my guy Allen Iverson (and press him to stay loyal to AI even after the bowling alley fight). I'd also show Pitino who Ray Allen ended up being, so he would be more humble on that infamous recruiting trip.
I'd show Tubby footage of Steph Curry.
I'd show Calipari footage of Ja Morant.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Larry Bird. Buy his family the tractor they wanted.



Wait, that might have been Blue Chips.

 

[Padsfs07]

88/89 would've been so different had Manual and Kemp played and Chapman came back.

Hard to say that Pitino should've done anything different imo.

Tubby's tenure was marked by guys leaving that should've stayed ~ Allison, Parker, Estill (Sr year), Azubuike, Morris (fax issued ruined his sophomore year) Rondo (Jr year), then Morris (Sr year)

Calipari had similar situations with 3 guys like that in Jodie Meeks, Dakari Johnson, and Ashton Hagans.

To your question, I think Tyler Hansborough would've been a great addition to the 05/06 team. The 4-yr drop off from that season until Calipari and Wall joined in 09/10 would've been dramatically different with Hansborough. Likewise, adding Chris Lofton from 04/05 to 07/08, although guards weren't really a big issue during that time.

 

[Padsfs07]

Another one would be Jay Williams from 99/00 to 01/02. Those three years were ruined by the PG play of Smith and a too-young to start Hawkins.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Convince (the university of) Jodie Meeks to come back for one more season.

 

[LetsGoBigBlue]

Allan Houston, Ja Morant

 

[Blueisbest]

Convince Cal to do whatever it takes to get Jodie Meeks back for one more year.

 

[bthaunert]

I'd tell Pitino to make sure Sean Woods doesn't take Clifford Rozier to Louisville for a derby party, resulting in a recruiting violation and Rozier not being able to sign with the Cats, which he was going to. While I liked Rodney Dent, putting Rozier in the middle makes that 1993 team even better.....possibly a national champion.

 

[chroix]

Recruit Sparks out of high school and have him available for the 2002-2003 run. Very realistic. Might have been enough to put them over the top.

 

[rivercatinfl]

If it was for this team, I'd bring in Jamal Magloure (sp). He was a beast. Would be a great fit imo.

 

[AGEE11]

Only one answer. Larry Bird

Top five player ever, no one else can compare. He carried Indiana St to the title game. At UK he wins

For a player leaving, I have always felt Meeks means we cut the nets in Cal's first year.

 

[Ugoff]

Dave Cowens. I think about it every time I'm on Dave Cowens drive in Newport.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I'd tell Pitino to make sure Sean Woods doesn't take Clifford Rozier to Louisville for a derby party, resulting in a recruiting violation and Rozier not being able to sign with the Cats, which he was going to. While I liked Rodney Dent, putting Rozier in the middle makes that 1993 team even better.....possibly a national champion.

Rozier would have been a perfect fit for that team, and would have been competent matchup against Webber. Rozier averaged 16 and 11 that season.

 

[TopCatCal]

The first rule: be reasonable. Let's say you could take back footage of guys and show Rupp, Pitino, etc. how they turned out. Even so, remember that we were on guys like Webber, and they didn't want to be here. So the first rule is this: who could we reasonably land at UK if we had the time machine?

Here's some of my guys:

I'd show Rupp footage of Oscar Robertson.
I'd show Joe B. Hall footage of Larry Bird.
I'd show Sutton footage of Shawn Kemp (and tell him to turn a blind eye to the jewelry thing). I'm also showing him footage of Gary Payton, who would have been obtainable with major offers only from Texas El Paso, Oregon State, and St. John's. You put Payton and Kemp together at Kentucky?
I'd show Pitino footage of Gary Trent, Kerry Kittles, and my guy Allen Iverson (and press him to stay loyal to AI even after the bowling alley fight). I'd also show Pitino who Ray Allen ended up being, so he would be more humble on that infamous recruiting trip.
I'd show Tubby footage of Steph Curry.
I'd show Calipari footage of Ja Morant.

Pitino did recruit Allen Iverson for a while. Until he was involved in a brawl at a bowling alley which resulted in Iverson throwing chairs. Say what you will about Pitino, but while he was at UK he recruited pretty much high character kids.

 

[YardCat]

Ralph Sampson