2017 Recruit Watch

[George]

People have been slow to realize and come to terms of the fact that next year's team (if the pieces fall into place) will have as much chance to win a Title as any at UK...

If/when Cal adds Bamba, Johnson, and Baker and/or Smith, the roster will be as stacked as any we have ever had. Only issue may be experience.....which is fine with me.

Starters of

Green
Diallo
Johnson
Washington
Bamba

and backups of

Alexander
Baker/Smith
Vanderbilt
Gabriel
RIchards

My goodness gracious....

I think the guard situation is a "one of the three," not two.

[kr24]

People have been slow to realize and come to terms of the fact that next year's team (if the pieces fall into place) will have as much chance to win a Title as any at UK...

If/when Cal adds Bamba, Johnson, and Baker and/or Smith, the roster will be as stacked as any we have ever had. Only issue may be experience.....which is fine with me.

Starters of

Green
Diallo
Johnson
Washington
Bamba

and backups of

Alexander
Baker/Smith
Vanderbilt
Gabriel
RIchards

My goodness gracious....

And if Bam comes back ad Bamba signs? How do we stack? I think the Bams will wear UK blue.

[Joneslab]

It will also be the youngest team Cal has had at UK if we don't return Bam.

With Bamba I really like the team...but I think fans are going to be a little frustrated with Quade Green. There's going to be a significant drop-off from Fox to Green, at least until he can get his feet under him. Don't think he's a phenom like we've had at that position in a few of Cal's years here.

I also think perimeter shooting is going to be a concern. It's nice to think these four-star players he's after are going to step in, but it's rare that that happens. Those guys are generally players you have to season and use down the road. Best-case scenario for shooting is that we add the Pitt transfer and somebody like Diallo is better than advertised.

[Joneslab]

Here's a report from Rivals where they look at all the big names still on the board. Only one of their four analysts picks Bamba to UK; the good news is that that analyst is Eric Bossi, who's usually pretty good. None picks Knox to Kentucky. None picks Mark Smith to UK, but all pick Jemarl Baker to the Cats.

I also saw Evan Daniels say on Twitter this morning that if he had to guess, he'd say Bamba's coming to Kentucky but admits that it's very hard to tell because the Bamba camp has been so quiet. Sounds like a Jamal Murray situation. I.e. nobody knows for sure.

https://kentucky.rivals.com/news/pre...layers-in-2017

[lilproUK98]

It's a near consensus now that Cal will add Bamba, Johnson, and Baker....

If so, UK is in very good position to make a strong run. Unbelievable athleticism, size, a proven shooter, and immense talent and depth. Please bball Gods, let it happen.

[George]

It's a near consensus now that Cal will add Bamba, Johnson, and Baker....

If so, UK is in very good position to make a strong run. Unbelievable athleticism, size, a proven shooter, and immense talent and depth. Please bball Gods, let it happen.

Is it, though? More and more people seem to be backing off the Bamba-to-UK predictions.

[Joneslab]

Jermarl Baker has committed to Kentucky.

[Joneslab]

Josh Gershon‏Verified account @JoshGershon 12s12 seconds ago#UK needed a shooter in 2017 and Jemarl Baker is exactly that. 6-3 SG, 6-6 wingspan, high level shooter and hard worker. Nice pickup.

[lilproUK98]

Is it, though? More and more people seem to be backing off the Bamba-to-UK predictions.

For the most part, the vast majority still say Bamba to UK, yes.

Baker just committed so one of the dominos has fallen....

[George]

Nice. There's that multi-year player everyone always wants. Hope you like the name "Jemarl," because we're probably going to be saying it for a while.

I don't expect much in his first year, but here's hoping he can step in and adequately fill a need at times.

[wildcatdon]

We now have our 4th guard and this kid can shoot. Now get Cam Johnson and Bamba and we are set.

[Joneslab]

We're going to need shooting (badly), so he may get some run next year. The highlight videos are interesting though in that they're well under the caliber of what we're used to seeing. Which says a lot more about the players we generally get.

His name is apparently pronounced "Jamal."

[George]

We're going to need shooting (badly), so he may get some run next year. The highlight videos are interesting though in that they're well under the caliber of what we're used to seeing. Which says a lot more about the players we generally get.

His name is apparently pronounced "Jamal."

And Raftery is "Rafferty."

I want answers.

[George]

We're going to need shooting (badly), so he may get some run next year. The highlight videos are interesting though in that they're well under the caliber of what we're used to seeing. Which says a lot more about the players we generally get.

His name is apparently pronounced "Jamal."

You see it especially in his driving and ball-handling. He's very upright, has a very high dribble, and doesn't have a lot of fast-twitch to his game. That drive where he kicked it up a notch and cut past his defender looked like Chad Pennington juking.

[Uncle Dave]

Sounds amazingly good. Great addition!!