Khaman Maluach

[BigKari]

Intriguing big prospect, no doubt, but he’s the #3 ranked recruit?? I do not see it. He is skilled for his size but everything he does is slow slow SLOW. There was nothing I saw in the video that he’d be able to get away with in the SEC (well, maybe against our defense). I hadn’t really been keeping up with his recruitment. Watched a clip and I guess I would describe it as similar to the first time seeing EJ Montgomery on video and thought “Hmm what am I missing here that would indicate this is a top 10 recruit?” Closed the video and was like “well, I’d still rather us have him than Auburn”. Same way I felt about Maluach with Duke obviously, but I knew Cal had already signed 2 bigs and could have one returning, so I didn’t see any room for him and wrote him off to Duke since that’s where everyone was saying he was favored to. So, not a “didn’t want him anyway” recruit, but a guy who barely blipped on my radar in the first place.

 

[$Z71$]

by far the best big and just spent a weekend at UK has picked Duke

Everyone knew this. We have Somto and Quaintance signed the 2nd and 10th ranked Centers. Combine that with returnees who also play the 5 and we had no need for him. Not sure why this was post worthy.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Foot injury near the end of his HS season there’s a chance he redshirts next season or isn’t ready until January. He isn’t going anywhere, who wouldn’t want to rehab with Duke medical?

If he does redshirt that's a different story then. But there's no reason to stay with a team that just recruited over you, and will likely recruit over you again next season.

Also, you can rehab anywhere. Duke isn't the only hospital that knows about foot injuries lol.

 

[gharding07]

Dook? Meh. UK can be plenty good next year if the right people return.

That's the problem, I don't think anyone returns. Maybe Thiero?? Maybe Ugo?

 

[Runnin'Ramel]

UK always gets Duke in the Champions Classic when Duke is LOADED.

Flagg is ridiculously good, folks.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

Those that thought Duke would cease to be Duke when K retired were sorely mistaken...unfortunately.

True. The results won't match the hype.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

Duke is loading up. 5 of the top 18 players already

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That's your favorite team, isn't it? I gotta believe it the way you gush over them and always exit the UK game threads when we start rolling.

 

[bluegrasshickory]

saw cooper play in Maine. hes on a totally different level than any player (dont know much about this other kid) but flagg is the truth. it all depends on who returns for their backcourt but their front court is obscene (but worthless if supported by freshmen). if duke returns foster, proctor and roach, that will be the hands down title favorite. mccain will bounce i think as will mitchell.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

saw cooper play in Maine. hes on a totally different level than any player (dont know much about this other kid) but flagg is the truth. it all depends on who returns for their backcourt but their front court is obscene (but worthless if supported by freshmen). if duke returns foster, proctor and roach, that will be the hands down title favorite. mccain will bounce i think as will mitchell.

Proctor is gone. Does roach have any eligibility left? There's another 5* recruit who wasted away his career at Duke.

 

[BigKari]

saw cooper play in Maine. hes on a totally different level than any player (dont know much about this other kid) but flagg is the truth. it all depends on who returns for their backcourt but their front court is obscene (but worthless if supported by freshmen). if duke returns foster, proctor and roach, that will be the hands down title favorite. mccain will bounce i think as will mitchell.

I think Procter will leave too

 

[BigKari]

Proctor is gone. Does roach have any eligibility left? There's another 5* recruit who wasted away his career at Duke.

Yeah, next year is his Covid year

 

[bluegrasshickory]

Proctor is gone. Does roach have any eligibility left? There's another 5* recruit who wasted away his career at Duke.

roach has another year but not sure he'd come back.

 

[moses1uk]

Everyone knew this. We have Somto and Quaintance signed the 2nd and 10th ranked Centers. Combine that with returnees who also play the 5 and we had no need for him. Not sure why this was post worthy.

So you’re saying Cal was stupid to recruit a future superstar. Wow you’re awesome . Not

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Yeah, next year is his Covid year

So here's the problem for Duke. You can't get #1 classes and still try and hold guys back. If roach and proctor and McCain come back.. the incoming freshman aren't going to get minutes, minutes that they could get almost anywhere else.

Our model works because it's a revolving door. We can take in next year's 5 top100 guys, because we're likely losing that many or more.

