BB: POPE WATCHING DINK PATE

true-blue1

All-American
May 15, 2007
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I understand you don't think we land them, but are we officially out on Stokes and Holt? Because either of them changes the equation drastically
I don't think it's good look overall. I do think Kentucky will get him because he's basically begging UK to recruit him because he isn't making much money in the G League.
 
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Jan 13, 2026
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He never went to college or played in the NBA, he went straight from high school to the G-League. There are several former G-League players on NCAA rosters currently. Just a few notable ones below from this season.

  • Thierry Darlan (Santa Clara): A former G League Ignite player from the Central African Republic who became the first to obtain eligibility, joining as a junior.
  • London Johnson (Louisville): A former four-star recruit who played three seasons in the G League Ignite before signing with Louisville.
  • Charles Bediako (Alabama): Returned to Alabama in January 2026 after playing in the G League, securing eligibility via a temporary restraining order. His case was dismissed and he currently isn't allowed to play for Alabama.
  • Abdullah Ahmed (BYU): A 6'10" center who played for the Westchester Knicks before committing to BYU.
  • James Nnaji (Baylor): A 2023 NBA draft pick who played professionally in Europe before being cleared to play for Baylor in December 2025.
Fair enough, like I said before, wait till another big time school starts recruiting him, Pope whiffs again, he gets the leftovers is about it. He simply can't recruit or doesn't know how to close.
 
Jan 13, 2026
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I think we end with Stokes, Tanner from the portal, Holt and Pate then a couple of other complimentary pieces from the portal and a preseason top 5 ranking. Next year is gonna be a lot of fun fellas. Best UK team since 2015. Mark it down. That team loses 2-3 games max. Tanner, Chandler, Stokes, Holt and Moreno with Pate as your 6th man is a scary proposition for opponents.
Then you woke up 🤣🤣🤣
 

Drcatfan

All-Conference
Apr 14, 2015
1,384
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I am down on Pope, but I would have some excitement for Stokes and Pate and put some solid players around them (Chandler, Moreno, Williams, Diobate). Pate and Stokes would be a solid start to a talented team.
 
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Mar 4, 2025
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Fair enough, like I said before, wait till another big time school starts recruiting him, Pope whiffs again, he gets the leftovers is about it. He simply can't recruit or doesn't know how to close.
Oh I'm not high on Pope's chances of landing anyone, little lone Pate; but Pate has reportedly said the only college he would consider playing for is UK (no clue why) if he decided to go the college route. I think there's a much higher chance he stays in the G-League than plays college ball at all.
 
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Dec 12, 2023
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I don't get why everyone says Pope can't recruit. Several of the top incoming freshmen are still unsigned and were always gonna be late signees, wherever they go. If we signed lesser talented kids, ya'll would be on him for not going after the better players. Am I wrong, honestly?

Last year's class was rated very high, like top 5 or better by virtually everyone that rates them. I do understand that the fit didn't work like we hoped but I don't see how that equates to not being able to recruit.

Truth is, we don't know what our team will shape up like for next year yet. This year has been a disappointment but yes, injuries are a huge part of that...not all, but a lot. We don't know who signed multi year nil deals with us yet, so we really don't know how good or bad he is doing at recruiting for next season, either. But if we can retain some key pieces and add a few from the portal and a top end hs recruit, things don't look so bad to me, if we stay healthy. We're due some luck in that department.

Pope is building a roster with returnees, freshmen and portal guys so that we aren't rebuilding from scratch every year. I don't know why some can't see that and I just wish some of ya'll would lighten the f up!

I don't have confidence in us making a late run but I'm still excited to see what happens and I still look forward to next season too. Why do ya'll have to rob that from everyone that's not as miserable as you are?
 

GoCATSGo77

Sophomore
Aug 19, 2025
92
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I don't get why everyone says Pope can't recruit. Several of the top incoming freshmen are still unsigned and were always gonna be late signees, wherever they go. If we signed lesser talented kids, ya'll would be on him for not going after the better players. Am I wrong, honestly?

Last year's class was rated very high, like top 5 or better by virtually everyone that rates them. I do understand that the fit didn't work like we hoped but I don't see how that equates to not being able to recruit.

Truth is, we don't know what our team will shape up like for next year yet. This year has been a disappointment but yes, injuries are a huge part of that...not all, but a lot. We don't know who signed multi year nil deals with us yet, so we really don't know how good or bad he is doing at recruiting for next season, either. But if we can retain some key pieces and add a few from the portal and a top end hs recruit, things don't look so bad to me, if we stay healthy. We're due some luck in that department.

Pope is building a roster with returnees, freshmen and portal guys so that we aren't rebuilding from scratch every year. I don't know why some can't see that and I just wish some of ya'll would lighten the f up!

