2026-2027 Roster discussion thread

[Pobilly]

If you watch him play, he is very reminiscent of Denzel Aberdeen. From the look, to body physicality, to desire to drive and look for his own shot at the rim, to cute little turnaround fadeaways in the lane....VERY reminiscent. I disagree with JFCats22 in the sense that he CAN pass.... he's actually a decent passer. Problem is, he doesn't look for it enough. He's a bit of a shoot-first Point Guard, only it's more like drive-first. If his 3-point shot was the equivalent of Aberdeen's, I'd call him an upgrade. As it is, it's more like a lateral move: better passer, better ball handler, not as good of a perimeter/3-point shooter

Passing and ball handling PG was one of our main issues this past year. Between DA/OO/CC we had no one that could consistently dribble and run an offense. I am sure Zoom played the style Wash wanted him to and I am sure he will learn Popes system. If we get the summer trip overseas it will be a great learning and team building experience.

[UKHoops01]

Passing and ball handling PG was one of our main issues this past year. Between DA/OO/CC we had no one that could consistently dribble and run an offense. I am sure Zoom played the style Wash wanted him to and I am sure he will learn Popes system. If we get the summer trip overseas it will be a great learning and team building experience.

Hope you're right....but I remember when I was younger and applying to companies in the field of work which I had experience. I was shocked when the competition would hire someone with no experience for a position in which I had experience and had applied for. I always thought I had the upper hand until one day an upper management type told me that a lot of companies considered that a bad thing because "you've gotten used to doing things a certain way and a lot of companies want someone with no experience because they want to train them to do things "THEIR way" and they didn't want to have to "UN-learn" a lot of bad habits."

I think that's applicable to a lot of things in life.

Hopefully you're right, though!

[Rondo#9]

If you watch him play, he is very reminiscent of Denzel Aberdeen. From the look, to body physicality, to desire to drive and look for his own shot at the rim, to cute little turnaround fadeaways in the lane....VERY reminiscent. I disagree with JFCats22 in the sense that he CAN pass.... he's actually a decent passer. Problem is, he doesn't look for it enough. He's a bit of a shoot-first Point Guard, only it's more like drive-first. If his 3-point shot was the equivalent of Aberdeen's, I'd call him an upgrade. As it is, it's more like a lateral move: better passer, better ball handler, not as good of a perimeter/3-point shooter

Sounds about right.

And there's no way JFCats is an actual Kentucky fan.

[Pobilly]

During the Rapid Reaction for Zoom, Jack said Potter announced he is returning to KENTUCKY for year 2. We now have Noah, Potter, Williams, Moreno, Williams, Zoom . Have room for 9 more guys unless Hawthorne comes back as well. Donnie Freeman next?

[Rondo#9]

During the Rapid Reaction for Zoom, Jack said Potter announced he is returning to KENTUCKY for year 2. We now have Noah, Potter, Williams, Moreno, Williams, Zoom . Have room for 9 more guys unless Hawthorne comes back as well. Donnie Freeman next?

Just get 12, maybe 13 guys that's plenty.

What's up with Hawthorne? He considering joining the swim team instead of hoops?

[UKHoops01]

Just get 12, maybe 13 guys that's plenty.

What's up with Hawthorne? He considering joining the swim team instead of hoops?

Hawthorne has already announced that he is returning.....unless he's charged his mind and has been very hush-hush about it.

Pope has had a minimum of 13 for both years he's been the coach, so unless he's decided to downsize the roster I would imagine that's what he'll roll with again this year. Which I'm fine with. Hopefully he has the right kind of depth at the right positions to address the usual injuries that his players seem to suffer from.

[Rondo#9]

Something like this, make it happen:

PG Diallo / Cruz / M Williams
SG Wilkins / Cruz / ??
SF Stokes / K Williams / Hawthorne
PF Freeman / Rancik / Noah (or K Williams)
C Moreno / ???? / Potter

[bucsrule8872]

Realistic wishlist right now:

G Diallo/Cox/M. Williams
G Wilkins/Davis/Perry
F Stokes/K. Williams/Hawthorne
F Freeman/Rancik/Noah
C Moreno/Keita/Potter

That would be a pretty strong team. If Stokes is the real deal, that team could make a pretty deep run, IMHO.

Stokes and Keita are long shots, probably. Diallo helps us with Stokes, though. Keita is supposedly down to Duke and UK. We rarely win those head to head battles with Duke.

