So what does a realistic recruiting class look like for Pope in 2025? It seems like we have a really good shot at 5-6 high level recruits. Thoughts?
I think we try to sign 4 from the list below and fill out the remainder of the roster from the portal to incorporate more experience and depth.
-Moreno ✔
-Johnson
-Yessoufou
-Riebe
-Mullins
-Wilson
-Ament
-Peterson
I'm glad people are starting to list JJ as a 2g instead of point. I think he can play some sf about as well as 2g too. Yessoufou is a complete stud and you can pencil him in as our sf. Even if his shot is not falling you get drives, dishes, rebounds, defense and more. Whatever the team needs he'll do it and not pout. Love to get Cenak but he is a mystery recruit as he never tips his hand on what he is planning. I'm hoping he'll get tired of all the coaches pestering and move things along. As far as pg, pope must have a good idea on who he is getting, because he is not pushing or keeping Kaden magwood close, and he is an excellent pg. I think our 2nd pg will be an experienced pg from portal, which I understand not wanting 2 freshman PGs at the same time. Or, pope may be so impressed with Travis perry that he'll get a lot of backup pg mins. Pope knows, we don't.I listed in another thread :
PG - Mikel Brown #15 ESPN
SG - Johnson - #22 ESPN -( ESPN has finally listed him as a SG. They was the last of the major services listed him as PG.) Looking solid.
SF - Yessoufo - #11 ESPN (My#1 must get, will be a star)
PF - Ament - #3 ESPN (I think is a bit too high) ESPN has it 33% Virginia / 29% UK
C - Moreno - #21 ESPN (signed)
If we miss on a couple of those, Mullins #35 ESPN / McKenney #28 ESPN. All 7 I have listed are very realistic. The Boozer / Dybantsa / Peterson trio, IMO are not realistic. Peterson listed as 90% Kansas.
I would be VERY happy with the #3, #15, #11, #21, #22 ranked players. IF we could land that, I would close up shop now.
Maybe I’m just gun shy about relying on Freshmen studs at every position (especially PG) after all these years with Cal, but I really don’t want a class full of elite OAD guys.I listed in another thread :
PG - Mikel Brown #15 ESPN
SG - Johnson - #22 ESPN -( ESPN has finally listed him as a SG. They was the last of the major services listed him as PG.) Looking solid.
SF - Yessoufo - #11 ESPN (My#1 must get, will be a star)
PF - Ament - #3 ESPN (I think is a bit too high) ESPN has it 33% Virginia / 29% UK
C - Moreno - #21 ESPN (signed)
If we miss on a couple of those, Mullins #35 ESPN. All 6 I have listed are very realistic. The Boozer / Dybantsa / Peterson trio, IMO are not realistic. Peterson listed as 90% Kansas.
I would be VERY happy with the #3, #15, #11, #21, #22 ranked players. IF we could land that, I would close up shop now.
EDIT : Sorry the rankings was ON3 rankings, not ESPN. Sorry for the mistake.
Ament is a top 5 guy. He’s going to expect to start. I’m okay with that, if you’ve got Garrison at the 5 beside him.Moreno is a multi year guy. he will have to get stronger / add weight. Which is why getting Garrison back for a 2nd year is crucial. Yessoufou is the only one I mentioned that I would consider definite one and done, but he is just different. His motor never stops and gets better almost daily it seems. I think Ament will have work to do, so not saying all of them start.
Amen.Well if Pope is promising playing time (he isn't), then that is a problem. ALL players should going into it that they must EARN the spot.
that would be a pretty nice classMoreno
Jasper
Mullins
Yessoufou
Would love a class of Moreno, Johnson, Yessoufou, and Mullins.UK's 2025 class could verry well end up being Moreno, Johnson, Yessoufou and Mullins. Jasper seems to be a done deal and UK verry well could be leader for both Yessoufou and Mullins. After that then the staff can decide if they want to continue to pursue Riebe. Also have room for someone you can't say no to like Caleb Wilson. If we get that first 4 I listed that's one hell of a class. Add someone like Wilson or Ament and it's a monster.
IF we end up with that class then AB3 and Jason Hart need to get immediate raises...point...blank...period.
I like what you are selling.You take Moreno, Jasper, Yessoufou, and Mullins in the Fall.
In the Spring, if you're fortunate enough to get one of them, you take Peterson or Ament.
Sell Peterson on running the show at point guard.
Bring back the five returners. Add two or three portal guys.
We're a little leery of freshmen, but only because Calipari started sucking with them.
A Peterson/Johnson backcourt is better than anything you could get in the portal.
Both the 2025 and 2026 HS classes are very good classes.I think we could sign six in the ‘25 class, just because it seems like a really deep class. I’d say we get 4 minimum. So I’m splitting the difference and saying we get five.
Moreno
Johnson
3/4-star player
3/4-star player
3/4-star player
Return
Oweh
Garrison
Chandler
Perry
Noah
Add three impact veteran portal players
PG
Stretch 4
PF/C
PG Portal/Perry
SG Johnson/Chandler/Recruit
SF Oweh/Noah/Recruit
PF Portal/Portal/Recruit
C Garrison/Moreno
If some guys leave, fill in the blanks with portal guys.
