Portal

[Pobilly]

St John's Guard Jason Sanon hearing from Kentucky.

The 6-5 guard out of Fall River, MA averaged 7.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest with the Johnnies in 2025-26 while finishing with shooting splits of 34/34/77

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-w...d-joson-sanon/

Most of his shots must of been 3s as he shot the same overall %.

[UKHoops01]

If that is our roster without Stokes, he will not be coming here. His word to the media for the last 10 days is he is waiting to see roster make up before making a decision. If we do not have 2 bigs (PF and C) he is not coming here to battle down low. He wants to be in a situation where he has free range. Hawthrone (by all reports) has not gained weight. He is a 3 as a skinny guy. Williams has much more weight and would be the 4 in that situation. But McBride would beat both out as the 4 as he can battle a bit down low for rebounds. I hope and pray Pope has other options (either portal guys in the draft or Euro Big PF with some range).

It's not unusual for fans of a particular team to be a little biased and overvalue their existing players. Unfortunately, players like Stokes who are more neutral to the situation look at things more objectively and are able to look at a roster and decide without a biased opinion if there is enough talent there to be worthy of making a commitment to join it.

[Rondo#9]

Yeaaahhh, Pobily basically said the same thing I said earlier. It's way less of a chance Stokes comes here if he looks at the roster and sees there's a chance he might have to play some significant minutes at the 4 spot. That's why it was crucial to at the very least get Rancik committed.

Let's just hope that Diallo is Stokes best friend and that trumps everything else.... aside from the money of course.

[Tomcats1990]

Teams who at least by the portal numbers have to this point a better off season.
Stephen F Austin
Loyola
George Mason
Fordham
Omaha
Illinois Chicago
Southern Illinois
Rhode Island

speechless

[UKHoops01]

Teams who at least by the portal numbers have to this point a better off season.
Stephen F Austin
Loyola
George Mason
Fordham
Omaha
Illinois Chicago
Southern Illinois
Rhode Island

speechless

I honestly think Pope suffers from thinking that UK sells itself, and that kids will be chomping at the bit to come to UK. I think he mistakenly thought he'd have his pick of the litter and he could be a little picky. He cast a wide net, but there was no urgency. And he didn't jump himself to close when a kid like Rancik said he'd like to come, he seemed to have an attitude like "hold on, I think I can do better". And when "better" turned him down, he was in a world of hurt and didn't know how to react.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Teams who at least by the portal numbers have to this point a better off season.
Stephen F Austin
Loyola
George Mason
Fordham
Omaha
Illinois Chicago
Southern Illinois
Rhode Island

speechless

So basically no team that matters at all.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Yeaaahhh, Pobily basically said the same thing I said earlier. It's way less of a chance Stokes comes here if he looks at the roster and sees there's a chance he might have to play some significant minutes at the 4 spot. That's why it was crucial to at the very least get Rancik committed.

Let's just hope that Diallo is Stokes best friend and that trumps everything else.... aside from the money of course.

Not that any of us has any clue what he's thinking or motivates him - or in reality, his handlers - but I'll bet it's probably 99% money and has nothing to do with all the theories that others have.

[Rondo#9]

I realize it's all opinion and everything... but 247 has Sebastian Williams-Adams ranked as the 38th overall transfer they ranked him higher than Wilkins.

I don't agree with that but, the upside for him is clearly there. Why did we not go after him?

[Catsrock]

Not that any of us has any clue what he's thinking or motivates him - or in reality, his handlers - but I'll bet it's probably 99% money and has nothing to do with all the theories that others have.

So it’s UK then. Didn’t he clearly state that he wants to be at KU but was going to visit UK (which he did) due to more money, or that KU needed to come up with more money?

[UKHoops01]

I realize it's all opinion and everything... but 247 has Sebastian Williams-Adams ranked as the 38th overall transfer they ranked him higher than Wilkins.

I don't agree with that but, the upside for him is clearly there. Why did we not go after him?

I agree with you that I don't agree with a lot of these "rankings".

