Wenyen and Sacha

[MdWIldcat55]

If these guys were incoming freshmen 5-stars the board would be waxing euphoric about them: A pair of 6'10'' athletes with unlimited potential.

Now, with a year in the system under their belts, they are written off as spare parts for next year's team. Damaged goods.

I know both were exposed as unready for the big time last year. But some of the underlying talent and athleticism, not to mention the size and potentially markedly improved strength, are still there.

I'm going to predict both are pleasant surprises in the coming year, and that they help somewhat to blunt the notion that the team has no useful experience returning.

 

[Smashcat]

Both can be outstanding. Not just good. Outstanding.

 

[blubo]

I hope wynyard is a pleasant surprise also.

 

[KA4Prez]

I'm glad both are back and you have a point. However...

At the same time...

People are convinced that this incoming class (which is noted as being weak, relatively speaking) of 5-stars is going to be enough to have a great team. It's more likely that of the class, 2 or 3 of them are more Wenyen/SKJ than they are the elite OAD's we've had recently.

Add that with almost zero experience and not much depth, I'm skeptical.

 

[MWes11]

Really looking forward to SKJ's progress. From what Willis was saying, he has incredible upside and I think he shows that this year.

 

[GonzoCat90]

The same fans are tired of players leaving too early because of a "culture that treats coming back like failure" that "Cal has created." They also wanted Willis to transfer, etc.

 

[DerekMcPwn]

It's also a cautionary tale about the stars and measurements of freshmen.

 

[wromanp7]

The same fans are tired of players leaving too early because of a "culture that treats coming back like failure" that "Cal has created." They also wanted Willis to transfer, etc.

And it makes this forum a bitch.
I love what Cal's doing and get it. I'm not complacent or a sunshine pumper... but I do wish more (here) could be appreciative of what we have rather than griping about every.little.thing.

 

[WeWant9]

I'm excited to see what they can do. Seems like SKJ never looked at himself as a OND and knew he would need to work and grow as a player. Hopefully he can build some confidence this summer. Gabriel showed he had some skills in the middle of last season, but just seemed to lose confidence towards the end. I think having experience with the college game will help him going into next year.

I'll never turn my nose at returning talent and experience. Well need it with a young group again.

 

[Macy's socks]

 

[~Keyser Soze~]

SKJ never got a chance to play so I wouldn't say he was exposed.

 

[HoptownCat93]

SKJ is a kid who I think loves the process and came to make himself better. I have heard his family really stresses academics and that a college degree is very important in his household. I could see him as a hard working kid that puts his all into his grades and basketball game and will be someone everyone here is proud of after 3-4 years.

 

[qwesley]

Both have huge upsides but not very good feel for the game which means they need to just play and taking coaching as much as they can. Their problem is that the two freshman forwards coming in are not only very skilled but are probably ahead of them overall.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Also, I have to say, a lineup of SGA/Diallo/Vanderbilt/Washington/Gabriel could be really fun for stretches.

I know he's thin, but he's shown to be a good position rebounder and Gabriel at the 5 with two great rebounding forwards who can all start the break and switch everything on defense is a great wrinkle to throw at teams that try to attack us with dribble handoff stuff.

 

[spotter34]

Both have huge upsides but not very good feel for the game which means they need to just play and taking coaching as much as they can. Their problem is that the two freshman forwards coming in are not only very skilled but are probably ahead of them overall.

You could be right but we thought Gabriel and SKJ were very skilled last year. I don't think skill is the question mark for any of the elite recruits Cal brings in but rather it's their mental toughness. When they arrive at UK and start going through our conditioning program and then the practices in the fall they find out real quick that this isn't AAU ball and that Cal doesn't just roll the ball out and say, "okay lets practice our alley-oops". Cal demands a lot from these guys from day 1 defensively and most of the elite recruits going into college can't spell defense. This is why I think Cal misses on some of the elite recruits. They know they are going to work their tales off and they know they can go somewhere else and be the man from day 1 and not have to work that hard. They're going to play and get drafted in the 1st round somewhere. But the success Cal has had with his OAD players is what draws others to follow in their footsteps. I think that's what ultimately causes Bamba to come to UK.

Saying all of that, I think Gabriel and SKJ are going to be really hard to keep out of the starting line up; at least early on. That one year in the system and knowing what Cal expects is a valuable edge they have on the other new guys coming in at their positions.

 

[BlueRunner11]

I expect both to have an outstanding year.

I remember watching SKJ last summer in some pickup games (yeah I know) and thought he was incredibly skilled and would be a major contributor to our front court last year. Still think there was more than bball going on there but new season, new start hopefully.

WG had a couple games of games in the beginning of the season that I remember posters on here basically already putting him the draft. He put up 23 and 8 later in the year against LSU and has the potential to be a 15 and 6 guy imo if he keeps his mind right and stays off Instagram.

 

[railroadkat_1]

I fell like both will contribute this season and help the new guys somewhat before the season opens! WPSD-TV in Paducah hardly ever reports much UK news. Yesterday They announced SKJ was staying at UK! ( yes they stay behind )

Gabriel looked good about 2/3 of our season. He can nail the 3, hit free throws, get out in transition and finish, and get low among the Trees and with very good hands grab rebounds. I hope he works on the weights and his nutrition. Feeling good about this fall.

