I am super optimistic

[BlueintheBrew]

Who cares about top 5 guys? Cal gets the players that fit the program and who will work hard. Keep giving me the Bookers, SGA, Herro, Fox, Monk, Knox. Cal’s last top 5 guy was Skal. How’d that work out? Recruiting rankings are overrated and like I said I never sweat when it comes to recruiting. He will get the guys to put UK in contention year after year.

None of Cal's teams have made a F4 without one. Cal's strength is getting top end talent in bunches and getting them to play together. He has still gotten good kids and I am proud of them, but at the end of the day this is about F4's and Championships, not feeling good because players were respectful and tried hard.

1 anomaly doesn't prove a point. That is just an outlier. Not to mention the kid had not played organized basketball in almost 2 years. SO not even sure how he got that ranking.

I like Cal and like his tenure here, but there is no doubt the first half of that tenure was better than the 2nd half as been. Nothing wrong with fans wanting to get back to the level of the first half.

 

[davekersey]

Christopher highlights in case you're unfamiliar. This is YouTube, hope it is available to you.

 

[davekersey]

Jalen Green highlights. People in California are crazy about this kid, driving great distances to fill up a gym where Jalen is playing.

 

[CatfanMike47]

Christopher, Green, Boston, Fletcher, Todd, Omuruyi, Nix, and Maker!

 

[davekersey]

B J Boston highlights, at 6'7, pretty good handle

 

[fearthebluecat]

about next years class. More so than in any previous year. We all have a penchant for counting chickens while looking at the eggs, but I feel jacked on the possibilities out in front of us.

I think we could possibly field a class of:
Joshua Christopher
Jalen Green
B J Boston
Isaiah Todd
Cliff Omoyuri


There are some others I'm less optimistic about, including Dante who I don't think we'll get. I also don't think we lead for any of the most coveted point guards. But can you imagine the scoring from those five that I feel really good about? I mean....WOW. It's possible that a commitment COULD come in just a matter of a week or two. I think Christopher will be the first egg to hatch.

Another name to keep on watch......Zaire Williams.....I really like his game but it's too early on him just yet.

Love Cliff Omoyuri he's a hoss

 

[davekersey]

Isaiah Todd highlights. 6'10, can stroke it.

 

[AgainstTheWind]

It would be nice to get some early commitments from players of this caliber. I would assume it could create a domino affect. We shall see.....

 

[ScrooDook92]

Who cares about top 5 guys? Cal gets the players that fit the program and who will work hard. Keep giving me the Bookers, SGA, Herro, Fox, Monk, Knox. Cal’s last top 5 guy was Skal. How’d that work out? Recruiting rankings are overrated and like I said I never sweat when it comes to recruiting. He will get the guys to put UK in contention year after year.

I'm not going to dismiss your post like you did the other person. Calipari absolutely needs top 5 playersto get UK back to the Final Four. His system changed to fit the elite players he was getting five years ago, but he needs to adapt or land the elite of the elite again. Given that he's not really that far from retirement, he ain't shaking up the staff.

 

[JASUN74]

Thanks Dave. Man I’m loving this class and the way it’s possibly shaping up. I’ve really liked Josh Christopher for awhile and am excited he got his Offer. I truly believe he’ll end up being the best player out of this class. He and Jalen being so close, and their dads being beat friends, I think helps us with them. I’d love to add either Cooper or Nix but hate to be too selfish. Lol.

The good thing is, it’s a strong class and the top 100 are all very good players, whoever Coach Cal gets, they’ll be exactly who we should have. We’re just so lucky to have Coach Cal and couldn’t ask for a better representative for the BBN.

Thanks again and GO CATS!!

 

[bucsrule8872]

Hypothetical: If we sign Jalen Green, then Kuminga and Clarke reclassify, does Green (who would drop to No. 6) still count as a top 5?

