Ament is a perfect fit for Pope’s offense. His defense isn’t elite. I’d take him in a heartbeat
Nate Ament
- Thread starter WildcatUKx
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I'm pretty comfortable with Oweh and Noah at the SF spot next season. But I'm never opposed to bringing in another guy at any position who might be better. And Chandler is another option there (definitely not giving up on him).
That never happened. UK never made an offer to Hurley.
But just suppose for a second it did, that’s not NIL money.
Nor does NIL work at all like it’s discussed here.
UK didn’t offer any player in excess of $2 mil or even $1 mil.
Nor did any other school. That’s not how NIL works either.
There are some “promises” made. But that’s not legally binding. Yet anyway. The Leonard Hamilton lawsuit might change that?
And only a small percentage of NIL is school controlled.
I was present when Mitch told a large donor he would like to have $2 mil for the NIL fund.
The guy asked how much say he would have on where the money was spent. The answer was little to none.
So the guy passed. He said he would still participate in NIL and probably even the $2 mil.
But it was going to be where he wanted it spent.
There are no “offers” for NIL. Certainly no guarantees.
There are promises and a portfolio of how their name, image and likeness will be used.
It works nothing like what’s stated on this board.
You have a lot of people here who think otherwise, that we may have offered Caleb top dollar but he went elsewhere.
Here's what I know: You can't expect to be a top5 program if you're only handing out sub50 in salary. If Kentucky is getting beat out by nearly DOUBLE (in the example that we didnt even offer $1mil to Caleb and UNC and BYU are offering $2mil).. then prepare for more teams with the current makeup: A bunch of lesser P5 program players and some mid major standouts. That doesn't do it for me. Places like Google and Facebook didn't get top software developers by paying the medium in salary. You want top talent, you have to pay for it.
We have to figure out how to offer these kids the same thing that UNC or BYU are offering. I don't know what exactly that means, maybe you do? But im 100% certain that these other schools are offering higher pay days, somehow.
Lewis and JJ are top 25 players, Moreno a top 30 player. Oweh was a high 4 star player, top 35 out of high school. Garrison too. I dont know why you are acting like good players dont transfer also.
Do you still believe Duke's recruiting will fall off once K is no longer the Duke coach?
they are promising them being the man of the team. and I think we have learned this lesson many times , especially with Reed and Rob not getting their fair due because of promises to top 10 players, so lets keep getting the top 25 players like Lewis... I'd say JJ and Moreno too but too many people think we only got them because they are from KY even though all up until the week prior everyone was saying JJ was going to Bama so that had to take some good recruiting still.
It is really sad that any schools have to pay millions for kids to play for any school. I said that when this NIL came out that "they opening a can worms".
agree with Oweh, and as much as I would like to Noah turn into a star, just don't see it. Shooting and hustle is fine, but just to slow on defense, like Perry. UK has got to get some help in that area
you seem like you know how this screwed up mess works, me, I have no clue, other than what I read or hear. If what you say is true, how are some of these kids getting millions & millions of $ at Miami, Texas and other schools. Ohio State just bought a national championship & Indiana a chance at the national championship. Somebody is passing out a lot of $ and UK does not have that kind of $ to throw around.
This has to stop to be honest. Supposedly when Pope came aboard NIL wasn't an issue we had a surplus (I just can't remember what it was). If we are trying to penny pinch well penny pinching isn't going to win you crap in today's world!
Pay Ament the $ he wants there is your top 5 guy, you have a few guys in the 20's, mix in some good portal players, and then bring back some players like we heard already want to come back next season ( Oweh and Kerr as of right now) Then Pope will be ready to go next year and have a great mix of players!
Yeah and I don't like those practices on the surface.. but at some point, we have to remember that we're trying to fill out a talented roster that can compete every year for a title. When it comes to offering NIL pay days, maybe saying the things a recruit wants to hear.. I DO think you have to start playing that game a little bit.
Maybe we don't need the top10 freshman.. I'd make the argument that maybe we're better off just scrapping that entire notion.. BUT, we still need to pay portal transfers.
