Scale of 1-10, your Derek Willis confidence level

[J.Jennings]

You really think Cal doesn't play Willis or Hawkins because they might play better than his high profile recruits and make him look bad? I wouId rather play Briscoe than either Hawkins or Willis because he is stronger, faster, and projected as a future first round pick for a reason. I guess the NBA scouts don't project Willis or Hawkins as first round picks because it might make their recruiting rankings and draft projections look bad, right? Willis can play. Greenberg said he probably would have started on most of his Virginia Tech teams. The problem is the guys in front of him would have started on every college team in the country. I know he isnt good enough because Cal would play him if he was. To say he could be Baked or Dekker is insane. Willis could play 40 minutes a game this year and not do what those guys do.

Which is why both Willis and Hawkins need to transfer. Briscoe could be the next Brandon Knight or turn out to be the next Josh Selby, you never know. On the other hand, Willis and Hawkins can those 4 year guys who actually help KENTUCKY WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP instead of auditioning for the NBA.

Back to Dekker,Wiilis, and Baker. Dekker was highly touted out of high school while Willis was the 115th best prospect. Baker wasn’t even ranked by any scouting site and wasn’t seriously recruited by any major Division I basketball program. Instead, Baker made schools visits to various Division II programs and drew strong interest from just two smaller Division I schools – Arkansas-Little Rock and South Dakota State. You don't know what your going to get out of Willis until he gets some minutes and gets his confidence level up.

[boomdaddy]

It is up to the player and the coach on the whole transfer business. Just because a player hasn't had a break out season yet, doesn't mean they should transfer. Some guys would rather be a small part of something big, than a big part of something small.

Everyone on a team can't be a star. It just doesn't work out that way.

[J.Jennings]

It is up to the player and the coach on the whole transfer business. Just because a player hasn't had a break out season yet, doesn't mean they should transfer. Some guys would rather be a small part of something big, than a big part of something small.

Everyone on a team can't be a star. It just doesn't work out that way.

“It’s just kind of weird. You go your whole life playing and then you’re not really playing as much. I don’t know, it’s just kind of like falling out of the game,” Willis said. “Just don’t know what to do, really. Just kind of looking for answers. I’ve asked a lot of people, talked to them about it, (and) I’m really just getting the same thing: Just get in the gym more and just be around the game more.”

[teamchemistry15]

Which is why both Willis and Hawkins need to transfer. Briscoe could be the next Brandon Knight or turn out to be the next Josh Selby, you never know. On the other hand, Willis and Hawkins can those 4 year guys who actually help KENTUCKY WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP instead of auditioning for the NBA.

Back to Dekker,Wiilis, and Baker. Dekker was highly touted out of high school while Willis was the 115th best prospect. Baker wasn’t even ranked by any scouting site and wasn’t seriously recruited by any major Division I basketball program. Instead, Baker made schools visits to various Division II programs and drew strong interest from just two smaller Division I schools – Arkansas-Little Rock and South Dakota State. You don't know what your going to get out of Willis until he gets some minutes and gets his confidence level up.

But Cal hasn't missed on any of the recruits. They have all been as good as advertised. Willis can play, but he isn't better than anyone on the roster. If he was he would be playing, period.

[J.Jennings]

Interesting thoughts from UK fans on other message boards

"I don't think he'll play at all when Cal gets his rotation trimmed to his main seven.

I don't believe Hawkins will either because Cal's main theme is getting kids to the NBA in the shortest time to continue recruiting at the highest level.
I am convinced that means much more than NCAA titles to Coach Calipari.

Eventually he will call the NBA his own playground without coaching a game there.

That is the legacy he seeks. Not about UK or the program, it's about him. This is the means to an end for JC.

And I am not saying it's a bad thing.
It's just a different thing than has been done before.

I just hope either K retires or Cal gets a championship before Duke catches us. We talk about overtaking UCLA and the truth is K could be coming for us.
If his kids were to come back the whole college basketball landscape will be changed. "

[J.Jennings]

In regards to playing at another school......

Derek could have easily put up those kind of numbers at a mid-major or heck, even a WKU type school. I don't know why he doesn't transfer to a school where he could showcase his talent. Calipari is not going to play him unless he completely strikes out on the players he's trying to recruit.

