Perry is a great example of bad strategy and advice from his people in the new reality.

[DrH. Lecter]

How long before McDonalds creates a Portal Classic? A Jordan Brands for Portal Players?

I get it. KY kid Perry grows up wanting to be a Cat. We all hoped for that as we shot hoops in the driveway. He actually had that opportunity that no one would begrudge him. The problem as I see it, with the ability to portal....did he come in on day one actually believing he would see significant time in Year 1? Did he not realize he would be a 3yr project---embracing that role? Apparently not. 1 and done and portalling DOWN essentially loses him a year in order to get PT experience to once again Portal UP.

My advice would have been.....go to a mid-major school Freshman year that you will see significant PT. PLAYING is how you get better. After that year, be honest about how that went. If you need a Year 2 at the lower D1 then suck it up to get a breakthrough Year 2. In year 3 based on your results THEN try to Portal UP back to UK for JR and SR seasons.

We have a system now that the recruiting has shifted to MEN not HS aged boys. Unless you are a Top 20 HS player, day 1 ready, you are just fooling yourself if you think you come in as a Frosh while knowing that MEN are Portalling in above you, taking the PT.

The WORST possible sport and position is NCAA FB. The QB position. A HS SR QB should NEVER go directly to a Major, SEC or B10 etc... You will NOT get on the field and you will NOT get better. Go to a smaller D1 where you have a chance to get PT...then Portal UP as you start to build your resume.

The College JR or SR and the Portal is the where the new "McD Burger Boys" will come from. Become the "Burger Boy" of the Portal. Not from HS.

 

[CRZ4UK]

I don’t understand why you need to play? Go to the school you love. Play ball get a free education. Wow. That’s terrible. lol
A 6 foot slow white guy will never sniff the NBA in a million years. Use basketball to get your degree and have a blast in college.

 

[UKalldayfromVA]

How long before McDonalds creates a Portal Classic? A Jordan Brands for Portal Players?

I get it. KY kid Perry grows up wanting to be a Cat. We all hoped for that as we shot hoops in the driveway. He actually had that opportunity that no one would begrudge him. The problem as I see it, with the ability to portal....did he come in on day one actually believing he would see significant time in Year 1? Did he not realize he would be a 3yr project---embracing that role? Apparently not. 1 and done and portalling DOWN essentially loses him a year in order to get PT experience to once again Portal UP.

My advice would have been.....go to a mid-major school Freshman year that you will see significant PT. PLAYING is how you get better. After that year, be honest about how that went. If you need a Year 2 at the lower D1 then suck it up to get a breakthrough Year 2. In year 3 based on your results THEN try to Portal UP back to UK for JR and SR seasons.

We have a system now that the recruiting has shifted to MEN not HS aged boys. Unless you are a Top 20 HS player, day 1 ready, you are just fooling yourself if you think you come in as a Frosh while knowing that MEN are Portalling in above you, taking the PT.

The WORST possible sport and position is NCAA FB. The QB position. A HS SR QB should NEVER go directly to a Major, SEC or B10 etc... You will NOT get on the field and you will NOT get better. Go to a smaller D1 where you have a chance to get PT...then Portal UP as you start to build your resume.

The College JR or SR and the Portal is the where the new "McD Burger Boys" will come from. Become the "Burger Boy" of the Portal. Not from HS.

Great observation and post!

 

[Chairman Meow]

He swung for the fences. I respect it.

Didn’t work out so now he’s on to Plan B.

Personally, I don’t think there is a need to comment about his camp or family or advisors or his own personal choice to try to make it with the Cats. Who knows what was said to him by Cal by Pope by NIL people etc. Without knowing all the inside information, we would all just be speculating on what his choices came down to.

I’m glad he was here and wish him the best in the future and hope it works out that he can return. But also understand that it may not.

 

[WeWant9]

I’m waiting for the first school to set up their own farm system at a mid major.

 

[billoliver40]

He was the first of his class to sign. He had believed he could make it. Now he gets to go somewhere else. I appreciate him. Great luck ahead!

 

[catlogic15]

You’re making this overly complex. He grew up in Kentucky with the dream to play for UK. Didn’t work out.
I’ll always appreciate the fact he was Pope’s first commitment and got the ball rolling.
Best of luck to Mr. Perry.

