Maybe people will start to realize that Cal's recruiting classes were more about Kentucky than Cal. I am not suggesting that Cal can't recruit, but his recruiting class rankings certainly skyrocketed after coming to Kentucky.
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Acaden Lewis Commits to UK!!
- Thread starter University-6
- Start date
So what is 2025 roster look like
Pg…Lewis and Perry…or do we add portal here
Sg…Oweh and Jasper
Sf…chandler and Noah..I’m guessing portal
Pf….Caleb Wilson and surely portal
C…Gatrison and Moreno
I’m not sold we don’t add portal PG
Pg…Lewis and Perry…or do we add portal here
Sg…Oweh and Jasper
Sf…chandler and Noah..I’m guessing portal
Pf….Caleb Wilson and surely portal
C…Gatrison and Moreno
I’m not sold we don’t add portal PG
I feel like Wilson will be next. If not, Pope will get someone else solid there. Not worried at all about recruiting.
But I am expecting Wilson.
Then a portal PG, PF, and a shooter.
But I am expecting Wilson.
Then a portal PG, PF, and a shooter.
I guess Pope is doing ....ok. It's Nov 2024 and hes just now getting 2025 players....
Myself I prefer the BCG era of recruiting he had preschoolers locked down.
Myself I prefer the BCG era of recruiting he had preschoolers locked down.
Pure insanity to project 2025/26 lineups already, lol. Enjoy the Pope era FFS.
PG - Portal starter / Lewis / Perry
SG - Oweh / Johnson
SF - Chandler / portal reserve / Noah
PF - Portal starter / Wilson
C - Garrison / Moreno / portal reserve
I don't see this comp at all. Caleb is skilled with the ball and Wenyan wasn't.
Ehhhh not really though. Everyone casts a wide net. Look at Dukes recruits. Every single guy in their class is rated higher than Lewis
Glad to get Lewis. Can’t wait to see how he and Jasper work together in this offense. Not to mention, of the 3 who have committed so far, he definitely seems the most poised down to earth kid yet. His interview with Jack Pilgrim was refreshing. He listens to questions and gives very thoughtful answers.
Now, if we can get Wilson on board, we can swing for the fences in the spring. Would love to see an athletic 3 and D at SF. With Chandler and Owen back next year, I think we could go either portal or HS for it.
Now, if we can get Wilson on board, we can swing for the fences in the spring. Would love to see an athletic 3 and D at SF. With Chandler and Owen back next year, I think we could go either portal or HS for it.
I think Ament is a possibility, just a guess nothing more.
And when you think about it, shooting might be the thing you want to get from the portal. I think a transfer known for shooting is a surer thing than a high school recruit known for shooting.
No doubt, I’d rather have a proven high major shooter.
You ever get Mitch's personal phone number for having the audacity to hire Pope? I thought you were going to burn the internet down that night.
Johnson, Wilson and Lewis will all start along with Oweh and Garrison imo.
His running hook and floater with left hand are a beauty! I think I saw a wrap around pass with the right hand (weak hand) which Robert Dillingham could not due. He is smart player , needs to work on getting stronger and finishing with the right hand and he will be golden.
He personally said he was up to 195 lbs now and much stronger.
Didn't Acuff commit to Arkansas and isn't he more highly rated than any of our recruits currently? What am I missing? I'm still glad we moved on from Calipari because recruiting doesn't equal program success but I think if we start comparing our recruits to one of the best recruiters ever we are asking to be disappointed.
IMO
PG - Veteran portal starter / Lewis
SG - Johnson / Chandler (Chandler may start) / Perry
SF - Oweh / Chandler or Johnson (whichever one doesn't start) / Noah
PF - Wilson / Portal reserve
C - Garrison / Moreno
I think we'll play 5 guards the majority of the minutes at the 1-3 (Portal PG, Lewis, Johnson, Chandler, and Oweh), with Perry and Noah sprinkling in. I don't love the idea of starting 3 freshmen, so I'm hoping we get a starting level, veteran PG.
