Rawle Alkins Scores 51 in Lexington, Says He's Still Interested in UK

[Smashcat]

Ben Roberts ‏@NextCats 16h16 hours ago
Rawle Alkins says he's still interested in UK and they've been in contact recently. "They get guys to the league." http://bit.ly/220p2im

Alkins had “only” 18 points at halftime, and Word of God led 49-47 at the break, before the five-star shooting guard went off in the second half.


Despite missing a few minutes with a cut inside of his mouth that required attention from the trainer, Alkins scored 33 points in the half and made six three-pointers.

 

[UKhoopCat]

I believe Cal will take one more player in the Spring and I hope that player is Alkins.

 

[Bluemoon725]

If we somehow got Alkins....

 

[BillionthUKFan]

If Cal's looking for one more between Simmons, Bolden, and Alkins, I'd take Alkins as well. Dude reminds me of a mini/shorter Randle.

 

[BBUK]

If Cal's looking for one more between Simmons, Bolden, and Alkins, I'd take Alkins as well. Dude reminds me of a mini/shorter Randle.

Good enough for me Bill.

 

[Smashcat]

Dude reminds me of a mini/shorter Randle.

Yeah, except Alkins can make 3s.

 

[BBUK]

Dude reminds me of a mini/shorter Randle.

Yeah, except Alkins can make 3s.

Randle can make three's too...It just depends on when...

 

[Bigblueforever]

If Cal's looking for one more between Simmons, Bolden, and Alkins, I'd take Alkins as well. Dude reminds me of a mini/shorter Randle.

I also would take Akins!

 

[FFWhite]

Alkins is a bull. He just muscles people up. Love those kind of tough guys.

 

[jrpross]

That'd be my choice over Simmons and Bolden (who are still great players) if we still wanted to take one more. He'd be able to fill in at the 3 at times and give us a little closer to an actual forward than a straight 3-guard lineup.

 

[BlueBomb]

Do we really need more back court players?

Can you imagine if Ulis and Briscoe return. May as well start five guards.

 

[thecatsareback#8]

Briscoe 2.0

 

[railroadkat_1]

UK really doesn't need anyone else. If some reason that Changes I'd take Simmons because he really wants to be A WILDCAT!

 

[Hoskins21]

Alkins reminds me of Tyreke Evans. Hopefully, he doesn't end up at UNC.

 

[bigbluedon]

UK really doesn't need anyone else. If some reason that Changes I'd take Simmons because he really wants to be A WILDCAT!

Alkins is way better than Simmons.. Alkins can actually shoot.

 

[wcc31]

Do we really need more back court players?

Can you imagine if Ulis and Briscoe return. May as well start five guards.

Yeah, we probably do if all 3 of our guards go pro. That's why Cal is waiting until Spring.

 

[Untouchables22]

Yeah I hate to say it but I've lost my faith in Hawkins ability to contribute next year. So we could more use a guard next year than another big guy.

 

[Stonewall12]

Briscoe 2.0

Yes only he can shooter much much better.

 

[WildMoon]

I'll take bolden and Alkins then we can call it quits.

Get on it Cal!!!

 

[WildMoon]

I'll take bolden and Alkins then we can call it quits.

Get on it Cal!!!

 

[thecatsareback#8]

Yes only he can shooter much much better.

Ill take that! Looks to be a little stronger as well. Next years class is so ridiculously loaded. What a great year to pull 30% of the top 15

 

[railroadkat_1]

Alkins is way better than Simmons.. Alkins can actually shoot.

bbdon Alkins is a great player. I firmly believe we don't need another player for next years class. By the way exactly how many games have you watched Alkins play in and where? I haven't seen Simmons play although I know he is great in transition and would LOVE to play at UK. Simmons is still a highly ranked player.

 

[railroadkat_1]

Alkins is way better than Simmons.. Alkins can actually shoot.

BBD FYI ESPN has Alkins 247 rated as the 16th best player while Simmons as the 19th best prospect. (way better really)

 

[deplion]

I'll take bolden and Alkins then we can call it quits.

Get on it Cal!!!

+1

 

[Untouchables22]

If we got Alkins then he would likely start at SF and push Gabriel to the PF. I hope Gabriel really does believe in "positionless" basketball. (Assuming Poythress and Lee leave which appears likely at this juncture.)