You take Moreno, Jasper, Yessoufou, and Mullins in the Fall.
In the Spring, if you're fortunate enough to get one of them, you take Peterson or Ament.
Sell Peterson on running the show at point guard.
Bring back the five returners. Add two or three portal guys.
We're a little leery of freshmen, but only because Calipari started sucking with them.
A Peterson/Johnson backcourt is better than anything you could get in the portal.
I disagree.You take Moreno, Jasper, Yessoufou, and Mullins in the Fall.
In the Spring, if you're fortunate enough to get one of them, you take Peterson or Ament.
Sell Peterson on running the show at point guard.
Bring back the five returners. Add two or three portal guys.
We're a little leery of freshmen, but only because Calipari started sucking with them.
A Peterson/Johnson backcourt is better than anything you could get in the portal.
I respect your view but I disagree with you on this one. Our elite freshmen point guard/combo guards have been light year's better than our veterans. Wall, Knight, Fox, SGA, Maxey, Murray, etc. vs. veterans like Hagans, Harrow, Wheeler, and Mintz. Even a freshman, backup point guard Ulis is better than anything we'll have this year with Butler and Kriisa.I disagree.
But I am gun shy of Freshmen.
Definitely want a veteran PG.
I want two stud Freshmen starting max.
Give me a portal PG, Johnson, Oweh, Ament or Yessoufou, and Garrison as our starters.
And if wr can’t get those guys, fill in the blanks with portal guys.
thisYou take Moreno, Jasper, Yessoufou, and Mullins in the Fall.
In the Spring, if you're fortunate enough to get one of them, you take Peterson or Ament.
Sell Peterson on running the show at point guard.
Bring back the five returners. Add two or three portal guys.
We're a little leery of freshmen, but only because Calipari started sucking with them.
A Peterson/Johnson backcourt is better than anything you could get in the portal.
Still respectfully disagree, brother.I respect your view but I disagree with you on this one. Our elite freshmen point guard/combo guards have been light year's better than our veterans. Wall, Knight, Fox, SGA, Maxey, Murray, etc. vs. veterans like Hagans, Harrow, Wheeler, and Mintz. Even a freshman, backup point guard Ulis is better than anything we'll have this year with Butler and Kriisa.
Give me the elite freshman point guards any day over anything the portal can provide. Peterson is a future top 10 pick for a reason.
There's far less elite starting freshmen point guards. That's part of the reason. John Wall was good for a 35 game win season. Fox won 32 games. Teague won 38. Rose won 38. Knight made the Final Four. So did Harrison.Still respectfully disagree, brother.
Freshmen PGs rarely lead teams to titles. And in this portal era, I don’t see that changing.
But if we have to have an elite Freshman PG, he needs to be surrounded by veterans, IMHO. Better get Oweh and Garrison back plus add a veteran SG and stretch 4.
Please, no more teams starting 4 or 5 Freshmen. I’m so over that.
Gun shy? I believe that you have learned by experience. Something that FEBUK was incapable of. Pope is much too smart to follow Him down the rat hole. I would much prefer a stable roster and the top portal classMaybe I’m just gun shy about relying on Freshmen studs at every position (especially PG) after all these years with Cal, but I really don’t want a class full of elite OAD guys.
Give me Johnson and Moreno, then get some multi year guys who won’t need to play much as Freshmen as our class.
Then grab some veterans in the portal to round out the team.
Don’t want to start 3 or 4 Freshmen and if we sign all of those guys, that’s what we are looking at.
I’d rather see a returning Oweh at the 3 and Garrison at the 5, plus Johnson at the 2, and add an impact, seasoned veteran PG and PF to go with them.
If one wants talent, the 2025 and 2026 HS classes have that.but you take as much talent as you can and add talented veterans as well. This is no science, outside of getting as many good players as possible and then having them execute offensively and defensively.
Agree to disagree.There's far less elite starting freshmen point guards. That's part of the reason. John Wall was good for a 35 game win season. Fox won 32 games. Teague won 38. Rose won 38. Knight made the Final Four. So did Harrison.
I get your point, but you take as much talent as you can and add talented veterans as well. This is no science, outside of getting as many good players as possible and then having them execute offensively and defensively.
There's far less elite starting freshmen point guards. That's part of the reason. John Wall was good for a 35 game win season. Fox won 32 games. Teague won 38. Rose won 38. Knight made the Final Four. So did Harrison.
I get your point, but you take as much talent as you can and add talented veterans as well. This is no science, outside of getting as many good players as possible and then having them execute offensively and defensively.
2003 Frosh PG McNamara SyracuseHow many starting freshmen point guards have won a national championship in the last 30 years? And I’m not trying to be a smartass im genuinely curious. Obviously I know of Teague but who else? If it’s a low number and Pope has already been open about wanting to win a championship then my guess is it won’t be Popes strategy, and I’m good with
Put an asterisk beside Jones because much of the time Cook had the ball running the Point.2003 Frosh PG McNamara Syracuse
2012 Teague
2015 Tyus Jones Duke