I like Fland too for what he might be as an upperclassman. If you intend to compete for a title I wouldn't want him as my primary PG (I think backup would be fine though), but at the same time I think he's the kind of PG that you could win a title with as he develops, matures and gets wiser in the PG role the way we see so many do on other teams.
McDonalds A-A game events coming up - scrimmage, Jam Fest, girls and boys games. Fland, Quaintance, Knox.
- Thread starter Smashcat
- Start date
We aren’t contributing to anything. None of us play. None of us coach. None of us sign big fat checks.
We’re fans. We watch TV and sometimes buy a hat or some game tickets.
Watch out everyone. Commenting on next year’s class on a message board is leading to the further demise of UK basketball. Everyone log off immediately. You’ve been warned.
Right, it’s disgusting that Larter Knox played well. Real Kentucky fans trash their own players but Cal nut huggers are happy he played well, what a joke.
Just got done watching the McDonald's Scrimmage which was won on Liam McNeely 3pt shot at the buzzer by the East (he's with Boogie Fland/JQ) over the West. I'll keep my takes about everyone else separate but UK wise:
Boogie Fland is everything this program needs right now. Love this guy. Competitive toughness and love how he changes speeds when he plays. Boogie is a fantastic pick and roll guard and knows how to create space and passes with great angles. He's great in transition but he really understands how to play in the Halfcourt. Made space on a step back for a nice jumper, finished through contact from both sides of the hoop and used his left on left side/right on right (sounds like grade school stuff but it matters facing shot blocking-unless you can snake a layup which I've seen him do as well). Good defense and vocal. Could hear him on the broadcast. Interview with him and Corey Alexander focused on his positive talk on the court with teammates as he said "Guys hear enough of what they aren't doing from coaches...I try to keep them up and keep things positive".
Made great decisions--didn't see him make any 3's but he's a good shooter. Soft shot and good rotation. Had really 1 silly deep 3 and was only questionable play I saw from him. When the game was to be decided and you didn't have to rotate players-he was the lone UK commit in and delivered a great pass to McNeely in the left corner with 3 tenths left for game winner. Ball was on left side of hoop baseline underneath and he rifled a pass to right corner for the game winner. Watching him play was the most positive moment I've had as a UK fan the past 3 weeks. LOL
Jayden Quaintance is a "puppy" who is going to be a big dog sooner rather than later. Moves so well for being a big kid and he looks 20 already physically. Great hands. Tremendous actually. Really had a nice post up hoop on initial time on the court. Boogie fed him on left block--gave him angle away from defender and just went by for a powerful dunk. Saw the player other fan mentioned where he got stuffed by the rim--but he was underneath hoop flat footed and went to power up--just didn't get over.
Things I really was impressed with were his ability to grab the ball strong, move his feet defensively, and he had a tough assignment as at one point in 2nd Half of Scrimmage he had to defend Ace Bailey. He did a pretty good job of making Bailey take tough shots or give ball up--one time he defended him well and Bailey missed a fadeaway and other time Bailey hit a deep 3 top of the key--which is fine--can live with that as a guy who has played mainly the 5 spot his young life. Had good help and recover at times-but when he'd challenge a shot on perimeter-he'd forget to get back in the play-which is teachable. He was also far from only player to do this.
The growth areas--when JQ makes a mistake-he tried to "Get back" by scoring. Had a horrible inbounds pass after a West Bucket that was stolen by VJ Edgecombe for a layup. Just a rotten, casual play. So he tried to answer with a mid range jumper and then deep 3 in corner. Both were great form and soft shots--he looks good shooting it but it's immaturity as a player to try and make up for a mistake by scoring.....which he'll learn as he's only 16 yrs old. He's going to be a handful once he learns the game but the tools he has/sign me up. His help/individual defense was better than the bigs on the team this year.