Is Green better if he is ranked No. 4 than he would be ranked at No. 6? Does he lose some of his magic powers because he dropped out of the top 5?

In other words, why is the cut off for being great top 5? Is there only room in a class for five superstars?

I just don't get the infatuation for players ranked top 5 out of HS.

Fox wasn't top 5 coming into college, but finished top 5 in the draft. I'd rather have a guy that finished the season as a top 5 draft pick than a top 5 recruit.

 

[ScrooDook92]

Hypothetical: If we sign Jalen Green, then Kuminga and Clarke reclassify, does Green (who would drop to No. 6) still count as a top 5?

Is Green better if he is ranked No. 4 than he would be ranked at No. 6? Does he lose some of his magic powers because he dropped out of the top 5?

In other words, why is the cut off for being great top 5? Is there only room in a class for five superstars?

I just don't get the infatuation for players ranked top 5 out of HS.

Fox wasn't top 5 coming into college, but finished top 5 in the draft. I'd rather have a guy that finished the season as a top 5 draft pick than a top 5 recruit.

How many players has Cal landed that, as anything but the elite of the elite, ended up top five draft pics?

 

[wcc31]

Hypothetical: If we sign Jalen Green, then Kuminga and Clarke reclassify, does Green (who would drop to No. 6) still count as a top 5?

Is Green better if he is ranked No. 4 than he would be ranked at No. 6? Does he lose some of his magic powers because he dropped out of the top 5?

In other words, why is the cut off for being great top 5? Is there only room in a class for five superstars?

I just don't get the infatuation for players ranked top 5 out of HS.

Fox wasn't top 5 coming into college, but finished top 5 in the draft. I'd rather have a guy that finished the season as a top 5 draft pick than a top 5 recruit.

Murray, Fox, Monk, SGA - all arguably Top 5 freshmen. It’s just one more silly thing for some miserable fools to whine about.

 

[gossie21]

Hypothetical: If we sign Jalen Green, then Kuminga and Clarke reclassify, does Green (who would drop to No. 6) still count as a top 5?

Is Green better if he is ranked No. 4 than he would be ranked at No. 6? Does he lose some of his magic powers because he dropped out of the top 5?

In other words, why is the cut off for being great top 5? Is there only room in a class for five superstars?

I just don't get the infatuation for players ranked top 5 out of HS.

Fox wasn't top 5 coming into college, but finished top 5 in the draft. I'd rather have a guy that finished the season as a top 5 draft pick than a top 5 recruit.

Clearly top-5 is an arbitrary classification. The number Rivals/247/ESPN assign to Green or any other player doesn't impact his ability.

It does affect perception. Calipari was able to bring in top rated players every year until around 2015. It would be nice to get back to that level of recruiting again. We also haven't been back to the final four since 2015, you could argue correlation/causation, but at the end of the day I just want to get back to the final four.

 

[jrpross]

Hypothetical: If we sign Jalen Green, then Kuminga and Clarke reclassify, does Green (who would drop to No. 6) still count as a top 5?

Is Green better if he is ranked No. 4 than he would be ranked at No. 6? Does he lose some of his magic powers because he dropped out of the top 5?

In other words, why is the cut off for being great top 5? Is there only room in a class for five superstars?

I just don't get the infatuation for players ranked top 5 out of HS.

Fox wasn't top 5 coming into college, but finished top 5 in the draft. I'd rather have a guy that finished the season as a top 5 draft pick than a top 5 recruit.

I think it’s more of a superstition than anything.

 

[caneintally]

Probably easier to ask here but, who is the consensus #1 for 2020? Is UK involved (dumb question)?

Green or the big man going to USC are considered the 2 best . Green will be the best player to come to UK since AD IMO .

 

[bucsrule8872]

about next years class. More so than in any previous year. We all have a penchant for counting chickens while looking at the eggs, but I feel jacked on the possibilities out in front of us.

