National analyst: New prediction for Marques Bolden

[preacher_tom]

http://ukrecruiting.bloginky.com/2015/10/31/national-analyst-new-prediction-for-marques-bolden/

Posted by Ben Roberts at 12:18 AM on October 31, 2015


247Sports national analyst Jerry Meyer changed his Crystal Ball prediction for five-star center Marques Bolden from Duke to Kansas on Friday.

Bolden — a 6-foot-10 prospect from Desoto, Texas who is widely considered the No. 1 center in the class of 2016 — has taken official visits to Kentucky, Duke, Kansas and Oklahoma. He’s also taken a recent unofficial visit to Alabama.


Kansas hosted Bolden for its midnight madness event earlier this month and seemingly made a great impression on the star post player. He is one of several frontcourt players that UK is still targeting for 2016.

There is no timetable for Bolden’s college decision, though there is a chance he makes that announcement in time for the early signing period (Nov. 11-18).

 

[jrm693]

Dadgummit

 

[docholiday51]

In other developments,after watching NBA highlights from last night they(recruits) probably all changed their minds again

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Bolden is a "pro already". Right, Bill?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Bolden is a "pro already". Right, Bill?

 

[Hoskins21]

Bolden isn't a big impact player and neither is Allen. I think they're both in college 3 to 4 years.

 

[caneintally]

Seriously doubt that but both are for sure 2 year players. Bolden is an amazing player now but I do think Allen is the better pro prospect and the one we will get . A front court of

SF- Gabriel / Matthews
PF - SKJ / Wynyard/Willis
C- Humphries/Allen

Ain't no joke.

 

[minjo]

K Sera Sera

 

[Cat Ballou]

Bolden and Allen played head-to-head at the Team USA trials and it was pretty much a wash.

I think Bolden has a little more advanced post game now, with Allen perhaps having a bit more upside due to better athleticism.

Either would be a nice addition to any program, and they will probably each be 2-3 year players. I see them as being very similar to Chase Jeter last year, who will be a solid 2-3 year player at Duke. Probably never a star, but a shot at being a role-player on an NBA team some day.

If Bolden ends up at KU and Allen at UK, it will be a very fascinating comparison of Self's big man development skills vs. Cal's, since I think they are so close to being at the same level now. It hope it happens if only for that reason.

 

[wildcatsboston1984]

JErey Meyer changes his picks left and right. Make up your damn mind.

 

[UK_Johnny24]

I don't want Bolden. I hope he goes anywhere else. We already have Humphries and SJK and I guess Wynyard. We need a major, impact big. Not a guy like Bolden. We need Giles, Bam, or Ayton if him reclassifying is a possibility. I swear though man. It wont surprise me a dat gum but if Giles don't pick us in 2wks.

 

[UK_Johnny24]

And I know this is gonna piss some people off and I don't get why, but anyway man. We have Gabriel lined up and that's awesome. But we need another superstar big to pair with him. A Cousins, Davis, Noel, KAT type. I know SKJ is good, but I doubt he'll be top 10. We need Giles, Bam, or Ayton. With what we have Bolden isn't good enough. Now if Giles was already committed her to go along with Gabriel, and we didn't have SKJ then Bolden would be fine to come off the bench. But my hopes are Humphries and SKJ are coming in off the bench next year because we have a couple lottery picks starting.

 

[UK_Johnny24]

I don't want Allen either since again. We already have enough "Not superstar type bigs" Its like Giles, Bam, Ayton or bust.

 

[caneintally]

I don't want Allen either since again. We already have enough "Not superstar type bigs" Its like Giles, Bam, Ayton or bust.

LOL UK fans. Seriously your posts are some of the most ill- informed I have ever read. Allen and Bolden will be high 1st round draft picks and we would be lucky to have either and will have one of them. Also Bam and Giles aren't coming here and Ayton will be a Cat but he already said he will not reclassify . We need one more center and it will be Bolden or Allen and Hopefully Allen as he is a major stud.

 

[caneintally]

I don't want Allen either since again. We already have enough "Not superstar type bigs" Its like Giles, Bam, Ayton or bust.

Also Humphries is a super star next year or did you miss the scouts saying he would be a high first round pick ? Also SKJ and Gabriel will be high 1st round picks .

