2017 Recruit Watch

[Blue Heaven]

I have learned to curb my enthusiasm but this class is coming together nicely. Bamba is reportedly a UK lean. If we get him I might start breakdancing.

[Spiritof96]

I have learned to curb my enthusiasm but this class is coming together nicely. Bamba is reportedly a UK lean. If we get him I might start breakdancing.

What does a verbal commitment mean in bball? Has he not signed his LOI?

[GOCAT15]

What does a verbal commitment mean in bball? Has he not signed his LOI?

They can only sign during certain timeframes. Will be able to shortly along with Vanderbilt.

[GOCAT15]

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

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

A lot of experts leaning towards Texas recently, it is far from over. If we land him it will be completely due to him and Quade's relationship in my opinion, which is perfectly fine by me.

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals....layers-in-2017

http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article143907289.html

[KevinHall]

What does a verbal commitment mean in bball? Has he not signed his LOI?

Verbals in basketball are solid. Football are not for whatever reason.

[George]

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

I'm going to move this to the 2017 Recruit Watch thread, where there's already an ongoing conversation about our newest commit.

[Joneslab]

Verbals in basketball are solid. Football are not for whatever reason.

In football they just continue recruiting them. In basketball if you give a verbal it pretty much stops. Can only remember a few isolated cases ever where a player flipped his verbal commitment.

[lilproUK98]

A lot of experts leaning towards Texas recently, it is far from over. If we land him it will be completely due to him and Quade's relationship in my opinion, which is perfectly fine by me.

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals....layers-in-2017

http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article143907289.html

I am aware of the 3 out of 4 at Rivals picking Texas, but my outlook on the eventual destination is not swayed one bit.

[George]

In football they just continue recruiting them. In basketball if you give a verbal it pretty much stops. Can only remember a few isolated cases ever where a player flipped his verbal commitment.

Terrence Jones.

[KevinHall]

Terrence Jones.

You stole my thunder. This guy that just verbaled to UK did so with California. But that was because of a coaching change, I presume. Usually that is the only time it happens.

[lilproUK98]

If/when we also add Bamba and Johnson say hello to the Platoon again.... almost have to do it.

[Joneslab]

If/when we also add Bamba and Johnson say hello to the Platoon again.... almost have to do it.

Not enough good players for this.

Some of these guys will never step foot on the court next year. We'll have depth, but this isn't going to be a situation where everybody and his back-up has a shot at the NBA.

Don't think Gilgous-Alexander plays much. Don't think the Baker guy plays hardly at all unless he's far better than he looks. Don't believe Humphries comes back if we add Bamba. Killeya-Jones may get some run but it's impossible to say. Nick Richards will contribute but hopefully as a back-up and early in the season just getting spot minutes.

Assuming we get Bamba, this team is going to be like every Cal team but that one: driven by the top three, maybe four players. We're going to have two or three that he just won't be able to take out of the game much.

[lilproUK98]

Not enough good players for this.

Some of these guys will never step foot on the court next year. We'll have depth, but this isn't going to be a situation where everybody and his back-up has a shot at the NBA.

Don't think Gilgous-Alexander plays much. Don't think the Baker guy plays hardly at all unless he's far better than he looks. Don't believe Humphries comes back if we add Bamba. Killeya-Jones may get some run but it's impossible to say. Nick Richards will contribute but hopefully as a back-up and early in the season just getting spot minutes.

Assuming we get Bamba, this team is going to be like every Cal team but that one: driven by the top three, maybe four players. We're going to have two or three that he just won't be able to take out of the game much.

Ok..

Say Cal does what he normally does and plays 6-7 guys....

Your top 7 are Green, Diallo, Johnson, Washington, Bamba, Vanderbilt, and let's just say Gabriel...

You still have Richards, Baker, Alexander, SKJ, Wynyard, and maybe Humphries...

I just think there are 9 solid players there and you can add another from the group of Alexander, SKJ, Tai, or Humphries....

I'm just one who thinks playing 9-10 is optimal when you're dealing with that much talent of a similar level. Maximize your team's effectiveness. Cal will likely not do it, and Bamba and Johnson still need to be added to make it a possibility, but just one year I would love to see it from start to finish.

[Joneslab]

The problem with that is that you run the risk of having young players who reach the end of the season and haven't gotten the time needed to work out their issues and get used to the game.

You have to throw the main guys into the fire unless it's a really unusual situation like 2015. If you give Nick Richards and Mo Bamba the same time and just platoon them, you might get to the end and find that neither of them have gotten enough minutes to work out some stuff. I contend this was what happened to Booker and probably Trey Lyles: by swapping them in and out he got to March and they weren't playing their best basketball.

Where there will be a platoon will be at the 4. Vanderbilt has a shot to play the 3 but you still have Washington and Gabriel at the 4. I can see him platooning there. May have no choice.

[lilproUK98]

The problem with that is that you run the risk of having young players who reach the end of the season and haven't gotten the time needed to work out their issues and get used to the game.

You have to throw the main guys into the fire unless it's a really unusual situation like 2015. If you give Nick Richards and Mo Bamba the same time and just platoon them, you might get to the end and find that neither of them have gotten enough minutes to work out some stuff. I contend this was what happened to Booker and probably Trey Lyles: by swapping them in and out he got to March and they weren't playing their best basketball.

Where there will be a platoon will be at the 4. Vanderbilt has a shot to play the 3 but you still have Washington and Gabriel at the 4. I can see him platooning there. May have no choice.

I think you need mature guys to buy into this...

Alex getting hurt blew up the platoon and Cal was still trying to say he was doing it in February, but he wasn't...

Cal has a VERY good 9-man rotation IMO next year if Bamba and Johnson come aboard....

Green
Diallo/Baker
Johnson/Vanderbilt
Washington/Gabriel
Bamba/Richards

One interesting thing is what happens when Green sits and/or has foul trouble?? Alexander is probably not ready for that... Diallo?, Vanderbilt possibly as point/forward?