Travis Perry to the portal

[bthaunert]

So please explain to me how the homegrown Kentucky effect was of no consequence when Johnson and Moreno made their decision to stay at home.

Jasper Johnson "Though Alabama and North Carolina heavily recruited him, Johnson said it was simple: Kentucky is "where my heart was really at" as he sifted through his options. "I always wanted to be able to play for the University of Kentucky," he said.

Malachi Moreno committed to the University of Kentucky (UK) because "growing up in Kentucky, you always wanted to put on that Kentucky uniform," he said. He stated that "just being able to go there and wear 'Kentucky' across my chest means the world to me," adding that it was "a feeling" that he wanted to play for the Wildcats. The other schools that offered him a basketball scholarship were Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.

Hyperbole? I think not. We'll just agree to disagree.

I've said in my other response to you that it is a reason they come here initially. I agreed with you on that. What is not the same is guys staying here, sitting the bench and getting recruited over just so they can wear the UK jersey. The days of Brandon Stockton, Josh Carrier, Chris Harrison, etc. are a thing of the past imo. If Johnson and Moreno don't get the PT they think they should get, or get recruited over, the importance of wearing Kentucky across the chest diminishes drastically nowadays.

 

[Digger-Cat]

Is there a chance he is just in the portal to see what kind of offers/money gets thrown his way and may still return to UK?

Is that even possible?

Yeah, there's a chance he's just fishing, which is what he should do.

 

[megablue]

I've said in my other response to you that it is a reason they come here initially. I agreed with you on that. What is not the same is guys staying here, sitting the bench and getting recruited over just so they can wear the UK jersey. The days of Brandon Stockton, Josh Carrier, Chris Harrison, Josh Carrier, etc. are a thing of the past imo. If Johnson and Moreno don't get the PT they think they should get, or get recruited over, the importance of wearing Kentucky across the chest diminishes drastically nowadays.

I really don't see how anyone can argue with you over this post. It is a simple reality now, with NIL$$$ and the ability to transfer for immediate playing time. Most kids, from Kentucky or elsewhere, realize wearing a jersey means little if you do not get to play in it.

 

[bthaunert]

Is there a chance he is just in the portal to see what kind of offers/money gets thrown his way and may still return to UK?

Is that even possible?

I don't believe it's a money thing. I believe it's a playing time thing.

 

[FilsonCat]

If you figured that anyone might stay just to be part of the program, it would be Perry. Those days seem to be numbered. I was hoping he'd stay and work on his game.

 

[SkyPrince1]

Perry just never seemed to be having fun on the court the way Noah and Chandler did.
He always seemed tight probably because he was being asked to play a position he just wasn't up for.

 

[Sparkaces1]

Yes. You realize that Travis Perry led a tiny high school team to a state championship? He's not helpless. He does have to have some floor level of decent talent to do that.

Max Green went to Holy Cross and was allowed to take 12+ shots per game. You think Perry won't get off that many in the MVC?

There were 2 other D1 players on his tiny little team. If he goes to a midmajor and scores 20 a game make sure and let me know.

 

[catlogic15]

I see where Perry ranks 244 in the portal. It’ll be interesting to see who bites. I’m thinking he’ll land at a non-P4 school but maybe.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

I hate to see him leave, but wish him well. I hope he lands on his feet and hits the ground running.

 

[Cats192]

I keep people talk about Pope using Perry as a point guard--and they keep acting like that was "part of the problem."

I really struggle with this being presented as a problem.

He's 6'1. He's small for a shooting guard in the SEC. And maybe that's fine if you're just scoring on people in spite of your size. But he shot 31%. That's not his 3 point percentage, that's his overall field goal percentage.

I also think playing PG gave him a chance to get minutes. He's presumably transfering because he wants to play. Pope gave him a shot last year. I can only imagine Pope saying "Well Travis, I'd like to get you some minutes, but you're not really a PG. And I have guys that can play shooting guard. So I guess we'll just keep you on the bench."

People talk like "Oh, he's a Kentucky boy. He loves Kentucky. He was a kid that really cared about the name on the front of the jersey." Yet, he was so slighted by being asked to move over to PG? He'd rather ride the bench?

 

[Cats192]

Is there a chance he is just in the portal to see what kind of offers/money gets thrown his way and may still return to UK?

Is that even possible?

Maybe.

Honestly, if I were in his shoes, I would probably enter and see what's out there. Not just money, but role, fit, etc.

All that being said, money wise, who is paying him? You saw him struggle on defense, shoot 31% from the FLOOR, and you're about to open up the check book?

