$8 million for Stokes?

Apple14

Redshirt
May 9, 2002
16
21
3
I saw some other boards stating UK offered him $4 million guaranteed for 2 years. That is freaking crazy! I can't believe these NIL figures going around. Not sure a high school kid is worth it unless he's Kobe or LeBron-like.
 

Kentucky15

Senior
Mar 29, 2013
593
736
88
Well, it’s a pro league now. And for a pro league like basketball or baseball these are steals. What top anything in pro baseball football or basketball plays for 4 million?

I don’t like it either, the fact was they all had options to turn pro. University money needs to be for students and the institution but these institution went corrupt a long time ago so it is what it is. Nobody forced anyone into college basketball it was always play for scholarship and grow your brand using the stage. That was good enough for everyone until handlers and corrupt lawyers convinced everyone otherwise just like they do in everything else. It’s never going to be the same.

Pay them and hang the banners.
 

Vek96

Senior
Jul 4, 2025
284
659
93
Kentucks shouldn’t be offering anyone that much. The whole thing is ridiculous and disgusting.
We almost got the death penalty over supposedly giving Mills $2500. Looks pretty silly now, doesn’t it?

Sampson got fired for making recruiting calls during a “dead” period at Indiana.

Now teams are allowed to pay millions to players.

What‘s the point of winning, when you’re just outspending everyone? I don’t want Kentucky to become the Yankees.
 

Bruce9

Sophomore
Jul 31, 2025
89
120
33
Kentucks shouldn’t be offering anyone that much. The whole thing is ridiculous and disgusting.
We almost got the death penalty over supposedly giving Mills $2500. Looks pretty silly now, doesn’t it?

Sampson got fired for making recruiting calls during a “dead” period at Indiana.

Now teams are allowed to pay millions to players.

What‘s the point of winning, when you’re just outspending everyone? I don’t want Kentucky to become the Yankees.
Why not I do, it's about winning,do you want us to become the Reds and not spend any money, and stink,the same people saying we spend too much,will be the same ones ,complaing if we spend less and get whipped every night,That's the way it is now it's a new era,and Coach Pope says he loves it
 

un4getables

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2007
2,865
4,380
113
I would not believe the "numbers" you are hearing.. I have no idea you don't and neither does anyone else unless you hear it from the coach or player himself. I wouldn't believe what his "handlers" are saying either. Their sole goal is to drive the value up for him.. Personally I would say this is the offer take it or leave it.. I question how he will fit in popes system of caring more about the university versus getting to the league.
 

JwUKFan11

Heisman
Nov 11, 2011
6,189
11,842
113
Kentucks shouldn’t be offering anyone that much. The whole thing is ridiculous and disgusting.
We almost got the death penalty over supposedly giving Mills $2500. Looks pretty silly now, doesn’t it?

Sampson got fired for making recruiting calls during a “dead” period at Indiana.

Now teams are allowed to pay millions to players.

What‘s the point of winning, when you’re just outspending everyone? I don’t want Kentucky to become the Yankees.
K state spent a ton last year and was horrible. It's not just who spends the most that will win. Here you are on a basketball forum before the season even starts, talking about how it's ridiculous. Seems it still has you hooked.
 
May 27, 2007
30,438
22,864
113
I saw some other boards stating UK offered him $4 million guaranteed for 2 years. That is freaking crazy! I can't believe these NIL figures going around. Not sure a high school kid is worth it unless he's Kobe or LeBron-like.
If just one school offers to give him that much then yes he absolutely is worth it.
 
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wildcatdon

Heisman
Oct 17, 2012
9,748
11,902
113
We are headed to a place where college players are employees of the university and no longer students. This will end the four year eligibility
limits and change the game for good.
NIL and the transfer portal was allowed without guardrails and the crash is inevitable.
The game is ruined and while I will always love the Cats, it just doesn’t have the same meaning anymore. These kids should not be getting paid and that’s the bottom line. Give them a stipend because they don’t have time to work while in school and leave it at that. But we are so far past that, it’s ridiculous. Enough of my rant. I hate college sports now.
 

Burly Peters

Sophomore
Jul 4, 2025
92
173
33
If Pope/UK let a player get away to UofL/UCONN/Florida/Whoever because we wouldn't pay it, and that player ended up torching us, this board would explode. There's money out there. Might as well use it.
Landing Stokes would be worth the money, in several ways. Pope needs a big recruiting win like this. He would do for Pope what John Wall did for Cal, and what Mashburn did for Pitino. And as you say, we've got the money. Let's get it done.
 

Burly Peters

Sophomore
Jul 4, 2025
92
173
33
I've seen Stokes play. He's a really good player but he's not the second coming. He's simply not worth that much! I know Pope wants to win the recruiting war with him but this is nuts. He's not a generational type talent.
Up until a month or so ago I would have agreed with you. But his shot has gotten a lot better. I do think he's that good, with some real structure and coaching.
 

Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
15,184
1,462
113
I saw some other boards stating UK offered him $4 million guaranteed for 2 years. That is freaking crazy! I can't believe these NIL figures going around. Not sure a high school kid is worth it unless he's Kobe or LeBron-like.
4 million a year for the top player for 2 years in a row is a bargain. And how do you not believe it? This last offseason saw several 4 mil guys. If you can secure the top recruit for 2 years that’s fantastic for us.
 

Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
15,184
1,462
113
We are headed to a place where college players are employees of the university and no longer students. This will end the four year eligibility
limits and change the game for good.
NIL and the transfer portal was allowed without guardrails and the crash is inevitable.
I don’t think so. They will still be student athletes making money off who they are. Stoked for instance already signed with Nike so he is already being paid and not by the university. More like independent contractors that the schools hire for the season
 

Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
15,184
1,462
113
I don't ever want to hear the powers that be in big time college athletics say the words "student athlete" anymore. They're pretty much pros now with NIL.
They are student athletes. They still have to maintain their academic performance to play. Just because a player makes 4 mil in nil doesn’t mean they are eligible. If they don’t make it in the classroom they don’t play. So the term “student athlete” still applies
 

rivercatinfl

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2012
1,485
1,399
97
Well, it’s a pro league now. And for a pro league like basketball or baseball these are steals. What top anything in pro baseball football or basketball plays for 4 million?

I don’t like it either, the fact was they all had options to turn pro. University money needs to be for students and the institution but these institution went corrupt a long time ago so it is what it is. Nobody forced anyone into college basketball it was always play for scholarship and grow your brand using the stage. That was good enough for everyone until handlers and corrupt lawyers convinced everyone otherwise just like they do in everything else. It’s never going to be the same.

Pay them and hang the banners.
Well said!!
 
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OldSmoky

Senior
Jul 27, 2007
2,623
892
113
Why is it when a player looks like he isnt going to a fans school. That person or someone says that player wants 8 million to play for their rival. Look up quaintence from last year, rumor had him going for 8 million to Louisville and they said Arizona out bid them. i guess 8 mil is the majic number its a joke if you believe that. i could start a rumor stokes turned down 10 mil to play at Ky for nothing and it would be all over the place.
 

bnewt

Heisman
May 29, 2001
8,575
10,614
113
The game is ruined and while I will always love the Cats, it just doesn’t have the same meaning anymore. These kids should not be getting paid and that’s the bottom line. Give them a stipend because they don’t have time to work while in school and leave it at that. But we are so far past that, it’s ridiculous. Enough of my rant. I hate college sports now.
basically the way that I feel
kids used to play for the name on the jersey, now it's for the the $
just isn't the same interest as before
NIL has caused the average joe to stop attending games, because they just can't pay $75-$100 a ticket for a family of 4 or 5.
 

senonesy

All-American
Nov 30, 2017
3,783
7,558
113
Kentucks shouldn’t be offering anyone that much. The whole thing is ridiculous and disgusting.
We almost got the death penalty over supposedly giving Mills $2500. Looks pretty silly now, doesn’t it?

Sampson got fired for making recruiting calls during a “dead” period at Indiana.

Now teams are allowed to pay millions to players.

What‘s the point of winning, when you’re just outspending everyone? I don’t want Kentucky to become the Yankees.
It’s the way it is whether you agree with it or not. Why would you not want to outspend and have the potential to field the best team? The days of “Is Richie gonna play tonight?”are over. Might as well be the best in the current landscape. Pope seems to love it.
 

Kentucky15

Senior
Mar 29, 2013
593
736
88
It’s the way it is whether you agree with it or not. Why would you not want to outspend and have the potential to field the best team? The days of “Is Richie gonna play tonight?”are over. Might as well be the best in the current landscape. Pope seems to love it.

Pope almost assuredly doesn’t love it. Coaches almost universally hate it, but there’s nothing he can do about it.

There’s nothing to love about the NIL. No regulations, lawyers, handlers, corruption, and education institutions asking alumni and students who already pay them to pick up the bill for spoiled athletes who just want to maximize for themselves without any consideration for the sport or others whatsoever. This is a university team, it’s not supposed to be this way and it never was intended to be this way. But Mark and the rest have to do what they have to do and so, well, like in all professional sports, it’s a race to the bottom to see who can be the most corrupt. We have to do what we have to do.
 

Kentucky15

Senior
Mar 29, 2013
593
736
88
UK is spending more than pretty much everyone on hoops. UK can afford it. Time to buy some titles.

I agree. And with football being trash, and obviously we are packing it in, they better outspend everyone and make a run at many titles over the next 10 years.

After we win 3 in 10 years, they can slow down for a decade and just spend enough to win 1 or 2. Pick your moments and go balls deep, then rest and hit a cigarette. Then Balls deep again.
 

Kentucky15

Senior
Mar 29, 2013
593
736
88
Stokes is not even close to Wall or Mashburn.

I agree I don’t think he is on the court. But what he can be is the “signal” that Wall and Mashburn were. The signal we are continuing to be the place of the pros. The signal that Mark and UK aren’t going anywhere, and the signal that we are back in full swing. It means a lot for perception.
 

Burly Peters

Sophomore
Jul 4, 2025
92
173
33
I agree I don’t think he is on the court. But what he can be is the “signal” that Wall and Mashburn were. The signal we are continuing to be the place of the pros. The signal that Mark and UK aren’t going anywhere, and the signal that we are back in full swing. It means a lot for perception.
Exactly. You get it
 
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SkyPrince

Freshman
Jul 7, 2025
32
71
18
They are student athletes. They still have to maintain their academic performance to play. Just because a player makes 4 mil in nil doesn’t mean they are eligible. If they don’t make it in the classroom they don’t play. So the term “student athlete” still applies
When is the last time you seen a player declared academically ineligible?
The money absolutely guarantees the grades will not be a problem.
 

Kentucky15

Senior
Mar 29, 2013
593
736
88
When is the last time you seen a player declared academically ineligible?
The money absolutely guarantees the grades will not be a problem.

academic eligibility lol. The minute online classes began that was the end of most of these guys doing anything in college anyway. Most probably don’t know how to turn a camera on in teams or zoom.