Kentucky Recruiting Open Thread

[KCKUKFan]

The fact that there is so much conflicting information all at once means that nobody has any idea.

[George]

Pilgrim says 60/40 Duke. But no one knows at all for sure. And he says if Lively picks Duke, Bona announces to UK by the end of next week. Disappointing, but Bona is certainly no slouch, and a great fit.

Bona works his off. Never stops running. Absolutely no reason to cry about getting him. Kid’s a worker, and he’s probably much craftier around the rim than most to believe. He isn’t the plodding brute that some reviewers have made him out to be. He never. Quits. Hustling.

It’s exceptional, really. Kid plays like his hair is on fire.

[Lighthouse]

Bona works his off. Never stops running. Absolutely no reason to cry about getting him. Kid’s a worker, and he’s probably much craftier around the rim than most to believe. He isn’t the plodding brute that some reviewers have made him out to be. He never. Quits. Hustling.

It’s exceptional, really. Kid plays like his hair is on fire.

This is the positive things being said about tis kid. I would be happy to have him at UK.

[George]

Just a heads up, momentum for Lively is shifting in Duke’s favor.

Should probably brace yourselves for the loss and be pleasantly surprised if it swings back our way.

Here’s hoping Bona hasn’t been turned off by our obvious preference for Lively.

[KCKUKFan]

Just a heads up, momentum for Lively is shifting in Duke’s favor.

Should probably brace yourselves for the loss and be pleasantly surprised if it swings back our way.

Here’s hoping Bona hasn’t been turned off by our obvious preference for Lively.

Is anybody really sure or basing this on solid info or is it all hunch?

[George]

Is anybody really sure or basing this on solid info or is it all hunch?

Feels like a notch or two past “hunch” to me, and not much more. More hunches in Duke’s direction at the moment, but pretty much everyone refuses to say they’re confident.

[lilproUK98]

Graf switched to Duke. So come on down Adem Bona. I'll be very excited to have him. He's a beast

[lilproUK98]

[GOCAT15]

Looks like Lively to Duke is pretty much locked up per the crystal ball. Hopefully Bona’s meeting goes well.

[justford]

Curious as to what changed to get him to commit (if he does) to Duke? Never ceases to amaze me how recruits would rather play for a new coach instead of a proven hall of fame coach. It is what is is.

[Joneslab]

Curious as to what changed to get him to commit (if he does) to Duke? Never ceases to amaze me how recruits would rather play for a new coach instead of a proven hall of fame coach. It is what is is.

Assuming he did change.

This one didn't look right to me from the start. Hopefully we get a surprise today but I wasn't surprised when I heard Duke. Nothing in this recruitment suggested it was Kentucky and I think a lot of people were just assuming because Kentucky was on fire we would get Lively.

[Catsrock]

It does seem plausible that Lively was ready to commit to Cal with a class with a loaded backcourt and a small forward but then found that Cal would still pursue Bona and he wanted to own the paint in the class so decided to go elswhere. I don’t know this—just a possibility.

[Joneslab]

It does seem plausible that Lively was ready to commit to Cal with a class with a loaded backcourt and a small forward but then found that Cal would still pursue Bona and he wanted to own the paint in the class so decided to go elswhere. I don’t know this—just a possibility.

That's actually not that plausible to me, simply because if Cal knew Lively was going to balk at playing with Bona I don't see any way Cal continues to pursue Bona. That doesn't fit Cal's MO. If he's got a player at a position that's a big-time talent, he pretty much hones in on that player.

I've assumed Bona was the guy all along and Lively was merely a possibility.

Again, I hope I'm wrong and we get a surprise today.

[George]

That's actually not that plausible to me, simply because if Cal knew Lively was going to balk at playing with Bona I don't see any way Cal continues to pursue Bona. That doesn't fit Cal's MO. If he's got a player at a position that's a big-time talent, he pretty much hones in on that player.

I've assumed Bona was the guy all along and Lively was merely a possibility.

Again, I hope I'm wrong and we get a surprise today.

We’re not going to. Safe to cede Lively to Duke at this point.

[lilproUK98]

Exactly. It's always been the case that Bona's crew wasn't keen on Lively coming to UK if he was going to. Lively going to Duke clears the path for Bona.

Lively has been virtually silent for months, UK got some momentum after Peach Jam, but Duke always had the upper hand here. Nothing else to it.