My take on Diallo (New Yorker's perspective)

[CatColumbia]

I've covered the high school scene here in New York for a couple of years and here is my take on the Diallo situation.

During the high school season, his coach made it impossible to interview him. The coach and Diallo were very firm on not commenting on potential college choices and made it impossible to even get near Cheik to interview. During the Jordan practices, Cheik refused to talk to reporters. I get it, the kid was probably exhausted from all the travel.

Here is my take on the three schools:
St. John's: Don't think Slice has as much to do as you think. Slice has a good relationship with the coach, not Cheik. What makes St. John's appealing is that he will get all the PT he wants and they do play in the Garden from time to time. He won't lose much stock by going to St. Johns.

Kansas: Powerhouse, play time and a great coach to play for.

Kentucky: Well, we all know how great UK is. I will say that Cal has a way of getting players of his caliber (in terms of motor) and UK should be in a great position! I still think that Kansas is the toughest opponent and could very well get his pledge.

 

[Cats192]

I've covered the high school scene here in New York for a couple of years and here is my take on the Diallo situation.

During the high school season, his coach made it impossible to interview him. The coach and Diallo were very firm on not commenting on potential college choices and made it impossible to even get near Cheik to interview. During the Jordan practices, Cheik refused to talk to reporters. I get it, the kid was probably exhausted from all the travel.

Here is my take on the three schools:
St. John's: Don't think Slice has as much to do as you think. Slice has a good relationship with the coach, not Cheik. What makes St. John's appealing is that he will get all the PT he wants and they do play in the Garden from time to time. He won't lose much stock by going to St. Johns.

Kansas: Powerhouse, play time and a great coach to play for.

Kentucky: Well, we all know how great UK is. I will say that Cal has a way of getting players of his caliber (in terms of motor) and UK should be in a great position! I still think that Kansas is the toughest opponent and could very well get his pledge.

With all due respect, you didn't really reveal any insight. WHY do you think KU gets him? You said they're a powerhouse and a great coach to play for...but did you think anyone on the board was going to read "Kansas is a good school with a good coach" and realize that it makes sense Diallo gets him?

 

[stoneycat_20]

He needs to look at Alexander's year then rule out KU...Cliff looked to be a can't miss coming into Kansas.Not sure what Bill did to him, but he messed him up...

 

[loublue22]

I feel like we've been spoiled a little with our bigs. We all feel like we need another guy, but prospects look at our roster and see a senior Poythress and a junior Lee (both McD's AAs) and Skal, the possible #1 pick next year. It's hard to convince another elite guy to come and play 20 minutes when he can go elsewhere and play a lot more. I think it's the reason we lost Zimmerman, I hope Cal can convince Diallo to come.

 

[TrustinCal]

Cheick didnt talk to reporters because he was tired? only reason I worry about Kansas is because the spotlight wouldn't be as bright and he might prefer that like Wiggins.

 

[CatColumbia]

With all due respect, you didn't really reveal any insight. WHY do you think KU gets him? You said they're a powerhouse and a great coach to play for...but did you think anyone on the board was going to read "Kansas is a good school with a good coach" and realize that it makes sense Diallo gets him?

Kansas has the playing time, and who cares about Cliff Alexander.. It's like saying "I'm not going to play for Calipari because of Derrick Rose" anyways during the season, a lot of the insiders in the area ASSUMED that Iowa State and Kansas was in the lead. Again, Cheik and company never really talked to the media. I asked people closed to him and they said that the midwest intrigued him. He's a nice but quiet kid and doesn't love to interview. Reminds me of Kidd-Gilchrist in that regard.

 

[CatsNoles]

Why does this board start 10 threads on the same subject every single day?

 

[CatColumbia]

Why does this board start 10 threads on the same subject every single day?

Well at least I'm giving you some insight on the kid himself. Complain on the other worthless threads..

 

[Ghettobird]

If he thinks there is more PT at KU than at UK then he is not looking very close.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

He needs to look at Alexander's year then rule out KU...Cliff looked to be a can't miss coming into Kansas.Not sure what Bill did to him, but he messed him up...