Cal can't or won't play Willis if he recruits more top freshmen, because he will feel obligated to help those freshmen develop their game in order to get drafted after their freshmen or sophomore year. He will once again forget about Willis and let him languish on the bench.

That's just the way it is, and is Cal's way of insuring that he continues to get the highest rated one-and-dones.

I would love to see Derek get a chance to play at least 10-18 minutes of meaningful time during games next season, and not just the last two minutes of stall ball. He definitely, in my opinion, has the talent to play more minutes and could be a star at another school.

[Joneslab]

Derek could have easily put up those kind of numbers at a mid-major or heck, even a WKU type school. I don't know why he doesn't transfer to a school where he could showcase his talent. Calipari is not going to play him unless he completely strikes out on the players he's trying to recruit.

Could be because playing at UK opens up a lot of opportunities for people when they're finished with basketball.

[J.Jennings]

But Cal hasn't missed on any of the recruits. They have all been as good as advertised. Willis can play, but he isn't better than anyone on the roster. If he was he would be playing, period.

Seems like you tend to forget the fact that sometimes great college players are not always good pro's while mediocre college players sometimes turn out to be good pro's. Question is, are you all about seeing great talent get to the NBA as soon as possilbe or are you about Kentucky winning championships? Honestly, i watch alot more NBA ball than college with the exception of Kentucky. To be honest, would rather watch the best players in the world who actually know how to run a offense instead of watching some of the trash AAU ball that i see in the college game. Most that never watch the NBA assume it's all one on one standing around with no defense.

Point is, Derek Willis or D. Hawkins doesn't have to play in the NBA to be a great benefit to a team like Kentucky trying to win Championships. Hawkins is going to give you some great D night in and night out while Willis has that natural scoring ability to put the ball in the basket. Did it surprise you a few times this year to see the WHITE GUY Willis actually get above the rim and throw it down? Do you find it odd that a 6'8/6'9 guy can actually handle the ball like a guard?? Honestly,, would you rather a short armed 6'3/6'4 guard in the face of a guy like Sam Dekker or a 6'8/6'9 guy with a hand in his face???? I'll go back to Julius Mays and Jon Hood, if both player had been equal in every facet of the game, i would of played Hood and not because he's white, simply because his height and wingspan was much more than Mays..........

I am trying to figure out why so many European guys are on NBA rosters???????????????

Bottomline, Derek Willis is a bad fit for Kentucky and Cal's system. If he wants to sit on the bench and be a cheerleader, so be it. If he actually wants to pull a Ryan Harrow and Kyle Wiltjer and play in the NCAA tournament elsewhere, good luck to him. Still would not surprise me if ends up in Louisville.........

[CATHYnKY]

[QUOTE=J.Jennings;n32080]

Which is why both Willis and Hawkins need to transfer. Briscoe could be the next Brandon Knight or turn out to be the next Josh Selby, you never know. On the other hand, Willis and Hawkins can those 4 year guys who actually help KENTUCKY WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP instead of auditioning for the NBA.


Auditioning for the NBA???? Good choice of words. But then I am old school, right? That is what Matt Jones called me when I expressed my being unhappy with so many one and dones.

[DA#23]

The thing about these conversations with JWORLD is they're always laced in racial context, as though a white guy is getting shafted by Cal and UK Sheeple Fans. That's what JWORLD says every time, and he's not changed in that opinion over the last 4-5 years.

[SBCatMan]

I did not take the time to read through all six pages of this thread, but i did skim through the first few.

IMO, Willis was misused last year, and that could come back to haunts us this year.

First, I thought Willis played well in the Bahamas, and while not an NBA prospect at this stage of his career, I think he is definitely a credible player. Was he as good as the guys getting all the PT last year, no, of course not. But, he was certainly good enough to get a LOT, LOT more PT in many of last year's games. That would have positioned him much better to contribute next year, when he may be sorely needed. And, if Cal knew all along that he was not going to play Willis, then why not redshirt him and stick him in the weight room for a year, as Wiltjer did when he took a year off? Either option would have put him in a much better position to help us this year. Sitting on the bench watching blow out wins did nothing for his game, for his confidence nor for his attitude.

