R.J. Barrett’s visit ‘couldn’t have gone any better’ (Update -09/07/2017)

[Delk#00]

https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/kentucky-uk-basketball-recruiting-barrett-visit-success

“It was a really good visit,” Washington told SEC Country on Wednesday. “They did everything they could do. They showed who they are — not focusing on what other [schools] can or can’t do — and that’s a great way to start if you’re Kentucky. You couldn’t have done a better job than they did. It’s tough for a lot of people that Kentucky was R.J.’s first [official visit]. A lot of questions they had before were answered, and that’s a great position to be in.”

But Washington said Barrett and his family “really like the family atmosphere” at Kentucky. “They liked how generous the coaching staff was — the head coach — in terms of giving of his time and doing whatever he can to make sure people are successful. Extra time on the court, extra academic resources. It’s about basketball, but also more than basketball.

“They liked how the staff is diverse in appearance but they each brought something to the table. The competition piece, how [coach John Calipari] and the staff get guys better. Man, there were so many good things about it. So many good things about the visit. For example, the approach they take with individual athletes, where they are now and how they get from A to B.”

Barrett, a 6-foot-7 wing who plays high school ball at Montverde (Fla.) Academy, has four more official visits scheduled: Duke on Sept. 15, Arizona on Sept. 21, Oregon on Sept. 23 and Michigan on Sept. 29. It sounds like the Cats set a high bar for those programs.

“It was good for the family to see and echo everything about why Shai went there: because they can make you better,” Washington said. “If you’re somebody who is No. 1 in the class, you definitely have to say, ‘What did they do with the other No. 1 guys?’ Who is getting those players to be better than they are, noticeably, in a short period of time?”

The Wildcats have whole walls covered in the NBA draft picks they’ve produced in eight seasons under Calipari. He’s had three No. 1 overall picks — John Wall, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns — seven top-5 selections and a dozen top-10 picks in that span.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

I hope his mentioning Cal not negatively recruiting means he won't fall for it when Capel pulls out his bag of dirty tricks. Plus, we got the Shai and Murray connections. Go Cannucks.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

There's a couple of threads on the 1st page here discussing this very thing

 

[wromanp7]

Don't buy it.
I think Cal simply said, "Hi.. RJ is it? Well, hi RJ. I don't yet know how I'll use you, but.. yeah, come to UK."

 

[FrankUnderwood]

I hope his mentioning Cal not negatively recruiting means he won't fall for it when Capel pulls out his bag of dirty tricks. Plus, we got the Shai and Murray connections. Go Cannucks.

I don't think Murray , whoever also being from Canada will have any bearing whatsoever on his decision.

 

[Mr_GG]

Idk. I think it could have gone a little better. He could have loved it so much and committed on the spot.

 

[gracetoyou]

Wow! Sounded really good! Also, didn't know he & Shai were so close

 

[bookerfan66]

Well this sounds much more hopeful.

 

[railroadkat_1]

Idk. I think it could have gone a little better. He could have loved it so much and committed on the spot.

Who's to say he didn't? I'm and Optimist so I expect to land him.

 

[Fitch44]

I really hope capel can put the meats down long enough for his fat ass to throw some shade at cal/uk when Barrett is on his visit.
Sounds like that would go over real well.

 

[lkc1234]

https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/kentucky-uk-basketball-recruiting-barrett-visit-success

“It was a really good visit,” Washington told SEC Country on Wednesday. “They did everything they could do. They showed who they are — not focusing on what other [schools] can or can’t do — and that’s a great way to start if you’re Kentucky. You couldn’t have done a better job than they did. It’s tough for a lot of people that Kentucky was R.J.’s first [official visit]. A lot of questions they had before were answered, and that’s a great position to be in.”

But Washington said Barrett and his family “really like the family atmosphere” at Kentucky. “They liked how generous the coaching staff was — the head coach — in terms of giving of his time and doing whatever he can to make sure people are successful. Extra time on the court, extra academic resources. It’s about basketball, but also more than basketball.

“They liked how the staff is diverse in appearance but they each brought something to the table. The competition piece, how [coach John Calipari] and the staff get guys better. Man, there were so many good things about it. So many good things about the visit. For example, the approach they take with individual athletes, where they are now and how they get from A to B.”