Karter Knox--I've seen a lot of Karter watching OTE Elite Championships and following him over AAU and Team USA. Karter looks the part physically. He handles it well enough and everyone knows I prefer him as a team option and not some guy to play through. He can handle anyone physically right now. He's a tweener-so he's not 6'8 but he's also not an elite athlete or quick-but he does a good job of getting space. He had one really nice fadeaway jumper on the left baseline for a hoop and was fouled but one thing that drives me nuts about him-like PJ Washington--I see Karter yak too many FT's. Saw it in HS, saw it in AAU, OTE Championships......then during scrimmage. I saw PJ Washington cost Team Penny with missed FT's in EYBL, saw him miss FT's for his Prep School at Geico Nationals that cost them a championship, saw him miss FT's at Kentucky in Sweet 16.....that habit doesn't change--it becomes a habit. Too many games where guys miss big FT's--you do all you can to make sure that scenario doesn't play out.
Thing that is driving me nuts with Karter both today in watching and at OTE-he's got awful balance on his jumper right now. Everything is off balance. He's leaning/fading and never just elevates. That needs to be fixed. He had a nice open court move to get to the rim but tricked an easy one too by trying to lay the ball up and if he was a bit taller/more athletic-it should've been a dunk.
Of the UK guys in this scrimmage he was the least impressive.
I'll throw in Ian Jackson was easily the best player in this Scrimmage. He was fantastic. Efficient and making jumpers all over the place. Believe he ended up with 19 pts on 6-8 shooting and 4 3pt hits plus a few FT's. Was running clock scrimmage too.
And one other thing I've noticed--there's a reason that UConn offered Boogie Fland and Billy Richmond. The way they are operate right now with mental toughness and guys who can take on the pressure as big checkmarks for whether they offer/recruit a guy hard or whether they pass is telling. I've loved what I've seen from Boogie and Billy this year in games I've watched. The play hard and with urgency/intensity. Know that may mean nothing to anyone but of the guys who signed with UK-those were the 2 who UConn offered in '24 class. I can see why they liked both a lot and know Billy isn't in this game but see so many want to dump him.....I'd not do that at all. The Knox commitment is going to be the ???? are doing possibility from this class IMO
Boogie Fland is everything this program needs right now. Love this guy. Competitive toughness and love how he changes speeds when he plays. Boogie is a fantastic pick and roll guard and knows how to create space and passes with great angles. He's great in transition but he really understands how to play in the Halfcourt. Made space on a step back for a nice jumper, finished through contact from both sides of the hoop and used his left on left side/right on right (sounds like grade school stuff but it matters facing shot blocking-unless you can snake a layup which I've seen him do as well). Good defense and vocal. Could hear him on the broadcast. Interview with him and Corey Alexander focused on his positive talk on the court with teammates as he said "Guys hear enough of what they aren't doing from coaches...I try to keep them up and keep things positive".
Made great decisions--didn't see him make any 3's but he's a good shooter. Soft shot and good rotation. Had really 1 silly deep 3 and was only questionable play I saw from him. When the game was to be decided and you didn't have to rotate players-he was the lone UK commit in and delivered a great pass to McNeely in the left corner with 3 tenths left for game winner. Ball was on left side of hoop baseline underneath and he rifled a pass to right corner for the game winner. Watching him play was the most positive moment I've had as a UK fan the past 3 weeks. LOL
Jayden Quaintance is a "puppy" who is going to be a big dog sooner rather than later. Moves so well for being a big kid and he looks 20 already physically. Great hands. Tremendous actually. Really had a nice post up hoop on initial time on the court. Boogie fed him on left block--gave him angle away from defender and just went by for a powerful dunk. Saw the player other fan mentioned where he got stuffed by the rim--but he was underneath hoop flat footed and went to power up--just didn't get over.
Things I really was impressed with were his ability to grab the ball strong, move his feet defensively, and he had a tough assignment as at one point in 2nd Half of Scrimmage he had to defend Ace Bailey. He did a pretty good job of making Bailey take tough shots or give ball up--one time he defended him well and Bailey missed a fadeaway and other time Bailey hit a deep 3 top of the key--which is fine--can live with that as a guy who has played mainly the 5 spot his young life. Had good help and recover at times-but when he'd challenge a shot on perimeter-he'd forget to get back in the play-which is teachable. He was also far from only player to do this.
