Do you mean Richmond?Also, and I have to be fair here, because I dinged Duke for this.. but it seems to me Billy Preston just got a whole bunch of competition. I never want to turn away recruits, but I cant help but think, what does Preston think about this? What about returning players? What does it mean on the transfer portal?
His brothers was too. They both through misdirection late in recruitment before the announcement and then picked Kentucky. Happy to have him.This was a weird recruitment lol.
Do you mean Richmond?
Got about 23 Dilly OTE cards. Got 14 Cyril OTE cards. Been buying those bad boys up. Also on a off note, I bought 25 Sarr OTE cards cheap and have been making bank on them.
Oops, yes sorry.
And its nothing against Knox, only that he was the last one to commit. I'm not saying I take Richmond over him or anything. Just that I'm not sure this is a huge help when we already have our SF. And, it also makes me wonder what Knox was thinking (or what Knox was offered) when he sees the same position already filled.
Really hope this doesn't turn into another area where we try and force guys into playing time. It's one thing to do it for the #1 recruit in Justin Edwards, it's another thing to do it for what appears to be a multi-year player in Knox.
Me personally, Richmond all day. When I watch Knox I’m just, no. We’ve seen this I’m telling yall. I’m not gonna change course, but want to be wrong.
Better chance that we land Johnson than Peterson, IMHO. Either would be fine. Peterson is better, but I think Johnson is more plausible.This.
Get Peterson and bring back Wagner and Bradshaw.
G - Wagner - Perry
G - Fland - Richmond
G - Peterson - Knox - Burks
F - Bradshaw - Thiero - Burks
C - Quaintance - Onyenso - Cyril
If Wagner comes back, we will see that trio again. That would be cool.He plays more like Freshman year PJ Washington but he's a better 3pt shooter at same stage. I loved how he'd contribute to winning plays on Team USA with DJ Wagner/Boogie Fland back in Summer of '22. Really had a knack for tough rebs/putbacks. If you have him as a part of a collective like him. If he's your best recruit, no. He's not that level of talent/player. But if he stayed 2/3 yrs--he's a Conference POY potential because he can do a lot of things well and will get his avg. My issue with him now-if he gets 20-25 in 1 Half-he'll have around 20-25 at end of game. If he starts out slow-he'll get his 20-25 which is good but little more to this point. He needs to up that to another level where he doesn't settle for "doing his part" and realize it's okay to go off!
If Wagner comes back, we will see that trio again. That would be cool.
Wagner, Fland, Knox, Quaintance, and Bradshaw could be a pretty good starting unit.
Sweet sweet sweet. You holding on Shep? I did 3 breaks hoping for the super and ended up getting 3 breaks full of female players. I really wish they’d knock that sht off. Love the product but damn the girls in it are killing it. I did score a /50 shep auto BF for around 90 bucks so I’m gonna hold it.
I think I’m up to around 10-15 Dilly Ote’s. Stupid good value in Dilly right now. Sounds like you’re hooked in it too lol.
I've been bidding on several, only to see bids get randomly canceled ... shady stuff for eBay. That you as a reseller, or nah?Got about 23 Dilly OTE cards. Got 14 Cyril OTE cards. Been buying those bad boys up. Also on a off note, I bought 25 Sarr OTE cards cheap and have been making bank on them.
I've been bidding on several, only to see bids get randomly canceled ... shady stuff for eBay. That you as a reseller, or nah?
The 39% is good...the 34 won't cut it
Aaron Harrison shot 34% from three as a high school senior, playing against easier opponents.
I'm sure that cut it during his freshman year when he buried four straight tournament opponents with late-game daggers. Knox has the shooting fundamentals to be a high 30% three point shooter. Plus, he won't be a focal point on next year's roster. UK wants Peterson to be their scorer.
I want to see cal grab Hubbard from miss st. He would make him a starWe can add two elite portal guards if Cal loses Wagner and Sheppard to the draft.
Wasn't talking about the shooting with Reed/Perry--talking about what a superior basketball player Reed is to Travis. Perry is a lights out shooter. That carries over.Simply said....Knox can't shoot the ball well. He'll likely be a 30% ish a better scenario in year 1 at college level. And by my defintion...that ain't a guy who can shoot.
We'll see about Boogie.....I'd argue he'll be a Wagner level shooter.
Agreed on Perry...and totally agree you'll likely never see a guy hit 53% 3pt shots like Reed in college (that takes a fair volume of shots and not just totall spot up)
But this team next year looks likes a way step back in replacing Reeves, Shep and Dilly iin all 3 spots. Hell even Edwards is 38% from deep now. Barring a portal shooter.....we'll be bricking our way with Fland, KNox, Richmond, Theiro, etc... playing this many perimeter minutes.
