Xaivian Lee, Lamar Wilkerson, Josh Dix, Wesley Yates, Cedric Coward, Eaglestaff, Pierre, Why are we having such a hard time getting a 2G to come here

[EliteBlue]

What he said ^^

It's also the position that most relies on the ball. PGs can live off facilitating. Bigs can make their pay check on rebounds and blocks. But SGs need touches.

This.

Selling “the Brea role” doesn’t appeal to a true scoring 2 guard. They want the ball and shots, not to be system dependent.

I like our system and team points is all that matters and we have proven effective at that. I would just add the caveat in the backend of the sales pitch that “being the 3 level scorer that you are, not only will you get a ton of clean looks in the flow of the offense, but you’ll also have to ball in your hands in late game/end of shot clock situations more often than not”

 

[chroix]

Eaglestaff back on the table.

 

[Wildcats1st]

IU's Devries flew in to visit the home of Wilkerson yesterday morning and raised their NIL offer even higher so it might have been over 1 million more by the end plus gave Wilkerson's past coach a job on staff. I would think Pitino would advise Pope to find jobs for guys, Pitino did that all the time but Barnhart is a hangup on that stuff. Cant wait for Barnhart to get packing for retirement

Barnhart and the state no nepotism law. Coach thought would be fair game to hire.

 

[olehosk]

I believe Lee is still available. Have we been officially eliminated from his list yet?

He would be the perfect finish to this roster. A combo shooter who can play both point and wing …and is damn good at both spots.

Duke

 

[chroix]

I don’t think so. Jamal Murray was a stud on the international stage. You just didn’t hear about it bc he was from Canada. I remember when we got Murray we knew he’d be legit. And that team by uk standards stunk. When you can handpick from the portal I’d rather not go with an unproven 2 guard. We are already shooter deficit. The time is now. Need to shore up our weaknesses and go win number 9.

I agree. Just seems to me like Jasper and a 22 year old sophomore Chandler aren’t chopped liver.

 

[UKSanders]

It’s because they are both young and unproven. They are backup level in the SEC at this point. Like others have said time and time again we lack a couple pieces to win a title. Settling with who is on the roster well pope knows and he’s trying to upgrade the spot with a 45% guy which Jasper and chandler are not

I would argue that Chandler will be close to a 45% guy from the perimeter. Over the last 10 games of the season, Chandler was 13/25 for 52%. I would agree he still has some significant improvements to make as far as "creating" his own shot/taking guys off the dribble, but he should be very solid as a perimeter shooter.

 

[Wildcats1st]

I agree. Just seems to me like Jasper and a 22 year old sophomore Chandler aren’t chopped liver.

I agree but they aren’t the star scorer pope has been trying to land for that spot. It’s like the eagle staff guy. If you put chandler at NDst for a couple years he’d have similar stats. Pope knows we are guard star away from a title team. He doesn’t think he’s on the team or he wouldn’t have pursued Wilkerson like he did. As much as pope wants to see Wilkerson love UK by taking less that’s just not reality. You gotta pay My gut says he really wants an all American caliber player at that spot. We are with our 3rd pg option and he just went all in on Wilkerson. Hopefully he goes hard for Jackson but at the same time I think the staff is shellshocked and now resurrect eaglestaff. Go get Ian Jackson. Probably doesn’t want to step on pitinos toes. The guy is stealing our player. Go get yours mark

 

[Wildcats1st]

I would argue that Chandler will be close to a 45% guy from the perimeter. Over the last 10 games of the season, Chandler was 13/25 for 52%. I would agree he still has some significant improvements to make as far as "creating" his own shot/taking guys off the dribble, but he should be very solid as a perimeter shooter.

You’re right. But if pope believed that he wouldn’t have gone hard for Wilkerson. There is still a growth curve for chandler. He has the potential no doubt about it. I think we were a better team last year minus Robinson and plus chandler. He was a far better defender. Made our team more balanced. I’m a big fan of chandler but I think pope is was looking for nba level star power at the spot. It’s easier to get chandler time accept a role than a recruit

 

[justin_uk_5]

We had supposedly contacted Dix when he first hit the portal a while ago but he has since committed to Creighton. Just so you don't think I'm full of $hit here was the article back on March 21st.

'Whispers' that Kentucky will be involved with top Iowa transfer

The Wildcats will likely be seeking a replacement for sharpshooter Koby Brea.

247sports.com

Kentucky contacted tons of players. Contacted doesn’t always mean by coaches, either. Being contacted by Kentucky doesn’t mean they’re a true target.