 

[LmdCat]

I don’t understand why you need to play? Go to the school you love. Play ball get a free education. Wow. That’s terrible. lol
A 6 foot slow white guy will never sniff the NBA in a million years. Use basketball to get your degree and have a blast in college.

If you would be satisfied just riding the pine for a free education, you must not be much into playing sports.

 

[LmdCat]

He was the first of his class to sign. He had believed he could make it. Now he gets to go somewhere else. I appreciate him. Great luck ahead!

The kid has shown why he might be back at UK a couple of years from now. He is certainly smart enough. He demonstrated that by leaving. He has a chance to go somewhere that will provide him plenty of court time to develop, body, game and confidence to a level that might make him capable of earning significant playing time at UK one day if he chooses to come back. I am sure that Pope has a lot of respect for Perry and his decision.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

You’re making this overly complex. He grew up in Kentucky with the dream to play for UK. Didn’t work out.
I’ll always appreciate the fact he was Pope’s first commitment and got the ball rolling.
Best of luck to Mr. Perry.

I actually said this.

I get it. KY kid Perry grows up wanting to be a Cat. We all hoped for that as we shot hoops in the driveway. He actually had that opportunity that no one would begrudge him.

The fact that he is Portalling out immediately says he also believed he would play. Obviously PLAYING is more important than sitting on the bench developing for year 3 and 4.

Maybe, hopefully, he has worked this out with Pope. Pope tells him to portal out to get REAL playing time that he cannot promise right now ----and then Pope takes him back in a future Portal when he is ready. Risk? yea. The NCAA ending the system.

 

[crxohio]

Perry toward the end of season. Had a deamnor that seemed down and out. Going from dominate high school career to kentucky expectations. Got in his head.

 

[Bluegrassking]

I don’t understand why you need to play? Go to the school you love. Play ball get a free education. Wow. That’s terrible. lol
A 6 foot slow white guy will never sniff the NBA in a million years. Use basketball to get your degree and have a blast in college.

You probably struggle to get to this point with Perry's profile without loving to play and being very competitive.

Also, playing can yield a lot of money. With a little wind at his back he can make a million easy and maybe much, much more.

Pretty standard dudes can command a million or close.

A degree is awesome but most of them don't promise huge money.

My head is bald and my beard is grey and I haven't totalled much over a million (and that may be a little optimistic considering years of sub 35k) will be doing great to ever see 2 in earnings.

 

[Baller Val]

I don’t understand why you need to play? Go to the school you love. Play ball get a free education. Wow. That’s terrible. lol
A 6 foot slow white guy will never sniff the NBA in a million years. Use basketball to get your degree and have a blast in college.

He didn't ware that goal out in the barn to sit the pine. Boy wants to shoot. I'd like to see him play as long as it's not Ole Miss.

 

[Pelosigalore]

Did he chase playing time or money going to the portal?

 

[ukcatz12]

I don’t understand why you need to play?

You really can't understand why kids who love playing basketball want to actually play basketball?

 

[CatFanInIlliniLand]

He’s going to go somewhere like Drake, get his confidence back, and we might see him at Uk again for his SR year

 

[YardCat]

He would have made enough money just doing commercials to make a good living. I understand that he doesn’t want to be the victory cigar but I think a lot of us would have traded places to sit on the bench for the Cats for 4 years.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Seems simple to me. He was a UK fan growing up and probably thought he would play more. Pope is gonna recruit over him all 4 years (as he should as its about final fours and titled here, not pandering to the fans about local high school recruits) so I think perry made a good call if he wants to play more.

 

[Uncle Adolph]

Good luck to him.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Didn’t the same thing happen to Dontaie Allen before this whole portal/NIL thing started?

Joe B. Hall left UK in 1948, so he could play and not sit the bench.

Can’t blame it on a new reality when the reality is, it’s been this way since the beginning.

 

[BlueBloodedCat96]

Obviously this isn’t how college athletes think because they want to be on the court but to me living first class as a Kentucky player getting all the finest everything you can think of while never really being expected to do much would be the life for me 😂. Sure I could go start at Murray state or somewhere but I’ll ride the pine to experience the bluest of blue bloods in college basketball. All the players you will get to compete against in practice that will be future pros and all the tournament games that will be played and a chance to win a title any given year. Man I’m not giving that experience up to get some clock at a small school. I’ll stay riding private jets at UK😂. But I get it kinda..

