Transfer Portal BIG BOARD - Player Ratings Thread

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

So as of right now we are #3 in the portal transfers in America behind only Kansas and IU. We are #1 in the SEC. And on top of that we are only halfway done.

 

[Eight_Banners]

So as of right now we are #3 in the portal transfers in America behind only Kansas and IU. We are #1 in the SEC. And on top of that we are only halfway done.

Obviously, numbers don't tell the whole story, but they do tell some of it. Right now, I like the direction of Kentucky basketball for next year.

 

[Eight_Banners]

So as of right now we are #3 in the portal transfers in America behind only Kansas and IU. We are #1 in the SEC. And on top of that we are only halfway done.

And actually, I did a numbers comparison with Kansas, and even with Hunter Dickinson added to their team of portal players, our PER and DRtg are better than KU, and our offense only 0.3 lower.

 

[Eight_Banners]

So as of right now we are #3 in the portal transfers in America behind only Kansas and IU. We are #1 in the SEC. And on top of that we are only halfway done.

Building a Contender - The Final Pieces

Updated 4/30/2024 (Brandon Garrison Edition) With the roster shaping up, here are the final pieces needed for Kentucky to build a contender in 2024-25. If you are familiar with some of my recent posts, I have been looking heavily at the metrics of portal players, examining them in light of high...

kentucky.forums.rivals.com

 

[NerlensCat]

UPDATED 4/30/2024

Here is a breakdown of the top portal players, as ranked by 247sports.com, and then as ranked by player efficiency ratings (PER) from 2023-24. I have chosen the PER as the best rating method, because this metric shows the most likelihood of a player's continued success throughout their career, and because when you look at the top PERs from 2023-24, nine of the ten players were on NCAA tournament teams, two of them being in the NCAA Championship game. Here were the top PERs from 2023-24:

Last Name	First Name	Position	PER
Edey	Zach	C	39.3​
Clingan	Donovan	C	34.8​
Broome	Johni	F	32.5​
DaRon	Holmes	F	31.7​
Goldin	Vladislav	C	31.3​
Mogbo	Jonathan	F	31.2​
Freeman	Enrique	F	31.1​
Achor	Achor	F	30.8​
Pember	Drew	F	30.7​
Minix	Riley	F	30.7​

Mogbo, out of San Francisco, was the only player with a top-10 PER whose team didn't make the tournament. Notice, Vladislav Goldin was in the top-10 and is currently in the transfer portal, currently trending Michigan.


Here are the current top-25 players in the transfer portal, according to 247sports.com, with their rankings based on PER following (NOTE: Out of 150+ portal player's PERs, the average is 17.3, meaning anything over 17.3 is an above average player --- below average highlighted in red):

1. Johnell Davis --- PER Rank 16 - 22.7
2. Great Osobor --- PER Rank 9 - 25.5
3. Chaz Lanier --- PER Rank 11 - 24.6 - NEW to top-25 04/26/2024 - was moved to #3 from #8
4. Norchad Omier ---- PER Rank 4 - 26.8 - NEW to top-25 04/29/2024
5. Kadary Richmond --- PER Rank 13 - 23.5 - NEW to top-25 04/29/2024
6. Javon Small --- PER Rank 57- 17.8 - dropped to #6 04/29/2024
7. Clifford Omoruyi --- PER Rank 22 - 21.7
8. Dillon Mitchell --- PER Rank 44 - 18.6
9. Wooga Poplar --- PER Rank 76 --- 15.1
10. Jaylen Wells ---- PER Rank 39 --- 18.6
11. Adou Thiero --- PER Rank 61 - 17.7
12. DJ Wagner --- PER Rank 95 - 12.7
13. Khalif Battle --- PER Rank 26 - 21.1
14. Desmond Claude --- PER Rank 73 ---- 15.9
15. Deivon Smith --- PER Rank 20 - 22.1
16. TJ Bamba --- PER Rank 86 - 14.6
17. TJ Power --- PER Rank 107 - 10.8
18. Sean Stewart --- PER Rank 18 - 22.9
19. Elijah Hawkins --- PER Rank 77 - 15.9
20. Trazarien White --- PER Rank 6 - 26.2
21. AJ Hoggard ---- PER Rank 57 - 17.7
22. Tyrin Lawrence --- PER Rank 72 - 16.4
23. Bronny James --- PER Rank 100+ --- 10.3
24. Garwey Dual --- PER Rank 100+ --- 7.9
25. Wesley Yates --- PER Unranked, no statistics, DNP 2023-24



