If we did not have all these JMI issues, imagine how many football players we would be signing. 
JMI issues...
- Thread starter Tim0808
- Start date
I get the feeling JMI is only 25% of the problem. It needs to be changed, but it seems mostly like kids don’t want anything to do with Pope and it’s getting worse. This year’s transfer portal is gonna suck so bad.
jmi is a coverup for pope being aIf we did not have all these JMI issues, imagine how many football players we would be signing.
recruiter
Doesn't affect football and won’t affect football.If we did not have all these JMI issues, imagine how many football players we would be signing.
If anything, it helps football. Will only affect basketball, I posted the video that explains this probably twenty times in the last several weeks and now I can’t find it lol.
The short of it is individual marketability is the issue here. That won’t affect football players other than a Johnny Manziel, Tim Tebow, Arch Manning household name type of player. This will affect basketball players significantly.
Pope's recruiting High School players was demonstrated before JMI. Signed Caleb Wilson
Yes, it’s having a direct effect on basketball. It’s pretty hard to deny — I know we are angry, but Collins and Stokes were specifically JMI related recruiting fails. I’ll find the links for you in a moment on those.
This video will explain, in detail, why JMI situation affects basketball and not football.If we did not have all these JMI issues, imagine how many football players we would be signing.
This video will break down the JMI partnership and provide an attorney’s perspective on how it affects basketball short-term and long-term:
I think Pope is as much as the problem as JMI....just my opinion.
No one wants to come and play for a coach that wants to play 10+ guys real minutes.
No one wants to come and play for a coach that wants to play 10+ guys real minutes.
Here’s Sources Say talking about the Collins-JMI contract situation:
I don’t have Twitter but, if you do, you can also find the Christian Collins tweet himself from the time frame saying that whatever decision he makes about his own image and likeness, it’s his own decision.
Many believe that was an indirect reference to the contact situation that Jack Pilgrim talks about in this video.
Pope and JMI are likely both a problem. Pope hasn't proven he can recruit or coach top level players. JMI seemingly puts more hurdles in the way for players with existing NIL deals., and Mitch even admitted this.
Here’s the Chris Beasmore X post that confirms Kentucky’s fading in the recruitment of Stokes is related to JMI complications:
1.) the contract for JMI to handle NIL was signed this most recent summer
2.) Calipari is probably the greatest recruiter in CBB history.
On a related note, I'm now officially more excited for UK football than basketball for the first time in my life.
All I’m asking is people at least be educated about this stuff. We are all angry at Pope but truth is truth.
At a certain point people have to accept Pope is a bad recruiter
Just appears to be some logical gaps here. Why would a program with a history of being great at recruiting really handicap ourselves by making it substantially more difficult to get recruits in an era when it should be easier than ever?
Additionally, why wouldn't we implement it in football, where we haven't had as much success in recruiting?
Lastly, why the **** would we replace possibly the greatest recruiter ever with the worst we have ever had?
Lastly, why the **** would we replace possibly the greatest recruiter ever with the worst we have ever had?
not only worst recruiter but not a great xs and os coach either
I think this is the most likely cause. I am not saying JMI helps at all, but Pope has been a ****** recruiter his whole career and he was only able to convince one player to follow him to freaking UK from byu. And that was the player who's goal was the NBA.
1.) Talking about the JMI partnership isn’t as simple as describing it as “good” or “bad”. It’s actually very complicated — I believe it likely causes a lot of issues short term and ends up being great for the school long term. Watch “The Catican” episode I linked in this thread to understand more about that.
2.) It is being implemented in football — and that’s a good thing. JMI partnership essentially results in UK getting a massive wad of cash upfront and that’s really all you will need to get really good portal football players.
3.) I don’t see Pope as an awful recruiter. I think he’s just average —- not going to debate it, because it won’t matter what I say. He’s a very principled recruiter — and that’s going to mean we won’t get certain players that we otherwise would. If you think he’s bad in recruiting, it doesn’t offend me one bit — it’s one of those things that people can differ on. The facts, however, should be considered when talking about these JMI factors, because it’s going to affect us even after the Pope era, which I expect to last about fifteen more months unless something significant changes.
It doesn't really seem that complicated. And things are generally good, bad or meh. So far, it appears it's been bad.
Maybe that will change, but I would rather not rely on maybes.
If it's being implemented in football under the same structure as basketball, does that mean we are going to see the football program suffer to get guys now, too?
I mean, prior to UK, who was Pope's best recruit, best class and whatnot?
What about at UK?
Now, what makes him average?
Yeah my thought here is that these are two very different sports.. both in team size, individual player value, and even the players own expectations. An Offensive Lineman needs to go to a program that has a good Oline coach and unit, and he also know he's not marketable, not gonna demand a lot of NIL, and his success will be determined by how he and his unit play together. Basketball on the other hand, any starting position can demand $5mil on NIL, highest bidder. They know they have marketability, and they dont really need a team around them..
