WHO IS STAYING? (ANSWER: Green, Richards, Washington, Baker)

[J.Jennings]

Rumor mill is flying that Reid is more likely than Vanderbilt at this instant.
as for Wenyen if that holds, best of luck young man. You know your aspirations and situation better than we do.

Tall, athletic, runs a hundred to nothing. Good outside shot for a guy 6'9. As far as we've heard a good team mate.
He may not make show time, but I think he shoots better than Briscoe and is more athletic than Hawkins or Willis.
I think he will get a check.

You can't compare Gabriel to Willis, no comparison, Willis is heads and shoulders better that Gabriel, the same with Hawkins...

[Joneslab]

You can't compare Gabriel to Willis, no comparison, Willis is heads and shoulders better that Gabriel, the same with Hawkins...

Willis and Gabriel are very similar players. I agree that Willis was slightly better, but he was also 22 years old to Gabriel's 20.

Neither could handle the ball. Both started out as slight and got progressively stronger. Willis was the better shooter but Gabriel could keep you honest.

Neither are going to play in the NBA but I sort of thought Derek Willis had an outside shot. Gabriel fits the mold--long, rangy, can shoot--but doesn't really seem to have that "it" these pros have.

[Joneslab]

And Hawkins was the best college player of the three. Probably not even really close. Turned in to a real gem his senior year.

Obviously not an NBA player but as far as being a guy who became so, so solid Kentucky hasn't had too many like Hawkins in Calipari's time here. Deandre Liggins is the closest comp I can think of.

[J.Jennings]

Ladies and gentleman, this will be the last time you will ever hear the name Vanderbilt, this decision flat out blows my mind. Here's a Aguy who can't shoot AT ALL, supposedly injured ,did nothing in college,now he's gone. I admit i would have rather have had Vanderbilt back over Washington but on the same note, maybe not. I sure in the hell don't want a dumb player who makes dumb life decisions back on the team and i applaude PJ for making the smart move.

Anyone get the feeling that Vanderbilt had something going on behind closed doors last year that we do not know about??

[J.Jennings]

Willis and Gabriel are very similar players. I agree that Willis was slightly better, but he was also 22 years old to Gabriel's 20.

Neither could handle the ball. Both started out as slight and got progressively stronger. Willis was the better shooter but Gabriel could keep you honest.

Neither are going to play in the NBA but I sort of thought Derek Willis had an outside shot. Gabriel fits the mold--long, rangy, can shoot--but doesn't really seem to have that "it" these pros have.

Willis didn't have horrible G league stats but i expect him to go overseas or just retire and live a normal married life. He was talking about how the G league sucks and it's a total grind then was cut by the Pistons 4 days later lol lol lol..

[J.Jennings]

The only thing i liked about Vanderbilt was his ability to handle and move the ball but he's no Ben Simmons. Yes he's a good rebounder but i just can't see a player trying to make today's NBA with his skills....

[Joneslab]

The only thing i liked about Vanderbilt was his ability to handle and move the ball but he's no Ben Simmons. Yes he's a good rebounder but i just can't see a player trying to make today's NBA with his skills....

Impossible to say a whole lot about Vanderbilt because we only saw him for a short time.

I thought he could have been a real star at UK. But you're always going to be hamstrung, and you're going to hamstring the team, if you can't shoot the basketball. It's really hard to put the rock in a guy's hands who just cannot score outside of the painted area. Vanderbilt had such a long way to go offensively.

But as far as effort and hustle and passing for his size, he was off the charts.

I do think Kentucky came out with the player I feel most comfortable with being a first-team all-SEC type of player.

To be a title contender in college basketball, you need three players on your roster who can take the game over. We know Washington can because he's done it; just has to do it more. Keldon Johnson will be our #2. Reid Travis hopefully will be a third, with Hagans being right there.

There's really no need to lament Vanderbilt if things turn out like they could because we're going to be fine.

[KCKUKFan]

You never answered if you were just guessing or have a source.

Oh, I never had a source. Just going by my observations.

I wish I was important enough to have sources.

It was just a good guess and I felt like patting myself on the back lol

[J.Jennings]

Impossible to say a whole lot about Vanderbilt because we only saw him for a short time.

I thought he could have been a real star at UK. But you're always going to be hamstrung, and you're going to hamstring the team, if you can't shoot the basketball. It's really hard to put the rock in a guy's hands who just cannot score outside of the painted area. Vanderbilt had such a long way to go offensively.

But as far as effort and hustle and passing for his size, he was off the charts.

I do think Kentucky came out with the player I feel most comfortable with being a first-team all-SEC type of player.

To be a title contender in college basketball, you need three players on your roster who can take the game over. We know Washington can because he's done it; just has to do it more. Keldon Johnson will be our #2. Reid Travis hopefully will be a third, with Hagans being right there.