I think we could possibly field a class of:
Joshua Christopher
Jalen Green
B J Boston
Isaiah Todd
Cliff Omoyuri


There are some others I'm less optimistic about, including Dante who I don't think we'll get. I also don't think we lead for any of the most coveted point guards. But can you imagine the scoring from those five that I feel really good about? I mean....WOW. It's possible that a commitment COULD come in just a matter of a week or two. I think Christopher will be the first egg to hatch.

Another name to keep on watch......Zaire Williams.....I really like his game but it's too early on him just yet.

That would be a really great class. I think Clarke will reclassify and we are looking good for him.

We probably get some guys back. I could see Quickley, Allen, and Brooks possibly returning.

G Quickley
G Green
G Clarke
F Brooks
F Todd

G Christopher
G Boston
G Allen
F Omoruyi

Maybe add a grad transfer and a 4-star for depth?

 

[Creed Bratton]

No one asked you

and no one asked you either.

 

[Creed Bratton]

Who cares about top 5 guys? Cal gets the players that fit the program and who will work hard. Keep giving me the Bookers, SGA, Herro, Fox, Monk, Knox. Cal’s last top 5 guy was Skal. How’d that work out? Recruiting rankings are overrated and like I said I never sweat when it comes to recruiting. He will get the guys to put UK in contention year after year.

I have to disagree. How many Final Fours have we been to without top 5 guys under Cal? Getting guys like Booker, SGA & Herro have only gotten us 1 and done guys that nobody expected to be one and done....it has done nothing for getting us #9.

 

[CatfanMike47]

I have to disagree. How many Final Fours have we been to without top 5 guys under Cal? Getting guys like Booker, SGA & Herro have only gotten us 1 and done guys that nobody expected to be one and done....it has done nothing for getting us #9.

Brandon Knights year we got to the final four with no top 5 players

 

[gossie21]

Brandon Knights year we got to the final four with no top 5 players

You mean except for Brandon Knight?

https://sites.google.com/site/rscihoops/home/2010-final

 

[Wildcats1st]

Skal is the only example of a top 5 flop under cal. With this system he needs multiple top 5 recruits or multiple top 7-8 draft picks to win a title. I’m not all that excited about 2020 unless we retain 4-5 players from this team.

 

[Cawood86]

Ummm......I'm thinking DK is very, very confident to be posting videos of certain players that UK is recruiting......

 

[Newcattitudes]

Ummm......I'm thinking DK is very, very confident to be posting videos of certain players that UK is recruiting......

I think you're right!

 

[Col. Angus]

Hypothetical: If we sign Jalen Green, then Kuminga and Clarke reclassify, does Green (who would drop to No. 6) still count as a top 5?

No.

Murray, Fox, Monk, SGA - all arguably Top 5 freshmen. It’s just one more silly thing for some miserable fools to whine about.

“Arguably top 5” is not top 5. I’m a baby, bitch, fool, whiner, etc I know. Add whatever else you can think of. Your designated list of names to call people on this board is extensive. I appreciate that.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I'm not going to dismiss your post like you did the other person. Calipari absolutely needs top 5 playersto get UK back to the Final Four. His system changed to fit the elite players he was getting five years ago, but he needs to adapt or land the elite of the elite again. Given that he's not really that far from retirement, he ain't shaking up the staff.

There's just no guarantee you can get to the Final Four and win a title. There's no magic formula.

You can say Cal needs top 5 players, but he has failed to make the Final Four with two of the top 5 in a class (2010- Wall and Cousins).

The top 5 magic number is in your head.

We need elite players, for sure. Do they have to be top five?

Are we better off with the number one player in a super weak class or the number six player in a historically talented class?

Would we have made the Final Four with Langford at SG instead of Herro?

Rankings are subjective.

They are just something to go by to give you an idea of how good these guys could be. Most are based on potential.

 

[bucsrule8872]

No.