Barrett, a 6-foot-7 wing who plays high school ball at Montverde (Fla.) Academy, has four more official visits scheduled: Duke on Sept. 15, Arizona on Sept. 21, Oregon on Sept. 23 and Michigan on Sept. 29. It sounds like the Cats set a high bar for those programs.

“It was good for the family to see and echo everything about why Shai went there: because they can make you better,” Washington said. “If you’re somebody who is No. 1 in the class, you definitely have to say, ‘What did they do with the other No. 1 guys?’ Who is getting those players to be better than they are, noticeably, in a short period of time?”

The Wildcats have whole walls covered in the NBA draft picks they’ve produced in eight seasons under Calipari. He’s had three No. 1 overall picks — John Wall, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns — seven top-5 selections and a dozen top-10 picks in that span.

Yes it could have gone better. He could have committed. This means nothing. How many recruits have you heard say what a terrible visit they had on a recruiting trip.

 

[Mime-Is-Money]

Best visit ever!!!!1One

 

[YaySports]

Hope Coach K says, "Hi RJ, I coached team USA... do you like the USA? Yea its way better than Canada, eh?"

 

[jrpross]

Yes it could have gone better. He could have committed. This means nothing. How many recruits have you heard say what a terrible visit they had on a recruiting trip.

The point is, why is it when a kid's words aren't as glowing as we expected that we've all but conceded him to Duke, but when the words seem positive they mean nothing?

 

[FrankUnderwood]

The point is, why is it when a kid's words aren't as glowing as we expected that we've all but conceded him to Duke, but when the words seem positive they mean nothing?

Don't confuse them. They try super hard to be Debbie downers.

 

[JStaff2187]

All of this recruiting superstars is a waste of time. I checked every recruiting site in existence for every top 3 player in each class from this year until 2025. All Duke locks.

 

[Blueblood22]

It was just alright and he's going to Duke. In fact, he's already given them the silent verbal.

Heard it from 32 different sources right here on this board. How much more credible can you get?

 

[mrdavisanddd]

We're missing a few posters in this thread wonder where they are

 

[YaySports]

We're missing a few posters in this thread wonder where they are

 

[ORCAT]

I enjoy hearing all the positives involving this kid's visit but it is way early in his recruitment with so many other visits left for him. Just hope, us being first up, that the memory of a great UK visit doesn't fade too much by the time he is done with all the others. You know how that can go sometimes.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

I don't think Murray , whoever also being from Canada will have any bearing whatsoever on his decision.

Based on what? Couldn't hurt.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

Sounds like the kid has a strong family, which works in Kentucky's favor, given Cal's emphasis on La Famiglia

Is that a disease?

 

[Cawood86]

This sounds very encouraging indeed

 

[Jazzycat]

Reel him in, Cal! Barrett is a wonderful player and quality young man. Would be a real asset to the team next year.,,,

 

[BBUK]

Reel him in, Cal! Barrett is a wonderful player and quality young man. Would be a real asset to the team next year.,,,

Ha ha....what if? What then? What would you call him then? (I won't even type it...)

 

[BBUK]

Is that a disease?

"If it ain't, it ought to be..."

 

[BBUK]

I enjoy hearing all the positives involving this kid's visit but it is way early in his recruitment with so many other visits left for him. Just hope, us being first up, that the memory of a great UK visit doesn't fade too much by the time he is done with all the others. You know how that can go sometimes.

UK will stay in his mind......it grows on people...kind of like warts....

 

[ashbergh]

I'm glad to see duke as his second visit. I thought I'd read that we got the first and they had the last. This is a kid I REALLY want to cheer for. Hope we got the infamous silent verbal. dum dum dummmmmmm

 

[Bluesnky]

https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/kentucky-uk-basketball-recruiting-barrett-visit-success

“It was a really good visit,” Washington told SEC Country on Wednesday. “They did everything they could do. They showed who they are — not focusing on what other [schools] can or can’t do — and that’s a great way to start if you’re Kentucky. You couldn’t have done a better job than they did. It’s tough for a lot of people that Kentucky was R.J.’s first [official visit]. A lot of questions they had before were answered, and that’s a great position to be in.”

