2026-2027 Roster discussion thread

[UKHoops01]

So Rancik left without committing. Some are speculating that he is concerned about Freeman. Seems he sees himself as a starter (not shocking since he was a starter on a Big 12 squad, albeit a bad one, but a Big 12 school nonetheless) and doesn’t want to backup Freeman.

That would be my guess. I'm also guessing that Pope and the staff didn't convince him that the minutes and role would still be there whether he starts or is the primary big man off the bench.

On a positive note.... On3 has him as a 53% to 47% lean for UK, even though Florida State is offering slightly more money

Freeman is the better overall player, but I feel like Rancik might actually fit better. He’s more like Carr (but probably not as good) and Jelavic (probably better).

One thing I'm noticing....from my own observations (stats and videos) as well as what other sites are saying...is that Freeman seems to have leveled out where as Rancik is trending upward. Freeman was a top 15 player overall coming out of high school, and his stock has remained about the same. Rancik was a top 10 Power Forward and top 75 overall coming out of high school, but his stock is trending upward. It wouldn't shock me if, in a few years, Rancik is viewed as the better prospect with better long term potential.

With Freeman, it almost feels like Pope is just trying to get any top 20-ish portal guy he can get, regardless of fit. Diallo and Wright were at least good fits. Wilkins seems like he would be a good fit. Freeman doesn’t seem to be, IMHO. But I could be wrong.

Completely agree. I think he's trying to land the bigger name, most likely to appease the fan base.

So if we can get one of those guys, and we get Stokes, then the 4 spot is probably pretty much set, I would think. Freeman or Rancik start at the 4, Stokes starts at the 3 and slides over to the 4 (he’s 6’7, 230, so plenty big enough play the 4) when they go to the bench, and Kam or Hawthorne come in at the 3.

Not sure how Stokes would feel about playing the 4....I think he's a little too ball dominant to be happy being thrust into that role. It's more likely that Kam and/or even Hawthorne might see time there, since they'll be happy to find any reason to see court time.

Would like to get a bruiser inside as the backup 5

Agreed.

Guards are a need

Understatement. Big time. Currently only Diallo and Mason Williams are on board. Ouch!

[Pobilly]

Like you all, bored and speculating. Just not putting much on here. I liked Cruz Davis and said it and of course he went elsewhere. So now I am keeping the guys I like close to the vest. Trying to change our luck. lol

But we need to get that 2nd commit and the 3rd to see the momentum and know a little more which way we look to be heading.

[bucsrule8872]

So Rancik left without committing. Some are speculating that he is concerned about Freeman. Seems he sees himself as a starter (not shocking since he was a starter on a Big 12 squad, albeit a bad one, but a Big 12 school nonetheless) and doesn’t want to backup Freeman.

Just speculating, but it is looking like an either/or with Freeman and Rancik.

Freeman is the better overall player, but I feel like Rancik might actually fit better. He’s more like Carr (but probably not as good) and Jelavic (probably better).

With Freeman, it almost feels like Pope is just trying to get any top 20-ish portal guy he can get, regardless of fit. Diallo and Wright were at least good fits. Wilkins seems like he would be a good fit. Freeman doesn’t seem to be, IMHO. But I could be wrong.

So if we can get one of those guys, and we get Stokes, then the 4 spot is probably pretty much set, I would think. Freeman or Rancik start at the 4, Stokes starts at the 3 and slides over to the 4 (he’s 6’7, 230, so plenty big enough play the 4) when they go to the bench, and Kam or Hawthorne come in at the 3.

I’m good with Freeman or Rancik to go with Stokes, Kam, and Hawthorne at the forward spots.

Would like to get a bruiser inside as the backup 5, but that might be asking a lot. Big men seem to be at a premium.

Guards are a need, but the portal seems to be deep with guards. Get a pretty good 2 guard (Wilkins) and a solid backup (Cox maybe?) and we have four guys there, plus Kam can play some 2. Maybe grab another portal guard, if we can find one cheap.

Thats kind of where I think we are now, but just speculating for fun.

[bucsrule8872]

It's all speculation at this point. We can have guys we'd like to see signed and envision a roster constructed the way we'd like to see it, but if the coaching staff and these kids feel differently it just doesn't matter. If there's anything I've learned from this whole process, it's to never feel like you understand the process. There's no telling if a player is primarily focused on playing time and role with the team, or if it is solely about the money, or if the school, history and tradition and/or location plays any part, and just how much the coach plays into it.

True.