“Arguably top 5” is not top 5. I’m a baby, bitch, fool, whiner, etc I know. Add whatever else you can think of. Your designated list of names to call people on this board is extensive. I appreciate that.

So, it's magic. The basketball fairy only blesses the top five every year.

Got it. Now I understand.

We have to get at least one player in this magical top 5 every year or we can never win another title.

Thanks for clearing that up in a totally logic based way.

 

[BoulderCat]

For the first 5 or 6 I would agree with this. The last 3 or 4 have been a little more questionable. We have been in late on several recruits.transfers and missed out. Typically it was a type of player that could have taken us to the next level. Now we are having some issues getting some of the guys we are after early as well. Considering that is the same time we stopped making the F4 almost annually and haven't reached it since, I would say it is becoming more and more of a concern. We still get top quality guys that represent the program well and all, and I really appreciate that. However, winning and getting to F4's is the ultimate goal for fans. I would like to see us back the in the position to get there yearly, and it seems we did that the most when our teams were set earlier and we weren't still building a roster mid July.

I to have become a little skittish about predictions concerning the top, program changing recruits. These last 4 years it just seems to eventually fall apart. Reading one of them said UK is their dream school is kind of like the kiss of death. Hopefully Dave is right, and this year things go our way. We all want to get back to the F4, and see Cal bring home #9 and his 2nd. And yea here we are going into late July still hoping to get a reclass.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Finished season as a top 5 Freshman:

2010- Wall and Cousins.
2011- Knight.
2012- AD and MKG.
2013- Noel.
2014- Randle.
2015- KAT.
2016- Murray.
2017- Fox.
2018- None.
2019- None.

This is a better measure than top five out of HS, IMHO. It's how you finish, not how you start your college career.

 

[morgousky]

So Dave are you trying to say we will land all of those players? Guarantee? I feel like that’s what you’re saying.

 

[Col. Angus]

So, it's magic. The basketball fairy only blesses the top five every year.

Got it. Now I understand.

We have to get at least one player in this magical top 5 every year or we can never win another title.

Thanks for clearing that up in a totally logic based way.

Finished season as a top 5 Freshman:

2010- Wall and Cousins.
2011- Knight.
2012- AD and MKG.
2013- Noel.
2014- Randle.
2015- KAT.
2016- Murray.
2017- Fox.
2018- None.
2019- None.

This is a better measure than top five out of HS, IMHO. It's how you finish, not how you start your college career.

You don’t seem to follow. It gets bent and twisted and I understand.

Cal has never made the Final Four since 2007 without a top 5 composite recruit on his roster. Doesn’t mean he can’t. No one should say he can’t. To date, he hasn’t. Should’ve in 2017. Should’ve in 2018 once the bracket opened up. Should’ve this past season. Didn’t. Oh well.

I’ve never said it’s based in logic. It’s based on fact. Just an observation I had a couple years ago since the roster turnover was so insane and he relied, and still does, so heavily on freshmen. It’s still true. Fox and Murray weren’t top 5 composite recruits. Don’t know why they keep getting brought up. Good job with the others though.

That should make it a little less muddy.

 

[morgousky]

Calipari has 0 final fours dating back to his Memphis days without a consensus top 5 recruit. It’s a fact. It’s not an opinion. There’s plenty of sample size to suggest there’s something to it. I’ve been vocal about this for 3 years now, @Aike should verify that we’ve had many conversations on this in years past.

I don’t see why it’s controversial. Cal relies so heavily on freshman that he needs star OAD’s to make it fully work.

I’m aware that we’ve been close, but the fact is since Cal has gone in on the OAD 13 years ago he has 4 final fours and not one of those didn’t have a composite top 5 player.

There’s really nothing to debate. With our system we need the top crop in the class or we fall short. Some take that as a slight toward Cal and it’s not. He designed the OAD system, before that he had multiple year (3/4) year guys and didn’t need them so badly. Now he does.

