Portal Superstars

[AzubuikeandFitch]

Did Pope make things unnecessarily more difficult by promising a couple of superstars from the portal?

He's given us no reason not to have the utmost faith, but one has to wonder if that comment was said spur of the moment. Problem is BBN is unrelenting and doesn't forget. Expectations were high but that's a bold double down.

Thoughts on how it plays out?

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Did Pope make things unnecessarily more difficult by promising a couple of superstars from the portal?

He's given us no reason not to have the utmost faith, but one has to wonder if that comment was said spur of the moment. Problem is BBN is unrelenting and doesn't forget. Expectations were high but that's a bold double down.

Thoughts on how it plays out?

No because that’s what is needed.

He didn’t say they’d be signed first week of the portal, though. People need to enjoy the ride. If we aren’t good enough next year, he knows it’s on him. He will get it done.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

The real studs in the portal don't need to rush there decision, they have plenty of options and would be foolish not to explore them. It will be a while before this all shakes out

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Could not beat UCLA for Dent even though we are suppose to have all the money we need. What happened to Elijah Freeman? We have the money for a guy like that don't we? Wilkerson is wanting to leave and with plenty of money for this can't miss guy why the talk of ARK if we have plenty of money? We are certainly spending plenty of time on a lot of non superstars. I thought we would get our superstars first and build around them?

 

[kycottontail]

I think we will get a boom tomorrow or tuesday...Just a gut feeling.. I also think it will be a big. Nothing being mentioned and we all know we need several...I am hoping he already has a commitment from one

 

[AshWilliams]

What I saw in these 4 games was not "system basketball."

I saw superstars carrying their teams. Sharing the ball, yes. But studs making plays.

We can't just moneyball a championship. Won't work.

 

[KentuckyMildCats]

Bigger names are still to come for the transfer portal. I'm not gonna freak out unless a month passes and we still just got the Tulane guy.

 

[Coach Marrow]

Could not beat UCLA for Dent even though we are suppose to have all the money we need. What happened to Elijah Freeman? We have the money for a guy like that don't we? Wilkerson is wanted to leave and with plenty of money for this can't miss guy why the talk of ARK if we have plenty of money? We are certainly spending plenty of time on a lot of non superstars. I thought we would get our superstars first and build around them?

I’m not sure if Kam Williams would play the same position as Elyjah Freeman.

I’m also wondering if Demary is being looked at as a combo guard and not the main point guard. I think fans would be more excited about a player like Demary (not sure of our chances with Wilkerson) if a point guard was also brought in with him.

 

[9timeChampion]

Negative babies stiring shit up. Dent is a west coast kid, he was gonna stay west coast.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

No because that’s what is needed.

He didn’t say they’d be signed first week of the portal, though. People need to enjoy the ride. If we aren’t good enough next year, he knows it’s on him. He will get it done.

The portal hasn’t been open a full week and I’m already tired of the same ones having the same silly conversation every time. Let our coaching staff get the team first then make judgments. Some have no patience or couldn’t evaluate talent at all.

 

[TTTblue24]

Is Wilkerson from Arkansas? Why all the buzz for them with him?? Didn’t he see how Davis only got cut loose cause cals boy got injured??? And don’t they 2 freshman coming for basically his position??

 

[track42]

I really think it was a big mistake for him to say that. If we end up only with talent like last season it will really open a can of worms.

 

[track42]

Is Wilkerson from Arkansas? Why all the buzz for them with him?? Didn’t he see how Davis only got but loose cause cals boy got injured??? And don’t they 2 freshman coming for basically his position??

Tyson chicken money buys a lot of things.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

The portal hasn’t been open a full week and I’m already tired of the same ones having the same silly conversation every time. Let our coaching staff get the team first then make judgments. Some have no patience or couldn’t evaluate talent at all.

