2016 Recruit Watch

[justford]

Maybe I am just over simplifying the situation but I think it is just Bolden waiting for scholarship to open up at UK. He knows he has one waiting at Duke so if he was going there, why wait? I think he plays for UK if Lee or Briscoe leaves.

[BBNalldayeveryday]

No but the difference in the type of player Jefferson is and the type Bolden is is pretty great.

Jefferson is kind of your prototypical garbage guy. He's a rebounding, high-energy 4. Bolden is a pure 5.

But as I said, Giles has to be on the floor. Everybody and his mother knows that. (Unless he's still gimped.) Jefferson also is going to need to be on the court. You've also got Jeter in there. So it's a little hazy in there and there will be competition.

At Kentucky Bam will have to be on the floor. Behind him there's a little competition, but the Bolden camp would have to be pretty confident in the fact that he could beat out Humphries and Wynyard.

Well if they're somehow not unanimously confident about that then we don't want him anyway.

[Joneslab]

The difference between 6'9" and 7' isn't all that great.

No but the difference in the type of player Jefferson is and the type Bolden is is pretty great.

Jefferson is kind of your prototypical garbage guy. He's a rebounding, high-energy 4. Bolden is a pure 5.

But as I said, Giles has to be on the floor. Everybody and his mother knows that. (Unless he's still gimped.) Jefferson also is going to need to be on the court. You've also got Jeter in there. So it's a little hazy in there and there will be competition.

At Kentucky Bam will have to be on the floor. Behind him there's a little competition, but the Bolden camp would have to be pretty confident in the fact that he could beat out Humphries and Wynyard.

[George]

Jefferson's still a long-armed big man. The difference between 6'9" and 7' isn't all that great. I don't see how his return couldn't mean fewer minutes for Bolden.

[Matt Dillon]

I agree, Will. That's why I don't see Jefferson's returning as being a factor.

[Joneslab]

Isn't Bolden a true center? If so, how does Jefferson's returning affect him?

Only way it would make a difference is if somebody could convince him that there's going to be a logjam in the frontcourt at Duke. Because with Jefferson back they might now play Giles at center. It's hard to imagine Jefferson and Giles not both starting. Assuming he's healthy, Harry Giles is starting for that team. The PT situation at UK is a little more clear down low.

Bolden might be okay with the situation at Duke. And really, it's always been assumed that Jefferson was coming back so that had to've always been part of his thought process.

[Matt Dillon]

Isn't Bolden a true center? If so, how does Jefferson's returning affect him?

[George]

Between Lee leaving and Jefferson staying, I'd like to think our chances have improved considerably.

[BBNalldayeveryday]

Amile Jefferson getting another year of eligibility could help sway things in our favor. It makes Duke deeper, but he could get a lot more playing time at Kentucky, and have just as good of a chance, if not better at getting to the national title game.

[George]

FWIW, Amile Jefferson was granted a fifth year of eligibility. Hope Bolden notices.

[Joneslab]

I could be totally wrong but I think he's giving Lee time to make his move in order to come to UK. I think he decided UK would be the place right after the Jordan game last week. Then he was told to put the announcement on hold till Lee's departure paved the way for.him. JMO

Interesting point. It does appear that something has ground this thing to an absolute halt.

The only thing about waiting on Lee is that that puts the date--if Lee goes all the way through the combine to the deadline--at May 25th. Bolden could wait another month, there's nothing really stopping him, but it would be odd to just sit on the decision for weeks after it appeared that he was ready.

If we go through another week and get into May, though, I'll be inclined to think you may be right.

[lilproUK98]

I could be totally wrong but I think he's giving Lee time to make his move in order to come to UK. I think he decided UK would be the place right after the Jordan game last week. Then he was told to put the announcement on hold till Lee's departure paved the way for.him. JMO

[Lighthouse]

I just want to remind everyone that last year we were all bent out of shape over a 5 star big man with NBA length, and that didn't turn out so good. But, I hope we get this Big Man!!

[BBNalldayeveryday]

We're not losing anything with Lee. He regressed this past season. One might argue that he has both experience and length, but both those factors become meaningless if the player isn't effective at all. As much as Bolden is an important possible addition for all the reasons mentioned, what I think would of helped this up and coming team just as much would of been a small forward who could known down 18 footers and get to the basket with regularity.

We haven't had a small forward like that since Mash.

[GOCAT15]

Maybe this is a sub-conscious case of pre-emptive sour grapes, but I am beginning to think that Bolden is the least important recruit we have ever sweated over.

I would strongly disagree, now that Lee is apparently leaving I do think it is an important piece. Like Will said it is even more important due to the fact that most likely if he doesn't pick UK, he will pick our possible strongest competition next year.