The UK offer

[coolcat9lives]

I've noticed a growing trend with recruits, it's probably been going on for two or three recruiting seasons now. It seems like top prospects are working for the scholarship offer from Kentucky as more of a status symbol confirming their elite level talent. I just noticed this comment from a recruit last week that struck me:

"They're (UK) just so high major," Tillman said last week from the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Virginia. "They're always that top team. If they ever give you interest, it's like you have to go there, just to see it." -Xavier Tillman 2017

There are quite a few statements out there like that from recruits (don't have time to research and gather). From what we've seen with 2015 recruiting it seems like players are trying to use UK to add excitement to their recruitment or as a way to bump their profile. I'm confident that after this year, recruits will see that a very small amount of guys that spurned Kentucky had good years. Hopefully Cal will be able to flip the negative recruiting on its head.

 

[Neue Regel]

I've noticed a growing trend with recruits, it's probably been going on for two or three recruiting seasons now. It seems like top prospects are working for the scholarship offer from Kentucky as more of a status symbol confirming their elite level talent. I just noticed this comment from a recruit last week that struck me:

"They're (UK) just so high major," Tillman said last week from the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Virginia. "They're always that top team. If they ever give you interest, it's like you have to go there, just to see it." -Xavier Tillman 2017

There are quite a few statements out there like that from recruits (don't have time to research and gather). From what we've seen with 2015 recruiting it seems like players are trying to use UK to add excitement to their recruitment or as a way to bump their profile. I'm confident that after this year, recruits will see that a very small amount of guys that spurned Kentucky had good years. Hopefully Cal will be able to flip the negative recruiting on its head.

Oh they absolutely do. I was bitching about this several years ago when I first noticed it going on.. Some of these kids will keep that elite name on their list just to milk the prestige off the name, (hey if Kentucky wants me I must be super great!) even if deep down they may have no intention of attending that particular school but they love the extra attention that being associated with certain schools gets them.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I posted about this the other day.

It's a badge of honor to get a UK offer.

It's also becoming en vogue to turn down a UK offer and say "I followed my own path."

We just need a top recruit to pick us and it will get back to normal.

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

Ya'll have a jaded perspective on this, IMO. I bet very few are actually using the UK offer to boost their stock. If UK offers they're likely already a top 25 talent and everyone is already after them.

Besides, why hate on a kid for flaunting the interest, if that's what they're doing? If you get a job offer from a Fortune 500 company are you not going to feel pretty good about yourself?

 

[coolcat9lives]

Ya'll have a jaded perspective on this, IMO. I bet very few are actually using the UK offer to boost their stock. If UK offers they're likely already a top 25 talent and everyone is already after them.

Besides, why hate on a kid for flaunting the interest, if that's what they're doing? If you get a job offer from a Fortune 500 company are you not going to feel pretty good about yourself?

Cal only offered a handful of prospects in 2015. I want to say around 10-12. If even 3 or 4 of them used the UK offer to boost their stock it effected UK's recruiting. It could throw off the whole thought process of another recruit that may be considering UK legitimately. A top 25 player does not equal sure fire and not every blue blood gets involved with every top recruit. It seems like a lot of recruits that Cal coaches receive an NBA bump in regards to their stock (i.e WCS and Devin Booker). Seems like recruits are trying to receive that bump without actually going to UK now.

If I got a job offer from a Fortune 500 company I would accept it if I wanted it or turn it down and move on. I wouldn't string the company along until most of their other candidates have looked elsewhere. That's what bothers me about it. It's not about hating on the kid, its the entire way recruits look at UK now. The UK offer is a right of passage for the elite athlete even if they have no plans to end up in Lexington.

 

[Smashcat]

I've noticed a growing trend with recruits, it's probably been going on for two or three recruiting seasons now. It seems like top prospects are working for the scholarship offer from Kentucky as more of a status symbol confirming their elite level talent. I just noticed this comment from a recruit last week that struck me:

"They're (UK) just so high major," Tillman said last week from the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Virginia. "They're always that top team. If they ever give you interest, it's like you have to go there, just to see it." -Xavier Tillman 2017

There are quite a few statements out there like that from recruits (don't have time to research and gather). From what we've seen with 2015 recruiting it seems like players are trying to use UK to add excitement to their recruitment or as a way to bump their profile. I'm confident that after this year, recruits will see that a very small amount of guys that spurned Kentucky had good years. Hopefully Cal will be able to flip the negative recruiting on its head.

