Portal

[TrueblueCATfan]

I will believe it when it comes from Stokes

[Pobilly]

From Through the Phog site.

https://throughthephog.com/mark-pope-s-new-pursuit-of-tyran-stokes-should-actually-have-kansas-fans-worried-01kpy1dvc8xj

[Rondo#9]

I read that Crawford coming is a long shot, he's got 3 kids that live with him in Seattle. If Stokes' decision depends on that I wouldn't count on it. It was worth a try though, I guess.

I'd throw a couple million at Jordan Burks, then throw the remaining money (that would've went to Stokes), at Yesseffou & Momciliovic, see if you can get 1 of those 2 to bite, doesn't really matter which. And keep enough money available to round out the roster with guys like Dynes (or Devin Williams), and Morton from Washington State.

I already assume McBride to UK is a done deal, haven't heard about any other schools really being in hot pursuit of him but who knows, nothing would surprise me at this point.

[UKHoops01]

I read that Crawford coming is a long shot, If Stokes' decision depends on that I wouldn't count on it. It was worth a try though.

I'd throw a couple million at Jordan Burks, then throw the remaining money (that would've went to Stokes), at Yesseffou & Momciliovic, see if you can get 1 of those 2 to bite, doesn't really matter which. And keep enough money available to round out the roster with guys like Dynes (or Devin Williams), and Morton from Washington State.

I already assume McBride to UK is a done deal, haven't heard about any other schools really being in hot pursuit of him but who knows.

Not sure you'd need to throw 2 mil at Burks. Not even sure he's worth 2 mil.

Are we just trying to fill out the roster or are we still trying to land a stud?

With the number of Small Forwards already on the roster, unless Burks can play the 4 I think we should be holding on to as much cash as possible for either Stokes, Momcilovic or Yesseffou.

[Rondo#9]

Not sure you'd need to throw 2 mil at Burks. Not even sure he's worth 2 mil.

Are we just trying to fill out the roster or are we still trying to land a stud?

With the number of Small Forwards already on the roster, unless Burks can play the 4 I think we should be holding on to as much cash as possible for either Stokes, Momcilovic or Yesseffou.

Burks can play the 4. Not ideal, but apparently he played quite a bit at the 4 for UCF (if you believe what Aaron Torres says. He was talking about Jordan Burks being a potential Trevon Brazille replacement for Arkansas.) Burks won't exactly be cheap either, he just averaged 13.3 per game on 46% from the field & 37% from three. & He definitely passed the eye test in the games I watched this season (vs BYU, vs UCLA)

In the scenario I was talking about, they'd still have money for a "stud" .... We watched basically every other option dry up.

You wouldn't want Burks & 1 of Yessoufou/Momciliovic if Stokes falls through? That seems like best case scenario at this current juncture if Stokes doesn't come. All these scenarios still seem unlikely to me btw, I'm just spitballing

[Rondo#9]

Burks is easily one of the best available players in the portal.

[KentuckyWild2020]

In a world of crazy anything can happen. We get Stokes and JQ comes back. JQ's stock is sliding, we need a PF, he owes us a favor..

[OscarFan]

Burks is easily one of the best available players in the portal.

Really
https://www.on3.com/rivals/jordan-burks-150275/
Ranked 424 and the number 73 SF
What have we sunk to?

[UKHoops01]

Same thing happened with Sebastian Williams-Adams at 247 before they adjusted his rating and changed it 2 days later. He cracked the top 40 after that.

Do you realize how stupid you would have to be to believe Jordan Burks is the 73rd best SF in the portal? Did you do no research of your own? Do you not watch basketball?

Like I said already, he averaged 13.3 ppg on 46 % shooting from the field and 37% from 3 in the Big 12. I would ask if you watched him play when he dropped 20 on UCLA in the tournament, 20+ in a win over BYU, so on and so forth, but it's clear you don't watch much basketball outside of UK.

In OscarFan's defense, there were over 1,200 players that entered the transfer portal and 73 at SF is where that particular rating service had him listed.