All speculation at this point.

But what else do we have to talk about on April 18th but our potential roster?

I’m sitting here bored waiting for my wife to get ready for a birthday party we are going to. It’s either contemplate our potential roster or read about the Strait of Hormuz drama. Our potential roster is slightly less depressing than that situation. LOL!

[UKHoops01]

It's all speculation at this point. We can have guys we'd like to see signed and envision a roster constructed the way we'd like to see it, but if the coaching staff and these kids feel differently it just doesn't matter. If there's anything I've learned from this whole process, it's to never feel like you understand the process. There's no telling if a player is primarily focused on playing time and role with the team, or if it is solely about the money, or if the school, history and tradition and/or location plays any part, and just how much the coach plays into it.

[bucsrule8872]

Ideally, what I'd like to see, would be

G Diallo/Wilkins*/M. Williams
G Paul McNeil/Wilkins*
F Milan Momcilovic/K. Williams*/Noah
F Freeman/Rancik*/K. Williams*/Hawthorne
C Moreno/Rancik*/D. Williams/Potter

With the primary backups being Wilkins, Kam Williams and Rancik. Wilkins playing both guard spots, Kam Williams playing both forward spots (SF primarily), and Rancik playing both the 4 and the 5 (primary backup at both). Everyone else can see minutes here and there, depending on health/injuries, performance, foul trouble, etc. That would be my dream scenario......BUT....I realize most Kentucky fans would rather see Stokes at SF and Wilkins starting at the 2.

Yeah, Wilkins is not going to come off the bench, most likely.

Also, I don’t see D. Williams being happy playing third string Center. If we get Rancik as the r primary backup 4/5, then D Will goes elsewhere, most likely.

I’ll take Momccilovic as a consolation prize if we miss on Stokes, but I doubt he comes here.

Keeping everyone happy with their minutes would be tough in that scenario. Hawthorne probably bolts, if that happens.

Looks good on paper, but I would be afraid of having too many mouths to feed (minutes wise).

I think If you get McNeil, then Wilkins is out and vice versa. Cox maybe instead of Wilkins as the backup.

I’d say, get:

McNeil or Wilkins to start at the 2.
Stokes or Momcilovic at the 3.
Cox or another decent mid-major level guard as a backup 1/2.
Rancik as the backup 4/5.

Diallo, Wilkins/McNeil, Stokes/Momcilovic, Freeman, and Moreno starting with Cox(1/2), Kam(2/3), Rancik(4/5), and Hawthorne(3/stretch 4) as the backups. I think Stokes/Momcilovic can slide to the 4 some with their size. Good 9 man rotation. M Will, Potter, and Noah as emergency/practice guys. Add a project or two to round out the squad.

I think that could work.

But I think Diallo, Wilkins, K Will, Freeman, and Moreno gives us the most likely starting five. With Cox, Hawthorne, and Rancik off the bench. M Will, Potter, and Noah rounding out the squad (plus a project or two). I could see that happening.

[UKHoops01]

Getting Freeman and Rancik would be ideal but difficult. I think both are probably looking for starter minutes. If Rancik plays some as a stretch 5, it might work.

Minutes could be an issue at 3 and 4 if we get Stokes. Stokes will probably play 30 minutes or so a game.

Ideally, what I'd like to see, would be

G Diallo/Wilkins*/M. Williams
G Paul McNeil/Wilkins*
F Milan Momcilovic/K. Williams*/Noah
F Freeman/Rancik*/K. Williams*/Hawthorne
C Moreno/Rancik*/D. Williams/Potter

With the primary backups being Wilkins, Kam Williams and Rancik. Wilkins playing both guard spots, Kam Williams playing both forward spots (SF primarily), and Rancik playing both the 4 and the 5 (primary backup at both). Everyone else can see minutes here and there, depending on health/injuries, performance, foul trouble, etc. That would be my dream scenario......BUT....I realize most Kentucky fans would rather see Stokes at SF and Wilkins starting at the 2.

[bucsrule8872]

G Diallo/Cox*/M. Williams
G Wilkins*/Cox*
F Stokes/K. Williams/Noah
F Freeman/Rancik/Hawthorne
C Moreno/D. Williams/Potter

^^^ That roster/lineup COULD be more of a threat than meets the eye.... definitely would have some potential. Still think we'd need one more guard.

Getting Freeman and Rancik would be ideal but difficult. I think both are probably looking for starter minutes. If Rancik plays some as a stretch 5, it might work.

