Nice to see Ulis get props...
https://www.sny.tv/college-recruiti...abissiere/160507684?tcid=tw_article_160507684
https://www.sny.tv/college-recruiti...abissiere/160507684?tcid=tw_article_160507684
NBA Scout on UK Players
- Thread starter North Carolina Blue Wildcat
- Start date
PPat and Orton went to a speed, strength, and conditioning coach out in California. The results were noticeable the following year. Skal needs to do something similar to gain strength. He has to put on some muscle to be effective.
I'm not sold on Skal being a top 20 pick unless he makes some serious strides. People point to his potential, and how the league drafts on potential, but I'm still unsure what his potential actually is. He has done virtually nothing against high division one talent. How will that translate to the NBA?
Murray could use another year, but will be a first round pick. Unless SL improves dramatically, he may go undrafted. After watching Ulis yesterday against Louisville, I think he's a late first rounder or early second round player. You know my thoughts on Briscoe. He needs another year.
I don't see why anybody would draft Skal with what we've seen so far. There's no question Ulis will be drafted. He was by far the best player on the court yesterday. Briscoe and Murray still have a ways to go but both would be drafted. Briscoe can't shoot the three or make free throws. Murray has trouble handling the ball and makes bad decisions.
If having your family buried under a house in an earth quake isn't enough motivation to bust your ass and work on your game/body then I doubt some quotes will do the job either.
I'm not saying Skal isn't motivated but I am saying that if he isn't these quotes won't change that
I'm not saying Skal isn't motivated but I am saying that if he isn't these quotes won't change that
There's nothing that guy said that isn't true. He's absolutely dead on. "Myth" is a great world to describe Skal. He is miles and miles behind where WCS and Lee were when they came to UK -- and those guys were obviously three-year players. Those guys were mature enough to understand their abilities (and weaknesses), and now WCS is a legitimate NBA player, and Lee will get a serious look.
If Skal is willing to stay three years and bust his rear in the gym, he might play in the NBA some day. But based on what we've heard, that isn't likely.
If Skal is willing to stay three years and bust his rear in the gym, he might play in the NBA some day. But based on what we've heard, that isn't likely.
Good post!!! Some posters just don't get it and think too highly of the KY effect. The KY effect is real and in play however any player is going to have to display some level of talent and Skal this far has not except against vastly inferior and much smaller teams. He has yet to perform to even a subpar level against as this particular scout referred to UOFL's bigs, less than mediocre.
I am rooting for the kid but barring one of the biggest turn around see have seen in awhile it is going to take more than one collegiate season and there certainly is no shame in that.
With Briscoe's injury, Skal's no-show, & Murray doing his best to to lose, wasn't it good to see five returning "misfits" win the biggest game of the year so far?
I trust Cal as well. That's why I trust how he feels about Skal after seeing him not start and only get 10 minutes off the bench yesterday. Cal knows Skal is, unfortunately, a non factor right now.
Skal being a decent kid has absolutely nothing to do with anything.
You do that. I see no way Skal will be a first rounder. He has shown nothing other than the abilities to shoot free throws
I listen to what the gurus say, but I also trust my own eyes. I predict many of our fans will be surprised how many of our current players will be back at Kentucky next year. Jamal Murray is trying to do too much at this point in the season, but his great skills and size will get him drafted in the top half of the 1st round. Some GM may want Isaiah Briscoe in the 2nd round because of his strength, ball handling skills, and defensive tenacity, but his short arms and lack of perimeter scoring will convince most teams to invest their draft choices somewhere else. So Briscoe might or might not be back. Labissiere has a chance to get drafted if he plays better in February, or if a GM from a successful franchise that doesn't need immediate help wants to roll the dice because of his frame and jump shot. But at this point, Labissiere's stock is in free fall. Coming back to Kentucky for 1 more year could mean a lot more money and opportunity eventually. People who think Labissiere is sure to go are kidding themselves. There is a 50-50 chance Labissiere will be back for another year. Tyler Ulis' skills translate well at the college level, but his performance is match-up dependent because of his size. That's why he played poorly against Ohio State. Also, Ulis will have durability problems during an 80 game pro season. Some GM might be intrigued by Ulis' huge heart, but there is a good chance that Ulis will be back at Kentucky for another year. Marcus Lee still has no offensive game at all, and almost no chance of being drafted this year. That could change for Lee in another year, but he must develop more scoring skills before NBA teams will be interested.
