Iowa offered Michael Moreno from Scott Co. yesterday...

[Rupp'sRunt]

That's not what you said about KY hs players. Tell me how Hawkins and Willis suck. BOTH 3 stars out of HS.

"Rupp'sRunt said: ↑
If he plays HS bball in the state of Ky they usually suck. It's a rule of thumb"

Good enough to get clock as seniors. Willis started about half the season and choked in the NCAAT. They were decent players but definitely not top recruits. Hence why you never see Cal recruit Ky players until the very end of recruiting process to fill up scholarships for role players.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

To imply, and I believe you did, that Kentucky can't produce stud recruits in a 10 year span is false. I'm not speaking toward star power rankings really, just the fact that the program was built on Kentucky guys and even in '12 we were not having Darius Miller away from losing that tournament. The talent was there, but it simply wouldn't have mattered without him. Then I look at guys like Allen Houston, Chris lofton who have the entire Tennessee basketball history to themselves. I cannot say Kentucky won't produce a decently great college recruit rather routinely relative to how long the games have been played.

Is it the hot bed (according to rivals.com) that Texas is? No. And what does Texas have to show for all of those top 20 recruits?

Just sayin, I find it incredible that people rightly or wrongly give UK players zero credit while our entire history was built from their back.

When you have to go back to Allan Houston and Chris lofton you know it's been a while. Miller was a solid player for us, he's the best out of the Ky bunch over the last 10 yrs I'd say. But like you said it's not the recruiting hot beds like others are. And what does Texas have to show for it? Well for one Fox is about to go top 5 in the draft so there's something. Ky HS bball just isn't up to par with the rest of the country and that's ok because UK can recruit anywhere

 

[Chuckinden]

2 of the three best players in Tennessee basketball history are named Allen Houston and Chris Lofton, both Kentucky players.

I wouldn't go that far. Ernie and Bernie say hello.

 

[morgousky]

I wouldn't go that far. Ernie and Bernie say hello.

Well I originally said 2 of the three best. I'd rather have Houston and Lofton personally. most UT fans that I know ( a billion of them) talk about Allen Houston more than any of them.

 

[morgousky]

When you have to go back to Allan Houston and Chris lofton you know it's been a while. Miller was a solid player for us, he's the best out of the Ky bunch over the last 10 yrs I'd say. But like you said it's not the recruiting hot beds like others are. And what does Texas have to show for it? Well for one Fox is about to go top 5 in the draft so there's something. Ky HS bball just isn't up to par with the rest of the country and that's ok because UK can recruit anywhere

Take Memphis for example. They have many more top recruits from the city, and they have landed most of them. What do they have to show?

My point is Kentucky has better recruits than most give credit for. And they built this program that's better than any other.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

Take Memphis for example. They have many more top recruits from the city, and they have landed most of them. What do they have to show?

My point is Kentucky has better recruits than most give credit for. And they built this program that's better than any other.

Well there was a point in time Cal coached Memphis and they had a lot to show for it. Just sayin

 

[morgousky]

Well there was a point in time Cal coached Memphis and they had a lot to show for it. Just sayin

That wasn't built on the back of Memphis kids. He lost many Memphis kids that were highly ranked (he wouldn't give in to Memphis handlers) Thaddeus Young for one. Dozier, Dorsey, CDR, Rose, Evans etc were not from Memphis. He's the one coach that went national in this city.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

That wasn't built on the back of Memphis kids. He lost many Memphis kids that were highly ranked (he wouldn't give in to Memphis handlers) Thaddeus Young for one. Dozier, Dorsey, CDR, Rose, Evans etc were not from Memphis. He's the one coach that went national in this city.

All that aside, I'll still say that Ky HS basketball is in the lower part of the talent spectrum. I feel like we should be able to agree on this

 

[bucsrule8872]

If Cal would have been hired in 2007 instead of BCG, then I think he would have signed Hopson and turned him into a star. Hopson had the tools. He needed to be pushed.

Cal would have probably had Hopson, Mack, and Miller in that 2008 class along with Liggins and Tyreke Evans.