Kansas is Kentucky without the success and without the actually reaching of potential for OAD players within their program. That said, with this insanely whacky recruiting cycle, it would make perfect sense for Diallo to take the illogical path.

 

[CatColumbia]

If he thinks there is more PT at KU than at UK then he is not looking very close.

Who is standing in the way at KU??? do your homework. At Kentucky he will have Poythress, Lee and Skal to start off. All three of those guys are capable of playing 30 minutes.

 

[stoneycat_20]

Kansas has the playing time, and who cares about Cliff Alexander.. It's like saying "I'm not going to play for Calipari because of Derrick Rose" anyways during the season, a lot of the insiders in the area ASSUMED that Iowa State and Kansas was in the lead. Again, Cheik and company never really talked to the media. I asked people closed to him and they said that the midwest intrigued him. He's a nice but quiet kid and doesn't love to interview. Reminds me of Kidd-Gilchrist in that regard.

I would care about Cliff if i was a big that is close to the same player...Didnt work out so well..How is it like Rose? ..Rose had a great year for Cal...lmao....

 

[Ghettobird]

Which is better for Diallo, Kentucky or Kansas?

If I am Calipari I tell Diallo:

1. UK will have Skal/Lee at the center spot
2. UK will start Poythress at the 3 (thank goodness Diallo won't realize Poy can never be a 3 like hundreds of UK fans)
3. UK will have 30+ minutes at the 4 spot awaiting an incredibly active 6-9 kid...someone just like you
4. UK will have 2 of the 6-7 best point guards in the nation that just love feeding the big men inside

1. Kansas will have 3 and 4 year players at the 5 (Traylor and Mickelson)
2. Kansas will have a senior at the 4 spot in Perry Ellis that will play 34+ minutes a game in Self's system
3. Kansas will have 2 players at the 3 in the Ukrainian and Brannon Greene
4. Kansas will have an incoming 5* 3/4 combo forward in Bragg
5. Cliff Alexander incoming was ranked right where Diallo is now. Most had him a top 3 NBA 1st rounder. He barely saw the
floor in big games and he now may have dropped to the 2nd round.

This is an easy question to answer......

I cannot take credit for assimilating this, a friend from another site did. It's like everyone has forgotten Bragg is going to KU.

 

[dorkmeister]

I would love to get him

 

[Ripcord65]

How can anybody say Kansas is a "powerhouse"? We beat 'em by 32 this past season, and they lost in the NCAA round of 32. A "powerhouse" ??? Yeah ... right.

... and the horse you rode in on.

 

[CatColumbia]

How can anybody say Kansas is a "powerhouse"? We beat 'em by 32 this past season, and they lost in the NCAA round of 32. A "powerhouse" ??? Yeah ... right.

... and the horse you rode in on.

Ok you must have been born after 1999. They are in on the top recruits year in and year out for a reason and have won the Big 12 for 12 years in a row. Hell, we haven't accomplished that feat. Show a little respect for other teams.

 

[bluescat92]

Diallo will be a high draft pick regardless of where he goes to school because he has a pro game mentality now with his size and speed. He needs to be on a team that runs the court like our 2012 team. Next year's team will be fast.

 

[CatColumbia]

Which is better for Diallo, Kentucky or Kansas?

If I am Calipari I tell Diallo:

1. UK will have Skal/Lee at the center spot
2. UK will start Poythress at the 3 (thank goodness Diallo won't realize Poy can never be a 3 like hundreds of UK fans)
3. UK will have 30+ minutes at the 4 spot awaiting an incredibly active 6-9 kid...someone just like you
4. UK will have 2 of the 6-7 best point guards in the nation that just love feeding the big men inside

1. Kansas will have 3 and 4 year players at the 5 (Traylor and Mickelson)
2. Kansas will have a senior at the 4 spot in Perry Ellis that will play 34+ minutes a game in Self's system
3. Kansas will have 2 players at the 3 in the Ukrainian and Brannon Greene
4. Kansas will have an incoming 5* 3/4 combo forward in Bragg
5. Cliff Alexander incoming was ranked right where Diallo is now. Most had him a top 3 NBA 1st rounder. He barely saw the
floor in big games and he now may have dropped to the 2nd round.