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

Why do people keep saying Perry's freshman year here "didn't work out". He started 2 games and played a fair amount early. Name an another SEC team he would have started ANY games for last year. Perry is leaving because he doesn't have enough faith in hi.self or grit to FIGHT for a role here. That's fine we don't need him, if that is his attitude.

 

[Coach Marrow]

Playing at Kentucky for one year will still benefit him in his career eventually if he lives in Kentucky.

 

[kb22stang]

You might be right about the era, but Perry wasn't going to play here under any coach from Pitino forward (maybe BG). He's not a shooter, he can't defend, and he's not a penetrator. I'm mean sure, he's light years better than I've ever considered being, but this comp is just too good for him. I know he's a Kentucky kid and everyone wants to say nice things, but reality matters.

 

[kyboy1998]

If I was him I’d stayed and hit a few big shots, like mills, as an upperclassman and then did radio and car commercials etc.

To each their own though.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

I dont know what his expectations are..he's not a high level program player. He could work, get better and play more by yr 3 or 4. He played quite a bit here as a freshman (due to injuries, i know) but what did he think?

Noah has the bigger upside so I'm really glad we kept him out of the two, but other than being a KY kid we wouldn't think much about him leaving. Best of luck

 

[cmallory4121]

I don’t understand why you need to play? Go to the school you love. Play ball get a free education. Wow. That’s terrible. lol
A 6 foot slow white guy will never sniff the NBA in a million years. Use basketball to get your degree and have a blast in college.

And get paid a couple hundred thousand

 

[ccukuk]

I don’t understand why you need to play? Go to the school you love. Play ball get a free education. Wow. That’s terrible. lol
A 6 foot slow white guy will never sniff the NBA in a million years. Use basketball to get your degree and have a blast in college.

Those players still have had people telling them how great they are and they’ve very likely always been the best player on their team. I guarantee you Perry still has pro dreams.

 

[TucsonCat]

My guess is the money was too much to turn down now. The portal is closing and some school is desperate for him and offering money he can't turn down.

He probably stumbled on the right strategy for him. Came to Kentucky. Made commercial money, which was fun but not enough to chain him here. Built up his brand as a Kentucky player. Not a superstar, but he wasn't Carlos Toomer either. Now someone wants him and giving him money.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Not all that upset, because I'm not sure there's much of a place for him with what we're seeing Pope can do in building a team.

The Kentucky-kid stuff is more for feelings and fans who might have seen these kids play a lot.. which is neat. But IMO if we wouldn't take the 40th ranked player that's from Mississippi, then we shouldn't be taking one from Kentucky. Get the best players available, regardless of the state... unless 1. They are truly legit KY players or 2. They honestly don't mind just being apart of the team. Tyler Perry was neither. And with Mark Pope, recruiting and NIL offerings, this should prove to be a cautionary tale of trying to specifically add in-state guys. It's not a hot bed for basketball talent, we have to realize that.

 

[trueblujr2]

How long before McDonalds creates a Portal Classic? A Jordan Brands for Portal Players?

I get it. KY kid Perry grows up wanting to be a Cat. We all hoped for that as we shot hoops in the driveway. He actually had that opportunity that no one would begrudge him. The problem as I see it, with the ability to portal....did he come in on day one actually believing he would see significant time in Year 1? Did he not realize he would be a 3yr project---embracing that role? Apparently not. 1 and done and portalling DOWN essentially loses him a year in order to get PT experience to once again Portal UP.

My advice would have been.....go to a mid-major school Freshman year that you will see significant PT. PLAYING is how you get better. After that year, be honest about how that went. If you need a Year 2 at the lower D1 then suck it up to get a breakthrough Year 2. In year 3 based on your results THEN try to Portal UP back to UK for JR and SR seasons.

We have a system now that the recruiting has shifted to MEN not HS aged boys. Unless you are a Top 20 HS player, day 1 ready, you are just fooling yourself if you think you come in as a Frosh while knowing that MEN are Portalling in above you, taking the PT.

The WORST possible sport and position is NCAA FB. The QB position. A HS SR QB should NEVER go directly to a Major, SEC or B10 etc... You will NOT get on the field and you will NOT get better. Go to a smaller D1 where you have a chance to get PT...then Portal UP as you start to build your resume.

The College JR or SR and the Portal is the where the new "McD Burger Boys" will come from. Become the "Burger Boy" of the Portal. Not from HS.

