Richie Farmer/Travis Perry comparison

[Sam K.]

I'm still disappointed to see Travis Perry leave the Cats. Here's a little comparison of his and Richie's freshman year:

6 foot, Richie Farmer played in 27 games and scored 85 points. He shot 28% from the field.
6 foot 1, Travis Perry played in 31 games and scored 84 points. He shot 31% from the field.

I don't know if this decision was all on Travis or he was encouraged to look elsewhere, but I thought seeing Richie's freshman year numbers shows that he still could have had a solid career at UK.

[Catsrock]

Yes I think he could have. But his time would not have been this coming season. Jr and Sr years could have been worthwhile. Hey, who knows? Maybe he’ll be back as an upper classman. Stranger things have happened. But if he becomes a Cardinal I cannot see him returning.

[Sam K.]

^ Catsrock, what chance do you give of him becoming a Cardinal?

[EKYCat]

I like the comparison. But, in today's landscape I'm not sure Richie has the same career he had at UK.

[Joneslab]

I like the comparison. But, in today's landscape I'm not sure Richie has the same career he had at UK.

Yeah, this is what I was going to say. Farmer (and a lot of guys like him) might have cast out to find something better if they would've been playing in 2025.

I don't know the Perry family's entire backstory, but from what I gathered during his recruitment they're not dyed-in-the-wool UK fans. There was a time we heard on this board that Travis really liked Michigan and was likely to go there.

That's just to say: there's a kind of person who grew up following UK, dreamed of the opportunity, and wild horses wouldn't drag them away. And then there are other families who are more interested in the pure basketball side of it and really want to see their son play somewhere. I don't have any hard feelings about those kinds of folks, to each his own. But the general idea that a white kid who grew up in Kentucky is automatically a hardcore UK fan and would die to play here...that obviously isn't always the case.

[EKYCat]

I wonder, too, if that has to do with where he's from. Lyon County is a long way from Lexington. I just always kind of figured the guys down in the 1st and 2nd region area weren't as died in the wool as the mountain kids. Maybe I'm wrong on that.

[40bill]

There was a time where kids on the Western part of Kentucky didn't get much of a look from UK. Most attention was Lexington Louisville and the east.

[Catsrock]

^ Catsrock, what chance do you give of him becoming a Cardinal?

Oh I’m certainly not in the know about that. Just know they’re one of several schools who’ve shown interest. Power 5 programs. And I doubt that growing up a UK fan would prevent it when $ starts talking.

[Lighthouse]

I just talked to a Western Kentucky friend who personally knows the Perry family. They are huge Kentucky fans. There's no talk about where Travis might end up, but when a 17-18 year old plays with and against 23-24 year old's, it makes a difference. It was mentioned he could end up back at UK in a year or so.

[Joneslab]

Pope on Perry's decision to transfer, from his interview today with KSR.

"I desperately wanted him to stay. He was not feeling super confident about the path here at Kentucky. I couldn't have disagreed more with him on that but he's going to go to Ole Miss and have a great career there. I just know being a Kentucky Basketball player is so much bigger than being a basketball player. It's my job to help our guys see that and understand that and feel that. Being older, it's easier to see that than being a young person."

[KCKUKFan]

Pope on Perry's decision to transfer, from his interview today with KSR.

"I desperately wanted him to stay. He was not feeling super confident about the path here at Kentucky. I couldn't have disagreed more with him on that but he's going to go to Ole Miss and have a great career there. I just know being a Kentucky Basketball player is so much bigger than being a basketball player. It's my job to help our guys see that and understand that and feel that. Being older, it's easier to see that than being a young person."

Sounds like Perry didn't really want to commit to all the stuff that comes long with just playing basketball. He also felt like he was going to keep getting recruited over.

Don't blame him, but he probably made the best decision for himself if these things are true.

[KentuckyWild2020]

I think Perry saw the success of Reed and expected more his freshman year, unrealistic.


Perry leaving, that hurt Pope's soul, he believed in that kid...

[Lighthouse]

If things go right for Travis at Ole Miss, I think he will be back.

[KentuckyWild2020]

If things go right for Travis at Ole Miss, I think he will be back.

That's good to hear. Hopefully he can finish his career where it started.

[40bill]

Thousands of reasons kids transfer.
I don't see Perry becoming Sheppard.
POSSIBLY Farmer....but that was such a bizaare situation following the Emory envelope .... and all of us back then were amazed at how much work all those guys put in. Im not saying that to denigrate Perry, but if the current NIL and unlimited transfer had existed then, im not sure any of the 'Unforgettables' would have hung around.