I”m 0 percent worried about Pope’s ability to recruit the portal. He basically selected who he wanted this year for an entire roster. Now he will be selecting 3 to 4 and will be very specific ,picky and successful IMO.
Positive Wilson update
- Thread starter Dontworryboutit23
- Start date
I don’t think the mix to chase titles necessarily includes OAD freshmen – or even ideally includes them. I’m sure Pope won’t build teams reliant on freshmen, and Hurley hasn’t done that either.
Pursuant to the way Hurley builds rosters, UConn’s 2023 recruiting class included 5 freshmen - four 4-stars and one 5-star (Castle - listed as a 6’6” PG by recruiting services). Hurley played Castle at SF, and he was a role player and the 5th scoring option most of the time. The top two scoring options for UConn were senior transfers. The other four freshmen didn’t really play, but they do this season – which is the roster continuity Hurley and the best coaches strive for.
I’m not saying that a team that has an OAD freshman can’t win, but the best use of freshmen on contending teams is as a supplemental piece. What you need, in my opinion, is good basketball players who make a lot of right plays and few of the negative ones; and a group that fit together well as a team to function efficiently on both offense and defense. Talent that hasn’t ripened by maturity and skill development into efficient production has limited value, and OAD freshmen generally make too many negative plays and not enough winning plays. If you rely on them to carry too much of the load their lack of experience, physical maturity and development is too often going to bite the team in the end.
He has had a relationship with UNC and Hubert Davis for awhile. He said in an interview that he had been there many times on unofficial visits and sat in on their practices. Just the fact that Pope has put us in this position with him is impressive. I still think he will be a cat .
Wilson (if he comes here) and Johnson will be in the rotation and probably starters. Lewis and Moreno will be rotation players, but like 8th and 9th off the bench, probably.
Oweh is going to be option 1 scoring next season, most likely.
Garrison will be our starting Center.
Need to add one of the top PGs in the Portal, plus a really good 4/5 to split time with Wilson, and a really good wing shooter.
Top priority for me is a PG to replace Butler.
Oweh is going to be option 1 scoring next season, most likely.
Garrison will be our starting Center.
Need to add one of the top PGs in the Portal, plus a really good 4/5 to split time with Wilson, and a really good wing shooter.
Top priority for me is a PG to replace Butler.
I would be fine with him being the second option. Oweh is going to be first.
But if Wilson plays like the Miller kid for Bama a few years back or even a Newell (UGA) this year, that could work.
Just depends on how good he is.
He isn’t that kind of player. He’s a versatile type guy but definitely defense is far more advanced than his offense. That poster is correct, you probably don’t want Wilson being your 2nd scoring option unless he really grows his game.
Yeah at home with the refs help . We’ll see how he does on the road in hostile environments. Who you taking Justin Edwards or Dalton Kennect ? Lamont Butler or Boogie Fland ? ANY FRESHMAN (Even the great Cooper Flagg) of Johnie Broome? I’ll take every one of the portal guys listed.
All UK fans know the greatest night is the NBA draft night!!
And MAYBE, he sees how the road games are officiated in the sec and says “to hell with that !” Just kidding…….kinda …..lol
Tre Mitchell over Anthony Davis?
Sahvir Wheeler over John Wall?
I get what you are saying, but if you can get a superstar out of HS to go with your Portal players, then you are cooking with Crisco!
Right. My point was , just because Newell did well against our transfers doesn’t mean much . Lots of variables.
I wouldn’t mind having Newell on our team, alongside Butler and company.
Elite Freshmen are fine, just can’t rely on them to lead the way.
We need a balance of young talent and experience.
I think we will have that next season with Oweh and Garrison back, Johnson and hopefully Wilson coming in, and a couple of top level Portal guys. Throw it together, shake well, and hope it turns out.
Just how good of a shooter is Wilson ? Some say he is not a good shooter and I have never seen him play.
He’s capable. It is by far not a strength of his. Definitely a growth area to become a better scorer
Whoever we bring in next year will be playing with 4 or 5 players...potentially.. instead of 1(Jax), that has ever played in this system. I think when we couple that with a few really skilled players, things will progress with this offense. I hope so.
Hoping we get a really good Portal PG.
I don’t like the idea of starting a Freshman PG.
I’m with you. I really like Lewis as a PG recruit (and I think you probably do too) – even though I think he’s played a lot off the ball as well - and I think Perry is going to develop into a nice contributor. Also, Johnson has been listed as a PG by some recruiting services (although those services frequently list guys at positions they want to project for a future NBA career rather than positions they’re ready to be productive at as college freshmen).
But we’re fans of a program that wants to compete for a championship every year, not just be competitive in conference. And just handing the starting PG role to a freshman if a better current option could exit in the portal is not what a title chasing program does. If Lewis can beat out a top PG from the portal for the starting role, so be it. Otherwise, he can be a fine 2nd unit guy and starter in waiting. But I think we’re past the days of handing out starting roles based on recruiting service rankings and projected draft board positions.
PG like butler, a physical 4 or 5, and a shooter like brea are what they will need.
Yeah but by the end of the year Castle was easily a top 2-3 player and had 20 multiple times late in the year for them.
I think we definitely get a good PG from the portal so we can mix and match Lewis, and Johnson with him. A good shooting guard, and a 4/5 to fill out the roster. We need at least 4 quality guards and another PG would allow Johnson to not shoulder the load early.
I was pretty sure they just said players are going to get a 5th year like the Covid year players. For us, that’s just Almonor and Krissa.
Even still, I’d like an elite portal PG. Lewis, Krissa, Perry, and Johnson are all more off the ball / shooting type PGs if they are all here next year.
If Kriisa is unable to return this season, he could apply for a medical redshirt, since he only played 9 games. If he comes back and plays any, then he won’t be able to return because this is his fifth year.
Almonor is a different story. He has only played four years, so he might be eligible to return. I’m not sure if that rule has kicked in yet, though. Maybe some other posters can clarify.
If the NCAA does allow a fifth year, then Almonor would most likely return next season. He absolutely loves it at UK and considers it a great honor to wear the blue and white. I would be shocked if he didn’t return, if eligible to return.
If Almonor and Kriisa are eligible (albeit for different reasons), then we could have 7 guys returning. Add in the four Freshmen (fingers crossed for Wilson) and that’s 11 scholarship players.
With the NCAA allowing 15 scholarships, you have to think Coach will still get some Portal guys. A veteran starting PG is crucial. I don’t think Kriisa and a Freshman Lewis will be the answer at PG. Also, more depth inside is important. Should get at least two Portal guys, in that scenario.
If Almonor and Kriisa are eligible (albeit for different reasons), then we could have 7 guys returning. Add in the four Freshmen (fingers crossed for Wilson) and that’s 11 scholarship players.
With the NCAA allowing 15 scholarships, you have to think Coach will still get some Portal guys. A veteran starting PG is crucial. I don’t think Kriisa and a Freshman Lewis will be the answer at PG. Also, more depth inside is important. Should get at least two Portal guys, in that scenario.
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