Sounds like all the smoke is for him to commit to UK
Malachi Moreno to announce commitment on Friday at 11 am
- Thread starter Shaudylo
- Start date
Sounds like all the smoke is for him to commit to UK
Pope needed to get Johnson, which doesn't seem likely at this point so he sure as hell better get Moreno.
I think we all know why it’s happening Friday. Conveniently before Jasper will be announcing…
Smart PR from Pope so the recruiting chatter that was going to grow louder with JJ going to Bama ceases.
Come on down young man, be the start of a great recruiting class!
Tomorrow we should see some daffys, lol. As far as jasper, like to have him but if not the Mullins kid is creeping ever closer to the big blue, and he is tremendous too. If we get jasper I have no idea how it affects Mullins.
He's be a nice third frontcourt piece behind Garrison and another portal next year.
Somehow pull the sweep and get Johnson, and Pope would have the foundation to a solid team next year with Oweh, Chandler, Noah, Garrison, and Perry all back.
Somehow pull the sweep and get Johnson, and Pope would have the foundation to a solid team next year with Oweh, Chandler, Noah, Garrison, and Perry all back.
Lets get him! Just for the buzz alone, the "Pope is now starting to get elite recruits" type of headlines.. I really believe the sooner we can get that top25 guy to commit, the more things can start rolling in.
Who was the head men’s coach when you started following UK basketball?
Who was the head men’s coach when you started following UK basketball?
Give me a effing break with these troll posts. Please explain if by chance he doesn't get either one. What in the world is going to happen>.... Not one damn thing... Some of you guys need to change your whole philosophy / thinking of how recruiting at University of Kentucky will be moving forward. We will not be held hostage by some unproven 18 year old high school kid
. If they want to come here then so be it.. These posts just crack me up
Moreno would be a cornerstone recruiting piece for many top 25-ish programs. He's a local kid, so we may overlook it, but let's remember that if he commits here. Regardlesss, would be a really good start to what looks like a possible top 5 recruiting class.
As for Johnson, I'm not convinced Acaden Lewis or Braylon Mullins are any worse. Shooting guard in a point guards body that is hot or cold from 3 and models his game after D'Angelo Russell. Has a lot of talent, but if he wasn't from Kentucky - who would care if he went elsewhere?
As for Johnson, I'm not convinced Acaden Lewis or Braylon Mullins are any worse. Shooting guard in a point guards body that is hot or cold from 3 and models his game after D'Angelo Russell. Has a lot of talent, but if he wasn't from Kentucky - who would care if he went elsewhere?
Hoping Moreno comes on down.
Like to get Jasper. His whole family is UK family.
If he goes to Oats he becomes immediately unlikable and has the appearance of turning his back on UK when they need him. Starting over. Doubt he is ever celebrated in Ky again. Kinda like Damien Harris.
Don’t want that for Jasper and his family with their bright UK history.
He’s gonna play a bunch at UK. Be a Ky hero. Everybody will be behind him here as a hometown guy. We love those guys. Build a future here.
We’re gonna be back on top soon. Be part of that uprising unless your path is solely one and done and nil amount.
I’ll be surprised and disappointed if JJ goes elsewhere but UK will survive and flourish
If he goes to Oats he becomes immediately unlikable and has the appearance of turning his back on UK when they need him. Starting over. Doubt he is ever celebrated in Ky again. Kinda like Damien Harris.
Don’t want that for Jasper and his family with their bright UK history.
He’s gonna play a bunch at UK. Be a Ky hero. Everybody will be behind him here as a hometown guy. We love those guys. Build a future here.
We’re gonna be back on top soon. Be part of that uprising unless your path is solely one and done and nil amount.
I’ll be surprised and disappointed if JJ goes elsewhere but UK will survive and flourish
Not sure why that's relevant, other than I am sure you are going to tell me why you are a better UK fan than I am; but the end of Joe B/beginning of Sutton is when I first remember watching UK games.
