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I can't agree with this. I don't care about rankings so much. It comes down to this: what Freshman class would you rather have?I don't like it one bit but I have to agree. Cal will always get his, but Duke is establishing itself as number 1. Now if we get Zion, Grimes Bol Bol and Williams I'll survive.
I know it sounds old but Zion Williamson is the best I've seen at his age. He is as big as LeBron James and will dominate in Lexington.I would love for the Cats to have Zion and he is a stud. He’s not better than Barrett, though. I’m thrilled with either.
I know it sounds old but Zion Williamson is the best I've seen at his age. He is as big as LeBron James and will dominate in Lexington.
You should be on Cals payroll. I like the way you think .The meeting at Montverde Academy was last week. Here's my best pitch for UK's chances:
First, the commitment is set a month out. That is very unusual. Most commitment dates are set within days of their announcement. This suggests the decision is, at worst for UK, still a coin toss in the kid's mind, and he's giving himself the space to flip. Moreover, Cal has great Canadian connections, including current pro and prolific scorer Jamal Murray, Drake, and Barrett's "big brother" Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Cal has demonstrated success with primary scoring option players. As impressive as Barrett's 38 points against team USA were, they pale in comparison to the 48 Malik Monk hung on UNC (the eventual national champions) in an electric atmosphere against a college-level defense. Monk and Barrett have overlapping styles and competencies. Duke already has Cam Reddish slotted in at SF, and there's no honest pitch to Barrett that doesn't involve him sharing shots with Reddish. He'd have to share at Kentucky, but not as many shots from his own position that would have otherwise been his to take. Finally, if Barrett has any interest in running point for stretches, UK will be the best option. Immanuel Quickley is better equipped to play off the ball than Tre Jones, and Cal emphasizes an offensive style (because we always have the talent to do it) where whoever grabs the ball and leads the break becomes the point guard.
Zion will dominate CBB like no other. Barrett is a better pro in terms of potential ALL time NBAer or whatnot but if I could have one it would be Zion. Good news is we could easily get both.
I enjoy hoops talk Frank. Because we have different allegiances doesn’t mean we can’t have civil rhetoric amongst one another. Btw Claire is a dime. Cheers bud.
There's never a wrong time for a Shawshank Redemption quote."Hope is a beautiful thing. Maybe the best thing...."
There's never a wrong time for a Shawshank Redemption quote.
I don't think this is fair or accurate. There are plenty of former Duke players in the NBA, and some have been stars. I don't feel any jealousy toward Duke or Krzyzewski. Don't need to. UK has the top college basketball program in the country. But no coach will ever sign every star high school player on his list.Cal prepares. K pampers.
The "good as LeBron" is always hyperbole, because I believe LBJ is the best player this game has ever seen. But, Zion Williamson will be unguardable in college. This kid will basically score when he wants to.I've seen this comparison between this kid and Lebron on this board. Is it somewhat accurate or wishful thinking by us? Bron had incredible vision and could run a team from the point. His passing skills at that age was what amazed me. Is Zion anywhere near Lebron at skills or is the kid simply a large body that can move fluidly and dunk with the best? Lebron had a decent mid range jumper too, is Zion comparable there?
We recently hired a consulting company from Atlanta to do some engineering work at our plant and the Project Manager is a Clemson Grad originally from South Carolina. He actually knows Zion Williamson's family and said he's getting a lot of pressure within the state to stay home and that's why Clemson was in the mix to begin with. Said the kid really does want to leave the state so it does sound positive for UK. Take it for what it's worth.Zion will dominate CBB like no other. Barrett is a better pro in terms of potential ALL time NBAer or whatnot but if I could have one it would be Zion. Good news is we could easily get both.
I can't agree with this. I don't care about rankings so much. It comes down to this: what Freshman class would you rather have?
Duke or Kentucky's incoming class?
The way 2018 is shaping up, I say we have a better group of Freshman next year as well.
There is no doubt we are painfully young going into the season and some will question outside shooting, but I'm not trading our 13 man roster for any other in the country straight up. The BBN is in for a fun ride this year.
I mean, if they get tre jones, barrett and reddish, we'd have to hit on essentially all of our big targets for it to even be a question of which class is better. So yeah, if they get Barrett, probably going to rather have their class than whatever we end up with.
No doom and gloom until the classes are completed.
Also, I really don't care who has the top class.
We will have a top 5 class and that is all that matters recruiting wise.
But all I am really worried about is having a better team than Duke (and everyone else) next season.
We will return more players than they will. They should lose their entire starting five and have very little on the bench returning. They will be even more Freshmen reliant next season than this one.
Duke has to have the best guys or they are in trouble. They will have no Seniors on their squad. Junior Bolden will be their veteran leader and he hasn't shown us anything yet.
K needs to have those three studs, plus a couple more if he wants to compete next season.