8. Jonas Aidoo --- PER Rank 14 - 23.0 to Arkansas
10. Aidan Mahaney --- PER Rank 92 - 13.6 to UCONN
11. Brandon Garrison --- PER Rank 59 - 17.8 to Kentucky
15. Otega Oweh --- PER Rank 63 - 17.5 to Kentucky
15. Cade Tyson --- PER Rank 30 - 20.7 to UNC
14. Rylan Griffen --- PER Rank 80 - 15.5 to Kansas
15. Vladislav Goldin --- PER Rank 1 - 31.3 to Michigan
16. Felix Okpara --- PER Rank 44 - 18.6 to Tennessee
18. Andrej Stojakovic --- PER Rank 114 - 9.8 to California
25. Marcus Hill --- PER Rank 40 - 19.3 to NC State
Jalen Blackmon --- PER Rank 27 - 21.1 to Miami

Ranked by PER, factoring in only those players who played 200+ minutes throughout the season, with Kentucky commits or pursuits highlighted in blue:

UPDATED 4/30/2024

1. Amari Williams (C) - 28.5
2. JT Toppin (PF) - 27.4
3. Aubin Gateretse (C) - 26.8
4. Norchad Omier (F) - 26.8 - NEW 04/26
5. Tyreek Smith (PF) - 26.2 - NEW 04/26
6. Trazarien White (F) - 26.2
7. DJ Burns (PF) - 25.9
8. Ja'Von Benson (PF) - 25.9
9. Great Osobor (PF) - 25.5
10. Matt Cross (SF) - 25.5
11. Chaz Lanier (G) - 24.6
12. Anthony Dell'Orso (SF) - 24.3
13. Kadary Richmond (G) - 23.5 - NEW 04/26
14. Johnell Davis (G) - 22.7
15. Jamarii Thomas (G) - 22.7
16. Sean Stewart (PF) - 22.5
17. Nana Owusu-Anane (PF) - 22.3
18. Deivon Smith (G) - 22.1
19. Ben Humrichous (SF) - 21.8
20. Clifford Omoruyi (C) - 21.7
21. Mohamed Wague (PF) - 21.5
22. Duncan Powell (C) - 21.4
23. Tobe Awaka (PF) - 21.3
24. Khalif Battle (G) - 21.1
25. Nikita Konstantynovsky (C) - 20.9

Out of the top-25 (4/30/2024)
Brycen Goodine (G) - 20.8




I'll add and update as players commit or more transfers add.

Holy Cow!! Great info! Thanks

 

[Eight_Banners]

Holy Cow!! Great info! Thanks

Bro, did you really join CATSillustrated the night Nerlens tore his ACL, and then used his name in your moniker?

 

[MidseasonTweak]

So as of right now we are #3 in the portal transfers in America behind only Kansas and IU. We are #1 in the SEC. And on top of that we are only halfway done.

Not bad for a program with a completely devoid roster and new coach.

 

[NerlensCat]

Bro, did you really join CATSillustrated the night Nerlens tore his ACL, and then used his name in your moniker?

To be honest, I can’t remember if that is what spurred me to join, but I loved NerlensCat heart and defensive presence. He was awesome in that Ole Miss game. I really enjoy watching good defense because it takes a dedication and work ethic most guys aren’t willing to make, especially if they think it will hurt their offensive output. Thanks again for the analytics!

 

[Eight_Banners]

To be honest, I can’t remember if that is what spurred me to join, but I loved NerlensCat heart and defensive presence. He was awesome in that Ole Miss game. I really enjoy watching good defense because it takes a dedication and work ethic most guys aren’t willing to make, especially if they think it will hurt their offensive output. Thanks again for the analytics!

Your profile says you joined Feb. 12. 2013. That is the night Nerlens tore his ACL at Floriday.

 

[Eight_Banners]

UPDATED 05/01/2024:

Removed:

Johnell Davis - to Arkansas
Elijah Hawkins - to Texas Tech

 

[TankedCat]

click on pic to see by position

 

[Eight_Banners]

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I wonder what his numbers are based on. I agree with a few but there are some big differences.

 

[Creed Bratton]

Will UK have any interest in Ven-Allen Lubin from Vandy? Averaged 12 ppg and 6 rpg last year. He's a 6-8 forward but only shot 33% on 13-39 from 3.

 

[Eight_Banners]

Will UK have any interest in Ven-Allen Lubin from Vandy? Averaged 12 ppg and 6 rpg last year. He's a 6-8 forward but only shot 33% on 13-39 from 3.

He has above average numbers. Unless you have information I don', I would imagine the PF position is dependent upon Osobor's decision. Personally, I would be all over JT Toppin making him tell me no.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

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See that Power is still available. The type of high ceiling player that could bust out in a year or two. Either him or Toppin would give us that fourth big we need and they have three years left.

