Jayson Tatum down to 2 schools . Most think it's duke and St. Louis. Tatum would be unreal in cals system but I think he's duke all the way . He will decide in next few weeks
jayson Tatum down to 2
- Thread starter z71sab
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Only thing I could find was this tweet from KMOV guy in StL.
Brian Feldman @BFeldman 17h17 hours agoTalked to Jayson Tatum. Says he's down to 2 (wouldn't say which schools) b/t Duke, UK, UNC and SLU. Likely choosing this or next month.
If Tatum isn't coming to UK, the best thing that can happen is for him to pull the trigger early. So I see this as win-win. On the small chance he picks UK, great. Lock up a stud very early. If he's going elsewhere, he doesn't linger in the background for the other players UK is recruiting.
Would cut my arm off for Tatum the best 3 man coming in, Jackson is a better athlete, Tatum better player. Tatum ,Giles and Smith say they want to play together. I went and watch Giles while back he is the best big man I have ever seen play, I watch James Worthy,Kevin Garnett in High school Giles is better/
He's one of those OAD types who wants the Duke brand to follow him for life, and there's no harm in that. Parker was the same way, although his approach was a bit more from the elitism angle.
Duke has been his leader for quite a while. Only significant question now is whether Tatum will convince Giles to join forces with him in Durham.
Duke has been his leader for quite a while. Only significant question now is whether Tatum will convince Giles to join forces with him in Durham.
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Duke.
Coach k has got his mojo back.
That makes me sick, everywhere I go you see Duke hats shirts.
Duke.
Coach k has got his mojo back.
Oh, nevermind. I see what's going on here.
Duke will get Giles, Smith wants to play for Duke but he will wait and see who leaves. This NCAA crap is killing the heels, Duke has the whole state now, and NCarolina is loaded with talent.
Must be nice to have all those studs in their home state. 3 of the top 8 in that class are in NC. Wish the state of Kentucky produced that kind of talent.
You can never count Cal out, he did get John Wall from Carolina. Smith is a John Wall with a jump shot, is Cal going after him hard?
Smith, Tatum and Giles is another Jones, Winslow and Okafor. Combine that with numerous guys Duke has now that will be back, they are THE premier contender for the next 3-5 years. All this speculation about K retiring with the 2015 and 2016 classes he has? No chance. He's here at least through 2017 or 2018, which coincides with another likely team USA gold medal in 2016.
There isn't any top player like that gonna go to St. Louis. They're on his list for show. LOL... St Louis...HA.
Simmons is really good, Roy is trying hard to get him, honestly he will end up at Kentucky, he will be the 3 man that you guys have not had last couple years.
How does a crop of elite one and done guys next year mean Duke is "THE premier contender for the next 3-5 years?"
There's no such thing as statements like that anymore. Not as anything more than internet overreaction.
I think UK will be just fine. Cal will get some damn good players as well. UK will always be in the hunt for a Final Four/National Title. Geesh!
You've got to be kidding, right? UK is the premier program in the country. Sure they've lost a couple NC's they could've won, but the same could be said for a few other schools as well. Kentucky is doing just fine on the recruiting trail and will be in the hunt for the NC every year Cal is here. Sometimes Kentucky will win it and sometimes they won't. However, more often than not, Kentucky will lose the NC.
dUKe is NOT the premier program in the country and to suggest so is laughable at best.
They just won a title. They will be pre-season top 3 next year. It's pretty clear that that team won't have a ton of OAD's, and could possibly bring in an elite PG/SF/C trio in 2016?
I'm not saying UK can't compete, but Duke is right there. I should preface my previous post by saying that they are a contender WITH UK, who is always a premier contender.
Duke is always right there, at least when you look at preseason talent. They have been for 30 years.
You acted like they were suddenly some unstoppable force and not the same program who occasionally flames out early and occasionally makes a deep run, or that one trio of players somehow made them a lock to be in the hunt for the next five seasons.
Like I said, that's internet overreaction based on the title they just won and players who haven't even committed yet. How'd that work for UConn, Kentucky, Louisville, etc recently? There's just no such thing as a guarantee from year to year in this era of college hoops.
We're all saying the same thing, in different ways. I'm not at all saying Duke is better than UK.
I know you aren't, and it doesn't come across that way. I was only taking issue with the idea that we can project success that far ahead when the players that it takes to win leave after one season and recruiting is getting so competitive.
I haven't seen anyone who has Duke Top 3 next year. Nobody.
You act like Coach K having a loaded roster is something new. It's not.
Hope he goes to SLU. Can't stand that dook is now landing everybody they're going after.
Giles is better than Garnett, now Smith is John Wall with a jump shot.