Some would say that becuase we’re starting to return some guys it should help, but I’m afraid it’s not the answer. If you return to UK in this day and age all the way to your junior year, you probably just aren’t very good (Richards).

Imo Cal needs to start evaluating more and change course. Leave the OAD top 10-20 alone. They just aren’t enough and it hinders our program through the next season.

I believe Cal enjoys the relationships and being the NBA guys coach more than making final fours at this point. Otherwise he would change.

He’s still our best bet and thus we just roll with it. But if he hits anywhere close to a 7-10 year final four drought, he will be forced to evolve something. And it’s not something I demand it’s something that will just happen naturally.

Cals record to this point is only slightly better than Joe B Hall. I know that’s hard for some to take but it’s been in the works for a while. It’s not easy to digest becuase of the nba personnel and how fast he started, but that’s where we are. He needs to adjust better and faster before he hurts himself. Ego destroyed Pitino, Cal is not immune.

Anything short of 2 titles at UK is failure. The record will show that. Even two he will take a hit. He’s a goat. So two is a must but 3 would solidly him as a top 5 coach of all time and top 3 of the modern era. UK fans will not write history regarding Cal, that comes from everywhere else. Somall rhe pumping in the world won’t change it. Similar to how Dean Smith’s legacy isn’t written by UNC fans no matter how hard they try.

 

[davekersey]

So Dave are you trying to say we will land all of those players? Guarantee? I feel like that’s what you’re . We've got a great shot at all five of those guys and there's probably more to follow saying.

oh good God no I'm not that confident but I just feel good about where we are with those five. It is conceivable that we get none of them but I wouldn't have taken the time to post if I felt that way. At present we are in great shape and I'm hoping like some of you that the cards start to fall our way soon. Also in regards to the requirement for top five ranked players how did we win 1998 without them

 

[morgousky]

oh good God no I'm not that confident but I just feel good about where we are with those five. It is conceivable that we get none of them but I wouldn't have taken the time to post if I felt that way. At present we are in great shape and I'm hoping like some of you that the cards start to fall our way soon. Also in regards to the requirement for top five ranked players how did we win 1998 without them

So you’re saying there’s a chance we land the top 5 players in class?

On a serious note 1998 was a totally different time. It’s absolutely not indicative of one thing from today.

Calipari since Umass.

5 final fours.

Final fours since Umass during the OAD era without a composite top 5 player.

0

 

[Col. Angus]

also in regards to the requirement for top five ranked players how did we win 1998 without them

Well it’s not necessarily a requirement, first of all.

And the reason UK won in 1998 was because Tubby is clearly a better coach than Cal.

 

[davekersey]

I guess we shouldn't even bother to watch this year's steam then huh

 

[king of cali]

Also in regards to the requirement for top five ranked players how did we win 1998 without them

Some posters have stated the fact that Calipari hasn’t been to a Final 4 without a top 5 recruit on his roster. Not sure what UK did 20 years ago under Tubby Smith has to do with anything.

 

[ScrooDook92]

You very well could be

There's just no guarantee you can get to the Final Four and win a title. There's no magic formula.

You can say Cal needs top 5 players, but he has failed to make the Final Four with two of the top 5 in a class (2010- Wall and Cousins).

The top 5 magic number is in your head.

We need elite players, for sure. Do they have to be top five?

Are we better off with the number one player in a super weak class or the number six player in a historically talented class?

Would we have made the Final Four with Langford at SG instead of Herro?

Rankings are subjective.

They are just something to go by to give you an idea of how good these guys could be. Most are based on potential.

You very well could be right. I don't believe it has much to do with NIKE, LeBron or that fool Drake as others here have said. That leaves me with his success of late in the tournament, and his staff

 

[davekersey]

I guess I didn't realize how many folks are down on Coach Cal's ability.

 

[Wildcats1st]

its not getting the top 5 player in a given year that makes the difference it’s getting them every year in the OAD or at least most years if we want to make a serious run.