The growth areas--when JQ makes a mistake-he tried to "Get back" by scoring. Had a horrible inbounds pass after a West Bucket that was stolen by VJ Edgecombe for a layup. Just a rotten, casual play. So he tried to answer with a mid range jumper and then deep 3 in corner. Both were great form and soft shots--he looks good shooting it but it's immaturity as a player to try and make up for a mistake by scoring.....which he'll learn as he's only 16 yrs old. He's going to be a handful once he learns the game but the tools he has/sign me up. His help/individual defense was better than the bigs on the team this year.
Karter Knox--I've seen a lot of Karter watching OTE Elite Championships and following him over AAU and Team USA. Karter looks the part physically. He handles it well enough and everyone knows I prefer him as a team option and not some guy to play through. He can handle anyone physically right now. He's a tweener-so he's not 6'8 but he's also not an elite athlete or quick-but he does a good job of getting space. He had one really nice fadeaway jumper on the left baseline for a hoop and was fouled but one thing that drives me nuts about him-like PJ Washington--I see Karter yak too many FT's. Saw it in HS, saw it in AAU, OTE Championships......then during scrimmage. I saw PJ Washington cost Team Penny with missed FT's in EYBL, saw him miss FT's for his Prep School at Geico Nationals that cost them a championship, saw him miss FT's at Kentucky in Sweet 16.....that habit doesn't change--it becomes a habit. Too many games where guys miss big FT's--you do all you can to make sure that scenario doesn't play out.
Thing that is driving me nuts with Karter both today in watching and at OTE-he's got awful balance on his jumper right now. Everything is off balance. He's leaning/fading and never just elevates. That needs to be fixed. He had a nice open court move to get to the rim but tricked an easy one too by trying to lay the ball up and if he was a bit taller/more athletic-it should've been a dunk.
Of the UK guys in this scrimmage he was the least impressive.
I'll throw in Ian Jackson was easily the best player in this Scrimmage. He was fantastic. Efficient and making jumpers all over the place. Believe he ended up with 19 pts on 6-8 shooting and 4 3pt hits plus a few FT's. Was running clock scrimmage too.
And one other thing I've noticed--there's a reason that UConn offered Boogie Fland and Billy Richmond. The way they are operate right now with mental toughness and guys who can take on the pressure as big checkmarks for whether they offer/recruit a guy hard or whether they pass is telling. I've loved what I've seen from Boogie and Billy this year in games I've watched. The play hard and with urgency/intensity. Know that may mean nothing to anyone but of the guys who signed with UK-those were the 2 who UConn offered in '24 class. I can see why they liked both a lot and know Billy isn't in this game but see so many want to dump him.....I'd not do that at all. The Knox commitment is going to be the ???? are doing possibility from this class IMO
Ralph, curious what your thoughts on Liam? Is he worth pursuing given our current abundance of youth or is he good enough to offset that risk?
I see why everyone likes him a lot and he played very well but with how things stack up--you can't take him. They need proven guys-which Biancardi mentioned during the broadcast they plan on adding with the incoming class.
Based on everything I've seen to this point and what the program needs/roster needs I'd rank the incoming class as:
1. Fland
2. Richmond
3. Quaintance
4. Somto
5. Perry--but his attribute is going to be needed so he will get run
6. Knox
If you didn't have Knox--McNeely is a no brainer. Biancardi mentioned Kansas, UConn, Michigan, Houston, and Kentucky as schools he's talking with which has been mentioned by others too in their recaps--but he's very good just don't think he's 6'8--think he's another 6'6 type of guy-which team needs to get longer too. Now what Kentucky does? Who knows? But I'd expect McNeely to end up elsewhere. He's going to be very good too. Knows how to play with/without the ball.
My expectations were 8, 5 and 1-2 blocks per game. For a consensus HS All American/5 star/projected lottery pick. At Kentucky. Which I thought was pretty tame.
The kid is a 7’1 beanpole with average athleticism and gets manhandled on the block. Has an okay shooting touch. Can he get that much better? Sure. Do I think he will? No.
Don't think the chaos around him helped. It was also self created. He needed to ditch Klutch the 2nd they suggested that "surgery" BS post workout he had at their headquarters prior to his arrival. Look how they did Nick Smith Jr and Dereck Lively by playing those mind **** games with their programs. Draft stock plummeted.
