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It was about playing time for Acaden per the CJ

Pope can’t guarantee playing time to a 4 star freshman. Popes job and responsibility is to win at Kentucky. He has millions of insanely rabid fans that will jump down his neck, way worse than anyone in Lewis camp. Way too big a risk, and Lewis camp sounded like they had no confidence he could beat out the ONE other pure PG we brought in.
 
Can’t blame him for leaving.

He was behind Lowe and probably Johnson at PG.

Behind whoever we sign and Johnson and probably Chandler at SG.

Just not enough minutes to go around at the 1 and 2 spots.
 
Can’t blame him for leaving.

He was behind Lowe and probably Johnson at PG.

Behind whoever we sign and Johnson and probably Chandler at SG.

Just not enough minutes to go around at the 1 and 2 spots.
I figured Johnson was a 2/3 so really you have Lowe at the 1 whoever else plays the spot lacks the ball handling skills against SEC competition
 
So....

Jai Lucas recruits Boozer twins to Duke.

Jai Lucas leaves for Miami, the hometown of the Boozer twins and the runner-up in their recruitment.

Yesterday, Jai Lucas hires the HS coach of the Boozer twins to be an assistant on his staff.

Cayden Boozer was slated to be Duke's starting PG next year.

Duke is suddenly the favorite for Nate Ament, a 5-star PF, when they already have a 5-star (and higher-rated) PF in Cameron Boozer expecting to start.

Is there a world where Duke knows the Boozer's are going to bolt to Miami, and started back-channeling to Acaden about filling that spot in Durham and promising him a starting spot?

I'm not sure, but it's all very odd.

1*YcVhGsN8mca_XRWaV3S7qg.jpeg
 
If it was a mutual parting of ways, as has been reported, then lewis or his family asked pope something that he would not agree to. If that is the case good riddance, he is obviously not a team first guy. A fine player but not the best backbone for UK.
Not even a fine player if he isn't a team player... Those are the worst type of players.
 
Don't think anyone is "bad" or needs to be blasted here. What's happening in CBB is kind of a throwback to the days we grew up with which was build with experience--sprinkle in the elite FR and develop your program as much as possible. In the Summer/Fall Kentucky was all in on getting Caleb Wilson (Lewis's close friend) to round out a big time 4 man class. Wilson looked assured to be coming in the staff's eyes and then didn't. So HS recruiting wise-there's one change.

More importantly the change was Pope/Staff going through a year in the SEC and seeing what works/will need to be upgraded roster/system wise. They did that--which creates depth and pushes younger players down the rotation as they enter college. Now with Lowe/Chandler/Johnson-you have 3 guys who can play PG. You've got a guy like Perry who has done it as well. Throw in the lineup of wings already signed on/being targeted (Wilkerson) and do the math if you are a guy like Lewis.

Lewis is facing a tough personal situation with his Dad and can't speak for others but I've never had that pressure on me and in this situation I'd want to be assured I'd get a chance to play so I can provide help to my family and have the opportunity to play out my fate rather than gamble and wait and who knows what happens? Big fan of his game/wish him best in his career and hope all works out for his family.
 
Dodged a bullet, quite honestly.

It's too bad the transfer portal is so volatile that we could never risk this: but I'd almost rather Pope not bother recruiting HS kids at all anymore. Try for the top10.. and then maybe go get the instate kids I guess.. but other than that, don't even bother. Let them go to other schools we can just poach the proven ones later.
 
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So....

Jai Lucas recruits Boozer twins to Duke.

Jai Lucas leaves for Miami, the hometown of the Boozer twins and the runner-up in their recruitment.

Yesterday, Jai Lucas hires the HS coach of the Boozer twins to be an assistant on his staff.

Cayden Boozer was slated to be Duke's starting PG next year.

Duke is suddenly the favorite for Nate Ament, a 5-star PF, when they already have a 5-star (and higher-rated) PF in Cameron Boozer expecting to start.

Is there a world where Duke knows the Boozer's are going to bolt to Miami, and started back-channeling to Acaden about filling that spot in Durham and promising him a starting spot?

I'm not sure, but it's all very odd.

1*YcVhGsN8mca_XRWaV3S7qg.jpeg

You’ve convinced me.

Btw, how much red yarn do you go through on a weekly basis? 😉
 
So....