There's really no need to lament Vanderbilt if things turn out like they could because we're going to be fine.

Bottomline, we just need to land Reid and Cal get a A++++ this offseason and yes, glad Washington made a good move by coming back, he can really grow and benefit from another year of college in my opinion. I am not mad at Vanderbilt but it always seemed like there was a disconnect from him and the team this past season, not sure if it was the injury or a case of him just not wanting to be here.

[KCKUKFan]

Ladies and gentleman, this will be the last time you will ever hear the name Vanderbilt, this decision flat out blows my mind. Here's a Aguy who can't shoot AT ALL, supposedly injured ,did nothing in college,now he's gone. I admit i would have rather have had Vanderbilt back over Washington but on the same note, maybe not. I sure in the hell don't want a dumb player who makes dumb life decisions back on the team and i applaude PJ for making the smart move.

Anyone get the feeling that Vanderbilt had something going on behind closed doors last year that we do not know about??

I think it should be obvious to anybody who was paying attention that Cal and Vanderbilt were never really on the same page last year. Cal almost let it slip a couple of times in his press conferences, which you never see from him.

There's a number of reasons this could be, but I think Cal was getting really frustrated with Vanderbilt not playing. And then his no-shows during the tournaments when he didn't even have a limp raised some serious flags for me.

If I was guessing, I'd say that his handlers and family were probably telling him to avoid further injury, which is the exact reason why he's bolting. It might not be in his best interest, but I can see the rationale. If he comes back to Kentucky and has a repeat of last year's situation, then he'll be labeled as damaged goods and will NEVER be drafted. At least now, there's still an air of mystery about him, which, compiled with his crazy upside, might be just enough for a team to throw the dice and pick him late in the second. That's probably what he's counting on, and frankly, I don't really blame him.

[KCKUKFan]

Lots of further mumbling that Reid Travis will be on campus today. I would expect a commitment shortly thereafter.

From there, we've got a roster ten-deep that can PLAY, mixed with experience. One of Cal's most fascinating rosters on paper: this squad will be able to play big, small, fast, slow. Crazy athletic. Deep, deep, deep. Only question is outside shooting, but hopefully we'll have some guys that will be able to hit enough to keep defenses honest.

Green, Washington, Richards, Baker, Travis, Hagans, Quickley, Herro, Montgomery, Johnson. I'll take that.

[Joneslab]

^ I always thought Cal's mini-rants about "poison" and so on were aimed at Diallo's fam, but I could be wrong.

It's clear that Cal wasn't happy last year. That team was built wrong. Too many guys at the same position, not enough top-end talent, no streaking end-to-end point guard like Cal likes.

Next year, different story. The one thing that remains that's a Cal staple is you don't have a guy you can trust (on paper) knocking down that outside shot. Green is probably the closest but as we all saw he's inconsistent. Dude needs to live in the gym.

[KCKUKFan]

^ I always thought Cal's mini-rants about "poison" and so on were aimed at Diallo's fam, but I could be wrong.

It's clear that Cal wasn't happy last year. That team was built wrong. Too many guys at the same position, not enough top-end talent, no streaking end-to-end point guard like Cal likes.

Next year, different story. The one thing that remains that's a Cal staple is you don't have a guy you can trust (on paper) knocking down that outside shot. Green is probably the closest but as we all saw he's inconsistent. Dude needs to live in the gym.

I was referring more to his frustrated no-answers when asked about Vanderbilt's status.

Stuff like "it's up to him," and the real kicker when asked about how his rehab was progressing: "I don't know." Total disconnect.

[teamchemistry15]

Oh, I never had a source. Just going by my observations.

I wish I was important enough to have sources.

It was just a good guess and I felt like patting myself on the back lol

I'll give you another pat on the back for admitting it was a guess!!

[Joneslab]

I was referring more to his frustrated no-answers when asked about Vanderbilt's status.

Stuff like "it's up to him," and the real kicker when asked about how his rehab was progressing: "I don't know." Total disconnect.

Cal can be pretty cagey about injuries though.

Vanderbilt was sort of on a whole other level but I've seen Cal give non-answers a lot when asked about the health/availability of players.

I sort of agree with you that there did seem to be some frustration. There was that whole Mike Pratt thing in the middle of the season where he claimed Vanderbilt's family was pulling strings behind the scenes, and I daresay if Pratt says something, you can probably take it to the bank.

So it wouldn't surprise me at all if Cal weren't frustrated. Vanderbilt was such an enigma. That whole last injury thing was just so weird. I sort of think there was significant damage there, he had surgery soon after the season ended, and they didn't announce what the surgery was for because they didn't want an NBA team to worry that there would be a re-injury.