Class of 2019 - General Discussion

[Joneslab]

They used to say that big men made the jump between their sophomore and junior years.

You don't hear that much anymore, mostly because the big men with promise are gone before they reach 20 years old.

The thing about Richards is that he's old. He'll be 22 in November. So you have to worry about him ever truly getting it, mostly because his issues seem to come from his head. Basketball at its root is a game of confidence; Richards gets rattled very easily.

Having to come in and play spot minutes behind Blackshear is liable not to help that, but he showed a few times last year that he could do it. If we don't get Blackshear and have to rely on him to play a lot of minutes I'm not sure how good Kentucky can be next season. He'd have to be a radically different player than the one we've seen to this point in his career.

[Lighthouse]

Richards was better last year than the year before, although he still disappears a lot. It would be good to have a Junior Big.

[Joneslab]

If we get Blackshear and McDaniels, what are the odds at least one of Montgomery/Richards doesn't return next year?

I'm not sure what options Montgomery and Richards really have except transferring.

Montgomery will probably still be a starter so he should come back. Not sure about Richards but it'd be nice to have another body.

[Dwight Schrute]

If we get Blackshear and McDaniels, what are the odds at least one of Montgomery/Richards doesn't return next year?

Juzang, Blackshear, and McDaniels are a holy wow type of addition that makes next year look reaaaaaaaaally promising.

[lilproUK98]

Interesting news this morning that Duke decommit Boogie Ellis is taking a visit to Memphis.

Suggests they probably aren't that confident in R.J. Hampton. Guess that means Kansas but it might put Kentucky at least in the mix.

I have thought Kansas for RJ for a while. But Cal isn't gonna stop recruiting him....Even with Juzang coming.

[Joneslab]

Interesting news this morning that Duke decommit Boogie Ellis is taking a visit to Memphis.

Suggests they probably aren't that confident in R.J. Hampton. Guess that means Kansas but it might put Kentucky at least in the mix.

[lilproUK98]

Don't look now, but it's becoming likely Juzang, McDaniels, and Blackshear are all coming to Kentucky.

[J.Jennings]

Becoming pretty obvious we're going to get Juzang and McDaniels. Not totally sold on McDaniels but you would hope he'll get tougher with college coaching. The time I saw him he played a very soft game where he actively tried to avoid contact. Think Skal.

If all that falls into place the way it should Kentucky's still probably a Blackshear commitment away from being a legitimate contender. Blackshear, Montgomery, McDaniels, Sestina, and Richards is a good-to-very-good frontcourt. Hagans, Maxey, Quickley, and Juzang is a very solid backcourt. We'll have a very nice wing in Whitney who should be able to take some games over. But if Blackshear doesn't come on then we have a major question mark in the middle, and then of course you have EJ's decision still remaining.

It could really go either way for UK next year.

Once again, Cal seems like Cal finds a way to recruit what we need...

[Joneslab]

Don't forget Keion Brooks, who I expect to be a sleeper contributor for us next year.

Oof, Brooks. I always forget him for some reason.

If Montgomery somehow goes to the NBA Brooks is going to have to play a lot of minutes. I'm not sure he's ready for that but he seems to me like a PJ type player, i.e. a guy who could make a big jump after a year.

Kentucky needs one more guy who can take over a game to go with Maxey and Whitney. Blackshear looks to be the only guy on the board who can do that assuming we don't get Hampton.

[KCKUKFan]

Becoming pretty obvious we're going to get Juzang and McDaniels. Not totally sold on McDaniels but you would hope he'll get tougher with college coaching. The time I saw him he played a very soft game where he actively tried to avoid contact. Think Skal.

If all that falls into place the way it should Kentucky's still probably a Blackshear commitment away from being a legitimate contender. Blackshear, Montgomery, McDaniels, Sestina, and Richards is a good-to-very-good frontcourt. Hagans, Maxey, Quickley, and Juzang is a very solid backcourt. We'll have a very nice wing in Whitney who should be able to take some games over. But if Blackshear doesn't come on then we have a major question mark in the middle, and then of course you have EJ's decision still remaining.

It could really go either way for UK next year.

Don't forget Keion Brooks, who I expect to be a sleeper contributor for us next year.

[GOCAT15]

If Cal convinces Hagans and Hampton that this is best for them I will be impressed, but I don't see it happening. Hampton will go to Kansas or Memphis and run the show.

[Joneslab]

And regarding R.J. Hampton...I remain skeptical of that simply because I don't trust Penny and Memphis. It makes sense that they would try to swirl up a UK/Memphis battle that they win at the last second. Looks good for them.

Unless Kentucky has convinced Hagans to play off the ball some in a three-guard lineup then Hampton can't come. It makes very little sense.

But if it did the battles in practice at guard will call to mind what was happening back in '09/'10.

[GOCAT15]

Johnny making his decision Friday.

[Joneslab]

Becoming pretty obvious we're going to get Juzang and McDaniels. Not totally sold on McDaniels but you would hope he'll get tougher with college coaching. The time I saw him he played a very soft game where he actively tried to avoid contact. Think Skal.

If all that falls into place the way it should Kentucky's still probably a Blackshear commitment away from being a legitimate contender. Blackshear, Montgomery, McDaniels, Sestina, and Richards is a good-to-very-good frontcourt. Hagans, Maxey, Quickley, and Juzang is a very solid backcourt. We'll have a very nice wing in Whitney who should be able to take some games over. But if Blackshear doesn't come on then we have a major question mark in the middle, and then of course you have EJ's decision still remaining.

It could really go either way for UK next year.

[KCKUKFan]

Evan Daniels has logged his Crystal Ball pick for Jaeden McDaniels.

Also, whispers that we're really making inroads with RJ Hampton, although I have no idea where he'd fit on this roster.