Minutes could be an issue at 3 and 4 if we get Stokes. Stokes will probably play 30 minutes or so a game.

[UKHoops01]

G Diallo/Cox*/M. Williams
G Wilkins*/Cox*
F Stokes/K. Williams/Noah
F Freeman/Rancik/Hawthorne
C Moreno/D. Williams/Potter

^^^ That roster/lineup COULD be more of a threat than meets the eye.... definitely would have some potential. Still think we'd need one more guard.

[UKHoops01]

Maybe good enough to make the tourney, if we added the right guard or two. That’s probably a bubble team.

Really need a star player to push us over the top to really be a tourney team with a chance to make some noise.

Probably need Stokes in there instead of Kam as the star and Wilkins at the 2, plus a good reserve guard (Cox) to have a shot at a decent run.

And got to stay healthy (something that we haven’t done since 2012).

And no more erratic rotations. Play the best guys all the minutes.

G Diallo/Cox*
G Wilkins*/Cox*
F Stokes/K. Williams
F Rancik/Stokes
C Moreno/D. Williams*

*or fairly equivalent player

I don’t see anyone out there in the portal or in HS that could be what Stokes could be for us (a superstar go-to-guy), except maybe Muurinen.

So Stokes is probably the single most important recruit we have had in a long, long time. With him, we have some hope of being a contender, if he is the real deal. And by real deal, I mean he has to be AD, Cooper Flagg, Cam Boozer good. We probably barely make the
tourney without him coming here and living up to the hype.

Sadly, I really think you need TWO studs to really make a serious run. The great NBA teams all had TWO studs... whether it was Jordan and Pippen, Bird and McHale, Magic and Kareem, Kobe and Shaq, Hakeem and Clyde, LeBron and D-Wade, , etc. Rarely is one guy enough to really make a dent in a serious post-season run.

[JFCats22]

Just throwing out a hypothetical here

Does a team who starts the following make the NCAA tournament next year?

Diallo
Mystery combo guard
Kam Williams
Sebastian Rancik
Malachi Moreno

This team finishes in last place of the SEC and absolutely does not make the NCAAT

[bucsrule8872]

Just throwing out a hypothetical here

Does a team who starts the following make the NCAA tournament next year?

Diallo
Mystery combo guard
Kam Williams
Sebastian Rancik
Malachi Moreno

Maybe good enough to make the tourney, if we added the right guard or two. That’s probably a bubble team.

Really need a star player to push us over the top to really be a tourney team with a chance to make some noise.

Probably need Stokes in there instead of Kam as the star and Wilkins at the 2, plus a good reserve guard (Cox) to have a shot at a decent run.

And got to stay healthy (something that we haven’t done since 2012).

And no more erratic rotations. Play the best guys all the minutes.

G Diallo/Cox*
G Wilkins*/Cox*
F Stokes/K. Williams
F Rancik/Stokes
C Moreno/D. Williams*

*or fairly equivalent player

I don’t see anyone out there in the portal or in HS that could be what Stokes could be for us (a superstar go-to-guy), except maybe Muurinen.

So Stokes is probably the single most important recruit we have had in a long, long time. With him, we have some hope of being a contender, if he is the real deal. And by real deal, I mean he has to be AD, Cooper Flagg, Cam Boozer good. We probably barely make the
tourney without him coming here and living up to the hype.

[UKHoops01]

Just throwing out a hypothetical here

Does a team who starts the following make the NCAA tournament next year?

Diallo
Blackwell *
Stokes *
Sebastian Rancik
Malachi Moreno

I' know Blackwell isn't an option, BUT.....I'd say a roster like that not only would, but would likely be a pretty high seed as well.

[Rondo#9]

Just throwing out a hypothetical here

Does a team who starts the following make the NCAA tournament next year?

Diallo
Mystery combo guard
Kam Williams
Sebastian Rancik
Malachi Moreno

[bucsrule8872]

I hadn't heard of him, but I checked out his FAU stats and watched some highlights. Skinny as a rail...LOL...but seems like a good shot blocker....as long as SEC big men don't manhandle and push him out of the paint. Started his college career off at UCLA and was a top 75 recruit, so there's a little something to him. As long as Moreno stays healthy and we land Rancik (who could see minutes at the 5) and Potter and him split the remaining minutes, he could be a decent option. If he's forced into seeing more time than simply mop up, though, well.....

Yep.

He’s a 5-6 minute per half to spell Moreno guy.

If he forced to start and play big minutes, we are in deep doo doo.