 

[AzubuikeandFitch]

Allen is not a major stud. While he is a decent big, he also needs to make improvements in several areas to excel at the next level. That's not being a spoiled fan of Cal's recruiting success but the truth. Only way we take a commitment from him is due to the fact all other big man options are no longer available. He would be the best of what's left on the table.
Next season appears to be a front court by committee if we can't land Giles. We will need all of Wynard, Humphries, and Bolden/Allen to be able to provide solid production down low.

 

[Blue Decade]

Bolden isn't a big impact player and neither is Allen. I think they're both in college 3 to 4 years.

That may turn out to be true. We will know in a couple of years. But judging by Calipari's recent known recruiting activities, I think he has a much higher interest in Allen than in Bolden. Looks to me like Calipari wants Giles or Adebayo, with Allen being the backup plan at this point. From the little I have seen, Allen is probably better than a couple of our current bigs.

 

[Blue Decade]

Also Humphries is a super star next year or did you miss the scouts saying he would be a high first round pick ? Also SKJ and Gabriel will be high 1st round picks .

When expectations are unrealistic, disappointments follow. These guys are skilled players who will contribute. But if you think all 3 will be lottery picks next year, you will have to adjust your expectations. SKJ and Gabriel are bean poles who do not have NBA strength and physicality yet. Humphries will be an effective low post scorer for us, but he has a long way to go on the defensive end. The proof of what I am saying is that Calipari is still pushing hard for Giles and Adebayo. If Humphries, SKJ, and Gabriel were going to be lottery picks next year, that wouldn't be necessary. He isn't recruiting Giles for depth.

 

[RondoBaller21]

Allen would play over Wynyard

 

[docholiday51]

Allen would play over Wynyard

Humphries vs Wynyard,who plays there?

 

[Hoskins21]

Allen would play over Wynyard

Maybe. I don't think anyone knows anything about Wynyard other than Cal.

 

[Fitch44]

Wow, some really uneducated fans on here. Wait, you are right. We do need Giles or Bam because any other frontcourt would just not do. I mean look at the frontlines of Cousins/Patterson/Orton/Miller and Lyles/Stein/Towns/Johnson. They won titles because if you have those types of frontlines you are guaranteed a title. Anything less wont work.

 

[UK_Johnny24]

LOL UK fans. Seriously your posts are some of the most ill- informed I have ever read. Allen and Bolden will be high 1st round draft picks and we would be lucky to have either and will have one of them. Also Bam and Giles aren't coming here and Ayton will be a Cat but he already said he will not reclassify . We need one more center and it will be Bolden or Allen and Hopefully Allen as he is a major stud.

Allen and Bolden are good players but we need that superstar to pair with Gabriel. Again like a Davis or KAT type. I hope Humphries will be as good as you think too.

 

[TrustinCal]

Just figured out who Allen reminds me of.

 

[RC_Texas]

Also Humphries is a super star next year or did you miss the scouts saying he would be a high first round pick ? Also SKJ and Gabriel will be high 1st round picks .

Humphries stays for 2016-17. He is too young for the 2016 NBA Draft. Plus Lee might be a rare UK Senior in 2016-17. Sharing minutes with a total of five or six BIGs at UK may not be attractive for Giles, Bolden or Allen.

 

[brianpoe]

Humphries stays for 2016-17. He is too young for the 2016 NBA Draft. Plus Lee might be a rare UK Senior in 2016-17. Sharing minutes with a total of five or six BIGs at UK may not be attractive for Giles, Bolden or Allen.

Giles PT will have nothing to do with any other player on our roster, unless Skal stays.

 

[JJBlue06]

I don't want Allen either since again. We already have enough "Not superstar type bigs" Its like Giles, Bam, Ayton or bust.

You probably didn't want WCS when he committed either.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

I think we'll end up having Lee, Wynyard, SKJ and Humphries........ Add Gabriel and Matthews.... we are golden in the front court.

P.S. And Willis.... almost forgot a Sr in Willis

 

[RC_Texas]

Giles will PT will have nothing to do with any other player on our roster, unless Skal stays.

Not me that you got to convince on that...

 

[brianpoe]

Not me that you got to convince on that...

You really think that is what is holding Giles back?

Of course you really do think that Bread companies can name champions decades later...

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

I wonder how many fans will stop being UK fans once Cal leaves just because they are too spoiled and can't help being p*ssed that Humphries, Wynyard type recruits will be the norm again instead of top 10 super studs every single year.

 

[RC_Texas]

You really think that is what is holding Giles back?

Of course you really do think that Bread companies can name champions decades later...

