2026-2027 Roster discussion thread

[Pobilly]

Is Kentucky getting played by Stokes.
New: on KSR: Tyran Stokes got a tattoo while watching an old Kentucky game and talked to a UK fan on TikTok

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-w...l-game-tiktok/

[bucsrule8872]

Right now, the best case scenario for our roster, IMHO:

G Diallo/M. Williams
G Wilkins/K. Williams/Morton
F Stokes/Hawthorne/Noah
F Momcilovic/McBride
C Moreno/Dynes/Potter

That is a potential contender. Two potential college level superstars two playmaking guards, and a really good big man. Some good role players coming in off the bench. Kam should be a solid sixth man. Hawthorne could be a breakout player.

Worst case scenario, IMHO:

G Diallo/M. Williams
G Wilkins/Morton
F Hawthorne/Noah
F K. Williams/McBride
C Moreno/Potter

Plus maybe a couple of projects thrown in. That team struggles to make the tourney or might end up in the NIT.

[UKHoops01]

Is Bundalo skilled but frail or something?

I don't know anything about him. Maybe grab him for the cheap & hope he turns into a serviceable player sooner rather than later. But if he can't shoot the 3 at all. Pass.

I had forgotten, but after reading up a little it kind of came back to me.

He was rated close to the top 15 among HS seniors early in the summer heading into his senior year, but by the time his senior year started he had dropped to the late 30s, close to 40. I remember hearing rumblings about "how difficult" he was, and then he committed to Washington. BUT....he decommited, opened his recruitment back up, and ended up going to Ole Miss. But this past year I'd forgotten all about him because he basically wasn't playing! His stats show something like 11 games played with him averaging about 3 minutes a game and half a point and half a rebound per game. So he was just seeing mop up time. And I was reading an article earlier that talked about him being "troubled". So there's a lot of red flags... I guess that's where coaching staffs come into play researching all of this stuff to see whether a kid is worth pursuing.

[UKHoops01]

Pope better turn in one hell of a salesman to sell that, but you're right though. We just watched all the PF options dry up and didn't hear a word about Pope going for any of them except for the 2 he missed on. But hey, maybe he wants to get fired, or have an excuse when he gets fired. I can't call it anymore.

I think you're saying that jokingly....but I can't help but seriously wonder if maybe the stress and pressure is or has gotten to him. He's already made what, close to 10 million for two years? And he's pretty much guaranteed a third year PLUS a buyout! He'll be sitting pretty financially if he gets fired after this upcoming year....he can take a year off...and then, if he wants to continue coaching, probably return to Utah and get a head coaching job anywhere in the state (except for BYU).

[Pobilly]

HEck some teams are borrowing to get the money to pay players. IF Pope wanted guys enough I am sure he could pay or UK could pay and have a 40 million dollar roster. It is not a problem paying to get the players at this point.

It is more, be it personality, be it negotiations or be it gullibility of believing everything someone says to him. He has to have a tougher, thicker skin.

[bucsrule8872]

Looking like it might be Stokes or bust. PF spot looks pretty bleak. Maybe we get McBride, but he’s a backup.

Stokes and K. Will might be our starters at the 3 and 4. Could be worse. At this point I’ll take it.

Really need Stokes and then fill in the blanks with McBride, Morton, and Dynes.

Not the best roster, but if Stokes is really all he is cracked up to be, we should be able to field a competitive team.

G Diallo/M. Williams
G Wilkins/Morton
F K. Williams/Hawthorne/Noah
F Stokes/McBride
C Moreno/Dynes/Potter

[Rondo#9]

It's seriously looking like it's going to come down to players returning from the draft process, coaches leaving or being fired opening up potential players entering the portal, or international/overseas recruiting.

I did see that Niko Bundalo entered the portal late last night, but after his limited action and results last year at Ole Miss, I'm not sure I have the same interest that I had when he was a high school senior. Actually, he still looks like he should be entering his senior year in high school. What's up with these kids and their inability to fill out and look like young adults?

Is Bundalo skilled but frail or something?

I don't know anything about him. Maybe grab him for the cheap & hope he turns into a serviceable player sooner rather than later. But if he can't shoot the 3 at all. Pass.

