NBA draft is still part of recruiting

[WildcatsAndBourbon]

I think this is an aspect of Pope and the Portal that isn’t being discussed. Kids want to see that a coach can get a player to the NBA. I feel like this is something that left me wanting from last year’s game coverage…someone from UK needed to get in the ears of the media producers and anchors and get them talking about the possibility of so and so being drafted.

Examples: having Jay Bilas say on air something like, “The Lakers are looking for a locked in shooter in this year’s draft and might roll the dice on Brea late in the second round.” Or Dykes saying, “It’s expected that Oweh will put his name into the draft, if for no other reason than to get feedback from NBA executives.” Even if it doesn’t happen, having things like that said on during coverage will carry weight. I might have heard mention of the NBA two or three times during UK games all year. Unacceptable.

Pope’s staff needs to be working within NBA circles to get fringe player drafted that might have otherwise gone overlooked. Having Williams go 58th, even if he doesn’t survive in the league past a year, would be huge. Cal was so good at getting kids drafted that wouldn’t have been if they had played for most anybody else. Some of those kids carved out nice niche careers.

Lastly, Pope will need his Mashburn. He’ll need that first kid that gets a green room invite.

The money made at the college level now is life changing for sure. The money made in the NBA is kingly and kids want to envision that possibility.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

We didn't have an NBA player on the team this season. No one is going to say we do when we don't.

If Pope recruits to his system we are not going to get the guys that are projected first rounders.

Do you want to win the draft? Or do you want to win games? Of course we all to win both. But it rarely happens. We had a very good team this year. No NBA players on the team. barring injury we are playing this weekend.

It's an NWO.

 

[PopesReignOverCardinals]

We didn't have an NBA player on the team this season. No one is going to say we do when we don't.

If Pope recruits to his system we are not going to get the guys that are projected first rounders.

Do you want to win the draft? Or do you want to win games? Of course we all to win both. But it rarely happens. We had a very good team this year. No NBA players on the team. barring injury we are playing this weekend.

It's an NWO.

We had some guys who will play in the NBA. They may not be stars, but there are a few guys who could absolutely develop into role players on an NBA team.

 

[ukfan1622]

I think this is an aspect of Pope and the Portal that isn’t being discussed. Kids want to see that a coach can get a player to the NBA. I feel like this is something that left me wanting from last year’s game coverage…someone from UK needed to get in the ears of the media producers and anchors and get them talking about the possibility of so and so being drafted.

Examples: having Jay Bilas say on air something like, “The Lakers are looking for a locked in shooter in this year’s draft and might roll the dice on Brea late in the second round.” Or Dykes saying, “It’s expected that Oweh will put his name into the draft, if for no other reason than to get feedback from NBA executives.” Even if it doesn’t happen, having things like that said on during coverage will carry weight. I might have heard mention of the NBA two or three times during UK games all year. Unacceptable.

Pope’s staff needs to be working within NBA circles to get fringe player drafted that might have otherwise gone overlooked. Having Williams go 58th, even if he doesn’t survive in the league past a year, would be huge. Cal was so good at getting kids drafted that wouldn’t have been playing for most anybody else. Some of those kids carved out nice niche careers.

Lastly, Pope will need his Mashburn. He’ll need that first kid that gets a green room invite.

The money made at the college level now is life changing for sure. The money made in the NBA is kingly and kids want to envision that possibility.

One thing I think has changed is the value of a second round pick. Being a high 2nd round pick used to mean the player was gone; now that player can make more than double 2nd round money for one year and maybe get late 1st round money or still get 2nd round money.

 

[KA4Prez]

This isn't really a good take.

Besides Duke, the other Final Four teams have MAYBE 3 players who will get drafted. Kentucky will have more guys drafted than Florida, Auburn and Houston if you count possible RD2 guys.

 

[DraftCat]

They key like always is a junior/senior group of players with a sprinkle of one and done players.

 

[WildcatsAndBourbon]

One thing I think has changed is the value of a second round pick. Being a high 2nd round pick used to mean the player was gone; now that player can make more than double 2nd round money for one year and maybe get late 1st round money or still get 2nd round money.

I suppose that depends on the kid. There will be 2nd rounders that like the college experience and are happy to make “enough,” money and then there will be the guys who won’t be held back (that have that fight and belief that they’ll succeed in the NBA). There will also be the ones who never wanted to be in college to start with or that aren’t showing out in college but are still known by “potential” (Justin Edwards).