Only thing I would say about Perry in regards to your post is that yeah, at the time he reaffirmed his commitment, he might have actually thought he’d get an opportunity simply because he was the only player we had at the time. He might have underestimated the group of players Pope would be able to bring in on a short timetable. Other than that, I think fewer kids are going to be getting those kinds of opportunities going forward. More and more really good HS players are going to be forced to the mid-majors ranks to prove themselves before the P4 schools come calling.

 

[Ella Delby]

Perry should do whatever he feels is best for him. It's his life, his adventure and he is ultimately the one who has to love with it. Until we walk a day in Perry's shoes, it's probably not our place to have an opinion on what he should do.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Let me tell you where there is no portal.




PRISON

 

[Coach Marrow]

Let me tell you where there is no portal.




PRISON

Gruel sandwiches are the worst

 

[CRZ4UK]

If you would be satisfied just riding the pine for a free education, you must not be much into playing sports.

That’s the new age mentality. I would be blessed to be on a team that paid my college education. 20 years ago with no shot clock teams played 6 people. Dean Smith 4 corners 5. More than half the team didn’t play and were thrilled to be there. People were different then. Immediate gratification wasnt mandatory. I would have been thrilled.

 

[Wildcats1st]

The dude wants to be wanted not relegated to 12th-13th option. I just don’t understand why he waited but the nil monies being offered seem to be at its peak now. By next season they may have some kind of limit or cap in place. Who knows

 

[storm1507]

He got to play significant minutes for the University of Kentucky Basketball Wildcats. He did good. How many on here can say that?

 

[d2atTech]

How long before McDonalds creates a Portal Classic? A Jordan Brands for Portal Players?

I get it. KY kid Perry grows up wanting to be a Cat. We all hoped for that as we shot hoops in the driveway. He actually had that opportunity that no one would begrudge him. The problem as I see it, with the ability to portal....did he come in on day one actually believing he would see significant time in Year 1? Did he not realize he would be a 3yr project---embracing that role? Apparently not. 1 and done and portalling DOWN essentially loses him a year in order to get PT experience to once again Portal UP.

My advice would have been.....go to a mid-major school Freshman year that you will see significant PT. PLAYING is how you get better. After that year, be honest about how that went. If you need a Year 2 at the lower D1 then suck it up to get a breakthrough Year 2. In year 3 based on your results THEN try to Portal UP back to UK for JR and SR seasons.

We have a system now that the recruiting has shifted to MEN not HS aged boys. Unless you are a Top 20 HS player, day 1 ready, you are just fooling yourself if you think you come in as a Frosh while knowing that MEN are Portalling in above you, taking the PT.

The WORST possible sport and position is NCAA FB. The QB position. A HS SR QB should NEVER go directly to a Major, SEC or B10 etc... You will NOT get on the field and you will NOT get better. Go to a smaller D1 where you have a chance to get PT...then Portal UP as you start to build your resume.

The College JR or SR and the Portal is the where the new "McD Burger Boys" will come from. Become the "Burger Boy" of the Portal. Not from HS.

I think Burger King should sponser a "Portal Kings" game.

As far as Perry goes, if he ultimately achieves his dream and makes it to the NBA, UK and Pope played its role in getting him there. I wonder (for myself) if Cal's advice for Perry to go elsewhere was the right thing for him after all.

 

[BlueBloodedCat96]

The dude wants to be wanted not relegated to 12th-13th option. I just don’t understand why he waited but the nil monies being offered seem to be at its peak now. By next season they may have some kind of limit or cap in place. Who knows

If the reports were even close to accurate in what Perry was getting paid I don’t see him getting anywhere close to that at any other school. Plus the extra money from being a Kentucky boy doing autographs and stuff.

 

[NerlensCat]

I don’t understand why you need to play? Go to the school you love. Play ball get a free education. Wow. That’s terrible. lol
A 6 foot slow white guy will never sniff the NBA in a million years. Use basketball to get your degree and have a blast in college.

You obviously have never played competitive sports. Competitors want to play, PERIOD! I would not want them on the team, if they were just there to set on the bench.

Some people say, he would get all the development he needs practicing. Practicing and playing are 2 completely different development avenues. Playing major minutes, even at a lower level will always develop players faster.

I think he made the right decision for him. I think he will make major strides the next couple of years and may get paid way more than the 13th man at UK.