It is a status thing but in the case of Tillman he's already visited twice as well. Good sign.

 

[coolcat9lives]

It is a status thing but in the case of Tillman he's already visited twice as well. Good sign.

I hope so Smashcat. UK and Cal just need a little mojo to swing back their way that's all. I'm not necessarily trying to single Tillman out I just found the quote to be the perfect explanation on how recruits look at the UK offer.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Ya'll have a jaded perspective on this, IMO. I bet very few are actually using the UK offer to boost their stock. If UK offers they're likely already a top 25 talent and everyone is already after them.

Besides, why hate on a kid for flaunting the interest, if that's what they're doing? If you get a job offer from a Fortune 500 company are you not going to feel pretty good about yourself?

But we are the Fortune 500 company. How long do you stay a Fortune 500 company if the best and brightest keep deciding to go elsewhere? At some point your business is no longer a top notch company if you can't get top notch talent.

I'm not looking at it from the kids perspective, I am looking at it from our perspective.

I can't blame the kid, but it is hurting us that these kids are choosing to go try their luck at a smaller less reputable company instead of our Fortune 500 company.

I think Cal will right the ship soon. I expect stellar classes in 2016 and 2017. Once kids start to see that the platoon system was a one year thing and that Cal is going to play his top 6-7 guys, they will start to go back to picking UK again.

Once one does, others will follow. I think Simmons might be the 2016 kid that changes our fortunes.

 

[Katwatcher]

Cal only offered a handful of prospects in 2015. I want to say around 10-12. If even 3 or 4 of them used the UK offer to boost their stock it effected UK's recruiting. It could throw off the whole thought process of another recruit that may be considering UK legitimately. A top 25 player does not equal sure fire and not every blue blood gets involved with every top recruit. It seems like a lot of recruits that Cal coaches receive an NBA bump in regards to their stock (i.e WCS and Devin Booker). Seems like recruits are trying to receive that bump without actually going to UK now.

If I got a job offer from a Fortune 500 company I would accept it if I wanted it or turn it down and move on. I wouldn't string the company along until most of their other candidates have looked elsewhere. That's what bothers me about it. It's not about hating on the kid, its the entire way recruits look at UK now. The UK offer is a right of passage for the elite athlete even if they have no plans to end up in Lexington.[/QUOT

All of you guys have made some good points about why these elite recruits have turned away from UK. after being on their list for some time. I think the opposing coaches have started using the same type of recruiting jargon they hear from UK. After seeing a drop in playing time last year for UK's players , the recruits are looking harder for more playing time. Also not winning Championship did not help matters any either.

I think there are a lot more simpler answers. I keep hearing about more offers, what else is there to offer unless its promised 'starting or playing time'? No one gets to hear the recruiting pitches made by coaches. jmho

 

[jrpross]

I posted about this the other day.

It's a badge of honor to get a UK offer.

It's also becoming en vogue to turn down a UK offer and say "I followed my own path."

We just need a top recruit to pick us and it will get back to normal.

i think this is a big part of the spurnings this year honestly. After the last 2 years it almost became TOO cool to join Kentucky. It's like people who like non-mainstream things JUST to say "look what an independent thinker I am!" They figure 'everybody goes to Kentucky so I'm gonna be different because I don't follow the crowd.'

After this year I expect it to pick up again.

 

[catfaninsc]

Nothing new here. It has been going on for a while. It increases the chatter and what if among fan bases, pundents and the talking heads. Increases their social media presence. It also satisfies the "look at me" part of their personality and also allows them to play one school off of another to possibly get an offer from the school that they actually want to go to whether it is KY or not.

 

[Xception]

Oh they absolutely do. I was bitching about this several years ago when I first noticed it going on.. Some of these kids will keep that elite name on their list just to milk the prestige off the name, (hey if Kentucky wants me I must be super great!) even if deep down they may have no intention of attending that particular school but they love the extra attention that being associated with certain schools gets them.

I think if an elite coach/school wants a player then they should press a little for a commitment to weed out players that have no intention of attending . To be fair it works both ways , coaches cultivate relationships with players as a backup plan . That in and of itself can be seen as a good coaching maneuver or stringing a player along until another decides .

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Just another reason I am glad to see Cal pushing harder for early commits. Getting a few guys very early that wants to be here the most, and save a scholly or two at most for the game players, undeciders and the loafers.