This is an easy question to answer......

I cannot take credit for assimilating this, a friend from another site did. It's like everyone has forgotten Bragg is going to KU.

Yeah you've made some good points and I do believe that it will be between the two teams. There is no doubt that Cal can develop the One and Done's better than anybody else. I just have a hard time imagining the kid in the limelight like UK. I hope he chooses the Cats but not everybody's personality fits the brand. We shall see.

 

[CatColumbia]

Diallo will be a high draft pick regardless of where he goes to school because he has a pro game mentality now with his size and speed. He needs to be on a team that runs the court like our 2012 team. Next year's team will be fast.

With Diallo, Mulder and Murray, Kentucky will have a great chance to win the championship next year. Maybe a 37-3 type season

 

[Mojocat]

How can anybody say Kansas is a "powerhouse"? We beat 'em by 32 this past season, and they lost in the NCAA round of 32. A "powerhouse" ??? Yeah ... right.

... and the horse you rode in on.

There are 4 elite, super-power programs, and KU is one of them. You can make legit arguments why the kid is better off at UK - but saying Kansas isn't big-time isn't one of them.....

 

[crazyqx83]

He needs to look at Alexander's year then rule out KU...Cliff looked to be a can't miss coming into Kansas.Not sure what Bill did to him, but he messed him up...

Embiid is literally the only big under self that has contributed in any meaningful way and that was largely out of necessity. That kid was supposedly all world and didn't even start until late December. He was drafted high on a flurry of good games against teams with no inside game.

I don't get why high level recruits consider Kansas. I just don't understand. If I'm a 30-75 ranked guy, they might be my top choice but as a 5 star recruit I wouldn't even consider them. Self has destroyed the draft prospects of all but 1 or 2 of them due to his inflexible system and they do nothing outside of the big 12.

 

[Ghettobird]

Yeah you've made some good points and I do believe that it will be between the two teams. There is no doubt that Cal can develop the One and Done's better than anybody else. I just have a hard time imagining the kid in the limelight like UK. I hope he chooses the Cats but not everybody's personality fits the brand. We shall see.

I figured Perry Ellis coming back would make them less attractive, and when Lyles declared and Zimmerman popped fir UNLV make UK more attractive , truthfully IMO UK makes the most sense not only for PT but for mainly securing his NBA future.

 

[crazyqx83]

Well at least I'm giving you some insight on the kid himself. Complain on the other worthless threads..

No you didnt. You provided nothing that couldn't be deduced by simple logic.

 

[crazyqx83]

Ok you must have been born after 1999. They are in on the top recruits year in and year out for a reason and have won the Big 12 for 12 years in a row. Hell, we haven't accomplished that feat. Show a little respect for other teams.

Get out of here, you Kansas hack.

They get a handful of good recruits every 2 years and proceed to destroy their stock by trying to plug them into a system rather than play to their strengths. Self couldn't even figure out to do with maple jordan. There was debate on whether he would even be the top pick EVEN after embiid got injured. Before the season he was being compared to LeBron.

Notice how all Kansas ever does is within the big 13. They suck against ooc oppoenents. Gee... I wonder why that is.

 

[Aike]

Who is standing in the way at KU??? do your homework. At Kentucky he will have Poythress, Lee and Skal to start off. All three of those guys are capable of playing 30 minutes.

Not saying you're a Kansas fan, but your argument sounds like one that a Kansas fan would make.

Self tends to bring freshmen along more slowly. Ellis and Traylor both got significant minutes last year. No reason to expect any different next year. Bragg will be competing for minutes at the four.

Kentucky, as we stand right now, has Skal. Skal will play big minutes. Cal always highlights his best freshmen.

Poythress is coming off of major injury. He's a question mark.