If he wants to go somewhere to play major minutes and potentially start--you're looking at something like a Murray State or WKU. I don't think those schools are "poor." But are they in the business of paying 250K+ for a guy of Perry's caliber?

He may very well find out that he's going to get less NIL at the places where he can go and actually play.

 

[true blue1]

I know Noah just announced. Perry did say he was returning. That's all I said.

He did.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Riding the pine for your dream school making 6 figures a free car to drive and competing for minutes while being big man on campus must be just awful. Good luck to him.

 

[HeismaNole]

Super disappointing. No one is coming here to wait their turn type of thing. Everyone expects to play immediately and I can’t blame them. Sucks to lose a Kentucky kid though.

 

[NerlensCat]

That sounds like pushed out to me; or at least a hard nudge.

Pope’s job is to get the best talent he can. Travis still had a roster spot and from all report’s, an NIL contract. He wasn’t pushed out. He made a choice to leave and I personally think he made the right one. Would love to see him play at Murray State or Western. It would also be awesome, if he improved enough to come back to UK for his senior year and gets some minutes in a backup roll.

 

[chasingwildcat]

Unlike Noah, probably Perry will never be in mean rotation if he stays here for four years because we will always have better pg recruit from portal/HS.

Noah could be serviceable in year 3/4 because of his size, but Perry may never play much in four years if he stays here

Don't blame Perry, wish him good luck in his next destination

 

[Wonky]

Smart move by Perry. He can go somewhere and develop in a meaningful way with game time experience and possibly return to UK and be much more valuable than sitting the bench here and not developing over the next three years. Either way ... best of luck to him. Good kid.

Have to disagree. Perry mainly needs improvement in one area: defense (that is to say, lateral quickness, and also strength). If he’s really interested in growing as a player, he would be better served going against elite athletes in practice. The fact that he’s transferring tells me he is either looking for a place where he can get minutes IN SPITE OF his defensive struggles, or a bigger paycheck, or both. Which is fine… I would probably do the same thing if I was him and didn’t have an NBA future. The kid loves playing ball and scoring the ball. But if he wants to actually grow as a player, he would be better served by staying here, IMO.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Ole Miss has the early buzz

 

[WeWant9]

Ole Miss has the early buzz

He struggled versus the SEC, seems like a mistake to stay in the league. He should go to some ACC or higher level mid major team.

 

[d2atTech]

I've said in my other response to you that it is a reason they come here initially. I agreed with you on that. What is not the same is guys staying here, sitting the bench and getting recruited over just so they can wear the UK jersey. The days of Brandon Stockton, Josh Carrier, Chris Harrison, etc. are a thing of the past imo. If Johnson and Moreno don't get the PT they think they should get, or get recruited over, the importance of wearing Kentucky across the chest diminishes drastically nowadays.

If Perry wants to be the best version of himself, and that's not at UK, we should just be happy for him. I'm sad to see him go.

 

[PopesReignOverCardinals]

There were 2 other D1 players on his tiny little team. If he goes to a midmajor and scores 20 a game make sure and let me know.

Kudos to Mercer and Florida Gulf Coast for finding players while scouting Perry.

 

[catben]

Ole Miss has the early buzz

The Beard comments at the SEC Tournament gave it away for those of us paying attention. He may not end up there, but it was apparent that Perry was on the market to transfer.

The kid wants a bigger role and more playing time. Could Perry fill the role that the little guard from Ole Miss did this past season? Can’t remember his name, but he was a gamer.

 

[Drcatfan]

I don't think a single person had him in the rotation at all in the other thread on "predict our lineup/minutes", so how can anyone fault a guy for wanted to go somewhere he can actually get some playing time. Seems like a great kid and great attitude, but 6 ft tall and relatively slow will be a problem in high major competition. We all saw the opposing guards attack him repeatedly when he was in the game. I haven't seen teams spread and single out a plyer to attack like that since Wiltjer. I wish him the best of luck, but he will probably be better off as a big fish in a small pond.

 

[chasingwildcat]

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Wouldn’t be surprised to see him stay after checking his worth in the portal. But wouldn’t be shocked if he left either. Could go either way. I would love for him to stay. I’ll cheer for the guy either way. I know he’s making descent money here.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I was gonna say over under 10 pages this morning but at this point 10 is a lock.

If OO stays n the NBA draft I bet this board doesn't commit 10 pages to it.

 

[TankedCat]

So?

so....it shouldn't be surprising to anyone thinking they would play for Cal they would get recruited over.

does that help?