I said this a few months ago, If Duke tries to make their guys come back, they will have guys transfer and decommmit. I'm actually not sure they won't get decommits and transfers as is.

 

[Neue Regel]

Proctor is gone. Does roach have any eligibility left? There's another 5* recruit who wasted away his career at Duke.

Roach has tested the waters at least once. Jeremy is a very good College guard, the problem for him is that there are lots of very good college guards all over the Country. He’s not an elite guard and never has been.

 

[bluegrasshickory]

So here's the problem for Duke. You can't get #1 classes and still try and hold guys back. If roach and proctor and McCain come back.. the incoming freshman aren't going to get minutes, minutes that they could get almost anywhere else.

Our model works because it's a revolving door. We can take in next year's 5 top100 guys, because we're likely losing that many or more.

I said this a few months ago, If Duke tries to make their guys come back, they will have guys transfer and decommmit. I'm actually not sure they won't get decommits and transfers as is.

i suspect there will be transfers.

 

[Padsfs07]

So here's the problem for Duke. You can't get #1 classes and still try and hold guys back. If roach and proctor and McCain come back.. the incoming freshman aren't going to get minutes, minutes that they could get almost anywhere else.

Our model works because it's a revolving door. We can take in next year's 5 top100 guys, because we're likely losing that many or more.

I said this a few months ago, If Duke tries to make their guys come back, they will have guys transfer and decommmit. I'm actually not sure they won't get decommits and transfers as is.

They lost Mgbako last year. I’m sure they are fine with that.

If Cyril decommits due to Onyenso or Ivisic, I’m sure we would be fine with that.

 

[The_Ghost_of_Born_and_Bread]

Roach has tested the waters at least once. Jeremy is a very good College guard, the problem for him is that there are lots of very good college guards all over the Country. He’s not an elite guard and never has been.

Agreed. Elite shooter this year but still lacks NBA size and athleticism.

 

[RMorris33]

Nike loves the Dookies

 

[AzubuikeandFitch]

by far the best big and just spent a weekend at UK has picked Duke

I think he had ties to Luol Deng so go figure

 

[yoshukai]

UK always gets Duke in the Champions Classic when Duke is LOADED.

Flagg is ridiculously good, folks.

Teams don’t have to be loaded to beat a Calipari coached team in the Champions Classic anymore though. It’s becoming embarrassing.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

They lost Mgbako last year. I’m sure they are fine with that.

If Cyril decommits due to Onyenso or Ivisic, I’m sure we would be fine with that.

I'm actually surprised we were able to land 3 centers this year, but I think that's more because Bradshaw was the supposed star, Onyenso needed more time to develop and Oscar was leaving, and BigZ was also going to be a project.

I also don't think they are "fine" with a top recruiting leaving.

 

[yoshukai]

So here's the problem for Duke. You can't get #1 classes and still try and hold guys back. If roach and proctor and McCain come back.. the incoming freshman aren't going to get minutes, minutes that they could get almost anywhere else.

Our model works because it's a revolving door. We can take in next year's 5 top100 guys, because we're likely losing that many or more.

I said this a few months ago, If Duke tries to make their guys come back, they will have guys transfer and decommmit. I'm actually not sure they won't get decommits and transfers as is.

I don’t know if you can say “our model works” anymore.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I don’t know if you can say “our model works” anymore.

I figured this response was coming when I made that statement.. but that's not really what I'm debating, whether or not our system works for the results we desire.. just that it works with recruiting heavy freshman star classes because they leave after one year.

 

[yoshukai]

I figured this response was coming when I made that statement.. but that's not really what I'm debating, whether or not our system works for the results we desire.. just that it works with recruiting heavy freshman star classes because they leave after one year.

I agree with that. Hopefully they have major “team turmoil “ chemistry issues. I doubt Sheyer can keep that in check as well as coach K .

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I get it’s a great academic school but I don’t get the appeal of Duke at all. Such terrible weasel-nerd-contrarian vibes from the whole program and fanbase.

Sour grapes but man its such an easy program to hate.

They have the tradition, the campus, the name brand, and they have the academics which makes parents happy.

They have the whole package. They sell their brand well.

