Class of 2020 - General Discussion

[J.Jennings]

Basketball is business and the top players want to be the number one focus as well as compensated in my opinion, why do you think some just go overseas for a year and skip college all together? Not saying that all players are getting paid but maybe Cal has stayed away from the players and the camps around them that want benefits?Jay Z Drake even Lebron James and team Nike isn't hanging around the Kentucky program or Cal now a days. No doubt in my mind that other schools have found a loophole to compensate a player like Wiseman, Zion, and many others in my opinion. On the outside it may seem like Cal is losing but he's running a clean program probation free, we are doing okay imo...

[GOCAT15]

I will always say I don't want a kid that isn't willing to battle to earn a spot. If you don't have that mentality that you are going to work hard and are just going somewhere because you know you are easily one of the five best players on the team and will get PT then go for it. It's been proven year in and year out that minutes aren't what get you drafted. If you can't showcase your skills in 25-25 min, an extra ten isn't going to help.

[GOCAT15]

Nick Richards got in the way this year, I would imagine.

It's ironic that we want to keep players but if Richards were to have left, I would say we have no problem getting one (or both) of Blackshear or Dante. (Not sure about Wiseman; that was a tough deal because of Penny.)

It's an impossible situation for a program because if they were to "Push" Nick out, whether it was a transfer or whatever and then still struck out with Blackshear and/or Dante then you are in even more peril. We all complain about kids not staying and then we wonder who we wouldve got if he wouldve left. Sure, I would trade Blackshear for Nick right now, just because Blackshear has proven himself, but Dante could be great and he may not.

Penny really screwed us up and if he does well with this group you might as well throw him in the same conversation as Coach K and Self for future recruiting battles. Cal was the young swagger coach still when we got him, and now that is Penny. Time will tell how much he can coach, but we need him to not succeed or the recruiting is not going to get any easier in the future.

[J.Jennings]

Nick Richards got in the way this year, I would imagine.

It's ironic that we want to keep players but if Richards were to have left, I would say we have no problem getting one (or both) of Blackshear or Dante. (Not sure about Wiseman; that was a tough deal because of Penny.)

I really don't know the answer or solution to this problem. How comfortable would a player feel about stepping into a program and taking away minutes from a guy who's worked hard and been there a few years? Everybody knows it business at the end of the day but if you are always going to recruit over someone else, then it makes sense why a player would rather go elsewhere and get 30 minutes to benefit himself over the team as opposed to playing for a school and having to scrap for 15 to 20 if you are lucky.................

[Joneslab]

Nick Richards got in the way this year, I would imagine.

It's ironic that we want to keep players but if Richards were to have left, I would say we have no problem getting one (or both) of Blackshear or Dante. (Not sure about Wiseman; that was a tough deal because of Penny.)

[J.Jennings]

Someone said it best, come to Kentucky and battle for minutes or go to Oregon and play 30 minutes guaranteed as long as you stay out of foul trouble,it's a no brainer. Oregon is a big time NIKE elite school which means fringe benefits are just as good as ours and the pitch KENTUCKY ISN'T FOR EVERYONE just doesn't cut it no more......

Regardless, we are fine, have faith in Nick and and think the transfer will be surprise a whole lot of folks this year, we still good....

[DA#23]

We were big man U, and then something definite changed. The switch turned to OFF

[lilproUK98]

Sort of odd that we lost two players in the last three months while Cal was on vacation.

Probably suggests he knew that UK wasn't in the driver's seat. It also could get back to a point many of us have made about the assistants.

Pretty unreal the # of elite big men we've lost out on since Bam, especially given our success with big men Cal's first 7 years. Mind boggling really.

[Joneslab]

Sort of odd that we lost two players in the last three months while Cal was on vacation.

Probably suggests he knew that UK wasn't in the driver's seat. It also could get back to a point many of us have made about the assistants.

[lilproUK98]

SMH

[DA#23]

We cannot land any big man.

[Joneslab]

Rivals guys seem convinced N'Faly Dante will commit to Oregon.

[85 Fly]

Calipari visited him in February but I think they've seen the writing on the wall since then and haven't put much more time or effort into it.

ok- thanks for the update...I personally think he may stay home (GA).

[GOCAT15]

Don't believe Kentucky is involved with Sharife Cooper. I actually thought he'd already committed to Auburn but it turns out he hasn't yet.

Calipari visited him in February but I think they've seen the writing on the wall since then and haven't put much more time or effort into it.

[Joneslab]

Welcome Cam! His decision video was nice...
Welcome Boston! I will see Boston up-close this high school season; I'm assuming Sierra Canyon will represent SoCal at State so I will check out the next wave of the HS "dream team" (Bronny, Boston, Zaire Williams/Wade) then... amazing how that school gets kids to transfer in from allover the country. Maybe Boston will work on landing his Eybl AOT teammate S. Cooper.

Don't believe Kentucky is involved with Sharife Cooper. I actually thought he'd already committed to Auburn but it turns out he hasn't yet.