The recruit the staff really wanted but lost

[North Carolina Blue Wildcat]

KP hosted a question/answer session at the Father/Son Camp. Someone asked which recruit we lost that the staff really wanted. He opened by saying it definitely wasn't Mohamed Bamba while laughing. He then said there were 2; Stanley Johnson and Marques Bolden. Looks like we dodged a bullet with Bolden but would've been nice to have Johnson.

 

[Robcatt24]

Wiggins.

 

[Montana81]

Yeah hard to believe if you could pick one it wouldn't have been Wiggins hands down.

I mean, we lost in the title game that year. Wiggins very easily could have meant another championship.

I think Cal would have gotten more out of him than Self as well.

 

[brianpoe]

Wiggins.

Yeah hard to believe if you could pick one it wouldn't have been Wiggins hands down.

I mean, we lost in the title game that year. Wiggins very easily could have meant another championship.

I think Cal would have gotten more out of him than Self as well.

Had we not gotten Young, Wiggins would have been close to the top I assume. Not to mention, we dont know if that relationship went sour at the end and KP wont bring him up.

 

[North Carolina Blue Wildcat]

Yeah hard to believe if you could pick one it wouldn't have been Wiggins hands down.

I mean, we lost in the title game that year. Wiggins very easily could have meant another championship.

I think Cal would have gotten more out of him than Self as well.

Was surprised by KP's answer as well. Was thinking it would've been an area of greatest need. These could've been the greatest need at the time since I'm comparing to the final roster.

 

[brianpoe]

I would add Xavier Henry was a big loss at the time once Jodie left and later Jaylon Brown.

 

[TM2013]

Pretty much every big-time small forward other than Gilchrist and Young

 

[BoxterS]

Luke Kennard

 

[Fawrules]

Pretty much every big-time small forward other than Gilchrist and Young

Well, Knox, now.

 

[Smashcat]

Well, Knox, now.

Yep. We need to follow him up with Reddish.

 

[Mojocat]

KP hosted a question/answer session at the Father/Son Camp. Someone asked which recruit we lost that the staff really wanted. He opened by saying it definitely wasn't Mohamed Bamba while laughing. He then said there were 2; Stanley Johnson and Marques Bolden. Looks like we dodged a bullet with Bolden but would've been nice to have Johnson.

He also mentioned the kid we lost to UCLA, I forget the name. Got accused of something shady, didn't accomplish much, left early, hasn't done much in the NBA.

Edit: Shabazz Muhammed, had to look it up...

 

[North Carolina Blue Wildcat]

He also mentioned the kid we lost to UCLA, I forget the name. Got accused of something shady, didn't accomplish much, left early, hasn't done much in the NBA.

Edit: Shabazz Muhammed, had to look it up...

Yeah, forgot about that one....hope you guys had a great time. I'm taking it easy today....getting too old for back to back days of basketball.

 

[irishcat1965]

Cal has had uncanny fortune being able to steer clear of problem players at UK. I hope it continues.

 

[Bluemoon725]

Wiggins I think would've been number one

Stanley Johnson IMO comes in at second. Add him to that squad and I think UK goes 40-0.

 

[Cat Ballou]

Interesting response from Kenny, because the implication is he could have made a monster out of Marques Bolden.

Also imagine if we had signed Bolden and Adebayo had been able to play the position at which he is going to excel in the NBA - Power Forward.

Bolden picking Duke may have been one of the worst college decisions ever. He may finally develop into an NBA player, but I have no doubt Kenny would have made him into a draft pick after one year.

Moral of the story is - kids, don't let your Mom - particularly if she admittedly knows nothing about basketball - make your college choice for you.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

Wiggins
Henry
Shabazz
Brown
Stanley Johnson
Zimmerman

 

[gracetoyou]

I would add Xavier Henry was a big loss at the time once Jodie left and later Jaylon Brown.

Before KP's time....but agree. He has the needed shooter

 

[FrankUnderwood]

Before KP's time....but agree. He has the needed shooter

Yeppp. If we had landed him ?? We win it all I think . We land him AND Meeks stays? Woahhh

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Swanigan would have been nice here as a freshman and let Skal play PF. Would of been a much better team.

Also by us slow playing Allen really cost us big time, prob a title. Bam at PF and Allen at center would have been fun to watch.

 

[North Carolina Blue Wildcat]

Interesting response from Kenny, because the implication is he could have made a monster out of Marques Bolden.

Also imagine if we had signed Bolden and Adebayo had been able to play the position at which he is going to excel in the NBA - Power Forward.

Bolden picking Duke may have been one of the worst college decisions ever. He may finally develop into an NBA player, but I have no doubt Kenny would have made him into a draft pick after one year.

Moral of the story is - kids, don't let your Mom - particularly if she admittedly knows nothing about basketball - make your college choice for you.

Good take..I think Bolden would have been a different player here. We have the best big man staff in the country in my opinion and many examples to back up the claim.

 

[Orange Soda King]

Wiggins
Henry
Shabazz
Brown
Stanley Johnson
Zimmerman

I wanted Swanigan more than Zimmerman.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

I wanted Swanigan more than Zimmerman.

Ya- he turned out to be a beast. Should have included him in my list

I think Zimmerman would have helped us greatly that year as well

 

[gracetoyou]

Swanigan would have been nice here as a freshman and let Skal play PF. Would of been a much better team.

Also by us slow playing Allen really cost us big time, prob a title. Bam at PF and Allen at center would have been fun to watch.

Baby face softy Bolden cost us that!

 

[WildMoon]

All the wings we missed out on...

I can't believe we pulled in so many this time around.

 

[North Carolina Blue Wildcat]

All the wings we missed out on...

I can't believe we pulled in so many this time around.

Not your typical wings..Knox is a freaking monster. Basically the same height as Richards, Gabriel etc...Imagine having to be the one to guard him outside the the paint!!!

 

[Coach CALzone]

Will Barton.

 

[Fawrules]

Will Barton.

Blessing in disguise. Ended up landing Lamb who was better for us, stayed two seasons, went to a Final Four and was the leading scorer on a championship team.

 

[wildcatswag]

No Miles Bridges anywhere in this thread? A Fox, Monk, Bridges, and Bam woulda been a hell of a core and I think we woulda got #9 with him

 

[KyFaninNC]

The Cal era, or in history?

 

[North Carolina Blue Wildcat]

The Cal era, or in history?

This would be since KP has been here. If I could ask another question I would ask if his comments would be supported by the other coaches or would they have others to add. I'll assume this is just the ones he felt were the biggest misses.

 

[morgousky]

Cal has had uncanny fortune being able to steer clear of problem players at UK. I hope it continues.

It tells me that these coaches know full well where the risk are. To an extent, that goes for Cal and Rose too.

Cal has been clean of it at UK because he doesn't have to take the chance. Programs matter, and for those that float the idea that they don't, Cal / Pitino just proved it. Plenty of evidence to verify it

 

[bigbluelou]

Dating myself here but I think we were close on Ralph Sampson.

Also, just missed on Chris Webber, though that also turned out to be a blessing in disguise.