Looks like he weighs 250. Won’t be able to guard a college player.I think Calipari is looking for a do-over for his great Memphis team. He has recruited big guys.
Love your recruiting takes, and this one improves my outlook on next year's class. I'm still leary about shooting, but hearing that Knox is better than advertised and that Boogie's a shot maker sounds promising.Wasn't talking about the shooting with Reed/Perry--talking about what a superior basketball player Reed is to Travis. Perry is a lights out shooter. That carries over.
My take on the '24 class and '25 team is let's see how the roster ends up for just obliterating it. I tend to see Knox in the role he will be placed as a good shooter. If he's having to be the hub of your scoring, this will be rough. If he's able to spot up-he can shoot the ball. He's a very good catch/shoot guy. He's going to surprise the people who think he sucks, and he'll disappoint the fans who think he's a 1 and done elite guy.
Richmond will be a fan favorite. He can do everything on the court and will be the best defensive player the program's had on the ball in some time from wing position. Tough/Athletic and versatile. I think he's shown great improvement as a shooter this year at Camden. Again, he's NOT going to be anything like the guys they have now. I'm fine with that as long as roster supports with shooting.
Boogie Fland gets better each time he plays. He's very young like DJ--but he's a better ball handler and is a natural point guard. He'll be 18 when FR year starts and should be in '25 class but always has played in '24 class. He can catch and shoot or create space for himself and make shots.
Sometimes fans forget these guys are the focal point of their teams and in college they'll be part of the puzzle, not the entire puzzle.
Another aspect, you'll have a guy like Quaintance who is the most talented big man Kentucky has had in some time. Big Z is the most offensively skilled I've seen them have in terms of ability to face/shoot and pass, but Quaintance at his age/skill set is going to be a monster.
What they have room to get is 2/3 more shooters-be it retaining guys or getting them via Portal, Decommitments, Reclass (Peterson/Johnson).
Know everyone laughs at this idea for some reason but Joey Hart is a guy who is an elite shooter. He needs to develop better ball handling and defend on perimeter better but he can shoot and is athletic. If he sticks around he'll have a chance and he can shoot. He was mentioned more than some guys in the Fall as standing out to NBA guys in terms of the Kentucky Combine. More like "Who the **** is that kid?". He signed with a Big 12 program in UCF (people see that and think AAC) and he's not some bum. Guy has potential. Know that's not "cool" to talk about player development or hope for a guy but he has skills that transfer. More about if he can do the things to improve in areas he's been told to work on to compete for minutes.
Reed and Perry are going to make a tremendous combo next year.Better chance that we land Johnson than Peterson, IMHO. Either would be fine. Peterson is better, but I think Johnson is more plausible.
I’m also like that with Sheppard or Wagner returning as well. Rather get Sheppard back, but I would love to see Wagner return.
Really would love to see both return. It could happen, though it’s unlikely.
NIL Rockfly. Justin Edwards has a Puma or New Balance endorsement but Kentucky is a Nike school. Just about being an independent contractor.Someone explain this to me. Knox just signed with adidas and then committed to a Nike school. I thought these kids are obligated to wear Nike for UK. How will that work?
Someone explain this to me. Knox just signed with adidas and then committed to a Nike school. I thought these kids are obligated to wear Nike for UK. How will that work?
Calipari is the coach.Looks like he weighs 250. Won’t be able to guard a college player.
Ah. I don’t realize thatEdwards is signed with New Balance right now, so I'd say just like that.
Boogie is vastly underrated. Love everything about his game/mentality. It's all about winning. My favorite HS clip this year of UK signees was watching him lead his team to a win over Koa Peat's out in AZ. He ran the team, picked spots to take over the game--he got them the lead and then it was see sawing back and forth and he eventually makes game winning assist to an open teammate instead of being the "hero". Then last week has 43 of his team's 60 in an 8 pt win in his school's Playoff win over Christ the King. Knows when to attack/score and when to distribute. Was instant energy and changed the game for Team USA for the better when he got in for the Gold Medal winning team with DJ/Knox, Ian Jackson, Flagg, etc...Love your recruiting takes, and this one improves my outlook on next year's class. I'm still leary about shooting, but hearing that Knox is better than advertised and that Boogie's a shot maker sounds promising.
Everyone expects DJ to leave. Thing is-he's the one guy who if he returned would make most sense seeing he'd be returning to the class he should be in. But we know how things go--just would make so much sense but not expecting that to happen.If Wagner comes back, we will see that trio again. That would be cool.
Wagner, Fland, Knox, Quaintance, and Bradshaw could be a pretty good starting unit.