Bradshaw's UNC game was what you'd hope for more often and if not that, the last part of the UF Game in Gainesville where he played with urgency and intensity. I actually liked his minutes against Arkansas in Rupp and in the NCAA game-but he had some foul trouble-but he was playing hard/more how you'd expect.
He picked up the game late for most of these guys-started playing as a Freshman in HS and he's got skill-but he was just so "shut it down" mode after the UNC win....it pissed a lot of people off.
We’ll post your thoughts about the rest of the players in the 2024 class . I’d like to hear them .
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Seems like something Welch can help him with over the summer.
Guys I thought were very impressive in this Scrimmage:
Liam McNeely
Aiden Sherrell--Alabama signee
VJ Edgecombe-Baylor commit
John Bol-knows how to play winning basketball/defense was impressive/high IQ
Ian Jackson--MVP--fantastic game
Donnie Freeman
Flory Bidunga-plays hard but 6'8 post is concerning-constant activity
Ace Bailey
Tre Johnson-had a great spurt in 3rd Quarter (9pts), then kind of faded
Guys I was reading were great that didn't do much in scrimmage
Cooper Flagg
Dylan Harper
Flagg is an athlete and moves so fluidly but he was way off shooting the ball and length near the rim really bothered him--if he wasn't wide open for an easy putback-he didn't score over anyone. He moves fantastically and plays hard, but seeing him against the older guys and with court even-not Montverde swallowing up others--it was interesting. There's still a lot of work that needs to be done seeing he's not 6'10 and he's not an elite shooter. He's a Tyler Hansbrough like guy in that I don't doubt he'll succeed/have great numbers due to his toughness/competitiveness/energy and Cooper is far more athletic than Hansbrough but as a #1 pick in NBA Draft-he's going to have to develop a consistent jumper because NBA length/athleticism will give him fits as a wing player.
Dylan Harper. Didn't finish at the rim. Didn't make jumpers. Didn't make FT's. I mean....I've heard a lot about him and it's always this way when Duke is heavily involved but if he plays anything like he did in this Scrimmage, now that he signed with Rutgers, he'll be dropped below the Top 5. he's strong/thick upper body and can bully ball but he's not elevating over you and speed/length gave him some issues too. Intangibles were being thrown out during the telecast which is usually PR for "I know he's sucking today BUT"......
Derik Queen had numbers but I hate his game for where he's going. He should've chosen Houston where they'd have made sure he'd get in shape. He's got nice skill set but he really really struggles against size/length/athletes. He had a whistle like he was Zach Edey in the scrimmage and he had a few putbacks when guys let him slide in and were unchallenged. But I've never gotten what the hype was and to me this is guy is Derrick Caracter like--not sure many remember him but he was a skilled, thickly built guy who was always ranked high in HS and had great numbers and went to Louisville and never panned out as that type of guy. You can rack up a lot of numbers as a HS guy if you are willing and smart know how to get in right place but eventually each level up brings size/athleticism and below the rim guys have a harder time. This isn't Jokic from Nuggets skill either--and he's massive-Queen is about 6'8/6'9 and he's not as crafty with the ball as say that kid who NC State is playing through now. He's a great HS player and choosing Maryland was not a great selection for him IMO but not my life, so good luck to him.
Some other guys didn't get as many chances to show out with the ball so not fair to judge them in this running clock scrimmage but for all the talk about Harper, Flagg and Queen, watching it play out and how it actually looked were fascinating. Always tell my friends--watch with your eyes-not ears because eyes don't lie but people do. LOL
Should if he will listen. It's really been obvious and speaks to either nobody is telling him this or he's not listening and the latter is a problem where you get that cleared out before you reach campus. If he's not willing to listen, then end this now. I think he's too thick in the upper body too. Needs to lean up a bit up top and change the frame.
Liked how he played at 17U 2 Summers ago but OTE/this Scrimmage highlighted the version of him I'm not a fan of at all.
If Duke loses both Flip and McCain, and they lose some kids to transfer as expected, they may not be half as good as a whole lot of people expect. I'm sure McCain will get a big NIL promise.
