Matt Jones and 247's Jerry Meyer says Cal may go O-fer

[lilproUK98]

Would rather have a random 5th year transfer who was a mediocre player (at best) at a mediocre school in a terrible conference over a 5 star prospect that is ranked in the top 10 in his class....said no one ever, until today. Wow.

For next year's team I want the proven player if I had to choose. I just was not impressed. He has a decent jump shot and that's about it. Not all highly ranked players pan out...I've seen many comments from people who watch the kid regularly say he is inflated based on his size and decent shooting ability. When he has faced players of similar size and drastically more athleticism and quickness he has struggled....

A proven 22 yr old man is something next year's team could use, I hope Thorne comes.

You know as well as I that Cal will put a quality team out there, have faith.

[teamchemistry15]

Would rather have a random 5th year transfer who was a mediocre player (at best) at a mediocre school in a terrible conference over a 5 star prospect that is ranked in the top 10 in his class....said no one ever, until today. Wow.

I want the top 7 players every year. But in reality, some kids just want to stay close to home or just connect better with other schools, players, or staff members. It seems you are the only person that doesn't understand we dont always have our pick of the litter and think the world is caving in when we miss out on a kid. Especially when it is a kid who has had a different school listed as his favorite for a year. Unbelievable...

[Joneslab]

It's always been tough for Kentucky (and everybody else) to recruit kids away from the hometown school. We do much better with these kids who are sent to basketball factories and who kind of roam around.

The main problem with this class is the enormity of our need. In a normal year you could have a class of Skal, Briscoe, Matthews, and a couple of these other transfers and it would be solid. This year we need way more than that.

But just because you need more doesn't mean you get more. It seems to take an incredible amount of time and effort to get into these kids' living rooms when we get into the stretch run. Best-case scenario is when you get these kinds of package deals (Bledsoe, Booker/Ulis, etc.), but there don't seem to be any of those guys in this class. Seems to be more of a fractured, every-man-for-himself class than it generally is.

Still think we might get one of those available. If not you have to hope Skal is eligible and is the android that people are saying he is.

[DA#23]

Color me worried.

[George]

Color me worried.

Felt that way since we watched seven guys leave for the NBA. I might as well make this my sig: I'm getting awfully tired of roster turnover.

[Wonderstruck]

Drive-by post to say I'm glad I follow very little recruiting. It's easier on my system I've learned.

[BBNalldayeveryday]

It's starting to become imperative that we get Mike Thorne, because no one seems to have any clue what Thon Maker is going to do, and as of right now we only have Marcus and Skal when it comes to size upfront. Zimmerman would of added length, but it's been said he has a weakness when it comes to defensive rebounding, and that's something we really need.

[Joneslab]

It's starting to become imperative that we get Mike Thorne, because no one seems to have any clue what Thon Maker is going to do, and as of right now we only have Marcus and Skal when it comes to size upfront. Zimmerman would of added length, but it's been said he has a weakness when it comes to defensive rebounding, and that's something we really need.

The more you hear about Maker the more you wonder if he may've been overhyped.

Some of those early YouTube videos were unreal. The more people watch him play against elite competition the more he looks like he has a ways to go. Probably a player you could add and hope he sticks around long enough to pan out, but I doubt he's a guy we could add and expect immediate returns from.

The talk at the Hoop Summit was how little his hands were. Consistently struggled against Skal.

[GOCAT15]

The more you hear about Maker the more you wonder if he may've been overhyped.

Some of those early YouTube videos were unreal. The more people watch him play against elite competition the more he looks like he has a ways to go. Probably a player you could add and hope he sticks around long enough to pan out, but I doubt he's a guy we could add and expect immediate returns from.

The talk at the Hoop Summit was how little his hands were. Consistently struggled against Skal.

People are definitely backing off of saying how Maker is next best thing since sliced bread. He really didn't perform nearly as we as most thought against Diallo and Skal. And the latest news is that Thon wants to play another season with his brother who is a sophomore, and i'm sure he's also got people in his ear telling him he needs to keep working hard to be able to come into college and make a splash.

If it wasn't for Duke I really think our chances at Ingram would be pretty good.

[BBNalldayeveryday]

The more you hear about Maker the more you wonder if he may've been overhyped.

Some of those early YouTube videos were unreal. The more people watch him play against elite competition the more he looks like he has a ways to go. Probably a player you could add and hope he sticks around long enough to pan out, but I doubt he's a guy we could add and expect immediate returns from.

The talk at the Hoop Summit was how little his hands were. Consistently struggled against Skal.

They say Skal has really watered the mouths of some NBA scouts already. Oh really? I hadn't seen any of that about Maker. I was just speaking from what's left as far size and length out there. I think I just got use to all the size and length we've had the last few years that I feel like if we don't get another big we'll be a small team even though we will have Skal at 7'0, Marcus at 6'9, Alex (pending) at 6'8 and Willis at 6'9.

[BobS]

It's starting to become imperative that we get Mike Thorne, because no one seems to have any clue what Thon Maker is going to do, and as of right now we only have Marcus and Skal when it comes to size upfront. Zimmerman would of added length, but it's been said he has a weakness when it comes to defensive rebounding, and that's something we really need.

Not sure what the fascination is about this guy. Eloy Vargas Part II, IMO. Big body for the bench and get give you 5 fouls I guess. But he played at a mid major for 4 years and barely cracked 10 points per game. I would like him if we had another 5 star big man along with Skal. But as our backup center? Seems a reach. But when you strike out on all big targets beyond Skal, you get what you can. And he is a real OAD.

[GOCAT15]

Not sure what the fascination is about this guy. Eloy Vargas Part II, IMO. Big body for the bench and get give you 5 fouls I guess. But he played at a mid major for 4 years and barely cracked 10 points per game. I would like him if we had another 5 star big man along with Skal. But as our backup center? Seems a reach. But when you strike out on all big targets beyond Skal, you get what you can. And he is a real OAD.

I really don't think anyone is "fascinated" with him, but at this point it seems we need all we can get. It would be a body, and another practice body. Eloy was no superstar but he contributed to that team a lot more than people give him credit for. We will be lucky in my opinion if we get him, it's far from a done deal.

[Joneslab]

Not sure what the fascination is about this guy. Eloy Vargas Part II, IMO. Big body for the bench and get give you 5 fouls I guess. But he played at a mid major for 4 years and barely cracked 10 points per game. I would like him if we had another 5 star big man along with Skal. But as our backup center? Seems a reach. But when you strike out on all big targets beyond Skal, you get what you can. And he is a real OAD.

I know nothing about Thorne other than his stats but Vargas came in with very little D1 experience. Something like just a handful of games before he left Florida. This guy has shown that he can at the very least rebound the basketball for two complete seasons against D1 competition.

I don't see any problem with him as a backup. If you're having to rely on guys like this for 30 minutes per, you're in trouble.

[lilproUK98]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ana1znUBy9k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3RQphHRXRU

Watch these highlights with Mike Thorne and tell me we couldn't use him. Even stronger and more athletic than I thought. Runs well. Looks as good or better than Dakari to me. How he'll adjust to being at UK we can only guess, but he's got a lot of things we need.

[BobS]

Lots of speculation about players nobody has ever seen play and players that only played when Sam Malone was in the game. Could all be true, but there are no sure things other than Ullis and Lee, IMO. We all hope Alex is a better player but we don't know how that surgery will affect him.

IMO, we still need some help on this team. We need scorers/shooters badly.