 

[UKSanders]

You’re right. But if pope believed that he wouldn’t have gone hard for Wilkerson. There is still a growth curve for chandler. He has the potential no doubt about it. I think we were a better team last year minus Robinson and plus chandler. He was a far better defender. Made our team more balanced. I’m a big fan of chandler but I think pope is was looking for nba level star power at the spot. It’s easier to get chandler time accept a role than a recruit

Don't disagree with you that adding another top level scorer at the 1-3 positions would be huge. I was just replying purely to the statement that Chandler wasn't a 45% shooter.

 

[ukjenning44]

With our roster construction Oweh is going to be our 2G. None of the guys you mentioned would start over him.

How sought after would Oweh be if he hit the portal?

We already have a stacked roster!

 

[HoopsDavid]

Have you already forgotten the injuries from last year?

Not at all. And I like good depth (as opposed to many of the Cal years where we could not run a 5 on 5 practice), but having 13 guys that need some minutes is too many mouths to feed and pay. Having some injury depth is necessary, but finding minutes for 13 is bound to make the top 5/6 uncomfortable. I would rather take the money and minutes from 12 and 13 and give it to a potential starter.

 

[bnewt]

Because we have a logjam of players at 2 and 3. Big time portal guys are looking for money and playing time.

Oweh
Jasper
Chandler
Noah
Williams
Perry

Even if you’re an elite guy that ranks higher than all of those, you’re still threatened for minutes. It’s just not an ideal situation for a top level transfer. I understand some of the guys I listed can’t play 2 but there are still a minimum of 3 that can.

agree that there are a quantity at these positions, but only 1 proven player
a good player should not be scared off by a freshman, Chandler, an unproven transfer from Tulane or 2 home grown guys
If the player is no better than Noah and Perry, then truthfully, he does not belong @ UK

 

[jeffky]

At one time we were rumored to be the leader for some of these players.

Personally I would prefer a shooting guard from Europe. Does anyone know if we are recruiting one? Seems like players from Europe are more mature & advanced than a lot of American born players.

 

[bucsrule8872]

This.

Selling “the Brea role” doesn’t appeal to a true scoring 2 guard. They want the ball and shots, not to be system dependent.

I like our system and team points is all that matters and we have proven effective at that. I would just add the caveat in the backend of the sales pitch that “being the 3 level scorer that you are, not only will you get a ton of clean looks in the flow of the offense, but you’ll also have to ball in your hands in late game/end of shot clock situations more often than not”

I don’t think the staff is selling the Brea role to anyone.

I think Kam Williams already has that role (with improved defense).

Pope is looking for a Robinson replacement, IMHO. He wants a starter level guy that can be a scorer that can shoot and that can handle the ball as well.

I’m hoping for Jackson.

 

[EliteBlue]

I don’t think the staff is selling the Brea role to anyone.

I think Kam Williams already has that role (with improved defense).

Pope is looking for a Robinson replacement, IMHO. He wants a starter level guy that can be a scorer that can shoot and that can handle the ball as well.

I’m hoping for Jackson.

Hopefully that’s the case.

I fully trust this staff. Not questioning that at all.

Just saying most ball dominant SGs prefer to have the ball in their hands and guaranteed shots vs playing in a structured system. Just have to find the right personality fit with a team first mindset, while still selling they’ll have plenty of opportunities to showcase their NBA potential.

 

[jwphelps]

At one time we were rumored to be the leader for some of these players.

Personally I would prefer a shooting guard from Europe. Does anyone know if we are recruiting one? Seems like players from Europe are more mature & advanced than a lot of American born players.

From what I have read and heard, we may have dodged a bullet with Wilkerson.

 

[know1]

We're fine at shooting guard and small forward for next year already. I'd rather see us sign a solid back-up point guard, but I also still think that Pope has one or two more big signings left to go during the portal.

 

[UK90]

We're fine at shooting guard and small forward for next year already. I'd rather see us sign a solid back-up point guard, but I also still think that Pope has one or two more big signings left to go during the portal.

This. I was into pursuing Wilkerson because he seemed like a starter caliber difference maker. But if our final piece is instead gonna be a backup, I’d prefer it be someone suited to play point than another wing.

The biggest roster problem we had last season was the lack of a true point guard during the periods when Butler was injured. And now …thanks to Acaden Lewis de-committing. …appears we could be one injury away from falling into that predicament again.

 

[W1LDCAT22]

Because we have a logjam of players at 2 and 3. Big time portal guys are looking for money and playing time.