You enjoy hyperbole I take it.
Having just seen Dennis Smith at last EYBL session and being impartial as a "friend" of the board here--I see why UK isn't after Dennis Smith hard. That comment comparing him to John Wall is absurd. In fact to say he's "Wall with a jumpshot" is ridiculous. If anything, Smith looked a bit overwhelmed at EYBL and was often trapped and I thought in matchup with Houston Hoops--De'Aaron Fox was clearly the superior talent. Fox is one I think fits what UK does--and is fastest guard in this class-and it's not close. He is my favorite pg in this class because he can impact the game in so many ways--doesn't need to score to dictate how he plays--which Smith Jr did.
If I were UK--and obviously their staff knows far more then I do, but based on what I've seen this Spring, I'd target a class like: Fox, Monk, Isaac, Azubuike, and then put all the chips in with Josh Jackson and see where you end up--Jackson has late signee type of feel all over his recruitment. I love Harry Giles but don't see UK in this at all as he/Tatum were running to watch each other play/hangout when not playing and Tatum is all Duke. I like Tatum less then most--think he's a great talent but he's talked of at a level he isn't. As UK fans-go watch the game where Charles Matthews team went head to head with Tatum's and Matthews outplayed him--or if it upsets the psycho fanboys who can't handle honesty--at least held his own.
If I were UK--and obviously their staff knows far more then I do, but based on what I've seen this Spring, I'd target a class like: Fox, Monk, Isaac, Azubuike, and then put all the chips in with Josh Jackson and see where you end up--Jackson has late signee type of feel all over his recruitment. I love Harry Giles but don't see UK in this at all as he/Tatum were running to watch each other play/hangout when not playing and Tatum is all Duke. I like Tatum less then most--think he's a great talent but he's talked of at a level he isn't. As UK fans-go watch the game where Charles Matthews team went head to head with Tatum's and Matthews outplayed him--or if it upsets the psycho fanboys who can't handle honesty--at least held his own.
Really appreciate your posts, buddy. Thanks.
How do you feel about Kobi Simmons in regards to Fox? Is one clearly better than the other?
My preseason top 10 with current rosters:
1. UNC
2. Maryland
3. KU
4. UK
5. Duke
6. Michigan St.
7. UVA
8. Oklahoma
9. Iowa St.
10. Nova
Duke and UK will struggle early on, with so many new guys in key roles.
Thornton for Duke will be their only PG and the pressure will be on him. He'll turn out to be great, but might struggle early on. Ingram also has to learn the ropes. Duke is excellent on the wings with Allen, Kennard, Jones, and Ingram, but relatively weak inside with Jeter being young (and no Okafor), Jefferson, Obi (transfer), and the pedestrian Plumlee. Compared to their wings, the bigs are suspect, but still they have some talent and more depth this season.
My Projected Starters/Key Reserves:
Starters
G Thornton
G Allen
G Jones
F Ingram
F Jefferson
Key Reserves
G Kennard
F Jeter
F Obi
F Plumlee
I think coach K will want Jones and Jefferson on the floor a lot with their lack of experience.
I think Ingram plays the 4. K prefers a big shooter/slasher at the 4 (Battier, Singler, Parker, Winslow).
I figure that like most Duke teams they will either get upset in the first game of the tourney or win the title. It seems like there's no in-between for the Devils lately. LOL!
1. UNC
2. Maryland
3. KU
4. UK
5. Duke
6. Michigan St.
7. UVA
8. Oklahoma
9. Iowa St.
10. Nova
Duke and UK will struggle early on, with so many new guys in key roles.
Thornton for Duke will be their only PG and the pressure will be on him. He'll turn out to be great, but might struggle early on. Ingram also has to learn the ropes. Duke is excellent on the wings with Allen, Kennard, Jones, and Ingram, but relatively weak inside with Jeter being young (and no Okafor), Jefferson, Obi (transfer), and the pedestrian Plumlee. Compared to their wings, the bigs are suspect, but still they have some talent and more depth this season.
My Projected Starters/Key Reserves:
Starters
G Thornton
G Allen
G Jones
F Ingram
F Jefferson
Key Reserves
G Kennard
F Jeter
F Obi
F Plumlee
I think coach K will want Jones and Jefferson on the floor a lot with their lack of experience.
I think Ingram plays the 4. K prefers a big shooter/slasher at the 4 (Battier, Singler, Parker, Winslow).
I figure that like most Duke teams they will either get upset in the first game of the tourney or win the title. It seems like there's no in-between for the Devils lately. LOL!
I agree with your overall thesis of Duke being in the driver's seat, but if Ingram or Allen are part of the returners who last another year at Duke, K did something very wrong with both of them.
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