I'm not saying 73 is accurate for Burks, but it wouldn't really surprise me all that much either. Although he did have a pretty good year this past season, I would have expected him to be somewhere around the 35-40 range at SF. He was a 3 star recruit coming out of high school that saw limited playing time his first 2 years in college.

That said, I've always seen more talent in him than how he's been rated and used, which is why I said I probably would have expected him to be in the late 30s. I just don't know how much (if any) of an upgrade he would be over Kam Williams and Braydon Hawthorne, two guys already on the roster. That's why I asked if we were trying to land a stud, or simply fill out the roster. If Burks played guard or Power Forward I'd be much more excited about possibly adding him, but Kam is a natural 3, Hawthorne is a natural 3, and Burks is a natural 3. Trent Noah is also a natural 3. So we've got a bit of a logjam at that position, and the main guy that we're trying to addi is a natural 3 (Tyran Stokes) and the other priority is also a natural 3 (Momcilovic). That's the main reason why I'm not all that excited about Burks, to be totally honest.

[Rondo#9]

Burks is a top 10 player left in the portal, not even a debate lmao.

Not overall. But he's top 10 of what's left, easy.

[Tomcats1990]

KY Basketball fighting for crumbs on the ground is so sad and embarrassing to see. Pope needs to leave ASAP!

[Rondo#9]

Which means UK can't afford to be picky at this point with only so few difference makers remaining unsigned. Gives further legitimacy to my argument that they should be reaching out to Burks, but I'm done talking about it. Either they will or they won't. If I had faith that Pope could secure the big man from Senegal I wouldn't even be thinking about Burks, but I have no faith he'll get it done. Same for Stokes, Momciliovic, Yesseffou. What's that leave?

KY Basketball fighting for crumbs on the ground is so sad and embarrassing to see. Pope needs to leave ASAP!

Pope couldn't have played this any worse in relation to the forward spots for this roster. He's made it where it's likely Stokes or bust for next year's team. Thank God he was able to grab Diallo & Wilkins at least.

[Cawood86]

Not much I can do but hope. Cal led us the edge of the cliff. Pope seems to be standing on crumbling ground.

[Rondo#9]

In OscarFan's defense, there were over 1,200 players that entered the transfer portal and 73 at SF is where that particular rating service had him listed.

I'm not saying 73 is accurate for Burks, but it wouldn't really surprise me all that much either. Although he did have a pretty good year this past season, I would have expected him to be somewhere around the 35-40 range at SF. He was a 3 star recruit coming out of high school that saw limited playing time his first 2 years in college.

That said, I've always seen more talent in him than how he's been rated and used, which is why I said I probably would have expected him to be in the late 30s. I just don't know how much (if any) of an upgrade he would be over Kam Williams and Braydon Hawthorne, two guys already on the roster. That's why I asked if we were trying to land a stud, or simply fill out the roster. If Burks played guard or Power Forward I'd be much more excited about possibly adding him, but Kam is a natural 3, Hawthorne is a natural 3, and Burks is a natural 3. Trent Noah is also a natural 3. So we've got a bit of a logjam at that position, and the main guy that we're trying to addi is a natural 3 (Tyran Stokes) and the other priority is also a natural 3 (Momcilovic). That's the main reason why I'm not all that excited about Burks, to be totally honest.

Those ratings for Burks on On3, and 247, just like I expected- were what they rated him coming out of high school. They haven't factored in his breakout season at UCF. Not yet anyway. He'll make a jump at bare minimum inside the top 50 overall in the entire transfer portal if/when they update his ranking to reflect the jump he made at UCF. They might be done with the updates though, he was pretty much the last addition to the portal.

If you actually watched him play at UCF you'd be higher on him. He can play the 4. And it's highly unlikely Momciliovic or Yessoufou come to UK unless they overpay by a ridiculous amount, & even in that case I'm skeptical they would actually come.... So if yall are happy with McBride potentially being the starting 4 next year, I guess I'm happy too.

[Tomcats1990]

This 5 in 5 could be a huge blessing for Pope if and when it passes. Many schools have spent most of their NIL budget so these Seniors having another season will open up a lot of good talent looking to cash in and not many schools will be able too. Kentucky would.