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I've defended Skal against the premature write-off.....and while I still think he can be much better by year end, I now doubt that he'll be good enough to leave early. Two things have to happen. First, he just has to get physically stronger. You can coach around that some with technique, stay low, etc, but really he just has to develop strength, and that's not going to happen by March. Second, we have to "Americanize" him. Meaning, make him a little meaner and a lot tougher, develop some attitude. He hasn't played much and what little he has played has been against junior high level comp. he's soft like Euros were soft 30 years ago. That's not going to happen by March, either....
The problem with people on here predicting so and so and this guy and this player will probably end up coming back is...why come back if you are not gonna start? I don't see any of these guys starting next year with one xception over any of the guys we have coming in over paper in a much stronger 2016 recruiting class.
Ulis would be the lone exception as we could go 3 guards with Ulis, Fox and Monk. Skal sure as hell won't start over the frosh coming in, and if he is good enough to start over them by season's end, he won't be back at UK as he will be drafted in the NBA draft.
Ulis would be the lone exception as we could go 3 guards with Ulis, Fox and Monk. Skal sure as hell won't start over the frosh coming in, and if he is good enough to start over them by season's end, he won't be back at UK as he will be drafted in the NBA draft.
The trainer you're referring to is Frank Matrisciano a.k.a "Hell's Trainer". He is Josh Pastner's brother in law and was S&C coach at Memphis from 2011 till last year when he was fired. I first remember seeing a documentary with Blake Griffin' training with him in San Francisco.
Calipari responds.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again: Every one of my players is on their own timetable. Kids grow at their own pace and shouldn't be judged by anyone else's timetable. We're here to serve these kids and help them reach their dreams. Ultimately they've got to do it, but if anyone wants to attack one of my kids personally, they won't be welcomed here. Evaluating guys is one thing, personal attacks are another. These are young kids and they deserve better."
"I've said it before and I'll say it again: Every one of my players is on their own timetable. Kids grow at their own pace and shouldn't be judged by anyone else's timetable. We're here to serve these kids and help them reach their dreams. Ultimately they've got to do it, but if anyone wants to attack one of my kids personally, they won't be welcomed here. Evaluating guys is one thing, personal attacks are another. These are young kids and they deserve better."
The good thing for Skal is it's still not too late to make a big impression. He has time to work on his strength, hands and feet to become a lottery pick. However, the clock is ticking. He must find confidence in the things he does well and go from there.
The NBA GM's want to see progress, just like Cal. He has got to have a more aggressive mind set to get better.
The NBA GM's want to see progress, just like Cal. He has got to have a more aggressive mind set to get better.
If Skal does return to UK next year he's still doomed to see infrequent minutes off the bench. He's not going to start or play much over Bam, Gabriel, or Jones. That is unless he makes some huge strides in strength and improvement. Heck, Bam's likely to hospitalize him the first day of practice with a ferocious dunk.
If Skal isn't scoring then he's not contributing anything at this point. He doesn't rebound or rim protect particularly well. I wish he would give Cal a reason to play him, but if he's not going to score then there isn't anything he gives the team.
Hard to argue with the Skal review but this is probably one of the same jackasses who had Murray going top 5 after the OSU game. These guy's opinions change like the wind.
Murray will put it together by year's end and be lottery. Too strong, too talented and too determined. It has clicked for him in games/moments and the light will come on sooner than later - which is why UK will be a force come March.