Kentucky needs to prove, or continue proving, that it's going to pay top dollar to get the talent it needs. And I'm a little suspect on whether or not we are actually doing that.
maybe I am in the minority, but I just don't get the infatuation with Almanor. Yes, he has had a couple of nice shooting games, but he gives that back due to his defense and lack of rebounding. I love shooters, but I just can not stand watching guys that show no effort in rebounding.
I didn’t say good players don’t transfer, I just don’t believe you should pass on a talent like ament if you can get him. Offer him and build around him with the portal.
yes, this team could really use Kerr, but so can next year's
he brings an "attitude" that has been missing since "Cuz" was playing.
Most of the current guys are just to "nice". Thye don't have a mean streak, or killer attitude.
When you get up on a team, and have a chance to bury them, don't just step on their neck, stomp on it, leave no doubt.
This is kind of off subject and I know I am going to sound like the get off my lawn guy, but as a dad who has already put 2 kids through college and have 1 more to go, I have a real problem that guys are now making millions of dollars but the university is still giving them their education free. They can afford tuition with those big NIL deals so take that load and expense from the schools and let them be like any other student and pay for their education. Okay I will get off my soapbox.
I had originally thought that about Noah, but I have to say the kid was moving around pretty good in the Tennessee game. I think Pope regrets giving him no run against Arkansas.
Respect the opinion certainly, but it's apparent that you and I see Noah's potential much differently. At this point it's admittedly still a bit of projection on my part, which may well turn out to be wrong, but the strength, shooting and rebounding I think Noah can provide from the SF spot makes for a really good college SF. If the basketball IQ and drive to hone his skills are there, I think UK has got their starting SF for his Jr. & Sr. year - and we'll be glad that he is.
I agree with everything you stated, except that last sentence. I haven't picked up any indications that make me think UK isn't willing to be more than competitive WHEN IT'S A GOOD VALUE PROPOSITION.
Yeah I just don't see that from Kerr when he's on the court.
He can't take over offensively and is definitely not a stopper.
I'd take the freshman point from Vandy everyday of the week over Kerr.
He has the ability to disrupt the opponent and change the flow of the game.
As far as all around player, I think we're a better team if Kerr's scholly was used for a player like Mayshack from UT or Obaseki from aTm.
We don't need Kerr, Perry, Chandler and Noah all on the roster at the same time.
We need to replace Butler with at least an equal level athlete.
I’d save most of my NIL for The portal just go after proven men over unproven kids
It hasn't i just said that genius. However I'm real glad they do nothing with all that talent.
And you could be right. I guess my problem is that it just isn't clear. And it does seem like we're about to miss out on two guys for kind of suspect reasons: Caleb is choosing sinking ship UNC and Ament is going to Duke who already has 2 PFs in his way. So I can't help but think we maybe didn't make promises, didnt offer as high of NIL or what, didnt push hard for them, etc.. because if you ask me, Kentucky has the better situation for either of these guys .. and unless you see some real character concerns, I think you take either. These are top10 recruits, they've kind of earned the right (in my mind) to ask about touches, if the offense will be run through them, what their role is.
Portal is just as a big gamble as the unproven high school kids in my opinion. We have portal players now that we all thought would be better.
Ament weighs 185 pounds at the most. He is a tall and long 3 man. He will not play PF in college, he is not being recruited to play PF in college, I'm not sure why anyone thinks that is the case.
Boozer has the PF position locked up but there would still be room for Ament to start, although most would rather have a SO Isaiah Evans back rather than a top 5 freshman, but we will see, think they could get Ament and Evans back and let practice decide who starts.
