2016 Recruit Watch

[Joneslab]

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.

He's a five-star big man with NBA length who is deciding between us and the team that will undoubtedly be our biggest rival next season. He's important.

Maybe not crucial, but definitely important.

[SBCatMan]

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.

[BBNalldayeveryday]

The Bolden camp went real quiet real quick.

Almost nothing at all on him either pro- or anti-UK since Friday. That's an eternity when a player is close (maybe?) to making a decision.

Strange situation.

Watch him pull a Jaylen Brown and commit to TCU lol.

[Joneslab]

The Bolden camp went real quiet real quick.

Almost nothing at all on him either pro- or anti-UK since Friday. That's an eternity when a player is close (maybe?) to making a decision.

Strange situation.

[GOCAT15]

Latest word on Allen is that he is down to Texas and KU.

[kr24]

I hope Lee stays for his senior year. It's refreshing to see players stay at the program 4 years. Mulder could be the weak link in the scholarship watch.

[capcat]

Per KSR, NO WAY MARCUS LEE IS TRANSFERRING FROM UK.

Transferring for a graduate season is not an option:

“There’s whispers every year, just because people feel like they know what’s better for him,” his older brother Bryan told The Courier-Journal on Tuesday. “But as he’s shown each year, he’s completely loyal to Kentucky. It’s kind of baffling that anybody would question that, considering what he’s done for the school and the impact he’s had on that community.
“It’s almost kind of a slap in the face to him that anyone would even question that, considering what he’s sacrificed.” [Courier-Journal]

Count me as one who would be saddened to not have him as a Wildcat next year. Senior Day, that means something.

[Pobilly]

Per KSR, NO WAY MARCUS LEE IS TRANSFERRING FROM UK.

Transferring for a graduate season is not an option:

“There’s whispers every year, just because people feel like they know what’s better for him,” his older brother Bryan told The Courier-Journal on Tuesday. “But as he’s shown each year, he’s completely loyal to Kentucky. It’s kind of baffling that anybody would question that, considering what he’s done for the school and the impact he’s had on that community.
“It’s almost kind of a slap in the face to him that anyone would even question that, considering what he’s sacrificed.” [Courier-Journal]

[GOCAT15]

Of course the Duke thing does make it more appealing, especially since both teams are going into next season with very high expectations. You never want to lose talent to a player that you think may help your competition.

With that said I still think we could use another big, just because of the uncertainty of Lee and the other bigs progressing enough over the summer to be factors on next years team. Bam isn't going to be able to do it all himself.

[George]

Is the Bolden recruitment more about not wanting Duke to get him than us actually needing him? I know we can use him but if he was being recruited by Manhattan, would we as fans be as interested?

From the previous page:

Bolden seems like a very good player. But - is he more important in terms of a need UK has? Or is it more important in that going to UK would keep him away from Duke?

If he was picking between UK and whoever (Texas, Ohio St, Virginia, etc..) would people want him as bad?

I think the belief is he'd fill a real need and we'd want him regardless of his other suitors. Duke's involvement is just an added dramatic angle.

[justford]

Is the Bolden recruitment more about not wanting Duke to get him than us actually needing him? I know we can use him but if he was being recruited by Manhattan, would we as fans be as interested?

[justford]

http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article72504292.html

[BBNalldayeveryday]

I think he'll pick Duke because of his friendship with Harry Giles, because it will please his parents, and he probably likes their system better. I don't think he can be a position-less type big.


“I need to know how important I am going to be to a university,” Bolden told USA Today during the all-star weekend. “A lot of guys do a lot of talking. It’s hard to tell who’s real and who’s not. For me, I have to trust that guy and know I will be an important factor at the university.”

[Joneslab]

Strangely silent on the Bolden front today (so far). Kyle Tucker has a new article where he quotes Evan Daniels; Daniels says he thinks Bolden has gone back and forth a lot on the decision, which could come down at any time.

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2016/04/18/uk-duke-target-bolden-could-decide-any-moment/83190300/

[Joneslab]

The only silver lining for UK in the delays is that he might be waiting to see if a scholarship opens up.