 

[lazycat75]

Update we got the number 1 portal class as of now! #BBN

 

[Eight_Banners]

Update we got the number 1 portal class as of now! #BBN

If we land Brea and Osobor, I'd say you're right.

 

[NerlensCat]

Your profile says you joined Feb. 12. 2013. That is the night Nerlens tore his ACL at Floriday.

That was definitely why because I was watching when it happened. Broke my sole. He lacked a lot on the offensive end, but he was a generational type shot blocker/ball hawk! I wonder what his +/- was?

 

[lazycat75]

If we land Brea and Osobor, I'd say you're right.

Just with Brea we moved up to one is what I just seen

 

[TX-Wildcat]

 

[Eight_Banners]

View embedded media

A great system working here we have

 

[Eight_Banners]

UPDATED 5/2/2024

Here is a breakdown of the top portal players, as ranked by 247sports.com, and then as ranked by player efficiency ratings (PER) from 2023-24. I have chosen the PER as the best rating method, because this metric shows the most likelihood of a player's continued success throughout their career, and because when you look at the top PERs from 2023-24, nine of the ten players were on NCAA tournament teams, two of them being in the NCAA Championship game. Here were the top PERs from 2023-24:

Last Name	First Name	Position	PER
Edey	Zach	C	39.3​
Clingan	Donovan	C	34.8​
Broome	Johni	F	32.5​
DaRon	Holmes	F	31.7​
Goldin	Vladislav	C	31.3​
Mogbo	Jonathan	F	31.2​
Freeman	Enrique	F	31.1​
Achor	Achor	F	30.8​
Pember	Drew	F	30.7​
Minix	Riley	F	30.7​

Mogbo, out of San Francisco, was the only player with a top-10 PER whose team didn't make the tournament. Notice, Vladislav Goldin was in the top-10 and is currently in the transfer portal, currently trending Michigan.


Here are the current top-25 players in the transfer portal, according to 247sports.com, with their rankings based on PER following (NOTE: Out of 150+ portal player's PERs, the average is 17.3, meaning anything over 17.3 is an above average player --- below average highlighted in red):

1. Great Osobor --- PER Rank 9 - 25.5
2. Norchad Omier ---- PER Rank 4 - 26.8
3. Kadary Richmond --- PER Rank 13 - 23.5
4. Chaz Lanier --- PER Rank 11 - 24.6
5. Clifford Omoruyi --- PER Rank 22 - 21.7
6. Dillon Mitchell --- PER Rank 44 - 18.6
7. Wooga Poplar --- PER Rank 76 --- 15.1
8. Jaylen Wells ---- PER Rank 39 --- 18.6
9. Adou Thiero --- PER Rank 61 - 17.7
10. DJ Wagner --- PER Rank 95 - 12.7
11. Khalif Battle --- PER Rank 26 - 21.1
12. Desmond Claude --- PER Rank 73 ---- 15.9
13. Deivon Smith --- PER Rank 20 - 22.1
14. JT Toppin ---- PER Rank #1 - 27.4
15. Jaxson Robinson ---- Per Rank 75 - 16.3
16. TJ Bamba --- PER Rank 86 - 14.6
17. TJ Power --- PER Rank 107 - 10.8
18. Sean Stewart --- PER Rank 18 - 22.9
19. Trazarien White --- PER Rank 6 - 26.2
20. AJ Hoggard ---- PER Rank 57 - 17.7
21. Miles Kelly --- PER Rank 92 - 13.3
22. Tyrin Lawrence --- PER Rank 72 - 16.4
23. Bronny James --- PER Rank 100+ --- 10.3
24. Garwey Dual --- PER Rank 100+ --- 7.9
25. Wesley Yates --- no PER, no stats in 2023-24



5. Javon Small --- PER Rank 57- 17.8 - dropped to #6 04/29/2024 to West Virginia
8. Jonas Aidoo --- PER Rank 14 - 23.0 to Arkansas
10. Aidan Mahaney --- PER Rank 92 - 13.6 to UCONN
11. Brandon Garrison --- PER Rank 59 - 17.8 to Kentucky
15. Otega Oweh --- PER Rank 63 - 17.5 to Kentucky
15. Cade Tyson --- PER Rank 30 - 20.7 to UNC
14. Rylan Griffen --- PER Rank 80 - 15.5 to Kansas
15. Vladislav Goldin --- PER Rank 1 - 31.3 to Michigan
16. Felix Okpara --- PER Rank 44 - 18.6 to Tennessee
18. Andrej Stojakovic --- PER Rank 114 - 9.8 to California
25. Marcus Hill --- PER Rank 40 - 19.3 to NC State
Jalen Blackmon --- PER Rank 27 - 21.1 to Miami

