2016 Recruit Watch

[Joneslab]

Do we need to break down what it means to contribute? Being on the floor for a few minutes a game, and actually doing something meaningful with that time, are two very different things.

You don't think Hawkins does something meaningful with the time he gets?

Because I do. Heck, in the Indiana game outside of Ulis he was the best player we had. Started for the behemoth that was the 2015 team for a few games.

He's had a really good career for an unranked Kentucky kid. Plays hard. Good defender. Scrappy.

That's absolutely meaningful for the kind of player he is. They can't all be 30-minute-a-game double-digit scorers. You need guys who are willing to play a role.

By the end of the season next year you would hope that the team gels and Calipari can settle on a rotation of 6 or 7, the way he did in 2012. In that case Hawkins probably won't make the cut. But he's a guy who, if you have to call on him because of foul trouble or injury, I'm pretty confident in. Players like that are crucial.

[Pobilly]

Hope all the guys coming back put in big efforts (be it muscle gain, shooting, rebounding, boxing out, passing) over the summer to come in already at their best to help the new guys coming in adapt to the system and College Basketball. Hope they see what is coming and are willing to work hard to make KENTUCKY the best version of KENTUCKY.

[GOCAT15]

Thon Maker is going to enter the Draft, and not go to college for a year.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm glad he's not being forced to go to school for a year. I wish everyone that wants to could go right out of h.s.

[lilproUK98]

On his periscope tonight, Matt Jones says Bolden is likely going to Duke but still too close to call at this point. Mom heavily favors Duke, Marques favors UK, but not heavily.....

[Matt Dillon]

It sure sounds as if Bolden is headed to Duke.

[Matt Dillon]

Jerry Meyer, 247Sports national analyst, has changed his "Crystal Ball" prediction, for Bolden, from UK to Duke.

http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article70421637.html

[Joneslab]

Was hoping the Skal news would push Bolden toward Kentucky.

There are minutes at the 5 at either place, but Jeter is still at Duke. He would likely have nobody to beat out at UK.

From his comments at the Hoop Summit, it sounds like he's legitimately torn.

[Lighthouse]

Well, we can only hope that Skal's decision and the obvious availability of minutes at UK, will sway this young man back to us. It's almost as important that he doesn't go to Duke, as it is that he comes here.

[GOCAT15]

Well, we can only hope that Skal's decision and the obvious availability of minutes at UK, will sway this young man back to us. It's almost as important that he doesn't go to Duke, as it is that he comes here.

A Huge decision that will impact our season tremendously!

[Pobilly]

Don't care if we get anyone else. If you ask me we do not need another big. We need a scoring wing if anything. Bam / Issac / Lee / Wynyard will be serviceable for a big. You do not have to have 5 5* guys on the court. Just get ready for a very good UK team next year. Get em here, get em playing pick up over the summer. Get em on the court this fall. Love to see what we do.

[Joneslab]

Don't care if we get anyone else. If you ask me we do not need another big. We need a scoring wing if anything. Bam / Issac / Lee / Wynyard will be serviceable for a big. You do not have to have 5 5* guys on the court. Just get ready for a very good UK team next year. Get em here, get em playing pick up over the summer. Get em on the court this fall. Love to see what we do.

I think a true center would help immensely because it would let Bam play his natural position.

If we don't get Bolden then you're going to get a lot of Bam at the center. He can play that spot in college, but he's a true 4.

The bigger issue would be that you give your biggest competitor another piece. I'm not convinced Bolden is going to be a standout necessarily, but he looks like he can contribute. A big body who can contribute would help us not only in games but also in practice--he'd push Humphries to get better, he'd be able to bang with Bam and the other bigs, etc.

It won't be a killer if he chooses Duke, but there's a reason Cal went after him hard in the early period.

[Pobilly]

Will,

Agree 100%, but I am of the mind to move on if the other guy wants to go elsewhere. If you can take a guy like Issac and send him to a big man camp or have bigs (Cousins/AD and such) come in and help the guy over the summer then maybe just maybe the sophomore version of Issac can be as good as a freshman version of Bolden. Heck he would have a leg up in just knowing what Cal wants day in and day out.

I think because AP and Lee did not develop greatly over the summers spent here we tend to think no one will develop. I like the fight in the young Aussie, i think he can play at this level with hard work. Yes he is slow, so was Wiltjer (or as my son calls him Kyle Wheelchair). He was a rebounding machine in the Texas AM game 1. He just has to figure out how to get in better shape to play game in game out for BIG BLUE!. I hope he does so this summer. Not much in known about Wynyard so not anything to go on there.

Chuck Vederber and Chuck Alexenizus (SP) are just some that come to mind. As guys that surprised us back in the day.

If Bolden were to come great.

[Pobilly]

Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels 2h2 hours agoKentucky, USA
Five-star Marques Bolden told Scout he will have an in-home visit with the Duke staff on Sunday. Duke and Kentucky battling for this one.
Per his twitter this afternoon after the game.

[Pobilly]

Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels 13m13 minutes agoKentucky, USA
This clears the way for the Frank Jackson era at Duke. He appears ready based on his play the past two weeks at McDonald's & Hoop Summit.



Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels 9m9 minutes agoKentucky, USA
Derryck Thornton started a number of games at Duke this past season. Averaged 7.1 points a game. Will be heavily pursued by high majors. Thornton reported to several services he is transferring this morning.

Duke was plus +1 on scholarships, Bolden visiting today = perfect time to send someone packing to free up the scholarship to get the commit.

I think Bolden Commits to Duke today.