Oweh
Jasper
Chandler
Noah
Williams
Perry

Even if you’re an elite guy that ranks higher than all of those, you’re still threatened for minutes. It’s just not an ideal situation for a top level transfer. I understand some of the guys I listed can’t play 2 but there are still a minimum of 3 that can.

Imo, you can take Perry, Noah and even Williams off that list. Noah and Williams are not 2G, and if Perry scares anyone off, we are in trouble. I don't see the logjam personally.

 

[chroix]

go win number 9.

Yes.

 

[NociHTTP]

IMO, last year's lack of talent at the guard spot is making things difficult for Pope this time around. A lot of 2G's want open looks, and we had a hard time generating those looks. It'll get better.

 

[JFCats22]

I would argue that Chandler will be close to a 45% guy from the perimeter. Over the last 10 games of the season, Chandler was 13/25 for 52%. I would agree he still has some significant improvements to make as far as "creating" his own shot/taking guys off the dribble, but he should be very solid as a perimeter shooter.

Last year in all of college basketball there were 4 guys who were 45% or better from three. You really think Chandler is going to turn into one of the top 5 shooters in all of basketball?

 

[Cole World]

IMO, last year's lack of talent at the guard spot is making things difficult for Pope this time around. A lot of 2G's want open looks, and we had a hard time generating those looks. It'll get better.

Kentucky's shooting guards averaged 13 points and 11 points respectively

Do you ever not post things that are completely derogatory and wrong? Or is the constant hand wringing and misery all you have to put forth to discussions?

 

[phunterd]

Imo, you can take Perry, Noah and even Williams off that list. Noah and Williams are not 2G, and if Perry scares anyone off, we are in trouble. I don't see the logjam personally.

I don’t disagree that Perry doesn’t scary anyone. And like I said, I wasn’t counting Noah and Williams at the 2.

But that still leaves Jasper and Chandler at 2. A transfer makes 3. That’s a lot of bodies. Particularly from the perspective of an elite portal guy that’s looking for money and PT.

If it weren’t too many bodies, we would’ve hit on one of our 2G targets. The proof is in the pudding, IMO.

 

[UKSanders]

Last year in all of college basketball there were 4 guys who were 45% or better from three. You really think Chandler is going to turn into one of the top 5 shooters in all of basketball?

ok, that's fair as I didn't realize there were so few guys shooting at that level...I'm actually a little surprised there weren't at least a handful more than that. So, instead of >45%, maybe I should've said 40% or slightly above, which I DO think is reasonable.

My point was over the last 1/3 of the season, Chandler's shooting WAS that good.

With that in mind, I don't think it's crazy to suggest he could be every bit as good as Wilkerson's because Chandler shot that well against competition that was probably better than Wilkerson was facing.

 

[Worf88]

The SG recruiting for Pope is what Cal’s SF recruiting was. It was the weak link last year (Robinson didn’t live up to expectations) and it’s the weak link even more so this year. We are seriously one great SG from a title contender and Pope can’t even pay one to come here.

Wilkerson would have gotten 25-30mpg and averaged 15-20ppg here. We NEEDED that.

 

[Worf88]

Because we have a logjam of players at 2 and 3. Big time portal guys are looking for money and playing time.

Oweh
Jasper
Chandler
Noah
Williams
Perry

Even if you’re an elite guy that ranks higher than all of those, you’re still threatened for minutes. It’s just not an ideal situation for a top level transfer. I understand some of the guys I listed can’t play 2 but there are still a minimum of 3 that can.

If Oweh and Williams play the 3, there’s nobody on that list stealing big minutes from Yates/Wilkerson. They would have gotten 26-30mpg.

 

[wardlow]

Chandler > Wilkerson. We can all celebrate me being correct after we steam roll Indiana next year.

 

[OmahaCats]

At one time we were rumored to be the leader for some of these players.

Personally I would prefer a shooting guard from Europe. Does anyone know if we are recruiting one? Seems like players from Europe are more mature & advanced than a lot of American born players.

Because we already have a loaded roster. That’s why

 

[HoopsDavid]

agree that there are a quantity at these positions, but only 1 proven player
a good player should not be scared off by a freshman, Chandler, an unproven transfer from Tulane or 2 home grown guys
If the player is no better than Noah and Perry, then truthfully, he does not belong @ UK

It’s not a matter of being better, it’s that those guys will get minutes regardless. Too many to keep them all happy.