First, I understand my opinion is just that - an opinion. But I’ll be honest, I don’t care if UK ever lands another OAD high schooler. It’s not that I mind UK getting them as long as we have a coach (like I think we do) who is going to play who he thinks gives us the best chance to win. It’s just that I believe that they’re not only not necessary to win a championship, but quite often counter-productive to doing so – especially if overly relied on or allowed to just “play their game.” Again, with Pope I’m not so worried about this (compared to being terrified of it with Calipari). Also, looking at it from a value proposition I don’t see the bang-for-the-buck in a one year situation (if you feel like you can get at least two years out of Wilson or Ament, that’s probably a different proposition). Those who see it as a prestige or “branding” issue are, I think, missing the big picture (winning games and chasing titles).
I look at teams just in the SEC like Auburn and Alabama – teams that are not nearly on the level of UK program wise – and see that they are smart enough and now seemingly have enough gravitas as a program to build with freshmen, including 5-star type freshmen, instead of trying to win with them. Surely UK is not on a level that we have to desperately chase OAD kids with most of our NIL budget trying to catch “lightning in a fruit jar” or get exposure. UK already has exposure and winning ultimately lifts the brand more than recruiting anyway, despite what those raised on the Calipari years and methodology were groomed to think.
In the case of both Wilson and Ament, it seems from everything I’ve read they ended up, or will end up, at the places they always strongly wanted to be at. I suspect UK would have had to substantially overpay for either kid – and that gets back to my thoughts about their value in comparison to the NIL budget (UK’s or anyone else’s). I’m also skeptical that either would have started for Pope next season after he recruits the portal (Calipari yes, but Pope doubtful in my mind).
I do know how it works because I wrote NIL checks.
I know the limits and rules we had to follow.
Are people breaking the rules? You would have to be pretty naive to believe they are not.
But it’s not the big boys. They are under a microscope.
It’s the ones trying to keep up that’s skirting the rules.
More making promises that they can’t or won’t deliver on.
That’s where this thing is going to blow up.
There’s going to be change. No one knows what to do. But everyone wants something done.
While you can’t made “offers” you can lay out a plan. Promises is probably the word?
You can say, “Mr Player, by coming to play here these things will be made available to you. And these things are worth this much $$”
And you can bet your ass those promises will be honored at the blue bloods. They can’t afford to not.
So to call it offers in the real world context you would be correct.
But when a school says “well, things didn’t come together like we planned so you won’t be getting those $$” is where the rubber hits the road.
That’s the Hamilton case in a nutshell. The school is saying it was a promise and we just broke our promise.
The players and their representatives are saying “no, it was a contract”.
Watch that case and you will see where this is going.
Those players are the new Ed O’Bannons taking on the machine.
Yeah I agree with the first paragraph. I don't think we NEED top10 freshman anymore. What we do need, a little more specifically in my mind, is someone on roster who is seen as a 1st round NBA draft pick.. or a couple guys mixed in, maybe a 1st and a 2nd. Right now, our roster I don't think has one guy projected in a top60, and by and large, your Final4 teams usually have a guy or two who has NBA potential.
So while we don't need top10 freshman (who even knows if they are ready to compete these days), we DO need to then focus on landing some of the top transfer portal guys.
And I think we will get there, it's Pope's first year. Our team is already going to be more talented next year and we didn't even start the transfer portal yet. So I feel pretty good where we stand.. I just continue to make the point that there will come times where UK simply needs to shell out some NIL money.. whether it's the #1 recruit or the #10 transfer guy. All of these players will want to get paid. If we can do that, we will be fine.
Thats clearly not true. Butler and Oweh are better than expected. Williams is at what we expected though we did expect a little better defense. Brea is almost what we expected, hes at like 45% shooting instead of 50%. Carr is what we expected before the injury. If you look at last year, Robinson is better than last year so what craziness were people expecting from him in his 5th year?
What were you expecting... everyone thought during the summer that reaching the tournament and winning 1 game was a success, if the players were expected to be better than they are now, wouldnt expectations been a lot higher ?
Cleary you don't understand it either since 90% of what you say here is wrong. I don't get what's so complicated.
Didn't read all this but I'm pretty sure that MItch and the Crafts talked a little cheddar with Hurley before leaving Stoors. Hurley was candidate number 1. As a matter of fact they likely offered to make him the highest paid basketball coach in the history of the game.