I’m with you. I completely understand fans feeling that a couple unanswered questions remain about Pope. He has yet to land a Blue Chip top 10 high school player. He has yet to land a consensus top portal class. Fans can debate all day long about how important or unimportant these kind of things really are — and I promise that the conversation won’t offend me. What does irk me is the all-out panic attack, hot take meltdown machine that some fans are addicted to when we are…checks watch…two days past our season ending. I thought the regular season was rough with the freak outs but I can see portal season might bring out the worst in some.

 

[EliteBlue]

I think it’s a matter of perception.

Ppl unfortunately are expecting “portal superstar” to be obvious.

However, Oweh and Butler were portal superstars in hindsight and nobody would have claimed superstar status when they signed.

So…was Pope referencing the latter or the former? Thats where the perception of the statement comes in.

 

[ukcatz12]

If we end up only with talent like last season it will really open a can of worms.

Honestly if we return our guys who still have eligibility, add the freshmen, and have transfers at the talent level of this year I think we'd be just fine next year.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

I think it’s a matter of perception.

Ppl unfortunately are expecting “portal superstar” to be obvious.

However, Oweh and Butler were portal superstars in hindsight and nobody would have claimed superstar status when they signed.

So…was Pope referencing the latter or the former? Thats where the perception of the statement comes in.

As for me, I don’t care about the perception. Championships are won on the court and if he finds superstars that no one else found, it won’t bother me that they weren’t say #4 in the portal rankings. I understand not every fan will see it that way as well.

 

[jrpross]

Could not beat UCLA for Dent even though we are suppose to have all the money we need. What happened to Elijah Freeman? We have the money for a guy like that don't we? Wilkerson is wanting to leave and with plenty of money for this can't miss guy why the talk of ARK if we have plenty of money? We are certainly spending plenty of time on a lot of non superstars. I thought we would get our superstars first and build around them?

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Using 247 sports rankings(not perfect I freely grant you) there are two transfers in the final 4 that were ranked in the top 25. LJ Cryer and Johni Broome. Both of which are 5th year guys and did not make the final 4 the year after transferring.

The biggest portal “superstar” today practically shot his team out of the tournament for the Vols.

We need a few starters yes. People are being way too hung up on the term “superstar”. If you as a college basketball fan that goes to the level of posting on message boards, didn’t know a player before they entered the portal, they aren’t apparently that big of a star.

 

[ukfan1622]

He's been after the top portal players and will get some but Cooper Flagg is not walking through that portal. Pope was clearly using "superstar" the way most of us use "star". There really aren't any real superstars in the portal and there haven't been any in the past either. Also, "star" doesn't necessarily mean for the other team last year but for UK next year.

 

[cornbreadnmilk]

It's clear to me that we need better talent than last year.I like those guys but our defense was bad most of the season and we couldn't rebound to save our lives. That wasn't Pope's fault because he had a late start. But this season he has the time to get the better guys. I don't think that's asking for much.

 

[ukcatz12]

He has yet to land a Blue Chip top 10 high school player.

I don't even know if this is needed. Yeah, Duke is winning this way this year. But Auburn has had one top 5 recruiting class in the last five years. I don't think there's a single blue chip guy on their roster that Pearl actually recruited. Moore and Caldwell are left over from their top 5 class in 2020. But Pettiford was just a four star guard coming out of high school last year.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

I’m with you. I completely understand fans feeling that a couple unanswered questions remain about Pope. He has yet to land a Blue Chip top 10 high school player. He has yet to land a consensus top portal class. Fans can debate all day long about how important or unimportant these kind of things really are — and I promise that the conversation won’t offend me. What does irk me is the all-out panic attack, hot take meltdown machine that some fans are addicted to when we are…checks watch…two days past our season ending. I thought the regular season was rough with the freak outs but I can see portal season might bring out the worst in some.

I think some just want Kentucky to throw a bunch of money at a player because they got 20 ppg. Fit in the system is much more important than getting somebody because they can score. Now I fully agree Kentucky needs to get a player who can create their own shot and set up others

 

[jrpross]

I think it’s a matter of perception.