It's two entirely different scenarios, and it's possible that JMI is perfect for Football, but maybe needs work for Basketball.
Also important to note that Kentucky football got what.. a top3 coaching hire in the offseason, and very much an upstart and talented name? Kentucky basketball got a legacy hire that did nothing at a mormon school who makes tiktok videos (no offense Pope).. two entirely different scenarios.
This is why I don’t understand giving him a 3rd year. Zero recruits and the portal guys won’t want to come. Next year will be 10x worse than this year.
Move on from him and bring in Pearl.
This is actually a good summary about the differences in basketball and football. It’s different worlds — the football team has as many players in certain skill groups as the entire basketball team. The basketball players UK wants have their own brands — I’m not even sure if we would have been able to get a Jasper last year with the JMI deal because of his “KY Til I Die” brand. It’s just not the same between the two sports.
This is true and the JMI issues are true. Put them together and we can’t sign anyone.
Don’t feel like debating. If you saw a top 2 portal class and said he’s the worst recruiter in the history of Kentucky, then that’s your opinion. I feel like I’ve had this debate so many times and no one cares. I find that most of the time these debates are really about “taking a dunk” and not finding truth. I have no interest in the debate. Consider this a forfeit and you win the grand prize of zero dollars.
My fear here is that even you or I could get a top portal class at UK if we are handing out millions. I dont know. Maybe more time is needed for Pop. But im not really thrilled that we are striking out badly in HS recruiting and our portal players, this year at least, seem to be guys who just took the payday. The talent on the floor is just not good enough to compete. Something is off for sure. And it has to be some combination of JMI and Pope.
So your theory is that KSR simultaneously put out a hit piece on Pope’s recruiting, while simultaneously put out a JMI hit piece to cover for Pope? That’s a pretty wild one.
Pope has a lot of issues. His recruiting isnt one of those in my eyes. He’s adequate, nothing more, nothing less. There comes a point with these elite recruits where Pope can only get them to the JMI spring. The recruits have to want to drink the JMI water — we have two this year that would be Wildcats if it weren’t for JMI. One of them is the top player in the class — I can’t put that on Pope, not if I’m committed to being fair in my analysis.
Here's the thing tho.. adequate works for Oklahoma St. It does not work for UK. I think you have to be at least a great recruiter here.. and that doesnt mean you need to have top classes every year.. but you do need to fill in the gaps and put teams on the floor that compete.. some years you might need a complete roster turnover.. others maybe just 1 or 2 guys.
Back to JMI. While we both agree that basketball and football cant be treated the same... the new football coach IS getting it done it seems. And there has to be some crossover with JMI where basketball isnt totally forgotten about. I dont believe that to be the case. JMI might just need to adjust things.
Maybe we need more data. But year 1: Pope picks up all the undecided/late transfers, but it works very well. Year 2: our recruits are in-state guys and our transfers have been not good so far, and the team appears to be a mess and going nowhere fast... really two totally and drastically different versions of Pope so far.
Yeah I’ve always saw a distinction between:
RECRUITING: A skill that helps you land the higher value players.
SCOUTING: A skill that helps you identify the strengths, weaknesses, fit and potential of prospective players.
This is why I say — between portal and high school, his RECRUITING class was as good as literally anyone’s in 2025. The fit is where we are running into issues and that is a product of either (A) scouting did not result in correct assessment of fit, or (B) there are other issues that resulted in the players not meeting productivity expectations.
I’m actually feeling hope for the football program. I feel nothing but dread for basketball and my fear is we’re going to screw around another year just to miss out on good coach that Kentucky desperately needs right now.
If Pope comes back, I’m ignoring the basketball program. I don’t care who he gets in the portal because it’ll probably end up being a bunch of guys that no one else wanted. And even if he leaves next season I’m not following Kentucky basketball until they get an elite coach. If they screw up the hire again I won’t watch that disaster either. My sanity can’t handle this garbage for much longer.
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Do you really think this is the #2 portal recruiting class based off what you’ve seen so far?
247 has us as the 5th ranked transfer portal class which is still way too high.
We had one player ranked in the top 35 of the portal. That was JQ.
And we spent 22 million!
We are #2 mainly because we took so many players in the portal. Our biggest recruiting prize was coming off a torn ACL/MCL and surgery.
Again, there really isn't much debate because there is 0 evidence he is even an average recruiter.
It depends on what you mean. Do I think the pieces fit? No. Do I think there’s more than enough talent to win with..and win big? Yes.
I dont know. I think a lot of this years transfers for UK are overrated, overrated and maybe even total busts. I guess thats on the recruiting services for ranking them so.. but to the other guys point, of course its a high ranked transfer class, we had a ton of openings and millions to spend.
I think Moreno is so far the only talent I like. JQ probably too, hes still coming back. The rest of the team is either not good, a selfish player, or uncoachable..