Jai Lucas recruits Boozer twins to Duke.

Jai Lucas leaves for Miami, the hometown of the Boozer twins and the runner-up in their recruitment.

Yesterday, Jai Lucas hires the HS coach of the Boozer twins to be an assistant on his staff.

Cayden Boozer was slated to be Duke's starting PG next year.

Duke is suddenly the favorite for Nate Ament, a 5-star PF, when they already have a 5-star (and higher-rated) PF in Cameron Boozer expecting to start.

Is there a world where Duke knows the Boozer's are going to bolt to Miami, and started back-channeling to Acaden about filling that spot in Durham and promising him a starting spot?

I'm not sure, but it's all very odd.

1*YcVhGsN8mca_XRWaV3S7qg.jpeg

I would die of laughter oh man.
 
If it was about playing time, then sometime or another he would have been pouting on the bench, no matter how good you think you are, you have to wait your turn or go somewhere else. This is Kentucky, there will be competition, and you won't be guaranteed playing time, but you will have a chance to start based on what the coaches see and how you respond in practice. However, if you quit before giving it a chance based on who else is coming in, that's the wrong attitude to have in any team sport. there are plenty of division 2 schools looking for players like that.
 
Don't think anyone is "bad" or needs to be blasted here. What's happening in CBB is kind of a throwback to the days we grew up with which was build with experience--sprinkle in the elite FR and develop your program as much as possible. In the Summer/Fall Kentucky was all in on getting Caleb Wilson (Lewis's close friend) to round out a big time 4 man class. Wilson looked assured to be coming in the staff's eyes and then didn't. So HS recruiting wise-there's one change.

More importantly the change was Pope/Staff going through a year in the SEC and seeing what works/will need to be upgraded roster/system wise. They did that--which creates depth and pushes younger players down the rotation as they enter college. Now with Lowe/Chandler/Johnson-you have 3 guys who can play PG. You've got a guy like Perry who has done it as well. Throw in the lineup of wings already signed on/being targeted (Wilkerson) and do the math if you are a guy like Lewis.

Lewis is facing a tough personal situation with his Dad and can't speak for others but I've never had that pressure on me and in this situation I'd want to be assured I'd get a chance to play so I can provide help to my family and have the opportunity to play out my fate rather than gamble and wait and who knows what happens? Big fan of his game/wish him best in his career and hope all works out for his family.
I agree his a nice very nice player. He was sold on Kentucky when I saw him. His dad situation for sure puts immense pressure on the kid. Very unfortunate situation. Wish him the kid all the best.


Also, are we sure that Kentucky did not want to distance from the dad situation and opening the recruiting was the nice way to safe face for the kid and give family ability to raise some cash?
 
Can’t blame him for leaving.

He was behind Lowe and probably Johnson at PG.

Behind whoever we sign and Johnson and probably Chandler at SG.

Just not enough minutes to go around at the 1 and 2 spots.
This isn't Cal's team anymore. If he is better than those players, he absolutely would play ahead of them. Sounds like he knows he isn't and doesn't want to work.

See ya.
 
So....

Jai Lucas recruits Boozer twins to Duke.

Jai Lucas leaves for Miami, the hometown of the Boozer twins and the runner-up in their recruitment.

Yesterday, Jai Lucas hires the HS coach of the Boozer twins to be an assistant on his staff.

Cayden Boozer was slated to be Duke's starting PG next year.

Duke is suddenly the favorite for Nate Ament, a 5-star PF, when they already have a 5-star (and higher-rated) PF in Cameron Boozer expecting to start.

Is there a world where Duke knows the Boozer's are going to bolt to Miami, and started back-channeling to Acaden about filling that spot in Durham and promising him a starting spot?

I'm not sure, but it's all very odd.

1*YcVhGsN8mca_XRWaV3S7qg.jpeg
Thinking Think GIF by Rodney Dangerfield
 
I agree his a nice very nice player. He was sold on Kentucky when I saw him. His dad situation for sure puts immense pressure on the kid. Very unfortunate situation. Wish him the kid all the best.


Also, are we sure that Kentucky did not want to distance from the dad situation and opening the recruiting was the nice way to safe face for the kid and give family ability to raise some cash?
He wasn't gonna play for free here.
Doubt anyone gives him substantially more than UK.
 
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