Cal has had a short leash with Lee for a while. We all hope he makes a leap forward, but he isn't in the vicinity of in Diallo's way. I will go so far as to say that if Lee even sniffs the 30 minutes you say he's capable of playing, then we have major issues.

 

[BlueRunner11]

I know I'm bias, but I seriously question the sanity or the intelligence of any serious high profile recruit that would want to go anywhere other than UK, besides maybe Duke (yuck I said it) in this day and age.

 

[caneintally]

With Diallo, Mulder and Murray, Kentucky will have a great chance to win the championship next year. Maybe a 37-3 type season

If we get 2 of the 3 of Diallo , Murray and Mulder we are a 37-3 team IMO we get all 3 and it is more like a 1-2 loss team . There just won't be much talent out there next year IMO.

 

[crazyqx83]

OP is a Kansas fan. He ran to the Kansas board and posted the negative KU responses.

 

[ukfan041]

Give me Diallo, Murray, and Mulder and I will be pumped! Would love to have Newman, just don't see it happening!

 

[lawrencekash]

Logic says he will make a decision and we will move on? Any one who has their panties in a bunch today want to disagree?

 

[AGEE11]

It's obvious he's a Kansas fan. Anyone who bleats on about winning the Little 12 over and over has to be.

Worst "power" conference in America. Just constantly WAY overrated.

 

[CatColumbia]

OP is a Kansas fan. He ran to the Kansas board and posted the negative KU responses.

Mmm no I didn't. Quit making things up

 

[toonces11]

Mmm no I didn't. Quit making things up

Im on the Kansas board and there is no such thread. I guess if you don't straight up bash other teams youre not a true fan. I don't get the "self" ruined alexander comments. Did "cal" ruin Poytress, the harrison twins, and Dakari bc they weren't one and done??? 2 of the 3 stand a great chance of going undrafted---all were super high profile 5 stars.

 

[Ryan Lemonds Diary]

I know the jury is still out on Wiggins but who has played at Kansas under Bill Self that has turned into an NBA All Star? Bill Self has been able to attract the same level of talent as Cal has but has done less with them. Wiggins was only a rookie and may still improve to be an All Star but other than that is the Morris twins the best NBA players that Self has produced or am I forgetting someone?

 

[Contracts & Wildcats]

I'm not sure why, maybe it's the new format of the boards, but there is an influx of rival fan base "main boarders" to this board.

 

[BLUEHILLS]

How can anybody say Kansas is a "powerhouse"? We beat 'em by 32 this past season, and they lost in the NCAA round of 32. A "powerhouse" ??? Yeah ... right.

... and the horse you rode in on.

You sound like Zipp and his "elite program my butt" remark with regard to UK.

Also, I think Alexander's issues were self inflicted. Had nothing to do with Self.

I think his stunt he and his father pulled when he announced for Kansas over Illinois was a bad sign.

 

[westerncat]

It's obvious he's a Kansas fan. Anyone who bleats on about winning the Little 12 over and over has to be.

Worst "power" conference in America. Just constantly WAY overrated.

As i was reading his post the 1st thing that jumped into my mind was "Kansas fan". As you said they all want to talk about winning the Big 12.

 

[wcc31]

Kansas has the playing time, and who cares about Cliff Alexander.. It's like saying "I'm not going to play for Calipari because of Derrick Rose" anyways during the season, a lot of the insiders in the area ASSUMED that Iowa State and Kansas was in the lead. Again, Cheik and company never really talked to the media. I asked people closed to him and they said that the midwest intrigued him. He's a nice but quiet kid and doesn't love to interview. Reminds me of Kidd-Gilchrist in that regard.

Alexander wasn't having some great year that got derailed by the suspension. Self wasn't giving him many minutes at all. And Diallo is a similar player.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

With or without Diallo, we will still be Kentucky. Not worried one way or the other.

 

[Belewbyu]

Who is standing in the way at KU??? do your homework. At Kentucky he will have Poythress, Lee and Skal to start off. All three of those guys are capable of playing 30 minutes.

Still that would leave 30 minutes combined. Pretty thin front line.
Also, wanted to see post on new board HA.