But Washington said Barrett and his family “really like the family atmosphere” at Kentucky. “They liked how generous the coaching staff was — the head coach — in terms of giving of his time and doing whatever he can to make sure people are successful. Extra time on the court, extra academic resources. It’s about basketball, but also more than basketball.

“They liked how the staff is diverse in appearance but they each brought something to the table. The competition piece, how [coach John Calipari] and the staff get guys better. Man, there were so many good things about it. So many good things about the visit. For example, the approach they take with individual athletes, where they are now and how they get from A to B.”

Barrett, a 6-foot-7 wing who plays high school ball at Montverde (Fla.) Academy, has four more official visits scheduled: Duke on Sept. 15, Arizona on Sept. 21, Oregon on Sept. 23 and Michigan on Sept. 29. It sounds like the Cats set a high bar for those programs.

“It was good for the family to see and echo everything about why Shai went there: because they can make you better,” Washington said. “If you’re somebody who is No. 1 in the class, you definitely have to say, ‘What did they do with the other No. 1 guys?’ Who is getting those players to be better than they are, noticeably, in a short period of time?”

The Wildcats have whole walls covered in the NBA draft picks they’ve produced in eight seasons under Calipari. He’s had three No. 1 overall picks — John Wall, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns — seven top-5 selections and a dozen top-10 picks in that span.

You left out one of the best parts!

Barrett “talks to Shai every day,” Washington said. “Shai is like his big brother. They train in the summer, they hang out, Shai works with him and shows him a lot of stuff. Shai is very serious and focused, so if he picks a school, you really gotta take it seriously.”

 

[Mr_GG]

Who's to say he didn't? I'm and Optimist so I expect to land him.

I hope you're right

 

[Delk#00]

https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/kentucky-uk-basketball-recruiting-barrett-visit-vibes

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

So, they were concerned about how he would fit in on a roster full of 5-stars, but Duke is supposedly the leader according to many experts? Huh?

 

[lkc1234]

The point is, why is it when a kid's words aren't as glowing as we expected that we've all but conceded him to Duke, but when the words seem positive they mean nothing?

Every recruit that has visited UK has said positive things about the visit. Please give me a link to one recruit saying they had a terrible visit to UK.

 

[anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y]

given Pitino's emphasis on La Chlamydia.

FIFY

 

[Rondoed]

Every recruit that has visited UK has said positive things about the visit. Please give me a link to one recruit saying they had a terrible visit to UK.

Shane Battier. That was under Pitino though.

 

[jrpross]

Every recruit that has visited UK has said positive things about the visit. Please give me a link to one recruit saying they had a terrible visit to UK.

I'm not saying these brief comments mean anything spectacular. I'm saying the other brief comments where, god forbid, he used the term "alright", didn't mean we're out of the running for him.

 

[Aike]

Every recruit that has visited UK has said positive things about the visit. Please give me a link to one recruit saying they had a terrible visit to UK.

Stokes...sort of. Talked about going to the gym instead of parties.

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

This kid is the most talented player in college basketball during his freshman season. After college, we're talking about the #1 pick in the NBA draft. When you have worked as hard as this kid to get to the top, you aint going to risk your future and making a ton of money in the NBA. This is a kid that has been a Cal player from the moment he started thinking NBA money. When it is time to decide, it will be Kentucky. Not to say he couldn't go to Duke and go #1, but why even risk it? Cal has had elite dudes go at the top of the NBA draft. Remember when Towns wasn't the best player and the Duke big Okafor being the best shot at going #1? That was at the start of the season. Once the season ended, Towns went#1 in the draft and all we heard was he was always the top draft pick. Nope. Barrett is a Cal player and enjoys Cal and Kentucky's style of player over Duke and K. Barrett and Zion on the same court? Gonna be nasty for every school KY plays against.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

You left out one of the best parts!

Barrett “talks to Shai every day,” Washington said. “Shai is like his big brother. They train in the summer, they hang out, Shai works with him and shows him a lot of stuff. Shai is very serious and focused, so if he picks a school, you really gotta take it seriously.”

 

[AzubuikeandFitch]

We better get RJ bc many indicators point Zion to KU. I know folks don't like to hear about shoe affiliations influencing recruits but this seems different. It's painfully obvious Zion likes the Adidas brand given how often he is photographed wearing their gear. Not to mention KU already offered teammate and friend Dontarus James.