Skal Labissiere COMMITS to KENTUCKY

[GOCAT15]

I just can't see Cal signing this kid without being extremely confident it will work out, but it also may be because Cal does't feel good about Zimmerman or Diallo?

Either way it makes me nervous and Cals gonna have to bring in a big class in 2015 and we don't need distractions like this!

[Catsrock]

Got to admit I feel some compassion for the kid--coming from a dirt poor nation--though I know nothing of his own financial situation. Any chance UNC could issue him a high-school diploma? OK, I'm just an a--.

[JFCats22]

Evan Daniels says Briscoe and Skal to UK tomorrow.

Would be big!

[GOCAT15]

Evan Daniels says Briscoe and Skal to UK tomorrow.

Would be big!

So I'm guessing Cal and co. do not have any concerns about Skal becoming eligible?

[Joneslab]

Two ways you can look at the Skal situation.

One is that he's dirty and will never play in college. Another is that the Memphis people are fanning the flames and trying to create an illusion of dirtiness that isn't there simply because he spurned Memphis.

I have a hard time believing the second option simply because Parrish is usually pretty good. But this is Memphis. Anything's possible.

I'd be more at ease if Cal hadn't been antagonistic toward the NCAA for years. If there was a chance the NCAA would work with UK to make sure the kid was eligible and no corners were cut, it'd be a different story. But the NCAA is the sort of organization that looks to punish in these situations, and schools obviously just push back. It's toxic.

There's a lot of discussion on other boards about this. Some of the posters there say there's really no risk, but I don't know if I agree. Enes Kanter showed that at the very least you may have a hole in your roster if the kid decides to play overseas and you miss out on your other options on the recruiting trail.

[Lighthouse]

If I'm right and if this kid commits to Kentucky, it's only a commitment at this point. Until he signs a LOI, we have nothing to worry about. After the commitment and before the signing date, Sandy Bell and Cal should have plenty of time to decide whether to accept him or not.

[George]

Nothing to see here...

[TrueblueCATfan]

Sandy Bell is good at what she does sure she has been on top of this.....reading this morning that it is 80% that he will committ to UK

[George]

Sandy Bell is good at what she does sure she has been on top of this.....reading this morning that it is 80% that he will committ to UK

That's been said before (multiple times in this very thread, actually). I don't doubt that it's true. Just don't see the need to waste time and risk losing other players if this kid will never see the court.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I am aware of that..is there a rule that I can't comment about it too..lol

[Joneslab]

If I'm right and if this kid commits to Kentucky, it's only a commitment at this point. Until he signs a LOI, we have nothing to worry about. After the commitment and before the signing date, Sandy Bell and Cal should have plenty of time to decide whether to accept him or not.

The player tweeted that he would sign this week. The signing deadline is November 19th, and it'd be highly unusual for a player to commit during the early period and not sign.

But the NLI really means nothing anyway. If he's going overseas to play, he'll go whether or not he signs.

[George]

I guess you can say we'll know something in two hours, but in Skal's case, we really won't. Even if he picks the Cats there are undoubtedly going to be hurdles between now and his first game in Rupp.

[George]

It's official: Labissiere to KENTUCKY. Now we wait and see...

[Roper92391]

His story is...interesting.

[ukwebfan]

Can he play? If not, someone else gets his PT. Simple as that.

[George]

Can he play? If not, someone else gets his PT. Simple as that.

Not quite - at least not at the moment. If another big man passes on the Cats because of Skal's commitment, and Skal is later ruled ineligible, we'll find ourselves in a bad situation.

[teamchemistry15]

I dont think so. I think at least two of our bigs stay. Possibly Lee and Lyles. I also still think we are in the running for Stone. I think we will be fine regardless.

[GOCAT15]

Nope, we have been out of the Diamond Stone race for awhile now, he is off of UK's radar.