Appreciate it . I know the board was down on Ian Jackson especially after he didn’t choose us but I think he is going to be very good . I wish we had landed him . Him and Cadeau will be a tough backcourt next year . Will be interesting to see how it plays out if RJ Davis returns .
I like Flagg but I have always said I’m much higher on AJ Dybantsa(must get for UK). The good thing about Cooper is he can impact a game without scoring much . I’ll hate seeing him in that Duke blue .
Derick Queen has always had a weird build and game to him ever since he hit the scene as a freshman in HS. Back then they were hyping him up as a big PG lol .
What was your thoughts on Jahlil Bethea ?
I've always liked Bethea-and wanted UK to offer but he stunk in that Scrimmage when he tried to facilitate as a PG. He's wired to score and of the guys there thought he looked the most out of shape which is normal-he may not have played for a few weeks. There's been maturity ?'s about him, etc....but he's at a school that will allow him to "let it fly" with Miami Fl and also they have the best player from MN coming in Isaiah Johnson Arigu who surpassed Jackson McAndrew as the top guy in '24 class this year IMO. McAndrew got Mr. Basketball and was great all year but Johnson Arigu is like a smaller Paolo Banchero going to Miami and just does so many things well and is physically ready to play immediately in ACC.
Queen is going to get numbers-but he'll have to because he may give up 25-30 on the other end of the court. I'm not a fan of short post players. His face up game will be depending on his improved conditioning and again, if he chose IU or Houston (where I'd have sent him) I'd be more confident of that aspect improving. Now he's around "home" and knows where to eat and can eat Mom's home cooking. I also think Willard is a garbage coach.
Cooper is fantastic athletically. He moves so easily. But this isn't Zion Williamson dominance from Day 1 athleticism or game. This is more normal.
AJ Dybantsa......agree. Now here's the thing we're going to see a lot change based on how UK operates so the good thing for them with the new recruiting Calendar--the staff can focus on the '25 roster building and Portal as the Live Evaluations don't start until Mid May at the NCAA Certified stuff. The actual Live Periods we're used to...don't heat up until June. There will be 18 Live Period Days from June 11-12 NBA Top 100 Camp and then June 21-23 and June 28-30th and then July has 10 Days of Evaluations with July 11-14th, 19th-21st and 23-25th. So nothing in April for AAU this year. Saw that UConn just offered him in March...and that one makes me nervous seeing where their program is, where he's from and where UK/Cal are right now.
Still pissed off they didn't get Ian Jackson. Then again I'd have rather had him over DJ Wagner as you remember and called that before DJ announced for UK. Just think his game is more transferrable. I like Drake Powell going to UNC as well but he didn't get a lot of opportunities to impact the game. Boogie and Ian Jackson would've been great together.
Is RJ Davis really considering another year at Carolina? Good lord.
Basketball aside . I’ve met and talked to Bradshaw and was thoroughly impressed. He was a great teammate with a great attitude. I love the kid .
Man AJ possibly to Uconn scares me . I saw the RJ Davis thing on Twitter but I’m not sure if he’s actually considering it .
Ian game translates a lot better than DJ but hell at this point looks like a lot guards will especially if he returns and Cal forces him
Back at pg smh
Let's put aside recruiting right now--it's really this simple. If DJ Wagner returns and is allowed to play PG for the 2nd yr in a row--you fire Cal on the spot. Boogie Fland at the age of 17 right now would've been the best PG on the '24 team. The dream scenario for Kentucky fans is to have Fland and Reed play together because they put winning ahead of everything. I don't care what a coach/player say-when your 3rd best guard starts every time he plays, and he is being used at the PG spot which he didn't even play in HS or AAU, that's winning basketball or reality.
Cal talks correctly but no longer can say honestly about "I tell guys No Boys Allowed" about the NBA yet he placates players/their camps and Edwards/DJ/Mitchell's re-emergence albeit at PF spot which was asinine. Edwards was best at Small Ball PF spot-he had Mitchell out there with myriad of Bigs. DJ is NOT a PG. We know that. Mitchell needed to be a Small Ball 5 which was when he was effective. Didn't happen.