I don't have confidence in us making a late run but I'm still excited to see what happens and I still look forward to next season too. Why do ya'll have to rob that from everyone that's not as miserable as you are?
I think people are saying Pope can't recruit because he has NEVER signed a five-star that is from outside the state of Kentucky. And it's March and we have 0 recruits signed for next season. Hope this helps.
 
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Damage_inc

Senior
Oct 4, 2019
335
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Embarrassing. Another terrible look for Pope and his Staff!
Why? no one has been more critcal of pope than me.....But why is this a terrible look? This kid is actually good. He is a bigger haul than pretty much any 5 star burger boy on the board or any portal stud.
 

Damage_inc

Senior
Oct 4, 2019
335
643
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Do you think it's a good look? Be honest.
You didn't ask me but I'll answer. Hell yeah it's a good look. We have 0 recruits coming in. ZERO. This kid is more talented than pretty much any high school kid and probably as good as any portal stud and he's only 19. Do you want to get players or not?

It's a forward thinking move and I fully support it. I'd be mad if we didn't use every available avenue to land talent. Besides I don't care about how anything looks. I only care about winning.
 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
43,613
77,927
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I’ve been saying all along the Dink Pate hype was always for next season. If he takes the college route he is a Cat. I’d love to have him, especially if we can land Stokes to play along him. It’d be an absolute matchup nightmare for everyone.
The way Pope recruits I can see him staying in the G League.
 
Mar 4, 2025
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I think we end up getting ONE of the following with an outside chance of landing a second (but unlikely). All three help in different ways.

Dink Pate
Tyran Stokes
Sayan Kieta
 
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Dec 12, 2023
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I think people are saying Pope can't recruit because he has NEVER signed a five-star that is from outside the state of Kentucky. And it's March and we have 0 recruits signed for next season. Hope this helps.
Again, several of the very top recruits aren't signed with anyone and I believe(said it on here many months ago) that top recruits would be smart to wait until last minute, or very late to sign. So, I'm not surprised that many of the top recruits remain unsigned. And..I don't care where they're from except to say that it would be a bigger deal if top in state recruits signed somewhere else. Gotta keep the good ones here. Pope is doing pretty good in that regard. As for Stokes, if we get him people will still fault Pope because hes from here...Louisville really, though. IOW, he can't win either way with some people. If we sign the number 1 overall recruit, people will certainly say that the only reason Pope got him is KY ties. Mark that down! Guaranteed!
 
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NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
11,649
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I bet Pope is also looking over his shoulder, now that buddy Mitch isn't in charge anymore.
 

AllBall

All-Conference
May 5, 2015
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How can a G league player be eligible though? I know the NIL changed the landscape but still, I don't get it. I highly doubt the NCAA will make him eligible. Hypothetically, let's say he becomes eligible, as soon as another high profile program starts recruiting him, goodbye Kentucky because Pope sucks on closing the deal.
He's never played or enrolled in college unlike others. Hope it works out but I highly doubt UK would be in Westchester if other recruits were promising.
 

FatCatMan

Senior
Feb 19, 2026
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Don’t guys like this usually commit without much fanfare? There’s really not much of a “recruiting process” with them compared to high school guys, yet here we are trying to recruit him. That alone is a red flag for me and tells me this isn’t a sealed deal. Hopefully he commits and doesn’t magically end up committing elsewhere at the last minute like so many of these guys have done the last couple years.
 

Hush4872

Freshman
Oct 9, 2025
36
98
18
Can’t even really care at this point. Get to the sweet 16, that’s all he can do this season. And next season better be a good one.
I'd rather not have his contact extended a year. Why reward him for this travesty? I'd rather lose in the first or second round than just make the sweet 16.
 

wildcat111

All-Conference
Dec 9, 2020
1,479
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Can’t even really care at this point. Get to the sweet 16, that’s all he can do this season. And next season better be a good one.

Can’t even really care at this point. Get to the sweet 16, that’s all he can do this season. And next season better be a good one.
We ain't going to the sweet sixteen this year!!
 
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Reggie Noble

Freshman
Jul 5, 2025
60
75
18
Funny how the integrity has suddenly changed. Couldn't join this season but we'll take you next. What!?!?!?
The timing could suggest that “ couldn’t join this season “, was a Mitch thing. Now that Mitch is gone he can take riskier players. Maybe it removed handcuffs.
 

ComebackCats98

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
428
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Surely such a great human being coach wouldn’t take a professional like the scum at Alabama right? Oh wait it will be okay in this situation, but only this one!
 
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Leo3011

Freshman
Sep 7, 2019
75
60
16
I am down on Pope, but I would have some excitement for Stokes and Pate and put some solid players around them (Chandler, Moreno, Williams, Diobate). Pate and Stokes would be a solid start to a talented team.
That's a Final 4 team