2017 Recruit Watch

[KCKUKFan]

W

Are Knox and Bamba really that good? Like, game changing good? I don't know much more about them than highlight videos.

Well, they're both top 5 ranked recruits and would be our "prized jewels" of the class, so yeah.

[Lighthouse]

Practicing this year then playing next season seems to be the only fit for UK and Diallo. Hope this works for him.

[teamchemistry15]

W

Well, they're both top 5 ranked recruits and would be our "prized jewels" of the class, so yeah.

I know they're both ranked top five. I was asking if they were on the Wall and Davis top five level.

[teamchemistry15]

My main question is could we see Richards and Bamba starting together? From things I've read recently Richards is playing like a top five player and one of the best shot blockers in the country. He's also close to 250 isn't he? Him at 5 and Bamba at the 4?

[KCKUKFan]

I know they're both ranked top five. I was asking if they were on the Wall and Davis top five level.

That's quite a level, as they're two of the best players to ever suit up for UK. Both of those guys were sort of anomalies.

They would come in immediately and be the best players on the team, similar to many of our NBA freshmen.

[KCKUKFan]

My main question is could we see Richards and Bamba starting together? From things I've read recently Richards is playing like a top five player and one of the best shot blockers in the country. He's also close to 250 isn't he? Him at 5 and Bamba at the 4?

Bamba will sit for no one on this team or in this class. Just very gifted for his size. You'd probably bring Richards in off the bench.

[GOCAT15]

Knox is huge and he can dominate the court. He's a bull towards the rim and he's got explosive athleticism.

I'm not sure how great of an outside shooter he is, but he's a game changer in every way.

He can knock down the outside shot. It's almost been a lock for him to pick Duke so if he chose UK I would be very impressed. Still a long way to go in that recruitment.

[Joneslab]

Of the "can't-miss" recruits Skal and Poythress are the two guys who just never panned out for Kentucky.

That's a pretty good success rate.

It is true that the classes are different. A top five player in one class isn't quite a top five in another. This past year's class was insane and there's clearly little separation from the very top all the way through into the high teens.

But generally if a player has been scouted and placed at the top of the rankings he lives up to the billing. Skal was such an unusual situation because very few people got a chance to see him. Most of these guys start being observed and analyzed when they're 13 or 14, and scouts stay on them for four or five years watching everything they do on the court during the summers.

It's become a much more objective process of evaluation, kind of like what baseball has had in place for years.

[Joneslab]

My main question is could we see Richards and Bamba starting together? From things I've read recently Richards is playing like a top five player and one of the best shot blockers in the country. He's also close to 250 isn't he? Him at 5 and Bamba at the 4?

Richards is going to take a little time. He's still very raw. It would be tremendous to have somebody in front of him and to use Richards as a defensive stopper.

Because he's going to be a shot-blocker on the level of Nerlens and Davis. But the other facets of his game need work.

[George]

Richards is going to take a little time. He's still very raw. It would be tremendous to have somebody in front of him and to use Richards as a defensive stopper.

Because he's going to be a shot-blocker on the level of Nerlens and Davis. But the other facets of his game need work.

Bold claim.

[GOCAT15]

A "source" says that Diallo will not play college ball this season, and that's why Kentucky is the perceived favorite.

http://247sports.com/Bolt/Hamidou-Diallo-wont-suit-up-till-2017-2018-season-50297723

[justford]

What if Diallo comes here with the understanding that it will be for a year and a half. He attends the NBA camp and gets a good review. What does he do??? Will he even attend the camps or would he have to be invited or ????

[Joneslab]

What if Diallo comes here with the understanding that it will be for a year and a half. He attends the NBA camp and gets a good review. What does he do??? Will he even attend the camps or would he have to be invited or ????

I think by "NBA camp" you mean these individual workouts NBA teams put on for players over the summer.

He won't be invited to those workouts if he doesn't play. There are way too many good players and he's too far down on the draft board. This is a guy who needs college basketball.

[GOCAT15]

I think by "NBA camp" you mean these individual workouts NBA teams put on for players over the summer.

He won't be invited to those workouts if he doesn't play. There are way too many good players and he's too far down on the draft board. This is a guy who needs college basketball.

Most mock drafts don't even have him listed in the 2018 draft. As much hype as there is around this kid, I have not heard one person say that he should or would even have a chance to be drafted, especially in the first round of next years loaded draft. Now if he plays a season, works on his shot then he could be a high pick when you add in his athleticism.

[justford]

I think by "NBA camp" you mean these individual workouts NBA teams put on for players over the summer.

He won't be invited to those workouts if he doesn't play. There are way too many good players and he's too far down on the draft board. This is a guy who needs college basketball.

From Evan Daniels
“I believe that his mindset is that he is going to play at Kentucky next season,” Daniels said. “But I also think he’ll at least go through the (draft) process. It would surprise me if he didn’t test the waters like everybody else.”