[UKHoops01]

Better hope Steve Kerr retires from GS (can't stand the prick) and Golden State lures Golden from Florida, could be some cherry picking from Florida's roster to fill out ours. Just get the checkbook out and be done with it....

It's seriously looking like it's going to come down to players returning from the draft process, coaches leaving or being fired opening up potential players entering the portal, or international/overseas recruiting.

I did see that Niko Bundalo entered the portal late last night, but after his limited action and results last year at Ole Miss, I'm not sure I have the same interest that I had when he was a high school senior. Actually, he still looks like he should be entering his senior year in high school. What's up with these kids and their inability to fill out and look like young adults?

[KentuckyWild2020]

I sense Pope and AJ just didn't get along. From AJ running steps to sitting out most of December, that relationship just didn't develop. Maybe AJ was a problem, who knows?? Still a veteran experienced player who seems to fit Pope's system is a hard pill to swallow watching him walk to Ohio State....

[KentuckyWild2020]

Uk is still a NIKE school until 2035...

[KentuckyWild2020]

Better hope Steve Kerr retires from GS (can't stand the prick) and Golden State lures Golden from Florida, could be some cherry picking from Florida's roster to fill out ours. Just get the checkbook out and be done with it....

[UKHoops01]

We don't know how Stokes views anybody except Diallo and Tay Kinney to some degree. I only put emphasis on Rancik because he should've been easier to attain. I'm not sure why there was ever a Freeman obsession by anyone, Pope included. Once Rancik went off the board I obviously wanted him. But like I said, I'm not sure how Pope f***** this up so badly. Just take Rancik man, he should've saw the red flags all over Freeman, especially once he started looking for other suitors around the time UConn & Alabama passed on him and it was time for Rancik to make a decision. At that point you just take Rancik & forget about Freeman, Pope had a full night to think it over after UConn & Alabama fell through and Freeman still didn't want to commit. Our innocent Mormon probably thought "he's an indecisive kid. There's no chance I'm getting played here"

That's true that we don't know how Stokes viewed anyone but Diallo, but we do know that there was some reason Pope prioritized Freeman over Rancik to the point that he missed out on Rancik. Bottom line, Pope mishandled that situation just like he's pretty much mishandled this entire recruiting/portal cycle.

[Rondo#9]

I disagree a little bit. I think part of the obsession with Freeman over Rancik WAS to appease Stokes! I think Pope thought if he could land Diallo AND Freeman...that Stokes would be more likely to think that the kind of talent he would be surrounded by would be good enough for him to be able to win and keep him happy. I'm not sure that Stokes viewed Rancik in the same way that he viewed Freeman.... and THAT may have been a big part of the problem.

We don't know how Stokes views anybody except Diallo and Tay Kinney to some degree. I only put emphasis on Rancik because he should've been easier to attain. I'm not sure why there was ever a Freeman obsession by anyone, Pope included. Once Rancik went off the board I obviously wanted him. But like I said, I'm not sure how Pope f***** this up so badly. Just take Rancik man, he should've saw the red flags all over Freeman, especially once he started looking for other suitors around the time UConn & Alabama passed on him and it was time for Rancik to make a decision. At that point you just take Rancik & forget about Freeman, Pope had a full night to think it over after UConn & Alabama fell through and Freeman still didn't want to commit. Our innocent Mormon probably thought "he's an indecisive kid. There's no chance I'm getting played here"

[UKHoops01]

I'm still baffled they lost out on not only Freeman, but Rancik to Florida State of all places. Rancik would've been the perfect fit, with added value because; Pope needed to show Stokes the roster is coming together, and show him he wouldn't be called on to play PF....

Couldn't even do that right, he's essentially giving Stokes the green light to go to Kansas. Unbelievable.

I disagree a little bit. I think part of the obsession with Freeman over Rancik WAS to appease Stokes! I think Pope thought if he could land Diallo AND Freeman...that Stokes would be more likely to think that the kind of talent he would be surrounded by would be good enough for him to be able to win and keep him happy. I'm not sure that Stokes viewed Rancik in the same way that he viewed Freeman.... and THAT may have been a big part of the problem.

[EKYCat]

When is Stokes going to announce

Anybody's guess is as good as mine.