Skal - he's been bad all year. Not strong enough, not confident, plays timid and does not have any nastiness to his game. There may be too much for Cal to fix in a few months. It may not be bad for him to stay another year, get stronger, work on his game and come back with a chip on his shoulder.
Murray will put it together by year's end and be lottery. Too strong, too talented and too determined. It has clicked for him in games/moments and the light will come on sooner than later - which is why UK will be a force come March.
Skal - he's been bad all year. Not strong enough, not confident, plays timid and does not have any nastiness to his game. There may be too much for Cal to fix in a few months. It may not be bad for him to stay another year, get stronger, work on his game and come back with a chip on his shoulder.
Skal should take the WCS route....Skal has more skill than WCS just not enough heart and butt. Stay 3 years Skal, give your best in practice next year against the best. It could make you millions.
Unfortunately, I don't think strength is the only issue with Skal. He looks incredibly uncomfortable in the post, almost like every time he catches it he's tangled up in barbed wire. And while he's got athleticism, he doesn't have quick reaction time at all.
Sorry, but it appears that Kentucky is a far better team with Skal on the bench. Any NBA team dumb enough to spend millions of dollars on a player with his current game skills deserves what they get. If he stays he will not start and may not even be a quality practice player for the starters. Too weak, too timid, too afraid of contact, and not willing to put in the effort to get stronger so he can get rebounds or block shots. Most over-rated player to ever start as a Freshman at UK. Otherwise he seems like a fine young man and I really hope he proves me wrong.
while I agree that Skal is nowhere near ready for the NBA - this scout didn't give a critique as much as he was bashing a kid who has a lot to learn. Yes, as of now SKal is ineffective and his learning curve will be much larger than originally thought. No, he's not ready for the NBA, especially not a lottery pick. The scout went too far, IMO - very unnecessary comments
If you mean after this season, then you're crazy. No way Skal goes in the 1st round if his season continues as is & he leaves after 1 year.
If you mean he might stay here long enough to work his way into that position, then I hope you're right. But he's got a LONG way to go.
Really weird team this year in terms of the draft status thing. The guy who's been our worst player is the one who came in ranked alongside Ben Simmons as one of the top 2 picks in this year's draft. And the guy who's been our best player is the little 5'8" dude who does not have the physical material pro scouts want.
Should be real interesting to see how this plays out come draft day this year. If there's justice in the world, Ulis will rise and Skal will fall. But, based on what I know of how scouts value physical "potential" above actual college performance, I'm not sure that'll actually happen.
Should be real interesting to see how this plays out come draft day this year. If there's justice in the world, Ulis will rise and Skal will fall. But, based on what I know of how scouts value physical "potential" above actual college performance, I'm not sure that'll actually happen.
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One of most ignorant posts in the history of this board. I could give you dozens of NBA players who didn't get good until later in their college careers, and this guy wants to give up on someone after 11 games. What a complete joke of a post.
Biggest question for Skal is whether he'll be mentally ready by the end of the year.
Guys like Liggins, Goodwin, Teague, and Lamb probably could have used another year, but one would be hard pressed to doubt them from a mental approach. All four of them never doubted themselves - at least as far as I could tell from a peripheral level.
Skal is another story. I could see him turning to Cal by April and saying, "I'm not ready yet." 82 games is a lot of physicality going against the most physical players in the universe. If Skal is having a hard time against a guy like Louisville's Spalding, he'd have his lunch money stolen on a nightly basis against virtually everyone in the NBA.
Guys like Liggins, Goodwin, Teague, and Lamb probably could have used another year, but one would be hard pressed to doubt them from a mental approach. All four of them never doubted themselves - at least as far as I could tell from a peripheral level.
Skal is another story. I could see him turning to Cal by April and saying, "I'm not ready yet." 82 games is a lot of physicality going against the most physical players in the universe. If Skal is having a hard time against a guy like Louisville's Spalding, he'd have his lunch money stolen on a nightly basis against virtually everyone in the NBA.
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