This will be fantastic. I'm guessing Moreno will help Garrison man the Center spot next season. That's how freshmen can generally help a team compete for a title. I almost hesitate to say Moreno will be the backup to Garrison, because it seems Pope's history suggests a 2nd unit guy can play close to the same minutes. But with a freshman (as opposed to the situation this season with Williams and Garrison, for example), he probably learns and develops at something less than 20 min./game. That's perfect for continuity and building contenders (statistically, returning players are most important to building contenders, not OAD freshmen or even transfers).
If you're right that all the guys that can return next season do (fingers crossed), I'm thinking a top PF from the portal and a freshman PF (preferably multiple year guy), plus maybe a skilled tweener, will set the frontcourt.
WOO HOO, a Kentucky kid in the top 30 rankings wanting to be at UK is great! Jasper who? we can find a portal guard that shoots better than Jasper's laughable 27.5% AAU 3pt shooting.(on 8 attempts per game mind you)
I agree that Johnson is not a "must get", but he helps optically.
And, if you think about it, coming to UK is arguably really in his long-term best interest - at least monetarily. If UK has the biggest/most rabid fan base, and you combine that with a player being from the state, that just naturally expands the "legitimate" NIL base (marketing and other opportunities) - and not just in today dollars, but in the longevity of the opportunities presented over a lifetime.
Read some posts this will help Pope land the Mullins kid; arguably the best shooter in the class.
I think it's important for UK to get most of the top guys from in-state. Of course, I mean guys that project to be good enough (including athletically) to play at UK's level. Those guys hold more value for the program than a similar player from outside the state. For one thing, I think from an NIL perspective in-state guys are more likely to stay for a 2nd year or more because the NIL opportunities will likely be increased for in-state guys, all else being equal. Plus, maybe there is still something to the attraction/pull of playing for UK from in-state guys.
No intention to tell you or anybody else that I am a better fan than anybody else. I was just curious based on your responses. Did not mean to offend.
Hopefully that won’t be the case and we nab them both. I honestly don’t know what to think because we have not been in these battles yet,
I don’t follow recruiting that much, so, I didn’t realize he was the #1 center. That would be a great get for Pope to start the next class. Shows he can land an elite guy, and keep him home.
They were teammates on Indiana Elite AAU. Travis Perry was also a part of the Indiana Elite program a year older obviously, but I would assume there’s some relationship there as well.
I’m hoping he is the fourth piece.
I’d like to see Garrison as our 5, a really good stretch 4 from the portal and maybe a solid backup 4/5 from the portal, with Moreno as our backup 5. I see Moreno as a 10 or so minutes a game backup as a Freshman
Moreno is still raw. I think he will need a year or two to become a big time contributor.
Moreno + Johnson in August sends BBN to Cloud 9 in a hurry. Would be a pleasant surprise if we nabbed them both.
Agreed.
I really want him. He’s a legacy. He’s a Kentucky kid. I really want us to get everyone of those types that we can, if they can play at this level.
But it’s not the end of the world if we don’t get him.
God. I just remembered, Calipari isn’t here anymore. It still feels surreal. I love it.
You and me both. That first 5 star recruit at UK under Pope. Is huge. Sets the table that UK isn’t going anywhere/Cal didn’t make UK.
Moreno will be a Wildcat.
If his AAU 3pt% is typical, you make a very good point. 27.5% is far too low for a productive, competitive offense and especially for a high-volume shooter.
Look at where that 27.5% would rank on last year’s team, for example … !!!
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Jasper Johnson is going to UK. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise.
All Coach can do is recruit JJ as best he can if the kid gets way more cash somewhere else so be it but I be damn if I would give a unproven Freshman guard more than a 21/22 yr old all conference player that is mature and proven himself
I’m not sure I would more than 3 Frosh in any season
Poach other teams you’re Kentucky
I’m not sure I would more than 3 Frosh in any season
Poach other teams you’re Kentucky
I quit caring about “optics” after Saint Peter’s and Oakland.