 

[rivercatinfl]

I think your post makes a lot of sense. Money is probably the biggest factor for most, of course, but I imagine the prospects for playing 30+ minutes is certainly a significant factor. Most players are veterans and want to be on the floor, especially if they want to showcase their overall game for professional consideration. Keep in mind that both Koby Brea and Jaxson Robinson were 6th-men types throughout the first four (4) years of their careers, thereby used to sharing time and playing less than 30 minutes. They may well be rare exceptions among the higher ranked portal shooters.

Maybe it's pie in the sky thinking but if I was an elite shooter and had a chance to play for a potential national championship team I would. If you are elite you know it. Big time players don't run away from competition, they run towards it.
The money that this BS NIL is creating has created bidding wars and agents that influence players to go for the money only.

I despise it.

 

[BarefootBeach]

The SG recruiting for Pope is what Cal’s SF recruiting was. It was the weak link last year (Robinson didn’t live up to expectations) and it’s the weak link even more so this year. We are seriously one great SG from a title contender and Pope can’t even pay one to come here.

Wilkerson would have gotten 25-30mpg and averaged 15-20ppg here. We NEEDED that.

Huh??? And you know this how? Please send me the florida lotto numbers for this week please.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

Personally I don't think we need anymore " scoring" if Oweh returns. Over a decade of Cal has just skewed so many thinking on needing a superstar. What we need is either a back up point guard or a defensive stopper at the 2. Ultimately defense and rebounding , especially on defensive end, were our weaknesses. I would like to see Pope shore up in those 2 areas with remaining roster spots. What happens if the kid from Pitt gets in foul trouble, sprains an ankle. Everyone says Johnson will back up at point? Will that work , who knows nobody has ever seen him play a minute of college ball. Who guards the Pettifords or the host of super quick guards in the SEC and NCAA tourney. We need another Butler type not a scorer

 

[billoliver40]

I lean to there being 2 things: Pope isn't going to guarantee minutes or looks.
The field already has Jasper, Chandler, Perry and yes Noah. Plus 3 are already familiar with Pope's system/style.
And despite what anyone may say....you really do want your 2 guard to have at least familiarity with defense.

I would like to see an experienced two guard, but I don't think it's a deal breaker on the season. As long as Oweh doesn't go to the next level.

 

[Worf88]

Huh??? And you know this how? Please send me the florida lotto numbers for this week please.

I know this because we have no real shooter/scoring threat at SG. Hes better than Jaxon Robinson and you saw the playing time he got.

 

[Worf88]

Chandler > Wilkerson. We can all celebrate me being correct after we steam roll Indiana next year.

I get being a homer, but no…🤣

 

[Worf88]

Personally I don't think we need anymore " scoring" if Oweh returns. Over a decade of Cal has just skewed so many thinking on needing a superstar. What we need is either a back up point guard or a defensive stopper at the 2. Ultimately defense and rebounding , especially on defensive end, were our weaknesses. I would like to see Pope shore up in those 2 areas with remaining roster spots. What happens if the kid from Pitt gets in foul trouble, sprains an ankle. Everyone says Johnson will back up at point? Will that work , who knows nobody has ever seen him play a minute of college ball. Who guards the Pettifords or the host of super quick guards in the SEC and NCAA tourney. We need another Butler type not a scorer

You aren’t winning a title without a college level superstar/scorer. Florida ain’t winning this year without Clayton going off. Plus you can never have enough scoring. Even with our roster last year we’d have droughts.

I would have preferred a Butler at PG over a Lowe with a guy like Lanier/Wilkerson at SG who would average three 3’s per game at a mid 40% clip but that’s not what we will have.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

You aren’t winning a title without a college level superstar/scorer. Florida ain’t winning this year without Clayton going off. Plus you can never have enough scoring. Even with our roster last year we’d have droughts.

I would have preferred a Butler at PG over a Lowe with a guy like Lanier/Wilkerson at SG who would average three 3’s per game at a mid 40% clip but that’s not what we will have.

Clayton developed into a superstar, was nowhere close to that when he came to Florida. I trust Pope to develop someone like that at UK. We have got to play better defense to even get to a FF, just have to. I wish he would focus on that with his remaining additions.

 

[Wildskatfan]

I believe Lee is still available. Have we been officially eliminated from his list yet?

He would be the perfect finish to this roster. A combo shooter who can play both point and wing …and is damn good at both spots.

Duke

Nope and Nope

Highly Touted Transfer Guard Commits to Gators

Xaivian Lee has chosen the Florida Gators over Kansas and St. Johns.

www.si.com

Another potential Boom that all we will see is the Plume as they land somewhere else.

I like our team as assembled this far, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated missing on so many guys we obviously wanted.