Why, not every player is going to make it to the NBA, and right now good college players can make some good money right now.
I keep hearing kids saying that they enjoyed visits at other places, how their coaches promised development, getting them to the NBA, and how they want to play for said coach. What is Pope's sell? Wearing the UK name on the front of the jersey pitch isn't going to get 99% of these recruits.
I think players and their handlers are smart enough to realize that this is the first place Pope has coached at that is expected to produce NBA players. Also, the players are more worried about NIL and winning to worry about how many of his former players went to the NBA. It isn't that going to the NBA isn't important. Players realize today that they are most often on GMs' radar before they ever get to college. Minus a couple of players, Cal had very little to do with his players going to the NBA. For the most part, the NBA didn't hold under performance against Kentucky players because they realized they weren't getting good coaching. Heck, Reed made it to the NBA with all that Cal did to hide him.
Some of them will be undrafted
#3 overall ranking between recruiting HS and the Portal and you people complain lol
Do you realize that Auburn has 2 top 100 HS kids on their roster ? And Florida has …. 0.
Some fans haven't figured out the importance of coaching. Pope took UK further in his first season than Cal in his final six seasons with far less talent. He achieved that feat by good coaching which is something that hasn't been seen around Kentucky for years before Pope arrived.
You do know that you can have both solid recruiting AND coaching, right? You can’t compare everything to the philosophy of the previous coach.
You do realize that it takes time. Pope took the program to the sweet sixteen his first year as coach. So, it does look like he knows what he is doing.
Wow, that’s almost like exactly what I said yesterday. Thank you for stealing my post and passing it off as if it’s your own.
Huh? You must be eating the wrong pudding, Nancy.
As I watch the final 4, I am seeing evidence that not all NBA quality players were considered as such when they first went to college.
I do not disagree with you, likes of broome, clayton were discovered in college career.
You’re right. I’m sure Pope is saying that they will be able to sell used cars after spending four years in Lex. I’m sure that’s exactly what he’s selling them.
Those players weren't discovered; they were developed. Many of Kentucky fans have forgotten about the role coaches should play in developing players. We are too used to getting 5-star players who would have made it to the NBA if they had never stepped foot on UK's campus.
According to the most recent mock draft on NBA.com, here are the projected draft picks for Houston, Auburn and Florida combined:
I look at the role the coach played in developing players. Cal played very little role in developing players. Most of the players coached by Cal who went to the NBA would have gone no matter where they played.
I agree, that’s mostly my point, if you are good enough it will happen without the having a coach that can get me there talk. That’s just a reason they give for going there, because both parties are happy with the decision, in some cases I’m sure it’s true.
I'm taking the OP as total sarcasm. He can't be serious. Nobody, a real UK fan, could have lived through the past 7 or so years and typed that.
That's not in Pope's job description. His job is to recruit the best players that will help him win games for the University of Kentucky. If these players do their part, they will improve their chances of being drafted. UK has the brightest lights on the largest stage in college basketball. Pope just needs to win games, and rest will take care of itself. A narcissist used to coach here and tried doing that mess and nearly destroyed the program.