At some point this will hurt them in recruiting as much as it's hurting them on the court.
Of course he can, the problem is he’s already looking to transfer. That’s the problem we have. We never get even a solid version of the player we recruit. If they aren’t ready day 1, we rarely ever see the payoff.
Used to love the McDonald’s game. Now I could care less because that’s not what’s winning you games anymore.
The actual event has taken the lead of the NBA All-Star game now as well. It's pretty much a joke.
All these posts about getting older and no freshman need to start or play a lot are ridiculous. Boogie Fland is probably already better than any transfer you bring in
Was Reed good this year? He was a freshman
Was Reed good this year? He was a freshman
I've been a homer for Boogie since seeing him on that Gold medal winning team with Team USA 2 Summers ago. I just wish he'd have been able to play with Ian Jackson--but we can't get what we want all the time. LOL
Guy is a winner. He knows how to play and competes. He will be the best pure PG Kentucky has had since SGA. Just need to get some talent around him be it Reed returning or Portal. I think the worst duo would be DJ Wagner returning with him. DJ is too ball dominant and not as good controlling a game. Boogie knows when to attack/push and when to play in the halfcourt. A Boogie-Reed backcourt would be sick. Remember Boogie is just 17 yrs old now too. He's a '25 class member age wise.
Jayden Quaintance is the guy that I laughed how the telecast ignored seeing the things he did in the game at 16 yrs old. His movement and hands are elite. Seeing him run/stay in front of Ace Bailey is amazing for someone that young and big. Was nice to see him get in late and have that big fake drop off and attack to the rim for a layup. Also his hands are so great he gets deflections/steals on his hedging.
Karter Knox started out great--when he's blending in and jumper is best on catch and shoot. When he tries to take over....things get murky and not a great look. He's not a guy I want playing iso ball on the wing or playing with the dribble. Has to be dribbling to attack or catch and shoot. Now I think he's a PJ Washington clone both good/bad (the missed FT's make me nuts) and if he listens, he'll be a nice fit. But camp needs to stop with 1 and done plan with this guy. He's not that nice/talented.
BTW--I've watched Isaiah Evans and Billy Richmond play in AAU, HS, and head to head. Billy is a better basketball player overall. This forced hype for Evans.....just don't get it other than he's going to an ACC school (Wootten family always sucks up to the ACC) and he didn't belong starting in this game. I'd not have selected him period but to start and act like he's that guy? He wasn't in the Scrimmage either. That's a joke.
Guy is a winner. He knows how to play and competes. He will be the best pure PG Kentucky has had since SGA. Just need to get some talent around him be it Reed returning or Portal. I think the worst duo would be DJ Wagner returning with him. DJ is too ball dominant and not as good controlling a game. Boogie knows when to attack/push and when to play in the halfcourt. A Boogie-Reed backcourt would be sick. Remember Boogie is just 17 yrs old now too. He's a '25 class member age wise.
Jayden Quaintance is the guy that I laughed how the telecast ignored seeing the things he did in the game at 16 yrs old. His movement and hands are elite. Seeing him run/stay in front of Ace Bailey is amazing for someone that young and big. Was nice to see him get in late and have that big fake drop off and attack to the rim for a layup. Also his hands are so great he gets deflections/steals on his hedging.
Karter Knox started out great--when he's blending in and jumper is best on catch and shoot. When he tries to take over....things get murky and not a great look. He's not a guy I want playing iso ball on the wing or playing with the dribble. Has to be dribbling to attack or catch and shoot. Now I think he's a PJ Washington clone both good/bad (the missed FT's make me nuts) and if he listens, he'll be a nice fit. But camp needs to stop with 1 and done plan with this guy. He's not that nice/talented.
BTW--I've watched Isaiah Evans and Billy Richmond play in AAU, HS, and head to head. Billy is a better basketball player overall. This forced hype for Evans.....just don't get it other than he's going to an ACC school (Wootten family always sucks up to the ACC) and he didn't belong starting in this game. I'd not have selected him period but to start and act like he's that guy? He wasn't in the Scrimmage either. That's a joke.
If Sheppard returns, I bet he and Fland will scare Wagner off.
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