 

[mj2k10]

SKJ is still a complete unknown. I don't think we're ever really going to know the full story of what happened with him last season. I think we're actually better off if it was mainly a behavior/discipline thing.

Have to admit, Gabriel was disappointing to me, and I'm not sure how easily fixable his flaws are. He was billed as a ferocious rebounder, if nothing else, but his rebound rate was merely OK (about the same as Willis). He struggled to move his feet on D, and wasn't a good enough shotblocker to compensate for that. He gets pushed around pretty easily, is kind of awkward, and has pretty limited skills (the jumpshot has good potential, but every time he dribbled or passed the ball, I cringed). However, he tries hard and has a good attitude, and the trajectory of his HS career (big leap at the end) indicates major improvement might be possible.

But if Vanderbilt and Washington are what I think they are, I still think Gabriel ends up behind them.

 

[kyups01]

If these guys were incoming freshmen 5-stars the board would be waxing euphoric about them: A pair of 6'10'' athletes with unlimited potential.

Now, with a year in the system under their belts, they are written off as spare parts for next year's team. Damaged goods.

I know both were exposed as unready for the big time last year. But some of the underlying talent and athleticism, not to mention the size and potentially markedly improved strength, are still there.

I'm going to predict both are pleasant surprises in the coming year, and that they help somewhat to blunt the notion that the team has no useful experience returning.

I am excited for them to come back. Wenyen showed some potential...I think the thing with Sasha is that he didnt show anything at all. I think that may be why people arent talking about him much.

 

[K_TIME]

But if Vanderbilt and Washington are what I think they are, I still think Gabriel ends up behind them.

I agree with this sentiment....

- Vanderbilt is way stronger ball handler and defensively quicker than Wenyen and probably just as long/athletic. That alone is going to generate a role on next year's team that we need with the rest of the roster.

- Washington is way stronger/tougher dude and probably a more apt scorer inside.

In the end, Wenyen's best shot to keep 20+mpg is to become a 38-40% 3pt shooter as a stretch four with all the qeustionable shooters we'll have a SG, SF. I'm not sold Wenyen has the talent to knock it down from deep at that clip...but that is about his best shot to become a mainstay in the rotation next years.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I'm glad both are back and you have a point. However...

At the same time...

People are convinced that this incoming class (which is noted as being weak, relatively speaking) of 5-stars is going to be enough to have a great team. It's more likely that of the class, 2 or 3 of them are more Wenyen/SKJ than they are the elite OAD's we've had recently.

Add that with almost zero experience and not much depth, I'm skeptical.

The one thing that the incoming class has over last year's class is basketball IQ, IMO. That and I think most of these new guys are better all around players and are more skilled than the class last year. This especially rings true with Alexander, Green, Vando and Washington. They all do everything pretty well, IMO. If Diallo returns, UK and Zona are the two teams to beat if I had to guess.

 

[kev69]

If these guys were incoming freshmen 5-stars the board would be waxing euphoric about them: A pair of 6'10'' athletes with unlimited potential.

Now, with a year in the system under their belts, they are written off as spare parts for next year's team. Damaged goods.

I know both were exposed as unready for the big time last year. But some of the underlying talent and athleticism, not to mention the size and potentially markedly improved strength, are still there.

I'm going to predict both are pleasant surprises in the coming year, and that they help somewhat to blunt the notion that the team has no useful experience returning.

Who's written them off? Seriously, where did you get that from?

 

[d2atTech]

If these guys were incoming freshmen 5-stars the board would be waxing euphoric about them: A pair of 6'10'' athletes with unlimited potential.

Now, with a year in the system under their belts, they are written off as spare parts for next year's team. Damaged goods.

I know both were exposed as unready for the big time last year. But some of the underlying talent and athleticism, not to mention the size and potentially markedly improved strength, are still there.

I'm going to predict both are pleasant surprises in the coming year, and that they help somewhat to blunt the notion that the team has no useful experience returning.

they can't afford to be pleasant surprises. they need to be forces of nature and dominate from day one of practice.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Wenyen and Sacha also sounds like a place where you'd buy hand-crafted furniture and essential oils in a gentrified neighborhood.

 

[KA4Prez]

Yeah because De'Aaron Fox or Malik Monk had no basketball IQ. We're grasping at straws.

 

[JwUKFan11]

I think Wenyen has a good chance to start and Sacha could also be a huge piece.

 

[kev69]

If these guys were incoming freshmen 5-stars the board would be waxing euphoric about them: A pair of 6'10'' athletes with unlimited potential.

Now, with a year in the system under their belts, they are written off as spare parts for next year's team. Damaged goods.

I know both were exposed as unready for the big time last year. But some of the underlying talent and athleticism, not to mention the size and potentially markedly improved strength, are still there.

I'm going to predict both are pleasant surprises in the coming year, and that they help somewhat to blunt the notion that the team has no useful experience returning.

I'm optimistic that both will be solid contributors this season.

 

[bookerfan66]

I think Gabriel has the potential to be very good.He had moments early where he rebounded and shot the ball well.He seemed to be pressing and lost his confidence late in the season.I hope he puts on some muscle this offseason.