[J.Jennings]

The thing about these conversations with JWORLD is they're always laced in racial context, as though a white guy is getting shafted by Cal and UK Sheeple Fans. That's what JWORLD says every time, and he's not changed in that opinion over the last 4-5 years.

And maybe it's because i turn on the TV to watch a basketball game and there is always this white guy(s) from these no name schools who actually perform and ball out against top teams. Unless your Rex Chapman, you dont play at Kentucky because "he's just happy to be here" smh. I could care less if it's white or black but i actually laugh every time i hear a few of my friends who are African American get ticked to the point they damn near want to fight because they watch the same game we have watched all these years and wonder whatever happened to the Sparks, the Pelphrey's, and so on's. Perhaps they know something we don't know??? Maybe if your the coach of Kentucky you had better make sure you don't play the local white kid (in this case state kids period) because you may get associated with Adolph Rupp and we wouldn't want that now would we??

With all that being said since you brought it up Colvin, how in the hell is a team full of McDonald's All Americans going to get beat by a team full of white dudes out of Wisconsin?? It's either bad coaching, the 5 stars that so many have so much faith in really aren't that good, or maybe Kentucky is just a stop and audition for the NBA because that's the way Cal wants it and Championships don't matter???? To sit and watch players like Hood, Hawkins, and Willis just rot on the bench for 4 years absolutely burns me up when in reality, they where all recoginized decent rated recruits coming out of high school. Why is it Cal can develop some guys but others he can't??? Are some of our one and done's really "fools gold'? Do they get a free pass? Does Cal overlook the 4 years guys( they are just happy to here) and not waste the time to develop them and give them a fairshake???

I think i figured it all out in regards to Kentucky kids going to UK. If you don't have the SWAG as Cal calls it, you don't play. Maybe all the state kids should get with Rajon Rondo and learn how to say "@@@@" the world and then maybe Cal will play them.

Two things remains to be true. Kyle Wiltjer isn't dumb and Luke Kinnard said hell to the no, i am going to Duke where i can be developed and actually get a shot at playing instead of sitting on the bench and being told to be happy to be here.........

[Lighthouse]

I did not take the time to read through all six pages of this thread, but i did skim through the first few.

IMO, Willis was misused last year, and that could come back to haunts us this year.

First, I thought Willis played well in the Bahamas, and while not an NBA prospect at this stage of his career, I think he is definitely a credible player. Was he as good as the guys getting all the PT last year, no, of course not. But, he was certainly good enough to get a LOT, LOT more PT in many of last year's games. That would have positioned him much better to contribute next year, when he may be sorely needed. And, if Cal knew all along that he was not going to play Willis, then why not redshirt him and stick him in the weight room for a year, as Wiltjer did when he took a year off? Either option would have put him in a much better position to help us this year. Sitting on the bench watching blow out wins did nothing for his game, for his confidence nor for his attitude.

I was there, and he did. But you have to remember Lyles and WCS didn't play in the Bahamas or he wouldn't have plated as much. I agree with your thought about the redshirt.

[teamchemistry15]

Jworld, if we played a team of 2 McDonald's AAs, three state boys like Willis, Hawkins, and Hood, and a role playing 4 star kid, how good do you think they would be? You are taking the approach of the backup QB being the favorite player on the football team. You need to take the approach of realising why he is the backup in the first place.

[Joneslab]

I did not take the time to read through all six pages of this thread, but i did skim through the first few.

IMO, Willis was misused last year, and that could come back to haunts us this year.

The problem with this argument is Trey Lyles.

I thought Willis was good in the Bahamas too. Then I saw Lyles play. Lyles basically took those minutes away from Willis, as happens on good teams. The best players steal minutes.

It's hard to knock a rotation that's 9 deep, but if anybody should've gotten more time last year it was probably Marcus Lee. Dominique Hawkins has a slight argument considering in at least one of the games he started the team played really well.

But I didn't see Willis do anything after the Bahamas that made me think he should be playing. As for his confidence and his attitude: that's just part of the deal when you sit the bench. The coach can't coddle to all 15 guys' attitudes by playing everybody equal minutes. Some guys are simply not going to play. Been that way since the dawn of time.