 

[UK90]

The Beard comments at the SEC Tournament gave it away for those of us paying attention. He may not end up there, but it was apparent that Perry was on the market to transfer.

If he was supposedly already “on the market to transfer” at SEC tournament time, then why would he have waited until the very last moment only two hours before the deadline to enter the portal?

I don’t think that’s how it went at all. I suspect he originally wanted to stay …until Aberdeen’s commitment changed his mind.

 

[catben]

If he was already “on the market to transfer” at SEC tournament time, then I don’t think he would’ve waited until the very last moment only two hours before the deadline to enter the portal.

I don’t think that’s how it went at all. I suspect he originally wanted to stay …until Aberdeen’s commitment changed his mind.

Just because he put it out there that he was willing to transfer doesn’t mean that he would. But if Coach Pope wasn’t going to give him what he felt he needed as a player, he was up for a move. Maybe it took up until the last minute for him to be SURE of what he wanted. It was going to be HARD either way.

It is ALL just speculation at this point. I’m sure the ENTIRE story will come out eventually.

 

[Diggers_Matching_Highlighter]

I wish him the best. He could score over high school players, but not SEC players. and certainly couldn't guard them. If playing time is the issue, more likely Morehead or Western. Those who think Purdue will make a run at him are living in their own private Kentucky- Idaho.

Is that a Bodeans reference?

 

[jwphelps]

I wish he would have stayed! I wish the kid the best.

In a way I can see it, but hey lets be wishful thinkers, he goes some where gets some valuable playing time, develops his game and comes back in a year or two, the way these kids bounce around anymore anything is possible.

 

[Padsfs07]

Ole Miss has the early buzz

They make a lot of sense. Beard had Sean Pedulla running point for him last year and he is the same size as Perry. Perry is also better than Klafke and Pinkins, the other guards currently on the roster. Koren Johnson and AJ Storr will already be starting.

 

[Tampa_cat54]

How many past transfers would you have liked to have seen come back for another year?
The players Cal took with him don't count.
Allen?
Askew?
Fletcher?
Collins?
Harrow?
Anthony?
Hogan?
Simmons?
Burks?
No on all for me
Bradley and Wiltjer are the only ones who come to mind in the last 30 years.

- Juzang
- Keion Brooks (I never wanted him to transfer and I think him leaving (and putting the 4 spot in the hands of Toppin) was a massive, massive mistake by Cal that also felt forced by the fanbase.)
- Hopkins
- Kyle Wiltjer
- Charles Matthews

There have been a fair number of transfers who have gone on to have great success at their next stop, and it would have been nice to see that development and growth happen here instead.

 

[Seth_C]

Travis Perry never announced he was returning, nor did he say he was returning. He was asked, just after losing in the Sweet 16 I might add, if he was planning to return to Kentucky. He replied, "Yeah, certainly. Certainly." I saw that as fairly noncommittal at the time and was immediately concerned he might not come back. I believe I made posts stating as much. A plan is not a commitment. At the time he likely had not even thought about it, and we certainly did not have a completed roster.

We all need a lesson in not reading more into what people say than what is actually there. All Perry ever said at the time was that he was (at that moment) planning to return to Lexington next season. I've planned many things that didn't happen. Plans change.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

I’d politely pass if he wants to come back. Can’t burn a bridge and come back

Im fine if he comes back. Wish he wouldn't leave but definitely hope noone burns bridges.

There is precedent for this at uk. Beau Allen did just this on football.

 

[Wildcat1962]

Best of luck to him. Make Ky proud.

 

[shaudyshaud]

Is there a chance he is just in the portal to see what kind of offers/money gets thrown his way and may still return to UK?

Is that even possible?

It’s possible but from the announcement I guess it’s not expected .

 

[flacat22]

I think staying home and playing for the team you grew up cheering for can still matter when other things are pretty equal. If we’re being honest though, Johnson and Moreno project as higher level players than Perry. They have a realistic path to playing time at Kentucky.

What we’re probably going to see a huge decrease in with the portal is players willing to get 4 years of mop up minutes just for the privilege of wearing a jersey when they could actually play meaningful minutes somewhere else.

I don't disagree with that at all but to discount the allure of playing for Kentucky as an instate kid is not diminished by money as was my original assertion.

 

[maysvilleky]

Super disappointing. No one is coming here to wait their turn type of thing. Everyone expects to play immediately and I can’t blame them. Sucks to lose a Kentucky kid though.

IMO there are other KY kids that would accept that role and pay that are playing D1 or D2 elsewhere.

 

[Emarc]

Pushed out?

Recruited over