If Diallo returns & Bamba chooses UK - best recruiting class ever?
- Thread starter Coyote89
- Start date
I personally believe it would be fairly decent, as long as we get all three of Mo Bamba, Hamidou Diallo, and Cam Johnson.
Agreed although I'd use the term "above average" instead of "fairly decent." JMO
I believe it would be. Has a program ever signed seven/eight five stars and a four star?
Win it all then discuss it. Without a championship it is hard to state GOAT...in anything.
Easily. Hell if we add Bamba it is the best class regardless of Diallo or Johnson but getting either of those dudes and then it is by a mile.
For me it will be yes of course if all 3 come, but even if not, the key as far as I am concerned is Bamba. He is the missing ingredient. Johnson would be a luxury as would Diallo returning. I have posted this before; I only want Diallo back because I think the circumstances that occurred with him coming for practice improvement only would be shameful for our program. Nevertheless, if only Bamba signs it would be our best "recruiting" class ever. Without him we have SKJ who couldn't make the floor for whatever mysterious reasons last season (so certainly of concern), Richards who sure looks like a work in progress to me especially on offense and rebounding, and Wynyard who maybe was one step ahead of SKJ but certainly no great shakes either. Bamba has a learning curve as well but showed much better basic rebounding skills and defense then our present centers. Cal's defense always seems to need that one interior shot blocker and that is Bamba's strength.
I dont necessarily think Diallo needs to return for this class to be best but Bamba must come.
Green
Alexander
Baker
Knox
Vanderbilt
Washington
Richards
Bamba
Or
Harrison
Harrison
Young
Randle
Johnson
Or
Wall
Bledsoe
Dodson
Cousins
Orton
Or
Teague
Gilchrist
Davis
Wilcher
Or
Towns
Lyles
Booker
Ullis
I may not have all classes rightt as i am going of memory. If not the best pretty close w/o diallo and def the best with him.
Last edited:
Correct, but so many out there consider the Fab Five as the best ever and that is based on the recruiting numbers.
Yeah, they made title game appearances, but they didn't light the world on fire during the regular seasons that they played.
So, why shouldn't we use rankings to judge UK's classes?
So you are going to compare one class against an all star cast from all of Cal's previous classes? How does that work?
This is about a single collection of guys, we are comparing classes, not overall talent through the years aren't we?
Fab 5 had 4 burger boys that made the championship game twice.
Of course we had 6 in 2013 that made the championship game and final four (undefeated)...
Last edited:
I would rather wait and see them actually play in college before deciding.
How do we know the quality of each player in the 17 class? They haven't played a college game yet, but the ones they are being compared to played a full season (or 2) and up to 6 NBA seasons.
With Bamba and Diallo we are getting players ranked by Scout at 1, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 22, 39 and 86.
That is "off the charts". SEVEN 5 stars. That has never been done before. UK had SIX 5 stars in 2013, which had never been done before. You have to rank the recruiting class based on how they are ranked
in the year of ranking and not how they do at later dates.
Right now today, if you told me I could have our '09, '11, or '14 class instead of this one, I would make that trade in all three cases.
Personally, I don't view deepest class as best class.
Now, ask me again in 11 months.
Personally, I don't view deepest class as best class.
Now, ask me again in 11 months.
Regardless, in a year of mass exodus of our freshman and vets, in a year when Duke was supposed to have the super class, in a possible bridge year next year, Cal whipped it out and has us #1 in the nation this coming season by many, especially when Bamba commits. This was by far his greatest single year recruiting to keep us not only competitive but likely front runners to win it all without a little bit of a down year, which I honestly expected. He will never top this year in terms of quality combined with the quantity. It's actually mind blowing when you think about what he has amassed in this class and he's not done.
Just get to San Antonio so that I can see the Cats in my city at the Final Four. Thats all I care about for this upcoming season. Just like 1998.
it depends on how you judge the best class.......
this class would have the most 5 star players ever
if you judge by position, UNC 2006 I believe had 3 players who were #1 at their position (this class does not have that)
just saying.....
I'd take this class over any other that I can ever remember from any program based on the class as a whole
this class would have the most 5 star players ever
if you judge by position, UNC 2006 I believe had 3 players who were #1 at their position (this class does not have that)
just saying.....
I'd take this class over any other that I can ever remember from any program based on the class as a whole
2013 UK had 4 players #1 at their positions:
#1 PF Randle
#1 PG Andrew
#1 SG Aaron
#1 Center Dakari
IIRC #2 SF James Young
Potential is there but potential never won a championship, still have to prove it on the court. Sounds pessimistic to some, I know, but I need to see the proof before crowning it the best. And, I thought many on here said this year is a weak class anyway, is that still considered true? Honest question.
What if we compared players? Is Dakari better than Bamba?
How does Green stack up against Andrew?
Looks like we have several guys to put up against Randle (I love me some Randle though).
Would you take Aaron over Knox and/or Diallo?
Wasn't Young ranked pretty highly too?
It's interesting and something to look at after the 17 class plays a full season.
so 2013 UK is best ever to this point. ..I'm starting to forget who the Fab 5 was, now that call has now had 3 classes as good or better. 2017 is already better. Top3 UK =too 3 ever
I think the downside, if there is one, is with so much talent Cal may be forced to platoon again. I think this cost us a title last time. Booker and Ulis should have been playing more minutes but the twins had to get their minutes and get them ready to move on. We all knew who deserved more time.
Also it takes young guys longer to get in a flow and longer to learn and develop when they're spread out. Just think how much faster Booker would have developed and scored had he been on the floor most of the game. So having a stockpile of talent looks great, it does have some possible drawbacks imho.
Also it takes young guys longer to get in a flow and longer to learn and develop when they're spread out. Just think how much faster Booker would have developed and scored had he been on the floor most of the game. So having a stockpile of talent looks great, it does have some possible drawbacks imho.
Yes, if Bamba and Diallo come, I believe it is the greatest recruiting class ever made judging strictly by their HS rankings.
That doesn't even come close to guaranteeing a title, but it would most definitely be the best HS class ever recruited. Which is absolutely amazing.
I never thought Cal would top some of his other classes, but adding Diallo and Bamba would actually do it.
I hope Calipari never leaves. This is the golden era of Kentucky Basketball.
That doesn't even come close to guaranteeing a title, but it would most definitely be the best HS class ever recruited. Which is absolutely amazing.
I never thought Cal would top some of his other classes, but adding Diallo and Bamba would actually do it.
I hope Calipari never leaves. This is the golden era of Kentucky Basketball.
Nobody here can see the future, but the odds heavily lean towards no. Even if we get Diallo and Bamba, I don't know if we have an all-American caliber guy on the roster. At least someone who is ready to come in and be that next year.
The 13 class had 1 AA guy (Randle). But surely Knox, Bamba or Diallo can do that.
If one of them doesn't, it's because they shared so much with their teammates and sacrificed that.
But Diallo is being talked about by everyone as being a lottery pick in the 18 draft, so he has the ability.
Bamba is the #2 ranked player in this years class, surely he can make a Randle type impact.
We shall (er, might) see.
Last edited:
