2025-26 Roster Chatter (UPDATE: Oweh Returns, Roster Complete)

[largebluej]

I guess first impressions stick. Sparks and Perry are similar builds. IMO, what Perry was lacking was defensive chops. Sparks was always so tenacious on defense...Perry just seemed a half step slow...that could be fixed in the off season

Sparks and Perry don't (didn't) have similiar builds at all. Patrick noticeably thicker.

I don't recall much defensive tenacity by Sparks. My memory could be faulty on this point. He was relentlessly aggressive on the other end.

Slowness can't be fixed. With experience a player can compensate on defense with anticipation and better positioning. But a small guy ain't ever speeding up with age.

[Joneslab]

I guess first impressions stick. Sparks and Perry are similar builds. IMO, what Perry was lacking was defensive chops. Sparks was always so tenacious on defense...Perry just seemed a half step slow...that could be fixed in the off season

Eh, maybe. I still say Sparks was a bit of a chonkster. In the end, fat.

Perry is thin. My son has a picture beside him from last summer and my son is significantly bigger. My son’s 6’, 205.

Pope talked at length about his needed strength in the coaches shows. He got bullied at times…but most freshmen do. I think that would’ve changed and honestly isn’t really germane to why he left Kentucky.

Just as a general observation, I was always higher on Noah and Chandler in large part because of their size. Bigger players. Noah also is more versatile because of his uncanny, Sheppard-esque nose for the ball.

But just like all freshmen including Perry, they too need to get stronger.

[Joneslab]

Kentucky fans always online lobbying for Kentucky kids to play doesn't help matters either, just plants poison in these kids mind. Nothing is given, still have to work for it.

There’s always been a fixation from Kentucky fans about white players.

[justford]

There’s always been a fixation from Kentucky fans about white players.

Most people have a fixation on anyone or anything that is rare.

[Joneslab]

Most people have a fixation on anyone or anything that is rare.

Yeah, and there's a kind of wish fulfillment thing that goes on there.

It's the old stereotype of the Boston Celtics and why people liked them back in the '80s. The idea being: that guy's just like me, he's slow and funny looking, but he's out there killing it.

Cal always got the "He plays athletes over basketball players" rap, which was a coded "He won't play white players" allegation. That wasn't true...but, technically, it's largely true of most everyone for the reason you say: they're exceedingly rare.

Pope for obvious reasons shouldn't get that rap, but Perry brought a little heat on him. Who knows the deal, really? Maybe Pope could have done a little more with Perry. Who really knows. I think it was obvious to everyone, including Perry himself, that he'd be the 13th man...which I assume is why he left.

Personally I would've loved to have a guy like that with starting SEC experience, but I get the decision he made.

[Mr.Nezzer]

Sparks and Perry don't (didn't) have similiar builds at all. Patrick noticeably thicker.

I don't recall much defensive tenacity by Sparks. My memory could be faulty on this point. He was relentlessly aggressive on the other end.

Slowness can't be fixed. With experience a player can compensate on defense with anticipation and better positioning. But a small guy ain't ever speeding up with age.

Both Perry and Sparks 6'1"-6'2" 180-185....go check the stats..
Rondo list at 6'1" 171
At the end of the day that's all we have to base this argument

I'll admit Perry's defensive skills needed work

[KentuckyWild2020]

Ralph Beard,Cliff Hawkins, Lou Dampier, Roger Harden, Farmer,imagine them coming to Kentucky today as freshmen.

I highly doubt any of these guys came to Kentucky as freshman SEC ready, I know for sure Hawkins and Farmer wasn't. I dont remember so many Kentucky fans running kids off back then.

Still, this isn't just a Kentucky problem, it's everywhere with social media and unrealistic expectations etc.

I highly doubt Pope ran Perry off but I am disappointed Perry wasn't willing to stick around fight and earn it.

[Joneslab]

At the end of the day that's all we have to base this argument

Well, I mean you could simply look at both those guys and see how they were built. Sparks' frame was wider, thicker, and thus able to take on more muscle.

Perry is leaner and smaller in the trunk. As I said, Pope pointed out a few times how he'd just get knocked off his line. I don't know if he can ever be a strong guard and obviously not a quick guard, so that's the worry with him.

I posted all season that I couldn't quite tell if he was a legitimate high D1 guard and it was because of his size and quickness. But he's going to get a big chance next season because as we all know, he can be a lethal offensive player.

If it's Alabama then he'll get shots with them. I wouldn't be surprised if Kentucky doesn't run into him down the road and he really hurts us just because he has an uncanny knack of putting the ball in the basket.

[Joneslab]

Ralph Beard,Cliff Hawkins, Lou Dampier, Roger Harden, Farmer,imagine them coming to Kentucky today as freshmen.

I highly doubt any of these guys came to Kentucky as freshman SEC ready, I know for sure Hawkins and Farmer wasn't. I dont remember so many Kentucky fans running kids off back then.

I'm not sure where the evidence is that fans ran him off.

I think most fans who knew what they were talking about would've loved to see him return, but by the same token would've all agreed that he's probably your 12th or 13th man. It was obvious by who we got and who's returning. I'm sure the family knew that, and I'd say the choice was made by them because of that.

Just taking one of those players you mentioned there, Cliff Hawkins. The thing about Hawkins was always that he had a niche: it was obvious very early in his career what kind of defensive player he could be. Perry's niche would've had to have been shot-making. But there was Travis Perry going 6-27 from three--mostly on wide open attempts--to close out last season. And, on top of that, getting frequently abused defensively.

I still think he could've played a role next season...albeit a minor one. And in the portal era where you've got teams looking to build entire rosters, I don't blame the family for looking around for a bigger role somewhere else.

[KentuckyWild2020]

I'm not sure where the evidence is that fans ran him off.

I think most fans who knew what they were talking about would've loved to see him return, but by the same token would've all agreed that he's probably your 12th or 13th man. It was obvious by who we got and who's returning. I'm sure the family knew that, and I'd say the choice was made by them because of that.

Just taking one of those players you mentioned there, Cliff Hawkins. The thing about Hawkins was always that he had a niche: it was obvious very early in his career what kind of defensive player he could be. Perry's niche would've had to have been shot-making. But there was Travis Perry going 6-27 from three--mostly on wide open attempts--to close out last season. And, on top of that, getting frequently abused defensively.

I still think he could've played a role next season...albeit a minor one. And in the portal era where you've got teams looking to build entire rosters, I don't blame the family for looking around for a bigger role somewhere else.

It's all good, we are good if Oweh returns. That is really all that matters at this point

[justford]

I'm not sure where the evidence is that fans ran him off.

I think most fans who knew what they were talking about would've loved to see him return, but by the same token would've all agreed that he's probably your 12th or 13th man. It was obvious by who we got and who's returning. I'm sure the family knew that, and I'd say the choice was made by them because of that.

Just taking one of those players you mentioned there, Cliff Hawkins. The thing about Hawkins was always that he had a niche: it was obvious very early in his career what kind of defensive player he could be. Perry's niche would've had to have been shot-making. But there was Travis Perry going 6-27 from three--mostly on wide open attempts--to close out last season. And, on top of that, getting frequently abused defensively.

I still think he could've played a role next season...albeit a minor one. And in the portal era where you've got teams looking to build entire rosters, I don't blame the family for looking around for a bigger role somewhere else.

My question is will he get more NIL money at another school? This is the time in his life to make all the money he can as he probably won’t be playing after college unless it is overseas.

[Joneslab]

My question is will he get more NIL money at another school? This is the time in his life to make all the money he can as he probably won’t be playing after college unless it is overseas.

I would say so but only because there are teams that are really trying to still finish their rosters. Those teams would pay some for a guy with SEC starts who holds that kind of scoring record in high school.

The difference might be negligible, though. At the end of the day he averaged 2 a game.

I know nothing about the inside of the situation, but I'd say it was more his role than the money. When they got Aberdeen you've got a situation suddenly where the backcourt is crowded. There might've been some things said to the family by Pope and the staff last year about how in year two Perry would play a much bigger part, and the writing was on the wall with the roster where that likely wasn't going to happen. At that point, you cast out and see if you can find something better.

That sort of thing is happening all over the country.

[justford]

I would say so but only because there are teams that are really trying to still finish their rosters. Those teams would pay some for a guy with SEC starts who holds that kind of scoring record in high school.

The difference might be negligible, though. At the end of the day he averaged 2 a game.

I know nothing about the inside of the situation, but I'd say it was more his role than the money. When they got Aberdeen you've got a situation suddenly where the backcourt is crowded. There might've been some things said to the family by Pope and the staff last year about how in year two Perry would play a much bigger part, and the writing was on the wall with the roster where that likely wasn't going to happen. At that point, you cast out and see if you can find something better.

That sort of thing is happening all over the country.

Would a Ky college/university pay more for him than a out of state facility?

[Joneslab]

Would a Ky college/university pay more for him than a out of state facility?

No idea. I wouldn't expect the smaller schools like Western to have much of an NIL budget.

However it looks like Perry might end up somewhere bigger than that. In that case it would depend on how much they have left in their budget to give him. For a guy who averaged 2 a game he wouldn't get a ton...but again, you might be able to leverage a little desperation from somebody simply because it's late in the game and a lot of teams need dudes.

[Joneslab]

Devin Askew to Villanova. This is what he looks like now. He was a freshman here when Rodney Dent was a senior.