Best advice I could ever give anyone when it comes to "rankings"...is use your own eyes and rank them yourself. So many of these " rankings" services overweigh things like athleticism and measurables (wingspan, vertical, hand size, etc.): and try to 'project' how much they will develop rather than judging them off of their current basketball ability. That's why someone like Jayden Quaintence is going to be ranked so disproportionately ahead of Koby Brea. Shooting ability and fundamentals don't play near as much of a factor as they should.

[Rondo#9]

I agree with you that I don't agree with a lot of these "rankings".

Best advice I could ever give anyone when it comes to "rankings"...is use your own eyes and rank them yourself. So many of these " rankings" services overweigh things like athleticism and measurables (wingspan, vertical, hand size, etc.): and try to 'project' how much they will develop rather than judging them off of their current basketball ability. That's why someone like Jayden Quaintence is going to be ranked so disproportionately ahead of Koby Brea. Shooting ability and fundamentals don't play near as much of a factor as they should.

I feel you, I agree. Rankings aside, I liked Williams-Adams upside as soon as I found out he hit the portal. He fit a need for us. Enough said.

......And apparently Mark Pope couldn't have cared less. I don't get it.

[Rondo#9]

But hey, Pope reached out to the brick laying SG from St. John's - Joson Sanon. It's good to see he has his priorities in order finally.

[UKHoops01]

But hey, Pope reached out to the brick laying SG from St. John's - Joson Sanon. It's good to see he has his priorities in order finally.

Well, he actually does need guards, just like he needs Power Forwards. About the only position he doesn't need is Small Forward, so of course, would it surprise any of us if he looks at some Small Forwards? The only SF he should be considering is Tyran Stokes or Milam Momcilovic.

EDIT: forgot to include Momcilovic

[Rondo#9]

Well, he actually does need guards, just like he needs Power Forwards. About the only position he doesn't need is Small Forward, so of course, would it surprise any of us if he looks at some Small Forwards? The only SF he should be considering is Tyran Stokes or Milam Momcilovic.

EDIT: forgot to include Momcilovic

Doesn't need a brick laying guard like Sonon.

And Momciliovic can play the 4. He's a nice pipe dream.

[bucsrule8872]

If that is our roster without Stokes, he will not be coming here. His word to the media for the last 10 days is he is waiting to see roster make up before making a decision. If we do not have 2 bigs (PF and C) he is not coming here to battle down low. He wants to be in a situation where he has free range. Hawthrone (by all reports) has not gained weight. He is a 3 as a skinny guy. Williams has much more weight and would be the 4 in that situation. But McBride would beat both out as the 4 as he can battle a bit down low for rebounds. I hope and pray Pope has other options (either portal guys in the draft or Euro Big PF with some range).

I thought Hawthorne had gained weight.

Just switch him and Kam then. Still the same problem, neither is really a great fit at PF. But Kam is stronger, I’m sure.

As for Stokes, does he really mind playing a stretch 4 in a 4 out system? That’s a bit short sighted. He’s 6’7, 230. Mash was basically that size as a Freshman and played the 4 spot. Antoine Walker was skinnier than Stokes and played the 4 and some 5. He was really the best post scorer on the ‘96 team. He would be a matchup nightmare at the 4 spot, really. Bigger, slower guys trying to guard him. With the way he handles the rock, he could be deadly playing out on the perimeter with Diallo, Wilkins, and Kam. That would really spread the floor and allow him to operate in space against bigger, slower guys.

But kids get all caught up in playing certain positions, so that might be an issue.

I’m not sure really what Stokes is looking for in a team. Are we sure he wants to be on a loaded team? I don’t really see UK, KU, or Oregon realistically competing for a title even with Stokes, so he’s probably not overly concerned about being a contender, based on the 3 schools he is supposedly down to. If he wanted to really have a shot at a ring, wouldn’t he be considering Duke, UConn, or UF? Those are the schools that look like contenders, at least on paper.

Heck, for all we know, he might be looking for the place where he can get the most touches/shots. The less talent around him the more likely he can score 20-30 a night. Who knows what this kid is thinking.