Ppl unfortunately are expecting “portal superstar” to be obvious.

However, Oweh and Butler were portal superstars in hindsight and nobody would have claimed superstar status when they signed.

So…was Pope referencing the latter or the former? Thats where the perception of the statement comes in.

I kinda feel like Pope is astute enough to know what people would think when he says that. I feel like he’s got something in the works.

Now Cal would say something like that just to piss people off.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

I don't even know if this is needed. Yeah, Duke is winning this way this year. But Auburn has had one top 5 recruiting class in the last five years. I don't think there's a single blue chip guy on their roster that Pearl actually recruited. Moore and Caldwell are left over from their top 5 class in 2020. But Pettiford was just a four star guard coming out of high school last year.

In the post, I said I understand why fans have doubts, not me. I’m saying I can respect that view. I don’t care what players are ranked. I’m gonna trust Pope to get it done on the court. If he doesn’t, I’ll be mad just like everyone else. I believe in letting the coach build his program.

 

[TFCats11]

The portal hasn’t been open a full week and I’m already tired of the same ones having the same silly conversation every time. Let our coaching staff get the team first then make judgments. Some have no patience or couldn’t evaluate talent at all.

I definitely get where you’re coming from, but it’s also worth noting that UK is in recruiting cycle #2 for the Pope era, and obviously the first one was about as good as it could have possibly been, but he is the last of the powerhouse coaches to land a Top 5 freshman or portal transfer stud.

Time for that to change, if for nothing else, competition perspective!

 

[ukcatz12]

but he is the last of the powerhouse coaches to land a Top 5 freshman or portal transfer stud.

As I said in another post, why do we assume this is a necessity? Auburn has no top 5 freshmen. They've had one top 20 recruiting class in the last five years and the five star recruit from that class isn't on the team anymore. Everyone's definition of transfer portal stud is different, but Broome was the 13th ranked transfer coming out of Morehead. I dont know if that's a stud. Auburn has proven you can assemble a Final Four team without the usual flashy commitments.

If that's the route Pope takes to building teams here I think it'd be fine and people are going to have to change their perspective a bit.

 

[BBNinSC]

I really think it was a big mistake for him to say that. If we end up only with talent like last season it will really open a can of worms.

I don’t get this at all. Mark Pope built a team almost exclusively from the portal that was talented enough to win a National Championship this year.
Take the second and third best shooters from any team in the FF and then handicap their starting PG and PF with injury and see how far they get.

 

[cornbreadnmilk]

I don’t get this at all. Mark Pope built a team almost exclusively from the portal that was talented enough to win a National Championship this year.
Take the second and third best shooters from any team in the FF and then handicap their starting PG and PF with injury and see how far they get.

I disagree. Defense,rebounding and not athletic enough kept them from being championship caliber.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

I definitely get where you’re coming from, but it’s also worth noting that UK is in recruiting cycle #2 for the Pope era, and obviously the first one was about as good as it could have possibly been, but he is the last of the powerhouse coaches to land a Top 5 freshman or portal transfer stud.

Time for that to change, if for nothing else, competition perspective!

Well they are already off to a good start. Williams is the type of athlete we didn’t have this year

 

[bnewt]

Tyson chicken money buys a lot of things.

Yes it does, but they get no more of mine. Switched to Tyson

 

[JwUKFan11]

Could not beat UCLA for Dent even though we are suppose to have all the money we need. What happened to Elijah Freeman? We have the money for a guy like that don't we? Wilkerson is wanting to leave and with plenty of money for this can't miss guy why the talk of ARK if we have plenty of money? We are certainly spending plenty of time on a lot of non superstars. I thought we would get our superstars first and build around them?

Dent is from Cali and Wilkerson is from Arkansas. Use your brain a little before looking dumb.

 

[Mike-D]

I really think it was a big mistake for him to say that. If we end up only with talent like last season it will really open a can of worms.

Today was literally day 2 since we were knocked out of the tournament.

