"Who's Coming to Kentucky?" Thread (UPDATE: Kentucky Lands Jaxson Robinson!)

[KentuckyWild2020]

There is it... Now the focus is Poplar Lanier or Robinson, don't expect anything until the NBA camp is over...

[KentuckyWild2020]

Pope has gone out and found some role playing low key working man ballers.

If he can add that one special piece (scorer), we should be more than good...

If 35 three attempts per game is the goal, we either going to win by 20 or lose by 20 lol...

[Joneslab]

Good size, good shooter, and another guy who's really progressed through his career. Also: old.

Looks like a solid bench guy. Roster continues to round out.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Curious to what Almonor's wingspan is? PJ was 6'7 but played bigger.

I feel a little better about the 4 and 5 spots now, still would not mind another young 6"10 or bigger big to develop...

[Joneslab]

He's definitely undersized for a 4 at this level but in Pope's offense, it might be better to be skilled than to be tall. Defensively is where Almonor might be a question mark at 6'7". Looks to be pretty big-bodied, however.

[JFCats22]

Pope will have to pretty much rebuild the roster again next year…and I must admit that I worry about that cycle for the first three years making it incredibly difficult for him.

Just have to hope that this year goes well enough that the fanbase remains rejuvenated and optimistic. If so, we just might be able to help him break out in terms of national recognition and subsequently recruiting ability.

There’s a tight margin for him here. I’m obviously rooting for him and the program to bounce back.

Great post. I totally agree with what you said. Pope has had to rely on so many grad transfers that he is going to have to replace at least 7 guys next year (that’s if nobody else goes pro or transfers). That’s going to be impossible to manage year after year.

He will have to recruit at an insanely high level in order to maintain this.

[Joneslab]

I wouldn't expect him to recruit at an insanely high level. I think he'll get his fair share of players but I don't see him out winning a bunch of 5-stars in this system. I think he'll have to get the right players with the best fit and then try and start laying down a foundation of returners while using the portal as much as possible.

I.e. pretty much the same way most of the country is having to do it in this era.

[KentuckyWild2020]

He's definitely undersized for a 4 at this level but in Pope's offense, it might be better to be skilled than to be tall. Defensively is where Almonor might be a question mark at 6'7". Looks to be pretty big-bodied, however.

Good pick regardless, happy with the new addition.

When I look at this roster as it is right now, the only thing I see missing is that athletic freak game changer. Not sure if even Poplar Lanier or Robinson fits the bill but it would be a good start. If Pope can lay down the foundation and keep a few returning, then it makes sense to actually recruit that high profile one and done freak freshman year in year out...

Anyways, just rambling, still hope we land 1 of the 3 and at one more long armed big body to the roster...

[dcaudle68]

So a guy that averaged 16 points a game. What is a realistic expectation for him as it appears he won't be a starter? 10-15 minutes and 5-8 points a game best case?

[Joneslab]

So a guy that averaged 16 points a game. What is a realistic expectation for him as it appears he won't be a starter? 10-15 minutes and 5-8 points a game best case?

Really hard to say. Wouldn't expect him to play over Carr simply because the staff clearly made Carr a priority, so that tells you what they think about Carr.

But other than that it's really hard to tell where the minutes are going to come down with this team. I'd hope Carr is as good as they think he is so he can play about 30 minutes a game, like he did last season. It's always good if your four or five best players are so good they make it hard to take them out of the game.

[KentuckyWild2020]

So a guy that averaged 16 points a game. What is a realistic expectation for him as it appears he won't be a starter? 10-15 minutes and 5-8 points a game best case?

Chandler and Noah are a wildcard at this point, still need a 3 and Almonor can fill that need.. Brea can play the two if needed, a lot of these parts can be switched out which is a good thing...

[Matt Dillon]

With all the talk about needing a scorer, a game changer, you all must not be expecting much from Travis Perry.

[KentuckyWild2020]

With all the talk about needing a scorer, a game changer, you all must not be expecting much from Travis Perry.

Honestly, I think he's much better than advertised, a diamond in the rough.

I just don't want to talk about it or put any extra pressure on him, i don't want to jinx it..

I have a feeling most locals will try and compare him to Reed the first year but he may make us forget about Reed all together..

[Joneslab]

With all the talk about needing a scorer, a game changer, you all must not be expecting much from Travis Perry.

In this period of time in the sport, it'd be much better if your go-to scorer were an older guy. (There are exceptions like Reed and Rob.)

But by and large older guys who've been around are going to beat out younger guys as it stands now, partly because they've been around for so long and are a lot of times at their second and third school. Really hard for 18-year-olds to compete with that unless they're just freakazoids.

[Realist2]

In this period of time in the sport, it'd be much better if your go-to scorer were an older guy. (There are exceptions like Reed and Rob.)

But by and large older guys who've been around are going to beat out younger guys as it stands now, partly because they've been around for so long and are a lot of times at their second and third school. Really hard for 18-year-olds to compete with that unless they're just freakazoids.

I think that it has a lot to do with skill development. It simply takes a lot of deliberate practice to become proficient at a motor skill like shooting a basketball and that takes time. Many coaches and parents are under the mistaken impression that shooters are born and not made so they don't worry about form. You have to combine good form with hard work to really reach your potential. Once you get the form nailed down it takes a lot of reps and attention to detail to not let some weird glitch creep into your shot. In a lot of the cases we're seeing in college basketball the player has simply put in the work and become proficient at the skill of shooting a basketball. Antonio Reeves is a good example. His stats this year at UK were much better than in his earlier college career. He supposedly put up 800 shots per day. It might not take quite that many reps but getting in the practice is definitely important.