 

[yoshukai]

They have the tradition, the campus, the name brand, and they have the academics which makes parents happy.

They have the whole package. They sell their brand well.

Their families being able to live in Million dollar estates for free doesn’t hurt either.

 

[BigKari]

i suspect there will be transfers.

At least one of Sean Stewart or TJ Power will transfer, if not both.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

That's the problem, I don't think anyone returns. Maybe Thiero?? Maybe Ugo?

It sucks that only Sheppard and Dillingham are ready for the NBA, but we'll end up losing Bradshaw, Edwards, Wagner, and Big Z as well.

Calipari Culture of nonexistent 5 star retention.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Their families being able to live in Million dollar estates for free doesn’t hurt either.

All is fair in love, war, and recruiting. We should take a page out of their play book. Heck, they copied us for OAD and also the pro day. We should copy their mansion tactic.

 

[Blueheart32]

Doesnt matter scheyer isnt nearly the coach K is and cant put it together. If they cant do it with flagg he will be on a hot seat in duke they cant lose next years title.

You truly believe that after winning his conference his first year, and if they win Saturday, he wins it again his second year, that his job would be on the line if he doesn't win the National Championship his 3rd year? We all know a title is never a lock no matter how much talent you have, and to say he would be on the hot seat I think is a huge stretch!!

 

[moses1uk]

They have the tradition, the campus, the name brand, and they have the academics which makes parents happy.

They have the whole package. They sell their brand well.

They don’t have the total package that’s a joke. The ACC is going down fast . Half the top teams are begging the SEC to join . No money . It’s not the SEC or the Big10 .

 

[LineSkiCat14]

They don’t have the total package that’s a joke. The ACC is going down fast . Half the top teams are begging the SEC to join . No money . It’s not the SEC or the Big10 .

Biggest thing for UK, and really any school tired of the Duke treatment, is for FSU and Clemson to leave the ACC and cause that conference to collapse. Duke has no projected landing spot at this time. Their football program just isn't worth anything to the other conferences, and they could join the Big East, but football also becomes a problem as those programs don't have Football.

 

[OmahaCats]

He better hope they develop him better than they have Filipowski. He came in as the #1 recruit in the country, has spent 2 years at Duke and still is projected to be no earlier than the mid to late 1st round.

lol Filipowski is real damn good in college

 

[BigKari]

It sucks that only Sheppard and Dillingham are ready for the NBA, but we'll end up losing Bradshaw, Edwards, Wagner, and Big Z as well.

Calipari Culture of nonexistent 5 star retention.

The double edged sword of Cal’s recruiting. They are here in the first place because they are dead set on leaving and this is THE place you go to get basically unlimited resources and exposure in that pursuit. They come here because that gets put first before things like winning and playing for the program. That’s the deal. I understand it, but it’s played out and I’d prefer a program first culture. Lots of memories to cherish from this era, but there’s nothing wrong with closing the book on a great chapter and beginning something new.

 

[true blue1]

He was never coming to UK, it has been duke for awhile. Kentucky has a big opportunity tonight to lock up Peterson

I would love for us to land Peterson and him reclassify. I read if he does reclassify he would have to stay 2 years in college.

 

[true blue1]

Duke is loading up. 5 of the top 18 players already

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It doesn’t look like recruiting has slacked off since Coach K retired.

 

[BigKari]

I would love for us to land Peterson and him reclassify. I read if he does reclassify he would have to stay 2 years in college.

That would give us 2 top prospects that have to stay for 2.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

lol Filipowski is real damn good in college

Debatable if he made the right choice to come back a 2nd year (or whether Duke made the right choice to force his hand lol).

He's now outside the lottery in an already weak draft. You could argue he made no real improvements over this 2nd year, playing in a VERY weak ACC, and that's something the scouts would have wanted to see: what he could do in his 2nd year.

Now, he probably earned a cool few million in NIL, so maybe not a big deal. But I'd say he (or his handlers) made a mistake here.

 

[Catluv]

Foot injury near the end of his HS season there’s a chance he redshirts next season or isn’t ready until January. He isn’t going anywhere, who wouldn’t want to rehab with Duke medical?

Ask Harry Giles how that worked for him??