2016 Recruit Watch

[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.

[GOCAT15]

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

[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.

[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.

[BBNalldayeveryday]

This following is an analysis of what I seen the other night.

Fox is extremely fast from one end of the court to the other. I think he might struggle from outside at times though.

Monk is going to be fun to watch. I think Cal ends up getting frustrated with him a lot early on.

Bam looks the part that's for sure. The only thing I think could end up being a problem with him is that he might get in foul trouble at times because of his relentless aggressiveness.

Jones will do some good things for us at times when he's on the floor.

I agree that Bolden would be a good addition.

[Uncle Dave]

Dom's stats: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bask...inique-hawkins

[Matt Dillon]

KSR saying special announcement tomorrow afternoon for UK. Wonder what that will be.

Murray making it official would be my guess.

[Pobilly]

Thanks guys for the discussion. Heading out for a hour check back in later.

[Joneslab]

Willis seeing fewer minutes depends on how ready Gabriel is and if we get Bolden.

If we get Bolden and he has to play Bam at the 4, Willis may not play much at all. May have to move to the wing to get some PT, and in that case you've got a clog there with Briscoe.

But if we don't get Bolden and if Gabriel needs some time, Willis will get a lot of run.

We're almost definitely going to need outside shooting, so I think Willis will be out there. He showed on this past team that he undoubtedly belongs. But if Bam Bam is the starting four then basically you have a world-destroyer down there. It isn't like last year.

But again: this is all good stuff. Guys fighting for PT. A lot of talent through your first 10 or 11 guys. All necessary parts of putting a top 5 team out on the court.

[George]

I kind of think if you play a few minutes a game you are, in essence, a "regular contributor."

E.g.: you contribute regularly.

Hawkins was hurt this past year so contributed irregularly. I don't think minutes played will be as important as what he can do with the actual minutes he gets.

Because there are going to be guys on this coming team you can't take off the court. This is going to look similar to 2012 and 2015 (maybe not the record) and 2010. There are going to be two, three, four players who just have to be out there. Monk and Bam Bam are two. Hopefully Briscoe is another. Fox will be once he gets his feet under him.

In a situation like that, if you're a role guy you have to find a niche. Dominique can do that, but there are going to be a couple of others. Marcus Lee may be one. Derek Willis may be one. There's going to be some substantial fighting that goes on for those minutes.

That's what you want. Last year's team didn't have enough good players, particularly enough good big players. Won't be the case next year.

Semantics, Will. You know what I'm getting at.

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.

When I say "regular contributor," I'm talking about a guy who makes noticeable contributions, and when you play a small rotation like Cal does, your contributions can't be one-dimensional. Hawkins plays solid D. That's great, but that's usually all you're going to get. That's not enough of a contribution to play long stretches at a time. We need guys to do that AND hit shots.

[Pobilly]

Absolutely no chance whatsoever. Fox starts at PG, and Hawkins will not beat out Briscoe and Monk. Just ain't happening.

It'd be a nice story if the local kid could make a big splash as a senior, but I don't think it's likely with the roster we'll have next year. MAYBE if he adds a consistent deep shot to his kit, but he's had three years to do that, and the results haven't been there thus far.

Sorry, to not elaborate. I think Monk / Fox and Briscoe are probably starters. Bam and whomever will play with those 3. So i do not see much off the bench but Hawkins. Maybe that is my mistake in thinking. Maybe only 2 of the 3 start and then yes whichever would be ahead of Hawkins. So I thought you could read my mind on that.

[Pobilly]

I kind of think if you play a few minutes a game you are, in essence, a "regular contributor."

E.g.: you contribute regularly.

Hawkins was hurt this past year so contributed irregularly. I don't think minutes played will be as important as what he can do with the actual minutes he gets.

Because there are going to be guys on this coming team you can't take off the court. This is going to look similar to 2012 and 2015 (maybe not the record) and 2010. There are going to be two, three, four players who just have to be out there. Monk and Bam Bam are two. Hopefully Briscoe is another. Fox will be once he gets his feet under him.

In a situation like that, if you're a role guy you have to find a niche. Dominique can do that, but there are going to be a couple of others. Marcus Lee may be one. Derek Willis may be one. There's going to be some substantial fighting that goes on for those minutes.

That's what you want. Last year's team didn't have enough good players, particularly enough good big players. Won't be the case next year.

See I too think Willis will see less minutes. Unless he takes it serious in the off season this year, the writing might be on the wall for him. He can shoot. He cannot play D that well and loses himself each game for minutes at a time.

[George]

Yes, I am talking about Hawkins being a regular contributor. If you will remember before he was hurt early in the season Cal kept saying he was in line for 6th or 7th player. I would expect him to be the main guard off the bench (unless briscoe does not earn a starting roll, which i see no way of that happening).

KSR saying special announcement tomorrow afternoon for UK. Wonder what that will be.

Absolutely no chance whatsoever. Fox starts at PG, and Hawkins will not beat out Briscoe and Monk. Just ain't happening.

It'd be a nice story if the local kid could make a big splash as a senior, but I don't think it's likely with the roster we'll have next year. MAYBE if he adds a consistent deep shot to his kit, but he's had three years to do that, and the results haven't been there thus far.

[Joneslab]

I kind of think if you play a few minutes a game you are, in essence, a "regular contributor."

E.g.: you contribute regularly.

Hawkins was hurt this past year so contributed irregularly. I don't think minutes played will be as important as what he can do with the actual minutes he gets.

Because there are going to be guys on this coming team you can't take off the court. This is going to look similar to 2012 and 2015 (maybe not the record) and 2010. There are going to be two, three, four players who just have to be out there. Monk and Bam Bam are two. Hopefully Briscoe is another. Fox will be once he gets his feet under him.

In a situation like that, if you're a role guy you have to find a niche. Dominique can do that, but there are going to be a couple of others. Marcus Lee may be one. Derek Willis may be one. There's going to be some substantial fighting that goes on for those minutes.

That's what you want. Last year's team didn't have enough good players, particularly enough good big players. Won't be the case next year.

[Pobilly]

"Senior" doesn't mean as much as it used to. I agree that a veteran presence is needed, but a senior who's been a starter and a senior who's been a bit player his entire career are two very different things. "Senior" doesn't automatically mean he'll elevate his game.

And if we're stuck playing a guy simply because he doesn't make mistakes, then we have much bigger problems than identifying a deep threat.

Agreed but I really think he does not hurt us on the floor. I really think (remember i am Polish and hillbilly (Polbilly)) so thinking hurts a bunch, but I just think he is going to play. Maybe its because his body style reminds me of another Hawkins (Cliff) but man I like it when local guys (Richmond) get to play (and can contribute). I do not like playing guys if they cannot or do not deserve it.

Might be an old man hoping too much for a player. That could be it.