Kentucky Recruiting Open Thread

[lilproUK98]

I think Pilgrim did say something along the lines of Cal is in the loop and working with it. But, that was before the news of him showing up in two weeks...

I think this has alot to do with his situation in Canadian school and the fact that he is sort of a special situation. I don't see this as a major trend, but the faster kids of his level of talent can get to his ultimate goal the better for them.

You just can't say no to a kid of his talent. This is the equivalent of Wall, Davis, or Towns wanting to do the same thing. If UK benefits from this with a FF or Championship run, then great, but ultimately the kid is in the driver's seat.

UK will be fine. Sure, it would've been nice to have Sharpe a full season, but they are bringing in talent, and there's always the portal. We'll see how it unfolds.

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[DA#23]

and there's always the portal. We'll see how it unfolds.

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One thought (actually more of an unsubstantiated/paranoid worry I have), and I can't fathom this happening often enough to come to fruition, is that this will harm our ability to dominate the transfer portal, though. And we have dominated it since The Portal became such an en vogue way to complete one's college career.

Because it would really stink for a guy like Fredrick and conversely other guys to loose their chance just because Sharpe navigated HS and draft eligibility as efficiently as possible. Mintz and Grady benefitted from COVID , so their years are sort of just a gift, though.

Additionally, in the last 5 years it would make two UK guys who at least tried change at last minute and play less than a year.

Just some thoughts from a grouchy UK fan down in here in EKY.

[SCBlu]

I'd feel bad for someone like Wheeler and Mintz who would be directly affected. I like Mintz alot and I want him to shine this season maybe more than anyone for what he went through last season and still decided to return to truly experience UK basketball at his age.

But, If those guys are okay with going on a ride with Sharpe and Tyty likely leading the way, then God bless them. Chances are it'll be a helluva ride and UK would have their best chance since 15 or 17 of getting to the FF and winning it all, IMO.

Respectfully disagree. Two freshmen (Sharpe & TyTy) taking us to the promise land with ABSOLUTELY no "connection" to UK. No Way! Give me Mintz over Sharpe for 1/2 season.

[Joneslab]

Respectfully disagree. Two freshmen (Sharpe & TyTy) taking us to the promise land with ABSOLUTELY no "connection" to UK. No Way! Give me Mintz over Sharpe for 1/2 season.

This makes no sense.

Once a player takes us to the "promise land" he earns that connection to UK. If Sharpe is that good of a player then that likely means he'll play hard, and if he plays hard and has the requisite talent he'll be a fan favorite.

I can already tell you TyTy is going to be a fan favorite just by the way he plays. Kentucky fans love shooters and we're going to see one with this kid. No reason Sharpe couldn't be a player fans go crazy for too.

Their connection to UK is that they want to play for UK. If they're good enough and if we as fans can see they're giving it everything they've got, that should be enough to embrace them. We might come to the end of the season and love Mintz, TyTY, and Sharpe. Who knows?

[lilproUK98]

Cal and staff going to visit Bona tomorrow, a day after he completed his UCLA visit. Cal trying to get the last word, fwiw...

[Joneslab]

Cal and staff going to visit Bona tomorrow, a day after he completed his UCLA visit. Cal trying to get the last word, fwiw...

Interesting. At the very least it shows what a huge player he is in terms of UK's class. You know Cal absolutely does not want to roll the dice on a transfer, particularly because good big men who come in as grad transfers are so rare.

[GOCAT15]

Cal and staff going to visit Bona tomorrow, a day after he completed his UCLA visit. Cal trying to get the last word, fwiw...

Will be quite a feat if he can pull this off with the momentum moving towards UCLA so much.

[lilproUK98]

Interesting. At the very least it shows what a huge player he is in terms of UK's class. You know Cal absolutely does not want to roll the dice on a transfer, particularly because good big men who come in as grad transfers are so rare.

Wish Bona meant this much to Cal a month ago, but I digress.

[lilproUK98]

I will say, however, the best recruiting pitch Cal can make right now is to tell Bona to look at what Oscar did Friday night. He now has something tangible to show Bona, in the style of play and opportunity for him to shine in a "4 out setting".

I would say that is Cal's pitch today and I'm not entirely sure UK is out of it, but we shall see.

[George]

Wish Bona meant this much to Cal a month ago, but I digress.

Pretty sure he did. Cal never told Bona to hold off. Bona shouldn’t be surprised or offended because the coach of an elite program tried to recruit as many elite players as possible.

The whole thing’s petty and juvenile.

[lilproUK98]

Pretty sure he did. Cal never told Bona to hold off. Bona shouldn’t be surprised or offended because the coach of an elite program tried to recruit as many elite players as possible.

The whole thing’s petty and juvenile.

Bona's feelings aside, the problem is, Cal went after a player that he had virtually no shot at getting. If Bona chooses UCLA it is 100% a mistake on Cal's part.

[George]

Bona's feelings aside, the problem is, Cal went after a player that he had virtually no shot at getting. If Bona chooses UCLA it is 100% a mistake on Cal's part.

All due respect, I don’t think it’s true that Cal had no shot at Lively.

[SCBlu]

This makes no sense.

Once a player takes us to the "promise land" he earns that connection to UK. If Sharpe is that good of a player then that likely means he'll play hard, and if he plays hard and has the requisite talent he'll be a fan favorite.

I can already tell you TyTy is going to be a fan favorite just by the way he plays. Kentucky fans love shooters and we're going to see one with this kid. No reason Sharpe couldn't be a player fans go crazy for too.

Their connection to UK is that they want to play for UK. If they're good enough and if we as fans can see they're giving it everything they've got, that should be enough to embrace them. We might come to the end of the season and love Mintz, TyTY, and Sharpe. Who knows?

I'm really speaking solely to the second half of this season if Sharpe would be eligible. Given Mintz' college-level experience & maturity, I believe I'd rather have him playing for us early next year than Sharpe. No knock against Sharpe. While he's a super player, there would be a "learning curve" to deal with. With all our other talent, I'd rather have Mintz'.

[Joneslab]

I'm really speaking solely to the second half of this season if Sharpe would be eligible. Given Mintz' college-level experience & maturity, I believe I'd rather have him playing for us early next year than Sharpe. No knock against Sharpe. While he's a super player, there would be a "learning curve" to deal with. With all our other talent, I'd rather have Mintz'.

Ah, got it.

I don't know if we can answer this because we don't know how good Sharpe is. He's a beast among his peers but the question is would that translate to college, particularly if he got eligible and started playing right away.

Hard for me to believe anyone, no matter how much of a phenom they are, would be able to just kill it right out of the gate. But with his enormous upside maybe you get him at his best for three weeks--and that coincides with the NCAA Tournament.

In a vaccuum I agree with you: you always take experience in situations where you're talking an 18-year-old having to play from January to April. But Sharpe is, from all accounts, a highly unusual player. And maybe as importantly as that, he plays a position we kind of need. I think we'll maybe look back at this team and belabor the fact that we didn't have that explosive playmaker on the wing. Sharpe might bring that.

[SCBlu]

[QUOTE=Will Lavender;n272418]



Agree