Ranked by PER, factoring in only those players who played 200+ minutes throughout the season, with Kentucky commits or pursuits highlighted in blue:

UPDATED 5/2/2024

1. Amari Williams (C) - 28.5
2. JT Toppin (PF) - 27.4
3. Aubin Gateretse (C) - 26.8
4. Norchad Omier (F) - 26.8 -
5. Tyreek Smith (PF) - 26.2 -
6. Trazarien White (F) - 26.2
7. DJ Burns (PF) - 25.9
8. Ja'Von Benson (PF) - 25.9
9. Great Osobor (PF) - 25.5
10. Matt Cross (SF) - 25.5
11. Chaz Lanier (G) - 24.6
12. Anthony Dell'Orso (SF) - 24.3
13. Kadary Richmond (G) - 23.5
14. Jamarii Thomas (G) - 22.7
15. Sean Stewart (PF) - 22.5
16. Nana Owusu-Anane (PF) - 22.3
17. Deivon Smith (G) - 22.1
18. Clifford Omoruyi (C) - 21.7
19. Mohamed Wague (PF) - 21.5
20. Duncan Powell (C) - 21.4
21. Tobe Awaka (PF) - 21.3
22. Khalif Battle (G) - 21.1
23. Nikita Konstantynovsky (C) - 20.9
24. Dwom Odom (PG) - 20.9
25. Brycen Goodin (G) - 20.8






I'll add and update as players commit or more transfers add.

Kentucky's Roster as of 5/2:

PG: Lamont Butler / Kerr Kriisa
SG: Koby Brea / Collin Chandler / Travis Perry / Otega Oweh
SF:
PF: Andrew Carr
C: Amari Williams / Brandon Garrison


Reading between the lines of Mark Pope's comments about leaving spots open for those in the draft, and the need of a SF, I'd say our last addition before letting walk-ons fill the final spots is Jaylen Wells.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Kentucky's Roster as of 5/2:

PG: Lamont Butler / Kerr Kriisa
SG: Koby Brea / Collin Chandler / Travis Perry / Otega Oweh
SF:
PF: Andrew Carr
C: Amari Williams / Brandon Garrison


Reading between the lines of Mark Pope's comments about leaving spots open for those in the draft, and the need of a SF, I'd say our last addition before letting walk-ons fill the final spots is Jaylen Wells.

So if we get Poplar he would be the three, kinda how Reeves was last season? Then if we got Wells and Poplar would it be too crowded?

 

[Eight_Banners]

So if we get Poplar he would be the three, kinda how Reeves was last season? Then if we got Wells and Poplar would it be too crowded?

I haven't been following the Wooga talks much. And, I spoke a little hastily about Wells, forgetting about Robinson. I did a quick look at the conversation about Wooga and my thoughts are we land two of the three: Poplar/Robinson/Wells.

My preferred order would be Wells, Robinson, Poplar. Adding Poplar, however, would give us one of the strongest backcourts in the nation.

There could be a few more surprises headed our way. Achor Achor added his name to the portal. He was a top-8 player last year and a Forward. If we added Poplar and Achor, we would have one of the best backcourts in the nation, and probably the best frontcourt.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Poplar would probably thrive in this offense with the way he shoots the ball. A mature player and a great stroke would just add another weapon to have to deal with.

 

[Eight_Banners]

Poplar would probably thrive in this offense with the way he shoots the ball. A mature player and a great stroke would just add another weapon to have to deal with.

It would also be nice to get a player that could be here for multiple years. I don't think the above three mentioned meet that criteria.

JT Toppin would be my #1 choice to add to our roster. He's going to be a sophomore. The only hesitation with him is that he would be NBA bound in 2025, so it works itself out the same either way.

 

[TX-Wildcat]

JT Toppin just became the best available player.

JT Toppin Overview

Not saying we missed, as I love our team. However, JT Toppin is putting together a heck of a Sophomore season at Texas Tech. Went for 22 pts 18 rebounds in a 1 point loss to St. Jose’s last night. Has only shot 4 3-pointers over 5 games, but is a basket getter and works hard for rebounds. Fun player to watch! Stats to start the season….

GP	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
5	25.8	70.5	50.0	72.7	11.2	1.0	1.8	1.6	2.6	2.4	20.8

Likely NBA bound next season at this pace.

 

[Smashcat]

Popular transfer Trazerian White, who helped his UNCW team beat UK, 😐 leads TCU in scoring.

 

[Ron Mehico]

^^^ It’s clear to me players like the last two posted would be far superior to 99% of incoming five star transfers and the key to winning in the modern world of college bball imo

 

[yoshukai]

^^^ It’s clear to me players like the last two posted would be far superior to 99% of incoming five star transfers and the key to winning in the modern world of college bball imo

Absolutely