Since it is a dead week until Friday , I thought it would be fun to talk about some what ifs for next season. There will have to be some moving pieces for UK next year. If the recruiting situation stays put, then UK only needs 4 people to leave..which does not seem too unlikely at this point. I might be wrong about the numbers, so please correct me if wrong. Please discuss but here is my look at the situation.
12 Current Scholarship Players; Lee, Poythress, Briscoe, Murray, Ulis, Willis, Hawkins, Skal, Mulder, Humphries, Wynard, Matthews(Floreal will go back to walk-on status)
5 Current Commits; Monk, Fox, Bam, Jones, Wenyen
To get enough room currently, we need 4 people to leave. As of now, I see Poythress, Murray, Ulis, and Skal all leaving.
For Bolden(Or even Skal to stay?) to have a spot:
-Lee would have to transfer(or go pro?). With more depth next year in the front court, his playing time could shrink. But, with more strength and talent around him it could free him up to play to his strengths as a rim protector and a finisher because his weaknesses will not be exposed. He could go to another school and be the star. But going to another school means that he would be exposed more than he would this season and have to adjust to a new system and location and who knows if that is what he would want to do at this point in his life. He could just think that his stock and skill is as high as it will get in college so he could go start making money overseas. Lee is the most interesting case by far.
-Briscoe would have to declare for the draft. Briscoe clearly has a very high upside and he could want to just take his chances in the pros in a weak draft instead of coming back and playing 3rd fiddle again or even coming off the bench. I do not think anyone has had more to gain by coming back than Briscoe. He literally has the athleticism, finishing ability, ball handling skills, and defense to be a pro player. If he develops a jumper, he could become a 1st round pick and that could give him a lot more money and could lead to a longer career in the NBA. I see him coming back and being possibly a solid 2-3 year player.
Then there are more parts that could get interesting if we want to add more and Lee and Briscoe want to stay.
-Willis: Not happening now. He is the 3rd best contributor on this team now and will be a senior leader on next year's team.
Hawkins: Possible, but unlikely in my opinion. UK will once again be short on guard depth next year and he could play a big role off the bench. A senior guard who has played some big minutes in his career with top level defense will definitely have a role on a team with two freshman guards. Also, being a Kentucky boy I'm sure he would want to have a senior day in Rupp Arena.
-Mulder: This is the one that no one is talking about. Mulder is not going to be a contributor ever in his career at UK. He is talented enough to be a star at a smaller school. I think he has not adjusted to the D1 level from juco and may not be a UK guy..not his fault but he is not a fit. I could see him wanting to end his career as a star maybe at a lower level school?
12 Current Scholarship Players; Lee, Poythress, Briscoe, Murray, Ulis, Willis, Hawkins, Skal, Mulder, Humphries, Wynard, Matthews(Floreal will go back to walk-on status)
5 Current Commits; Monk, Fox, Bam, Jones, Wenyen
To get enough room currently, we need 4 people to leave. As of now, I see Poythress, Murray, Ulis, and Skal all leaving.
For Bolden(Or even Skal to stay?) to have a spot:
-Lee would have to transfer(or go pro?). With more depth next year in the front court, his playing time could shrink. But, with more strength and talent around him it could free him up to play to his strengths as a rim protector and a finisher because his weaknesses will not be exposed. He could go to another school and be the star. But going to another school means that he would be exposed more than he would this season and have to adjust to a new system and location and who knows if that is what he would want to do at this point in his life. He could just think that his stock and skill is as high as it will get in college so he could go start making money overseas. Lee is the most interesting case by far.
-Briscoe would have to declare for the draft. Briscoe clearly has a very high upside and he could want to just take his chances in the pros in a weak draft instead of coming back and playing 3rd fiddle again or even coming off the bench. I do not think anyone has had more to gain by coming back than Briscoe. He literally has the athleticism, finishing ability, ball handling skills, and defense to be a pro player. If he develops a jumper, he could become a 1st round pick and that could give him a lot more money and could lead to a longer career in the NBA. I see him coming back and being possibly a solid 2-3 year player.
Then there are more parts that could get interesting if we want to add more and Lee and Briscoe want to stay.
-Willis: Not happening now. He is the 3rd best contributor on this team now and will be a senior leader on next year's team.
Hawkins: Possible, but unlikely in my opinion. UK will once again be short on guard depth next year and he could play a big role off the bench. A senior guard who has played some big minutes in his career with top level defense will definitely have a role on a team with two freshman guards. Also, being a Kentucky boy I'm sure he would want to have a senior day in Rupp Arena.
-Mulder: This is the one that no one is talking about. Mulder is not going to be a contributor ever in his career at UK. He is talented enough to be a star at a smaller school. I think he has not adjusted to the D1 level from juco and may not be a UK guy..not his fault but he is not a fit. I could see him wanting to end his career as a star maybe at a lower level school?