 

[smooth as butter]

Alkins would play the 3 if he came to UK.

 

[bigbluedon]

BBD FYI ESPN has Alkins 247 rated as the 16th best player while Simmons as the 19th best prospect. (way better really)

A lot more goes into being a player than just a rating. I have seen both kids play and Alkins is the complete package and is very hard to guard...So yeah, really, considering he is a much better shooter..

 

[MSU129]

Sounds like a guy we could get because he isn't afraid of competition.

"They get guys to the league," he told Roberts of the Wildcats. "I'm a player that wants to go to the league eventually. And they get you better, too."

Alkins said wherever he lands next season, he's not afraid of any competition in the backcourt.

"I'm a guy that thinks that no matter where I go, I'm going to shine," he said. "Right now, I think I'm the No. 1 shooting guard in the country. That's my position. That's the position I want to play. But I feel like I can be a combo guard. So, if I'm not playing shooting guard, I think I have room to be a small forward or a point guard.

"At the end of the day, I feel like, no matter where I go, I'm going to be looked at, I'm going to be seen, and I'm going to shine."

 

[1991greywildcat]

Monk and alkins together on the wing would be brutal for any team to try
And gaurd for a full 40 minutes!!

 

[Wall2Boogie]

We better get some more middle school kids to write more letters to him. He may be interested in UK still, but had he been playing in Iowa he would of said he was interested in them

 

[railroadkat_1]

A lot more goes into being a player than just a rating. I have seen both kids play and Alkins is the complete package and is very hard to guard...So yeah, really, considering he is a much better shooter..

big blue don you didn't answer my question how many times have you seen both and where? I guess you think he's better than Malik Monk too! LOL Alkins isn't going to sign with UK and I'll gladly eat crow if he does, Just not enough room think about it!

 

[JerseyCat84]

He could be that SF we've always coveted.

 

[Untouchables22]

We better get some more middle school kids to write more letters to him. He may be interested in UK still, but had he been playing in Iowa he would of said he was interested in them

ha ha that's a really good line....but the important piece of information was that UK had been in contact with him. Cal doesn't spend time on guys he doesn't want he and the staff just don't call them. So hearing UK has been in contact with him since we blew off his late request to attend Big Blue Madness means there is interest on our end.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Some folks mentioned that if we keep adding players, guys like Tai won't want to come here. That's simply not true. They can come here, compete against NBA talent for two years, and then have a real shot at a rotation spot like Willis or Hawkins in year 3 and 4. All that said, it would be hard to even have a shot if you have 7 or 8 NBA guys ahead of you. The Alkins/Bolden equation would end up screwing over guys like SKJ and Humphries because Gabriel would have to play a lot of 4 and that would make Bam spend most of his time at the 5.

That said, Cal is going to probably try to add Bolden in the Spring (or take a real shot at him anyway). The lack of a back-to-the-basket physical big is probably driving Cal crazy, and I have my suspicions that although he's added one of the most physical bigs our program will ever witness in Bam, Cal will probably add one more to dominate the paint next season with Bam.

If he adds Alkins and Bolden, however, it would mean UK threw some fellas to the wolves (and I think it's a real long shot as UK hasn't really been mentioned with Alkins lately). The rotation would feature 6 or 7 legit NBA guys in Bolden, Bam, Gabriel, Alkins, Matthews, Monk, and Fox. Is SKJ a year away from doing what Cal wants him to do on a consistent basis (purely conjecture on my part, due to his frame)? If he's ready to go next year, Gabriel would see more minutes on the wing, would he not? Humphries, SKJ, Willis, Tai, Dom, and Mychal would compete for the last rotation spot. That would probably lead to some bad blood as at least three of those guys deserve minutes (Derek, SKJ, and Isaac).

People may not like hearing this, but Cal didn't promise those guys much more than a real shot. They're getting that real shot this season. If they solidify a role on this current 2015-2016 team, the whole narrative might change and Cal might pull back the reins on adding some spring commitments. That said, if Cal doesn't feel confident in any reserve wings besides Matthews for next season, I could see a scenario where he tries to add Simmons, as I see him buying into a secondary role. I'm not sold on Alkins wanting to come here with Gabriel, Monk, Matthews, and Willis deserving minutes on the wing and UK likely to land another big in the spring.