No doom and gloom until the classes are completed.
Also, I really don't care who has the top class.
We will have a top 5 class and that is all that matters recruiting wise.
But all I am really worried about is having a better team than Duke (and everyone else) next season.
We will return more players than they will. They should lose their entire starting five and have very little on the bench returning. They will be even more Freshmen reliant next season than this one.
Duke has to have the best guys or they are in trouble. They will have no Seniors on their squad. Junior Bolden will be their veteran leader and he hasn't shown us anything yet.
K needs to have those three studs, plus a couple more if he wants to compete next season.
It has come down to us and Duke pretty much cherry-picking the top 10 players every year. Then we can argue who got the best players.I mean, if they get tre jones, barrett and reddish, we'd have to hit on essentially all of our big targets for it to even be a question of which class is better. So yeah, if they get Barrett, probably going to rather have their class than whatever we end up with.
It has come down to us and Duke pretty much cherry-picking the top 10 players every year. Then we can argue who got the best players.
I have posted ad nauseum that I believe Williamson > Barrett. I am also now in the belief that Cal will pul in Bol. ZW, Quickley, Bol is better (IMHO) than any class the asshats in Durham put together
No doom and gloom here. Like I said, it's still Duke and us, then everybody else. Just think if Duke lands Barrett, they're objectively half a notch above us.
Disagree that having a top 5 class is "all that matters". We're in all likelihood going to be top 5 regardless of if we get Barrett, but landing him would obviously add a lot to our team.
For the same reason you can't doom and gloom about our class, you also can't totally project about what classes Duke/UK will need to comprise in order to be "competitive" next year.
If we get Zion and Bol Bol the guys we are heavily favored for. Just like Duke is favored for Barrett. You seem to think us getting the number 2 in the class and the number 3 in the class and we will get those 2. Zion is as much of a lock to us as Barrett is to them. Bol's other two schools are about to go down hard so we are pretty likely to get him as well. Already have the number 10 player in Quickly and if Barrett goes to duke u can almost guarantee we get number 14 Johnson. Most likely get the 27th ranked player in Oneal.I mean, if they get tre jones, barrett and reddish, we'd have to hit on essentially all of our big targets for it to even be a question of which class is better. So yeah, if they get Barrett, probably going to rather have their class than whatever we end up with.
Pitino while at Louisville:There's never a wrong time for a Shawshank Redemption quote.
We recently hired a consulting company from Atlanta to do some engineering work at our plant and the Project Manager is a Clemson Grad originally from South Carolina. He actually knows Zion Williamson's family and said he's getting a lot of pressure within the state to stay home and that's why Clemson was in the mix to begin with. Said the kid really does want to leave the state so it does sound positive for UK. Take it for what it's worth.
Tend to agree with this, though I am not sure how great either will be in the pros if they don't develop consistent jump shots.
Williamson is going to bully his way through a great college career (for one year). Barrett is going to "out athlete" everyone in his one year. Neither will be able to do that in the pros.
Barrett has the higher ceiling, though. He will likely play SG in the pros and has great size for that spot. Just has to get his jumper working and improve his handles a bit to be a legitimate All-Star level SG.
Williamson seems to be an undersized PF right now. Needs to prove he can shoot the 3 in order to play SF in the pros.
But in college, Williamson can be insane. At 6'7-6'8, 240 lbs with his handles... he will be hard to guard.
I would like to get them both, but would take either and smile. Just hope we don't strike out with both.
Who said he plans to wait until Spring? I mean besides the schmoe in this thread.Would help to explain why he plans to wait until Spring.
Williamson is 6'6.
Probably nearer 6'2" (Per a source close to ku....UK doesn't want him..)I have seen him listed at 6'7 and 6'8.
Regardless, he is a beast.
Tyus jones brother is the most overrated kid in this class IMO. I'd take quickly every day and twice on Sunday over that gunner! I admit I underestimated his brother---who played well in the ff, but his brother ain't close to tyus , not in the slightest....imo
Would help to explain why he plans to wait until Spring.
If he commits to UK now, he has to deal with the locals who want him to stay in-state giving him grief everyday.
Keep Clemson on his list and everyone treats him well all season.
Monk should have done the same thing. Would have saved him from dealing with the backlash of choosing UK while playing his Senior year.
Would help to explain why he plans to wait until Spring.
If he commits to UK now, he has to deal with the locals who want him to stay in-state giving him grief everyday.
Keep Clemson on his list and everyone treats him well all season.
Monk should have done the same thing. Would have saved him from dealing with the backlash of choosing UK while playing his Senior year.
I don't think this is fair or accurate. There are plenty of former Duke players in the NBA, and some have been stars. I don't feel any jealousy toward Duke or Krzyzewski. Don't need to. UK has the top college basketball program in the country. But no coach will ever sign every star high school player on his list.