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Stokes most likely reclassifying

I like our defense better. Louisville is gonan be our 2023-2024 team. Ton of scorers but won’t be able to stop anybody
Exactly. And with us, I saw someone run the advanced metrics. We are projected to have a better than 99th percentile defense. I trust Pope to get us the offense. I think we are national championship good for real if no one is a complete bust
 
I dont get the appeal of UofL right now. I don't care how good Kelsey MIGHT be, hes still pretty unproven. And UofL was a literal dumpster fire for the last few years.. so why are transfers and recruits all the sudden lining up to play there? NIL money? For the same things I sometimes ding UK and KY for.. that all applies of UofL as well. We atleast have a more proven coach, a historic program, bigger fanbase. Very odd.
 
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As for 2026 class,

I think we may be out on Taylen Kinney, we already have two multi-year PG, Lewis and Lowe, doubt he will come here.

The one I do not want to miss is Anthony Thompson, 6-8 athletic shooter, unofficially visited us twice in Pope era. Great fit for our system.

Do not think we can grab Jason Crowe from west coast

As for other prospects we have offered, I am indifferent now.

As of now, there are almost no good frontcourt prospects, could change in incoming AAU games.

Only two I really want: Taylen Kinney (dont think he will come here) and Anthony Thompson
 
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I dont get the appeal of UofL right now. I don't care how good Kelsey MIGHT be, hes still pretty unproven. And UofL was a literal dumpster fire for the last few years.. so why are transfers and recruits all the sudden lining up to play there? NIL money? For the same things I sometimes ding UK and KY for.. that all applies of UofL as well. We atleast have a more proven coach, a historic program, bigger fanbase. Very odd.
It's simple... beaks and cheeks... that's chicken n ass like ole times.
 
Stokes?

Does he know how to stretch? The last Stokes I remember had to learn that on the fly, per Jimmy Dykes, circa 2011.
 
I hate to say it but louisville is gonan be insane next year
I hope they are good enough to at least beat of Duke once or twice so we don't have to listen to the media gush over the Blue Devils being one of the greatest teams in the history of sports because they beat up a bunch of crap teams in the ACC. I don't think I can handle another year of Boozer slurp fest like we did Copper this year.
 
As for 2026 class,

I think we may be out on Taylen Kinney, we already have two multi-year PG, Lewis and Lowe, doubt he will come here.

The one I do not want to miss is Anthony Thompson, 6-8 athletic shooter, unofficially visited us twice in Pope era. Great fit for our system.

Do not think we can grab Jason Crowe from west coast

As for other prospects we have offered, I am indifferent now.

As of now, there are almost no good frontcourt prospects, could change in incoming AAU games.

Only two I really want: Taylen Kinney (dont think he will come here) and Anthony Thompson
NIL just has so many more players in the game these days. I honestly think it was part of Cal's downfall. before NIL, UK and the other blue bloods were the places to go. History and tradition still mattered. Just like the Football Powers where every top rated kid had Bama, UGA, OSU and the like on their lists. Cal's one and done philosophy helped our cause too, in landing top rated players and classes. The proof is in the NBA right now. Then came along NIL and the portal. $$$ started to matter more than history and tradition. More schools with the financial resources started entering the picture. Traditional rich SEC football powers became basketball powers also. More competition for players forced Cal to adapt, he couldn't. He found out he couldn't win without a roster full of One and Dones. He couldn't just out talent everybody. We have the resources to compete with anybody, people that claim otherwise are foolish, but there are just a lot more players in the game now. I'm glad we have a coach who is navigating that and building a roster with depth and great players who mostly seem to be at a similar worth and value when it comes to NIL. I think when you have a roster like that you have far better cohesion and team chemistry. It's the type of formula that won Florida a National Championship and got Houston to the Championship game.
 
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I have no interest in kids re-classifying to get here earlier. We don't need them even younger. The portal is where you get the best actual talent.

I agree.

I always thought expecting big production as a college freshman from a kid who should be a senior in high school is a fool’s errand and a recipe for disappointment.
 
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I agree.

I always thought expecting big production as a college freshman from a kid who should be a senior in high school is a fool’s errand and a recipe for disappointment.
Yep - people would get all excited about it during Cal's time here and I always felt like it just meant we'd be getting a player who wouldn't be as good as he would be one year later.
 
As for 2026 class,

I think we may be out on Taylen Kinney, we already have two multi-year PG, Lewis and Lowe, doubt he will come here.

The one I do not want to miss is Anthony Thompson, 6-8 athletic shooter, unofficially visited us twice in Pope era. Great fit for our system.

Do not think we can grab Jason Crowe from west coast

As for other prospects we have offered, I am indifferent now.

As of now, there are almost no good frontcourt prospects, could change in incoming AAU games.

Only two I really want: Taylen Kinney (dont think he will come here) and Anthony Thompson
Lowe is projected as a first rounder in some mocks don’t be surprised if he’s one and done. Don’t assume anything with this new portal
 
They
I dont get the appeal of UofL right now. I don't care how good Kelsey MIGHT be, hes still pretty unproven. And UofL was a literal dumpster fire for the last few years.. so why are transfers and recruits all the sudden lining up to play there? NIL money? For the same things I sometimes ding UK and KY for.. that all applies of UofL as well. We atleast have a more proven coach, a historic program, bigger fanbase. Very odd.
Easy:

They have donors and Adidas that don't care about any spending limit


They signed the #1 PG in high school right after he signed an Adidas shoe contract
 
If he goes to UL they will be stacked in talent by UL standards. The question for UK fans would be would you rather see UL or Duke win the ACC?
 
I dont get the appeal of UofL right now. I don't care how good Kelsey MIGHT be, hes still pretty unproven. And UofL was a literal dumpster fire for the last few years.. so why are transfers and recruits all the sudden lining up to play there? NIL money? For the same things I sometimes ding UK and KY for.. that all applies of UofL as well. We atleast have a more proven coach, a historic program, bigger fanbase. Very odd.

Louisville does have a brand name. I know we hate them instinctively but they are a top 10 bball program. I don't think the young kids now probably even remember much about the scandal under Pitino that is 10 years old now. Besides, they have an entirely new administration since then.

Houston was in the shitter before Sampson came long. It really depends on the coach and of course money, nowadays. I read that Kelsey is a great salesman, it must be true I guess. I saw him on an interview on one of those talk shows and he said loves talking about money. He's not like the other coaches that hate discussing NIL deals, etc. He said talking money is fun for him.
 
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