It probably becomes either a wing or a big in the spring, and again, that will likely depend on the development of Tai and Isaac, as well as the progress the staff feels SKJ is making as a senior.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

He could be that SF we've always coveted.

Gabriel would still likely get first dibs based on Cal's love affair with height.

Alkins and Gabriel would both alternate between the 2/3 for Alkins and the 3/4 for Gabriel. I still think a ton of what happens in the spring will depend on the development of Wynyard and Humphries. If either of those two make some strides and show a flare for potentially breaking the rotation next year, UK probably doesn't make a move on Bolden. That would still open the door for Alkins, however (although I still maintain that the minutes just don't add up in pretty much any scenario without throwing 5 or 6 guys to the wolves next year). Cal could go "small" with Fox/Monk/Alkins/Gabriel/Bam. Humphries, SKJ, or Tai as the primary interior backup and Matthews as the wing backup. Of course, Mulder and Dom would likely become practice/mop-up players; maybe Willis too.

Bottom line is I can't remember UK being so loaded for the following season going into the winter before that season, and still with an amazing shot at three or four high level, top 20 prospects.

 

[Ripcord65]

I still want Alkins, even though we already have Fox and Monk. Alkins is a Rucker Park kid who played at Christ the King -- a perennial NYC powerhouse. Alkins was the No. 1 player in NYC as a junior.

But most of all, I like Alkins because it's my understanding that he plays like a pit bull -- sort of like Briscoe, whom I also like a lot !

And finally . . . Alkins obviously knows that Cal has already signed Fox and Monk -- and Alkins still wants to come. The kid wants to come to U.K., and he wants to compete against the best players in the country for playing time on his own team. I like that a lot ! ! !

 

[Untouchables22]

Gabriel would still likely get first dibs based on Cal's love affair with height.

Alkins and Gabriel would both alternate between the 2/3 for Alkins and the 3/4 for Gabriel. I still think a ton of what happens in the spring will depend on the development of Wynyard and Humphries. If either of those two make some strides and show a flare for potentially breaking the rotation next year, UK probably doesn't make a move on Bolden. That would still open the door for Alkins, however (although I still maintain that the minutes just don't add up in pretty much any scenario without throwing 5 or 6 guys to the wolves next year). Cal could go "small" with Fox/Monk/Alkins/Gabriel/Bam. Humphries, SKJ, or Tai as the primary interior backup and Matthews as the wing backup. Of course, Mulder and Dom would likely become practice/mop-up players; maybe Willis too.

Bottom line is I can't remember UK being so loaded for the following season going into the winter before that season, and still with an amazing shot at three or four high level, top 20 prospects.

After the first part of the season watching UK's guards throw up enough bricks to easily build a habitat for humanity house Simmons lack of a jump shot terrifies me. It is my understanding that Fox and Gabriel are both average jump shooters and Monk is a legit outside threat. Now we all know that Hawkins is a terrible outside shooter and Matthews is not far behind him so adding Simmons and having a guard rotation with only one above average jump shooter is troubling to me. I still have nightmares about the West Virginia game. Alkins is an above average outside shooter who actually plays elite man to man defense. In fact many recruiting experts project Alkins to be the second best guard defender in the class after Fox. If we have any semblance of choice I pray for alkins. You also astutely point out that for all of Bam's greatness he lacks interior post moves. All our great team's at Kentucky had an elite post scorer or a legit post scoring threat. Cousins, Jones/Harrelson (neither was elite by themselves but taken together we got a good amount of post scoring) Davis (not elite production but had all the tools and team's had to honor his ability defensively which was key), Randle, and Towns. So Bolden is more important then some realize .

 

[UKCATSFREAK]

Do we really need more back court players?

Can you imagine if Ulis and Briscoe return. May as well start five guards.

Of course we can. Don't you know that we run positionless basketball here. We literally just need to recruit the top players in the country starting at #1 and go right on down the line through the top 10, regardless of position.



Sorry, I just think it's funny with all this talk if positionless basketball and how some fans have grabbed a hold of it like it's been a slogan of our program for years and years,

 

[jrpross]

Gabriel would still likely get first dibs based on Cal's love affair with height.

