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Going to be some really tough stories about these players in a few years, I'm afraid.
That said, college isn't guaranteed to help you either. A guy like Diallo may weirdly be better suited for the NBA. He can work on the things he needs to work on as well there as here.
But he's one of those guys who you look at and wonder if he'll ever be a pro. So many holes in his game.Comment
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The only way it's a positive is if those we bring in would be better than those guys would've been next season.
If you assume that Shai and Knox were givens, I like the Ashton Hagans/Hami Diallo swap, I think. Not sure about E.J. Montgomery/Sacha Killeya-Jones. Don't think I like the Maxey/Quade swap next season simply because of Maxey's age; but Maxey as a sophomore is interesting to think about.
The only way you make a swap for Washington, Vanderbilt, or Wenyen is if you go out and get a grad transfer. Or if you get a big-time reclassification. Otherwise we'll lose that trade.
It's hard to imagine Hami Diallo or Killeya-Jones being anything more than role players, but you could've also said that about Charles Matthews.Comment
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I wouldn't be surprised if one or two more leave.Philippians 4:11-4:13Comment
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If two more leave you're looking at a team with like nine scholarship players and only two non-freshmen, one of those being redshirt freshmen Jemarl Baker.
That's a team that will have a harder time than this team we just saw.
Vanderbilt and Washington can make a world of difference however, so to me so much about next year kind of hangs in the balance with them.
I will say that none of the guys who've left are that surprising. Many thought Hami would leave back in November. There was a brief glimpse of hope with Knox, but he and Shai were givens pretty much all season.
So in that way not much has really changed. But we're a couple of decisions away from next season probably being a wash.Comment
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What is your gut feeling, Will? Do you think this is the end of the defections from this class?Philippians 4:11-4:13Comment
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I always said that Hami, Shai, and Knox would be it.
But it's becoming obvious that Kentucky just cannot keep juniors. Like, if you go past your sophomore season then you kind of exhausted what the Kentucky program can do for you. So using that logic it's easy to see Wenyen leaving.
Regarding the freshmen: PJ Washington has no business thinking about the NBA, but neither did Hami. Neither guy is even remotely ready. But both could probably make a G-League roster, and there are guys (Andrew Harrison comes to mind) who've gone undrafted but have made a decent living. So that might be the logic there. We always think that if they come back to school, they'll get better. Sometimes that doesn't happen. PJ Washington's family might feel like he could improve in the G-League more than he could at UK.
This past team clearly suffered from a bit of delusions of grandeur. Not a whole lot of individual talent. Only two guys you can really say for sure are going to have careers in the NBA.
But none of that really matters because it's what they want, so here we are.
Last edited by Joneslab; 04-16-2018, 07:06 PM.Comment
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Well, it was a safe assumption from January that we'd lose Knox, SGA and, Diallo, so I'm not sure why you're getting your panties in such a twist.
PJ, Wenyen, and Vanderbilt haven't left yet, so let's save the sky is falling rhetoric for another day, shall we? I'll be as concerned as you if Washington or Vanderbilt leaves. Like Will said, next year pretty much hinges on their decisions. But I expect them both back, so, ya know... we'll see.
As for Killeya-Jones... *massive eye roll*Last edited by KCKUKFan; 04-16-2018, 07:21 PM.Comment
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I really like the "veteran" foundation of Quade, Wenyen, Vanderbilt, Washington, and Richards.
I think the foundation of Quade, Vanderbilt, and Richards is so-so.
Vanderbilt and Richards is pretty alarming.
Bring back only Richards and I'm not sure Kentucky can stay in the top 25 next season. It'll be a struggle.
This said, Cal always has something up his sleeve. Last year it was Knox, who saved us from total embarrassment. This year it might be Hagans and someone else. I feel like so many of these decisions are up in the air and likely will be for the next two months at least.Comment
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Hami Diallo NOT declaring for the draft would have been the most shocking news of the year.
Realistic question guys.....we've ballyhooed these kids coming to UK and did more than a little chest beating about kids getting a shot at the pros.
Why all the shock? I will lay dollars to doughnuts no player on this team not named Brad Calipari was not talked to HEAVILY about pro opportunities.
These kids are built to be pros...not college champs. That final four, national championship thing is the secondary, or maybe farther back goal.
It's happened to us, it looks like it's happening to Duke.
Price we pay.Comment
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^ The only thing is that these kids aren't pros outside the two. That's what makes it a little bitter.
It's not like we're losing Anthony Davis. Hami Diallo is going to have to struggle.
Not much succeeding and proceeding going on with this group. You could look at them on paper and not see hardly any pros. The only shocker in terms of their high school reputations, really, was Shai.
The others looked to be designed to be at least two-year players. That they might not be is frustrating.
BUT it still could work out for Kentucky if things fall the right way. It looks like we got a special gift with Ashton Hagans. Need one or two of the returners to come through.Comment
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IMO PJ Washington will be back..as far as Vanderbilt goes..he was hurt most of the season don't see why anybody thinks he will play in the NBA right now.....
I hope he comes back for another year under Cal.....Last edited by TrueblueCATfan; 04-16-2018, 07:54 PM.Comment
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