Got to get some guys committed soon.

[UKHoops01]

Realistic wishlist right now:

G Diallo/Cox/M. Williams
G Wilkins/Davis/Perry
F Stokes/K. Williams/Hawthorne
F Freeman/Rancik/Noah
C Moreno/Keita/Potter

That would be a pretty strong team. If Stokes is the real deal, that team could make a pretty deep run, IMHO.

Stokes and Keita are long shots, probably. Diallo helps us with Stokes, though. Keita is supposedly down to Duke and UK. We rarely win those head to head battles with Duke.

Got to get some guys committed soon.

I'm pretty sure that Keita is out of eligibility. I like the idea of a bruising rebounder and shot blocker to backup Moreno, but I think it would have to be someone like James Nnaji, the Baylor transfer, who I haven't even heard if Kentucky has shown any interest, and visa versa.

I'd like to see Pope express more interest in a dead-eye 3-point shooter... someone like Paul McNeil. As of right now, it appears that most of the guards he's considering are combo guards that aren't great 3-point shooters. I'm a huge fan of Wilkins, though, so he's a priority. I also really like Rancik and hope we land both Freeman and Rancik to really solidify the 4 spot (Rancik could also see time st the 5).

[Helix]

UKHoops01 that’s what I’ve been waiting for too. Where’s the shooting?

[Rondo#9]

Realistic wishlist right now:

G Diallo/Cox/M. Williams
G Wilkins/Davis/Perry
F Stokes/K. Williams/Hawthorne
F Freeman/Rancik/Noah
C Moreno/Keita/Potter

That would be a pretty strong team. If Stokes is the real deal, that team could make a pretty deep run, IMHO.

Stokes and Keita are long shots, probably. Diallo helps us with Stokes, though. Keita is supposedly down to Duke and UK. We rarely win those head to head battles with Duke.

Got to get some guys committed soon.

If we miss on Stokes, you think we just roll with Kam Williams, Hawthorne/Noah at the SF position... or try to add someone else?

[bucsrule8872]

I'm pretty sure that Keita is out of eligibility. I like the idea of a bruising rebounder and shot blocker to backup Moreno, but I think it would have to be someone like James Nnaji, the Baylor transfer, who I haven't even heard if Kentucky has shown any interest, and visa versa.

I'd like to see Pope express more interest in a dead-eye 3-point shooter... someone like Paul McNeil. As of right now, it appears that most of the guards he's considering are combo guards that aren't great 3-point shooters. I'm a huge fan of Wilkins, though, so he's a priority. I also really like Rancik and hope we land both Freeman and Rancik to really solidify the 4 spot (Rancik could also see time st the 5).

Sayon Keita is a ‘26 recruit. I am talking about a recruit, not the big man from BYU who is out of eligibility.

I agree about Nnaji, but he doesn’t seem to be on our radar.

As for Rancik, I think he could be a good player for us. If we don’t get another backup 5, maybe he can play there some as well as a stretch 5. Maybe Rancik and Potter can be the backup 5 by committee.

[UKHoops01]

Sayon Keita is a ‘26 recruit. I am talking about a recruit, not the big man from BYU who is out of eligibility.

I agree about Nnaji, but he doesn’t seem to be on our radar.

OK.... now I know who you're talking about. I remember seeing something about him a couple of weeks ago, but nothing since. If I remember correctly, he's a real skinny 7 ft kid, which is typical for guys that age.. they haven't grown into their body and filled out yet. That's why I'd rather have someone like Nnaji who is a grown ass man. He's 21 and he's 7 ft, 250 lbs. I just like the idea of having a bruiser to act as an enforcer on the team. Kind of keeps other teams from thinking they can bully teams around.

[WeWant9]

I am all about spacing the floor with shooters but have never been sold on the philosophy of taking 25-30 threes in the college game.

[UKHoops01]

I am all about spacing the floor with shooters but have never been sold on the philosophy of taking 25-30 threes in the college game.

More and more teams are doing it. It has to do with analytics and trading twos for threes. If a team shoots 45% from 2 point range and 37% from three point range, they've kind of figured out that if you take 30 + 3-point shots a game your chances of scoring more points than your opponent is greater. That philosophy has been picked up by a ton of college teams and even NBA teams. It's pretty much a normal thing over in Europe and internationally as well.