Scale of 1-10, your Derek Willis confidence level

[Joneslab]

The only big men I think I've ever seen at Kentucky who I really thought could play the point with some success was Anthony Davis and maybe Antoine Walker.

That's pretty much the list.

Even Darius Miller, who was arguably the most skilled player Calipari has had outside of Davis in terms of just an overall package, struggled when he was the prime ballhandler. See the UofL disaster in '12. Point guard is hard at this level.

Never seen these "point guard skills" that Willis is supposed to possess. He has shown an odd knack for being able to deliver the ball into the post very well, but obviously that's a far different thing.

[J.Jennings]

JWORLD...how tall is MKG? I know, but do you?

The game is so much more than measurements.

Listed at 6'7/6'8 but probably more like 6'6.

[J.Jennings]

Willis has point guard abilities? You know more about him than I do. If you didn't say the same stuff about Hood I would think you and Willis were cousins.

"Derek could play all five positions for us," Barr said. "We'd normally let him play all over the floor. I think that's what made him a really unique player. ... He's one of the best ball-handling big men I've seen on the high school level in a long, long time."

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2014/10/14/3...#storylink=cpy

[DA#23]

6'-5"........

[J.Jennings]

6'-5"........

Which is why I seriously doubt Willis is 6'9/6'10 and some may say.....

[teamchemistry15]

"Derek could play all five positions for us," Barr said. "We'd normally let him play all over the floor. I think that's what made him a really unique player. ... He's one of the best ball-handling big men I've seen on the high school level in a long, long time."

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2014/10/14/3...#storylink=cpy

Key words from that is "on the high school level." I get it now. You are basing his need to play and your expectations based on what he did in high school. It is a little bit different in division I against future NBA players.

[J.Jennings]

Key words from that is "on the high school level." I get it now. You are basing his need to play and your expectations based on what he did in high school. It is a little bit different in division I against future NBA players.

The games Willis played well in the Bahamas where much more than a bunch of high schoolers.

[Joneslab]

Which is why I seriously doubt Willis is 6'9/6'10 and some may say.....

He measured 6'9" during Kentucky's combine last October.

http://kentuckysportsradio.com/basketball-2/player-measurements-and-results-from-the-nba-combine/

[JFCats22]

JWorld - this is for you buddy!!!

Brett Dawson ‏@BDawsonRivals
Ulis noted how well Derek Willis played when they shared a platoon in Bahamas. Says he thinks Willis/Hawkins will "surprise some people."

[J.Jennings]

JWorld - this is for you buddy!!!

Brett Dawson ‏@BDawsonRivals
Ulis noted how well Derek Willis played when they shared a platoon in Bahamas. Says he thinks Willis/Hawkins will "surprise some people."

To be honest, we need both of these to play to play big. Laying all jokes aside, this offseason has been a nightmare losing 7 and not getting a few guys we all felt where coming to Lexington.

I agree with most in regards to Willis and his weight. At 6'8/6'9/or maybe 6'10, he actually may have to play in the post some this season.

[teamchemistry15]

To be honest, we need both of these to play to play big. Laying all jokes aside, this offseason has been a nightmare losing 7 and not getting a few guys we all felt where coming to Lexington.

I agree with most in regards to Willis and his weight. At 6'8/6'9/or maybe 6'10, he actually may have to play in the post some this season.

We cant afford to have a PG playing in the post. Willis needs to be our floor general out there..........

[J.Jennings]

We cant afford to have a PG playing in the post. Willis needs to be our floor general out there..........

Or maybe if Cal was more creative on offense he could play him as a point forward sort of the way Pippen, Evan Turner, Royce White and others have been used in the past?

[Joneslab]

Or maybe if Cal was more creative on offense he could play him as a point forward sort of the way Pippen, Evan Turner, Royce White and others have been used in the past?

If it's one thing you can't really bash Cal on it's that he allows his big men to roam away from the basket.

He's had Alex Poythress playing on the perimeter for the entirety of his career. Played Darius Miller inside and out. Wiltjer. Anthony Davis. Lyles.

Not sure pegging Cal as conservative on offense with regards to the way he positions players is accurate. People started complaining about Patrick Patterson playing too far away from the basket about two weeks into Cal's tenure.

[J.Jennings]

If it's one thing you can't really bash Cal on it's that he allows his big men to roam away from the basket.

He's had Alex Poythress playing on the perimeter for the entirety of his career. Played Darius Miller inside and out. Wiltjer. Anthony Davis. Lyles.

Not sure pegging Cal as conservative on offense with regards to the way he positions players is accurate. People started complaining about Patrick Patterson playing too far away from the basket about two weeks into Cal's tenure.

Good point and i won't argue with that. My problem with him more than anything is the stall offense. With some of the players we have had, i guess i expected us to play like Loyola Maramount back in the day.........

[Wonderstruck]

If this experience has not caused Cal to change his philosophy of late game management, then I don't know if anything will.