Missing Out On Jasper and Moreno

[phyrekat]

My thoughts are I've been telling everyone this, exactly, would happen from here on out for months and have been called every name in the book including someone's forlorn lover to whom I'm not even attracted.

Must really suck to suck.

 

[Fox2monk]

There are now strong rumblings that Kentucky may miss-out on both Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno, with Alabama and UNC now looking like leaders for Jasper and Moreno possibly leaning towards Indiana. What's everyone thoughts on possibly missing out on two, high-profile in-state kids to our rivals? It's very rare that the state of Kentucky produces two top-30 highschool prospects, and even more rare that neither may not be suiting up in Kentucky blue.

EDIT: Just seen the similar post about this topic, however, cannot read the OP's message to due having white font lol.

Looks like we shouldn’t count our chickens before they hatch.

 

[Fox2monk]

Good post.

What I love about Johnson the most (besides his obvious NBA-level talent), is that he allows Pope to appropriate Cal's "UK is guard-university" thing. Johnson becomes the bridge to the next era of Pope selling the same stuff Calipari sold, which is that UK is Guard-U.

Pope can tell elite guard recruits, "Kentucky is still the place to be if you're an aspiring NBA guard. Look what we did with Jasper. Look at what we did with Chandler and (hopefully) Kinney."

Give me transcendent freshmen guards over 18 year old big men any day. We have a great track record with them: Wall, Maxey, SGA, Fox, Knight, Bledsoe, Murray, Wallace, etc.

Agreed, people are over looking the fact that if we land some of these high profile guys early and do well that train will keep rolling. Some don’t want them, but we will have freshman every year and it’s better to sign the best ones possible. Obviously we want the ones who fit our system but high level freshman mixed with great college players and upperclassman is a recipe for success now.

 

[Fox2monk]

View embedded media

He brings the ball up court. ESPN has him as a PG as well as the title of the attached link. kid has awesome handles. He is a PG. I have seen him play PG in HS and AAU. I wasn’t calling you out.

Another thing is that Cliff Hawkins was a PG who couldn’t shoot and he was a damn fine PG. Obviously that is more important than ever but it’s possible to be a great player and not have the best outside shot. I like having lefty Guards and they are harder to guard because so many people are right handed it throws a different look driving to the goal. He’s has serious game.

Look at Dilly, he shot about 30% in AAU. These kids take frankly terrible shots in many AAU games, and particularly hard ones trying to show out. Getting them better instruction, taking better shots, and in a legit system will improve their numbers over time. Plus the amount of practice they will be doing every single day.

 

[dckala2]

I think Pope can recruit at a level similar to Mark Few and that will be plenty.

 

[Rockfly78]

This is dumb. Pope shows up months ago and is instantly supposed to be in first place with these young men at UK? Years of time and established relationships should all be overcome instantly? Right, makes sense to hardly anyone.

Well he got one of them. He needs to get both.

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

Don’t know. Do a little research yourself eh.

Calm down honey. There's a wealth of knowledge on this site and a lot of times people just know. 🤡

 

[ukcatz12]

Looks like we shouldn’t count our chickens before they hatch.

You're telling me....Do you know how many 40-0 tattoos I've needed to get removed?

 

[Fox2monk]

You're telling me....Do you know how many 40-0 tattoos I've needed to get removed?

I would have never done that but 40-0 felt like Destiny. Unfortunately we had the best coach at screwing up games he should win ever.