Problem is that Lewis is really good. Going to be hard not to hav him starting
I noticed how you were sure to add currently to your argument, lol. Will you be back to make a correction if Pope signs Caleb as some think he will? However, so, what that he signed one player higher than Pope has currently!! One higher recruit means nothing. Recruiting wars aren't won because of one recruit. Currently, Pope has the better recruiting class. How many top recruiting classes did Cal win before coming to Kentucky?
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I hope we don’t have to rely on 3 freshman starters. And I would love having an experienced player as lead guard. If one of Johnson or Wilson started I could live with that, but I want our rosters to be battle tested.
Lewis said that Pope wanted four Freshmen (Moreno, Johnson, Lewis, Wilson- hopefully), five guys back (Oweh, Garrison, Chandler, Perry, Noah), and three from the portal.
So what you listed is about right, plus add another portal guy. A veteran shooter would probably make the most sense.
I dont care who we get vs who Cal gets, we're recruiting for UK to win games and they will play in an actual system designed to win at the college level. Cal's super classes are to prepare them for the NBA and the system is bare bones how to basketball for dummies hand guide .
Is Pope willing to invest $1.1-$1.5 million in Wilson to come off the bench?
If we land Wilson, he's starting.
Maybe Wilson would be the starting PF next season, but I wonder how you could be so sure about that now. Based on recent history there will be over 1,600 Div. I players in the portal after the season? All the best PFs in CBB with eligibility are likely to enter?
So, if UK can get the top PF (or one of the very top PFs) from the portal is Pope going to say “no” because he signed Wilson? I do think that was the way Calipari operated, and maybe we’re conditioned to that, but do you think Pope will do the same? And if you do think that, is it because of the amount of NIL money spent or because no proven experienced PF from the portal could outperform a projected draft pick freshman still developing his body, skills and game?
Personally, I think UK will bring in one of the top PFs from the portal regardless of whether they sign Wilson or any other freshman PF. Based on the way/speed that Pope plays, at least two PFs almost have to play major minutes. I think a very talented freshman with high upside potential is great to pair with a proven highly productive veteran. And I believe we would agree that determining which one starts should be based on their impact on the team winning games, not recruiting rankings or preseason draft pick projections, right?
I think we I’ll add another PG through the portal. Probably be another vet defensive oriented player. As we have seen in the past it’s hard to trust a freshman perimeter players on defense.
Absolutely, would love for Pope to beat Calipari at recruiting. That's the one thing Calipari is good at and it would be awesome if Pope beat him at it.
Investments sometimes have payoff periods longer than 1 year. I hope Pope can get some of these guys to stick around longer than 1 season. And it might be worth it to the team to have an elite talent in a 15-20 minute role off the bench. Could be the difference between an elite 8 and a championship. I prefer to have proven commodities starting and playing as many minutes as they can. I think Pope will too. If Wilson were to be the only freshman to start I think we might be able to make do, depending on his talent and how he acclimates. But I think Pope’s system will work best with guys who have multiple years of experience, especially in his system.
But, I’ve been wrong before. And there are no guarantees that we will get whoever we want in the portal. So we might be stuck with freshman starters anyway. I just hope not, because I think the experience would yield superior results.
If we get Wilson, we probably won’t have the money to invest in a superstar level guy at PF.
Are we paying Wilson a million plus and then another 4 man a million (remember Osobor reportedly brought in 2 mill) and have them split time at that position?
Wouldn’t that be money better spent at a different position?
Even at this level, money is finite. Can’t just buy whoever you want. And other teams have money too, so they can outbid us.
If we don’t get Wilson, we have the money to get a quality vet at the 4. But with Wilson, it’s going to be a backup level guy like Almonor.
I’m sure the staff has a budget and knows how much to spend on each position.
Our favorite insider Joe Adams says Wilson may commit In 2 weeks or less