 

[morgousky]

All that aside, I'll still say that Ky HS basketball is in the lower part of the talent spectrum. I feel like we should be able to agree on this

I can agree with that as a general rule relative to other parts of the US. My point was it's a tad overblown as far as judging Kentucky recruits by that logic alone.

Kentucky judges itself by championships. We've got 8 of them and it's possible none of them would have been possible without Kentucky boys. It's amazing actually - when you think about it. A state not known for big time recruiting ending as the top basketball program in the country in large part due to in- state recruits.

Cal could recruit the top 5 players in each class yearly, and we'd still need some in state kids with some talent to pull us through. Having the most bad ass engine is fine, but as we saw in '12, it ain't runnin without a spark plug.

 

[morgousky]

If Cal would have been hired in 2007 instead of BCG, then I think he would have signed Hopson and turned him into a star. Hopson had the tools. He needed to be pushed.

Cal would have probably had Hopson, Mack, and Miller in that 2008 class along with Liggins and Tyreke Evans.

For sure. He wanted Liggins badly at Memphis. I was shocked when we pulled him away. Programs sell after all.

I agree about Hopson. But even at the time, I was a minority becasue I preferred Miller. And holy sht did we get the better end of that deal......

The Hopson vs. Miller threads were great. Hopson never came close to being what Miller became. It's also imo a warning to future players in Kentucky. Don't be stupid. If UK offers take it, it can pay dividends down the road in more ways than one.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

I can agree with that as a general rule relative to other parts of the US. My point was it's a tad overblown as far as judging Kentucky recruits by that logic alone.

Kentucky judges itself by championships. We've got 8 of them and it's possible none of them would have been possible without Kentucky boys. It's amazing actually - when you think about it. A state not known for big time recruiting ending as the top basketball program in the country in large part due to in- state recruits.

Cal could recruit the top 5 players in each class yearly, and we'd still need some in state kids with some talent to pull us through. Having the most bad ass engine is fine, but as we saw in '12, it ain't runnin without a spark plug.

I get that Darius miller was a good player, but we need to recognize the greatness that was AD and MKG it ran on that first and foremost.

Ky boys have brought home championships though I concur

 

[morgousky]

I get that Darius miller was a good player, but we need to recognize the greatness that was AD and MKG it ran on that first and foremost.

Ky boys have brought home championships though I concur

There's no doubt that the team cannot be made up of Kentucky players alone. That's why I called AD and MKG the engine, but I challenge anyone to go back and watch that tournament and come to the conclusion that we could have afforded to lose Darius Miller. Same as this year, without Hawkins (and Willis to an extent), we don't make an elite 8.

So I agree, I just think the value of some of these guys is heavily undersold, mainly on this board.

 

[Poetax]

Here's a not so dirty secret. Kentucky is a better football state than basketball state. It's hard to swallow, but it's true.

You better watch out, it could end up being a Baseball state.

 

[EclipsingYou]

I believe we would've taken both Miller and Hopson, but Tennessee beat us out for Scotty. I don't think it was an either/or situation. I also think that if Hopson would've chose UK along with Miller, Calipari could've turned Hopson into a heck of a player!

Maybe it was an either/or, but for whatever reason, I don't remember it being that way and watching his commitment hoping he would pick up the UK hat. That was a while ago, though.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

There's no doubt that the team cannot be made up of Kentucky players alone. That's why I called AD and MKG the engine, but I challenge anyone to go back and watch that tournament and come to the conclusion that we could have afforded to lose Darius Miller. Same as this year, without Hawkins (and Willis to an extent), we don't make an elite 8.

So I agree, I just think the value of some of these guys is heavily undersold, mainly on this board.

Ky has plenty of undervalued players, I agree. Hawkins is a prime example. My argument was based on top talent that could consistently come out, and I understand we don't have prep schools here, but where would be a better spot? It's a high IQ bball state, idk why more aren't here. But like another posted eluded to it's a fball state ironically

 

[Blue Decade]

I LOVE it when the state of Kentucky produces talented players! I hope to see a lot more of it the next few years.

It's a matter of simple math and competition level. The more teenagers playing organized basketball in Kentucky, the more P5 prospects will be produced. There was a time when Kentucky boys preferentially played basketball over other sports. Now, though, Kentucky boys participate in all sports, and we are producing some notable baseball and football players in our state.