 

[track42]

Today was literally day 2 since we were knocked out of the tournament.

I just meant he put more pressure on himself by using the word superstar. It likely raised some fan's expections of the talent level. Likely better for him to say he was going to try and get some really good guys in the portal.

 

[Fox2monk]

Wonder if we will get involved with this guy?

3. QUIMARI PETERSON, ETSU​

(Photo: Courtesy of East Tennessee State, 247Sports)
2024-25 Stats: MIN: 34.5 | PTS: 19.5 | REB 4.5 | ASST 3.7 | FG 46.8% | 3FG 42.2% (6.4 ATT)
Overall Portal Ranking: No. 25
Peterson earned SoCon Player of the Year honors this season and enters the portal as a grad transfer. The biggest strength of the 6-foot-1, 175-pound lead guard is his ability to drill shots from three, both off the catch and pull, shooting 42.2% from behind the arc on 6.4 attempts per game. Peterson also has active hands on defense, averaging a career-high 2.0 steals per game in 2024-25.

 

[Fox2monk]

Here is what 24/7 says about Thomas

1. DEDAN THOMAS, UNLV​

(Photo: Getty)
2024-25 Stats: MIN: 35.8 | PTS: 15.6 | REB 2.0 | ASST 4.7 | FG 41.3% | 3FG 35.3% (2.6 ATT)
Overall Portal Ranking: No. 4
Thomas is undoubtedly the top point guard remaining in the transfer portal with Donovan Dent off the board. He led the Rebels with with 15.6 points and 4.7 assists per game en route to third-team All-Mountain West honors. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
"Kentucky is a team to watch for Thomas," national basketball analyst Travis Branham said on the College Basketball Show. "Florida and LSU are also two other teams to watch. Florida assistant coach Carlin Hartman recruited him out of high school. The Tigers are making a strong push."

 

[Coach Marrow]

Thomas, Demary, and Gwath are some of the highest rated portal players currently.

 

[TucsonCat]

Could not beat UCLA for Dent even though we are suppose to have all the money we need. What happened to Elijah Freeman? We have the money for a guy like that don't we? Wilkerson is wanting to leave and with plenty of money for this can't miss guy why the talk of ARK if we have plenty of money? We are certainly spending plenty of time on a lot of non superstars. I thought we would get our superstars first and build around them?

Are you not ashamed? Acting like a cowardly baby and where other people can see. Unwarranted, blubbering complaining makes me sick. Try to be a man.

 

[susan2361]

Could not beat UCLA for Dent even though we are suppose to have all the money we need. What happened to Elijah Freeman? We have the money for a guy like that don't we? Wilkerson is wanting to leave and with plenty of money for this can't miss guy why the talk of ARK if we have plenty of money? We are certainly spending plenty of time on a lot of non superstars. I thought we would get our superstars first and build around them?

Sometimes the decision is made based on something other than just $$$. That plays a major role in the decision, I'm sure. But not necessarily the only thing.

 

[AJG-15]

By now, I think our fans should have gotten used the way Pope talks. He is very nice guy that likes to over express his feelings about Kentucky. BBN and people that he generally cares about.

He uses a lot of epithets, big words, and many adjectives and sometimes exaggerates.

He definitely set high expectations for himself when he gave the acceptance speech in Rupp Arena but that is part of his selling strategy to overbuild confidence in BBN , who was down after last 5 years of Cal.

Obviously, there are no superstars in portal unless we talk about NBA portal. There are not even stars in college portal because those will already declared for the top 5 of NBA draft.

In college portal are only players that cannot go to nba and yes some of them have potential and aspirations that one day would go to NBA.

I am assuming that Pope is going after these type of players with potential and maybe aspirations that one day make it to nba. If he would have said that, it would not sounded sexy and exciting,

He needs to keep the excitement around the program in his ability to recruit and inspire confidence in boosters so, I understand his choice of words. Just don’t expect the next Michael Jordan to walk in the college portal.