Alkins and Gabriel would both alternate between the 2/3 for Alkins and the 3/4 for Gabriel. I still think a ton of what happens in the spring will depend on the development of Wynyard and Humphries. If either of those two make some strides and show a flare for potentially breaking the rotation next year, UK probably doesn't make a move on Bolden. That would still open the door for Alkins, however (although I still maintain that the minutes just don't add up in pretty much any scenario without throwing 5 or 6 guys to the wolves next year). Cal could go "small" with Fox/Monk/Alkins/Gabriel/Bam. Humphries, SKJ, or Tai as the primary interior backup and Matthews as the wing backup. Of course, Mulder and Dom would likely become practice/mop-up players; maybe Willis too.

Bottom line is I can't remember UK being so loaded for the following season going into the winter before that season, and still with an amazing shot at three or four high level, top 20 prospects.

I agree with much of this. But I've noticed that this year Cal is basically going up to 11 deep in games. He's not platooning by any means (thank God). But he has 6 guys that get starter minutes. Then Matthews, Humphries, Willis, Hawkins, and Mulder have all gotten minutes based on the situation. When one plays well, he stays in. Willis and Matthews mostly have performed well enough to merit longer stretches.

So I wouldn't say he'd be throwing anyone under the bus, even if both Bolden & Alkins came. I think the main lineup would be Fox, Monk, Alkins, Gabriel, Bam, and either Bolden or Humphries. With the next few being the other of Bolden/Humphries, SKJ, Matthews, Willis, Hawkins, and Mulder getting situational minutes with a chance to extend their time if they hustle and play well. That's 12 instead of 11 like this year but same basic concept. And of course assuming Bolden and Alkins actually come is a big assumption. But theoretically it could work. It would be up to the players to play well more so than Cal who plays most.

 

[railroadkat_1]

Some folks mentioned that if we keep adding players, guys like Tai won't want to come here. That's simply not true. They can come here, compete against NBA talent for two years, and then have a real shot at a rotation spot like Willis or Hawkins in year 3 and 4. All that said, it would be hard to even have a shot if you have 7 or 8 NBA guys ahead of you. The Alkins/Bolden equation would end up screwing over guys like SKJ and Humphries because Gabriel would have to play a lot of 4 and that would make Bam spend most of his time at the 5.

That said, Cal is going to probably try to add Bolden in the Spring (or take a real shot at him anyway). The lack of a back-to-the-basket physical big is probably driving Cal crazy, and I have my suspicions that although he's added one of the most physical bigs our program will ever witness in Bam, Cal will probably add one more to dominate the paint next season with Bam.

If he adds Alkins and Bolden, however, it would mean UK threw some fellas to the wolves (and I think it's a real long shot as UK hasn't really been mentioned with Alkins lately). The rotation would feature 6 or 7 legit NBA guys in Bolden, Bam, Gabriel, Alkins, Matthews, Monk, and Fox. Is SKJ a year away from doing what Cal wants him to do on a consistent basis (purely conjecture on my part, due to his frame)? If he's ready to go next year, Gabriel would see more minutes on the wing, would he not? Humphries, SKJ, Willis, Tai, Dom, and Mychal would compete for the last rotation spot. That would probably lead to some bad blood as at least three of those guys deserve minutes (Derek, SKJ, and Isaac).

People may not like hearing this, but Cal didn't promise those guys much more than a real shot. They're getting that real shot this season. If they solidify a role on this current 2015-2016 team, the whole narrative might change and Cal might pull back the reins on adding some spring commitments. That said, if Cal doesn't feel confident in any reserve wings besides Matthews for next season, I could see a scenario where he tries to add Simmons, as I see him buying into a secondary role. I'm not sold on Alkins wanting to come here with Gabriel, Monk, Matthews, and Willis deserving minutes on the wing and UK likely to land another big in the spring.

It probably becomes either a wing or a big in the spring, and again, that will likely depend on the development of Tai and Isaac, as well as the progress the staff feels SKJ is making as a senior.

Alkins is a great prospect and shooter buy he is going to play for Syracuse. Be happy with Marcus Monk . Coach Cal had been recruiting him almost 3 years and he is a legit #4 or higher prospect.