The Official Reid Travis Thread (UPDATE: Travis Commits to Kentucky)

[Joneslab]

I just saw it floating around that he is not taking a visit to Nova and is expected to announce for UK by the weekend, but it was on a small account no one has ever heard of.

Here's the site. I have a hard time believing this is legit.

I do think the fact that Travis is visiting on a Tuesday is interesting. Jon Rothstein has confirmed that Travis will visit Kentucky tomorrow, which means he's coming literally one day after Stanford's graduation.

It would be really odd for a guy to schedule a visit one day after commencement if he didn't plan to commit and try to get to campus quickly.

Would be one of the most substantial gets of the Calipari era. Not an Anthony Davis or Wall sort, but given how we need a guy like Travis, the position he plays, and the fact that we'll grab him in the middle of June would be a hellacious coup. I've said this but I think it puts Kentucky in the driver's seat in a tough SEC and gives them as good a shot as anyone to win a national title.

https://kysportsinsiders.com/2018/06...travis-update/

[teamchemistry15]

Here's the site. I have a hard time believing this is legit.

I do think the fact that Travis is visiting on a Tuesday is interesting. Jon Rothstein has confirmed that Travis will visit Kentucky tomorrow, which means he's coming literally one day after Stanford's graduation.

It would be really odd for a guy to schedule a visit one day after commencement if he didn't plan to commit and try to get to campus quickly.

Would be one of the most substantial gets of the Calipari era. Not an Anthony Davis or Wall sort, but given how we need a guy like Travis, the position he plays, and the fact that we'll grab him in the middle of June would be a hellacious coup. I've said this but I think it puts Kentucky in the driver's seat in a tough SEC and gives them as good a shot as anyone to win a national title.

https://kysportsinsiders.com/2018/06...travis-update/

If we get him we have literally every piece to the puzzle. You could argue it's the second deepest college team in the last ten years. We have shooters, rebounding, experience, can play big or small, and a legit playmaker at guard. We may not have a legitimate rim protector but Richards and Montgomery should be efficient enough. It seems every year we have fallen short we have lacked one of those things. If we get Travis there's not a roster in the country I would take over ours.

[JFCats22]

It's confirmed that Travis is on campus in Lexington now. Sign him up Cal!!

[Jload]

I can't help but shake my head about all the great "shooters" we have. Maybe, maybe not ,with the exception of Green none of our guards have hit a shot in a D1 game. We have potential shooters sure but need to see if they can hit em in real games before I start hanging number 9. I am actually more excited by our frontline than backcourt been a while since we have had Willie and KAT

[Joneslab]

I can't help but shake my head about all the great "shooters" we have.

I agree. A lot riding on Herro and/or Baker.

I'm always wary of freshmen being able to come in and be elite shooters because getting open at this level is brutally hard.

I think Quickley can shoot as well, but not sure how much PT he can squeeze out behind Hagans, who I think is going to be a guy they play a lot.

EJ Montgomery is also a shooter, but you always worry that bigger guys aren't going to be shot-getters enough to make a difference across an entire season.

Even with Travis outside shooting is the biggest question mark. I don't think it will be nearly the issue it was for much of last year. Last year's team was probably the worst outside shooting team Cal's had in Lexington, all things considered. The percentage wasn't the worst but they only made 195 threes on the year. That isn't enough.

Next year's group won't be like that. I think they'll have enough to keep other people honest, but whether or not they have that elite shooter remains to be seen. It absolutely is a question mark.

[Dwight Schrute]

I actually don't worry about that - I think that tends to take care of itself on Cal's teams. I worry that with the sudden influx of guards there'll be some chemistry issues. Guys that were banking on being the man are suddenly gonna have to fight a lot harder for playing time.

[Joneslab]

Shooting actually doesn't take care of itself sometimes on Cal's teams.

Last year. 2012-2013. 2009-2010.

That's a third of the seasons he's been here that outside shooting has been pretty poor.

There's a reason Cal has talked at length about changing his recruiting methodology going forward to get more shooters. He was in fact talking about just that as recently as yesterday.

[Dwight Schrute]

Shooting actually doesn't take care of itself sometimes on Cal's teams.

Last year. 2012-2013. 2009-2010.

That's a third of the seasons he's been here that outside shooting has been pretty poor.

There's a reason Cal has talked at length about changing his recruiting methodology going forward to get more shooters. He was in fact talking about just that as recently as yesterday.

What I mean is the offense will take care of itself. The years you mentioned didn't take care of itself because those teams really didn't have great shooters or players billed as great, or even good shooters. It's always possible those players may not be as advertised, but if they're good, Cal will figure that out. The chemistry thing is probably nothing to worry about either, but what would June be without worry?

[Joneslab]

I'm not necessarily worried as much as just sort of noting it when you look at the roster.

I certainly get that a person would see shooting as the one flaw that jumps out. But there aren't many, at least on paper.

[Catsrock]

Assuming we get Travis I don't see any reason to not be totally pumped about the upcoming season. Even though his experience is not playing for UK he is a seasoned veteran of big time college hoops. He is physically mature and a known entity unlike any incoming freshman. Put him with the sophomore returnees and and a stellar freshman class and shooting that will at least be better than last year and we are a contender--not a guaranteed champion. I'll take it!

[lilproUK98]

https://youtu.be/HcF8rTu3qBo

Watch this and try not to burst into tears of joy and book your flight to and hotel in Minneapolis....

[Lighthouse]

Thanks for posting this. I'm not in tears, but really happy about the positives this kid brings.

[Joneslab]

https://youtu.be/HcF8rTu3qBo

Watch this and try not to burst into tears of joy and book your flight to and hotel in Minneapolis....

Kind of surprised at his shooting touch there.

I don't think he'll play much away from the basket but it looks like he can. You know Cal is selling him on "positionless." (Were I to bet however I would assume he'll play a Terrence Jones-as-a-sophomore type of role--which would be perfect.)

[KCKUKFan]

Kind of surprised at his shooting touch there.

I don't think he'll play much away from the basket but it looks like he can. You know Cal is selling him on "positionless." (Were I to bet however I would assume he'll play a Terrence Jones-as-a-sophomore type of role--which would be perfect.)

Terrence Jones launched an awful lot of outside jumpers in his sophomore year.

[Joneslab]

Terrence Jones launched an awful lot of outside jumpers in his sophomore year.

Shot 49 threes, made 16. Freshmen year he shot 79.

By the second half of his sophomore year he became kind of a warrior type. Shot about 18 threes in his last 18 games.

I don't think Travis will shoot 49 total but I have read that his shooting is underrated. I have to think if he comes to UK it'll be because he wants to get to the NBA; if he wants to get to the NBA they might give him a bit of a green light, at least early in games.

I doubt we'll see him out on the perimeter with the game on the line but I think there's a reason why UK is on his list. He likely doesn't want to play exactly like he did at Stanford.