There is a better chance of pigs flying than Wagner coming back next year.Get Sheppard, Wagner, and Thiero back.
Get a reclassed Jasper Johnson.
We have the Legacy Cats.
Sheppard- parents played at UK.
Wagner- dad played for Cal.
Johnson- dad played football at UK.
Knox- brother played for UK/Cal.
Richmond- dad played for Cal.
Thiero- dad played for Cal.
So now we have two five star guys in Richmond and Knox that Cal will be focusing on getting them to the pro's in one year. I could see Richmond because of how much he is into defense and not hyped to leaving after a year. Knox will probably cause us to not go after an experienced scorer in the portal that will be ready day 1. So our early losses will probably having us chasing a decent seed all season.
I am more concerned about adding an experienced guard with next year's class to replace Reeves. However, a PG might be a better fit for 2024-25 to facilitate the offense. Other than Boogie Fland, as it stands Travis Perry would be the alternative at PG unless some surprise return like Reed happens next year. I don't think you can underestimate how much an experienced guard can help a team in March who has been there before and throughout the struggles in the regular season.So now we have two five star guys in Richmond and Knox that Cal will be focusing on getting them to the pro's in one year. I could see Richmond because of how much he is into defense and not hyped to leaving after a year. Knox will probably cause us to not go after an experienced scorer in the portal that will be ready day 1. So our early losses will probably having us chasing a decent seed all season.
Kind of shocked because every year we are always 'too young' and it takes a player like this most if not all of a season to get good and by then our seeding is way down the line. Thought this year we would get at least two or three really good portal guys and be serious about a championship. If Knox was willing to sit behind an experienced veteran and learn for a year would have no issue with that. But how often does Cal do it that way? The three spot will be the most vital position to pick up a guy that has the whole package to be ready right off. And have to believe we could have gotten at least one great portal guy at that position. Now a bunch of minutes off the board for that type of player to want to come here.
I have no faith in Cal to get experienced veterans over some inexperienced 5 stars. He doesn’t value the program that way.I am more concerned about adding an experienced guard with next year's class to replace Reeves. However, a PG might be a better fit for 2024-25 to facilitate the offense. Other than Boogie Fland, as it stands Travis Perry would be the alternative at PG unless some surprise return like Reed happens next year. I don't think you can underestimate how much an experienced guard can help a team in March who has been there before and throughout the struggles in the regular season.
We need at least, preferably two can't miss portal guys that can shoot and score consistently. The four and five positions right now are question marks with getting consistent scoring from. It is looking more like a typical Cal year of trying to coach up a bunch of freshmen to get them rich. Without at least a couple of older really good transfers we will hear all year how they have families, they are young, it will take time to learn and on and on.I am more concerned about adding an experienced guard with next year's class to replace Reeves. However, a PG might be a better fit for 2024-25 to facilitate the offense. Other than Boogie Fland, as it stands Travis Perry would be the alternative at PG unless some surprise return like Reed happens next year. I don't think you can underestimate how much an experienced guard can help a team in March who has been there before and throughout the struggles in the regular season.
Mays, Travis, Mitchell, Mintz, Sarr, Vargas, Sestina, Reeves and the one I won't mention proves he can if needed to fill out the roster.I have no faith in Cal to get experienced veterans over some inexperienced 5 stars. He doesn’t value the program that way.
OscarMays, Travis, Mitchell, Mintz, Sarr, Vargas, Sestina, Reeves and the one I won't mention proves he can if needed to fill out the roster.
I agree with adding shooting and experience. However, the season has to end first before you know what is out there in the portal to finalize the roster.We need at least, preferably two can't miss portal guys that can shoot and score consistently. The four and five positions right now are question marks with getting consistent scoring from. It is looking more like a typical Cal year of trying to coach up a bunch of freshmen to get them rich. Without at least a couple of older really good transfers we will hear all year how they have families, they are young, it will take time to learn and on and on.
Can't believe the most obvious and impactful slipped my mind. Grady & Toppin too. Mulder, Harrow, Dodson & Fredrick as well, even if they did not do much here. Still puts to rest the notion Calipari won't bring in transfers here to fill out a roster. 16 scholarship transfers.Oscar
Nice on the Sheppard card! I don’t have any of his. They sky rocketed before I could get my claws on them lol
I 100% agree on Dilly cards. Crazy value right now. I want to get up to 30-35. Get them graded before draft and watch them explode. I think he’s going to be a top 5’er.
The Cyril cards are at a steal. Hooked into a auto patch card for $8. Would like to get to around 25 of his.
Also been getting in on the Leaf 1/1 pre-production Boogie Fland cards. Got 5 of them from $19-$30. They are Leaf tho lol