Yes. Playing time matters to recruits, especially OAD's. And, I am sure the Duke Coaching staff has shown him a UK Roster and let him do the math or did the math with him. Position-less basketball would mean that he is sharing time with five other BIGs.

Not quite sure your point on the Helms...but I am sure it was a witting insult in your mind.

 

[brianpoe]

Yes. Playing time matters to recruits, especially OAD's. And, I am sure the Duke Coaching staff has shown him a UK Roster and let him do the math or did the math with him. Position-less basketball would mean that he is sharing time with five other BIGs.

Not quite sure your point on the Helms...but I am sure it was a witting insult in your mind.

Did that stop KAT and Lyles last year?

Giles is good enough to play over everyone on the roster at the 4 or the 5.

PT will have zero bearing on his decision.

This is not Kansas, where top 10 recruits sit the bench then don't get drafted.

 

[bigbluedon]

Some of these guys don't get that Brian.

 

[UK_Johnny24]

You probably didn't want WCS when he committed either.

Yeah I did. And I loved when Humphries and SKJ committed. But a guy like Wynyard I'm not a fan of considering who all we have in the frontcourt next year. We just really need to add a superstar to go along with Gabriel, Humphries, SKJ, and Wynyard. Hopefully SKJ continues to rise and ends up as a top 10 in the class but IDK. I know he has a lot of potential, but this is Cal and UK. You gotta expect the biggest and baddest. Again though. Maybe SKJ will be that other stud big we're needing. IDK.

 

[brianpoe]

Yeah I did. And I loved when Humphries and SKJ committed. But a guy like Wynyard I'm not a fan of considering who all we have in the frontcourt next year. We just really need to add a superstar to go along with Gabriel, Humphries, SKJ, and Wynyard. Hopefully SKJ continues to rise and ends up as a top 10 in the class but IDK. I know he has a lot of potential, but this is Cal and UK. You gotta expect the biggest and baddest. Again though. Maybe SKJ will be that other stud big we're needing. IDK.

Johnny my boy, there are no ADs or KATs this year.

Who is on your list of Top 5 big man stars this year you would be happy with?

 

[jrpross]

Johnny my boy, there are no ADs or KATs this year.

Who is on your list of Top 5 big man stars this year you would be happy with?

True. Giles and Bam are both 4's. There's not a single truly elite center in this class.

 

[UK_Johnny24]

Johnny my boy, there are no ADs or KATs this year.

Who is on your list of Top 5 big man stars this year you would be happy with?

I think we still have a shot at Giles or Bam actually. I think Giles can be a star in the same mold as those guys. Then there was some talk of Ayton reclassifying. Some say he isn't now, but I'd say its still a very good possibility if we still need a big and Cal talks to him and convinces him. But for top 5 big's as of now? After the first 2 it goes way down hill IMO. Then you start having guys like Bolden, Allen, Leaf, etc. After the first 2 you could put any of those guys in there. So basically I think either Giles or Bam, or Ayton reclassifying. But again maybe SKJ will continue to rise and end up shooting up the rankings with a big senior year. It happens every year so maybe it'll all work out lol. SKJ has a ton of potential IMO. Maybe he ends up being the top 10 superstar big.

 

[UK_Johnny24]

True. Giles and Bam are both 4's. There's not a single truly elite center in this class.

Yeah but a frontcourt of Gabriel and Giles would still be the best and most dominate in the country. No matter if both are true 4's.

 

[brianpoe]

I think we still have a shot at Giles or Bam actually. I think Giles can be a star in the same mold as those guys. Then there was some talk of Ayton reclassifying. Some say he isn't now, but I'd say its still a very good possibility if we still need a big and Cal talks to him and convinces him. But for top 5 big's as of now? After the first 2 it goes way down hill IMO. Then you start having guys like Bolden, Allen, Leaf, etc. After the first 2 you could put any of those guys in there. So basically I think either Giles or Bam, or Ayton reclassifying. But again maybe SKJ will continue to rise and end up shooting up the rankings with a big senior year. It happens every year so maybe it'll all work out lol. SKJ has a ton of potential IMO. Maybe he ends up being the top 10 superstar big.

So... just Giles or Bam? I like those 2 guys very much as well.

But as you can see, there are only 2 and they have both "supposedly" been spoken for, for a very long time.

The next level guys you mention you said you didnt want.

Freaking out over only these 2 guys is being a bit much.