Not one Signed for Early Signing Period for 2026 (JMI/Pope Issue)

[Farsight Clone]

I think this deserves it's own thread because this post brings out issues on Pope's Recruiting Woe's with mixed in JMI Issues.

Here is the article you can read: Inside Kentucky’s Recruiting Roadblocks: A Deep Dive into JMI, NIL, and Closing-Table Drama

From the article, if this is true, I find this very concerning on Pope's End:







This is bad.

So our woes come from a two prong attack so to speak. JMI is putting massive barriers of unknown up while other schools NIL is more transparent.

While Pope apparently gets "too emotional" on the Closing Table. I am also an emotional dude so I can resonate and empathize with Pope on that part. However, other than on the court issues, it seems like this is the "proof" that others were looking for of why we can't land good recruits from HS and the portal.

1. Lack of Transparency with NIL via JMI Sports
2. Pope can't close/gets too emotional.

Geez.

 

[RunninRichie]

We hired a coach who was under-qualified. Because Mitch is lazy and wanted a lapdog. He's poured gasoline all over this program and is retiring this summer while laughing and closing the door, to this inferno.
Better options were out there. There was some young NBA guys who could've worked out. Like Kevin Young. Up and comers like Ben McCollum. Etc etc.


And you know Mitch never looked at Pearl, because "baggage".

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Pope's mind is still stuck in 1995 and 1996 when it comes to UK. If you want elite players, you have to pay them. The next Antoine Walker isn't going to come here because the fans are cool and you promise to play him in the same role as Jamal Mashburn.

 

[One2Three]

The fact that not a single top 50 or even top 100 recruit has committed tells me it’s more of a Pope issue. Even with an alleged strict NIL, Pope can’t even get the lesser known players.

 

[Farsight Clone]

Yup. The landscape changed. It's unfortunate it but it did. Pope has to get with the times because we are on the trajectory to Indiana territory even though we already stepped through the gate. We have the opportunity to leave this territory in the next year or so, but anything more than that, we're done for.

 

[Farsight Clone]

 

[RunninRichie]

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And you know coaches are saying, "Look what he's done to Mo D and Aberdeen". The days of poaching SEC players is over.

 

[NociHTTP]

Define "too emotional". It could mean many things, I just don't know what's being inferred here. Is he coming off as desperate? Too friendly? Talking too much about UK? Over-promising?

 

[RunninRichie]

Define "too emotional". It could mean many things, I just don't know what's being inferred here. Is he coming off as desperate? Too friendly? Talking too much about UK? Over-promising?

“[He’d say,] ‘This is Kentucky. We’re not getting in a bidding war.’ And I’m like, ‘Okay, well then that’s your risk if you want to lose him,’” one source said. “… I don’t think he knows how to play in that sandbox yet. I don’t think he knows how to play in this game yet. … Pope has never done this type of business before getting here. He didn’t have to deal with superstars at BYU. He’s getting used to it.”

 

[NociHTTP]

“[He’d say,] ‘This is Kentucky. We’re not getting in a bidding war.’ And I’m like, ‘Okay, well then that’s your risk if you want to lose him,’” one source said. “… I don’t think he knows how to play in that sandbox yet. I don’t think he knows how to play in this game yet. … Pope has never done this type of business before getting here. He didn’t have to deal with superstars at BYU. He’s getting used to it.”

Alright, thanks for that. I get where Pope is coming from. Not sure I'd feel differently than him. It's freaking COLLEGE BASKETBALL. The sport is consuming itself. It's going to drive away so many fans, IMO.

 

[RunninRichie]

Alright, thanks for that. I get where Pope is coming from. Not sure I'd feel differently than him. It's freaking COLLEGE BASKETBALL. The sport is consuming itself. It's going to drive away so many fans, IMO.

That's the era we are playing in. And we have a coach who isn't ready/willing/has no idea how, to play that game. An AD too.

 

[fisherscatfan]

The fact that not a single top 50 or even top 100 recruit has committed tells me it’s more of a Pope issue. Even with an alleged strict NIL, Pope can’t even get the lesser known players.

Did he target the lower recruits or did he see the talent issue and change who he went after? Pope is not ever going to be a guy who wants 5 Freshman so did he go after bigger fish not realizing what was coming down the road regarding JMI when he built the relationships.

 

[Cats4321]

Alright, thanks for that. I get where Pope is coming from. Not sure I'd feel differently than him. It's freaking COLLEGE BASKETBALL. The sport is consuming itself. It's going to drive away so many fans, IMO.

We can keep hoping things will go back to the way things were(never going to happen), or we can try to beat everyone in this new system. I don't like NIL, but winning would make me feel better about it.

 

[Formerly Imafan4evr_]

After reading the article… we are so totally beyond screwed. We won’t get anyone of real worth in the 2026 high school class and will have to overpay yet again for the leftovers of the portal class. I really can’t decide who looks worse here, Barnhart or Pope. The various sources managed to torch both of them past well-done.

 

[One2Three]

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What are other coaches saying specifically about Pope?

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Whatever the reason is the players aren’t coming. That is a red flag regardless of the true reasons. It falls on him and the staff.

 

[ukfan042]

The only thing that will push change is fans speaking with their dollars!

 

[One2Three]

After reading the article… we are so totally beyond screwed. We won’t get anyone of real worth in the 2026 high school class and will have to overpay yet again for the leftovers of the portal class. I really can’t decide who looks worse here, Barnhart or Pope. The various sources managed to torch both of them past well-done.

Ultimately Pope can’t come back. He’ll likely be having to bring in a whole new transfer portal class when most of these guys leave and it’s not like you want most of this team to return to begin with.

Next year is another 10 loss season with Pope, maybe even worse.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

“[He’d say,] ‘This is Kentucky. We’re not getting in a bidding war.’ And I’m like, ‘Okay, well then that’s your risk if you want to lose him,’” one source said. “… I don’t think he knows how to play in that sandbox yet. I don’t think he knows how to play in this game yet. … Pope has never done this type of business before getting here. He didn’t have to deal with superstars at BYU. He’s getting used to it.”

This one has the Caleb Wilson recruitment written all over it. Pope let his pride prevent us from landing a top 5 pick level talent.

It's disgusting. He needs to step down at the end of the season.

 

[One2Three]

The only thing that will push change is fans speaking with their dollars!

If fans keep booing at games, I can’t imagine Pope will want to come back.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Did he target the lower recruits or did he see the talent issue and change who he went after? Pope is not ever going to be a guy who wants 5 Freshman so did he go after bigger fish not realizing what was coming down the road regarding JMI when he built the relationships.

Most of the recruiting was done before he saw the crapshow that we have now. Most was being done when he described the current team as a Ferrari.

He predominantly focused on two kids, Tyran Stokes and Caleb Holt. Christian Collins felt like a guy that really popped up with UK after the various top 25 guys we dabbled with all went elsewhere.

Big game hunting made sense as a strategy this past summer-early fall when he thought he’d get returners that continue to get better of:

Lowe, Johnson, Chandler, Noah, Williams, Moreno, Hawthorne, Mo D, Jelavic, Potter

That’s a lot of money and opportunity committed to 2026 in his mind already. Volume wasn’t the priority, it was top end talent.

We can see now that the above group of players has a lot of flaws and he would’ve been better off resetting things with more talent from the high school ranks.

One of the sources opinions was they were saving money for Tyran. That’s great if you get Tyran. You look like an idiot if you don’t.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

This one has the Caleb Wilson recruitment written all over it. Pope let his pride prevent us from landing a top 5 pick level talent.

It's disgusting. He needs to step down at the end of the season.

Disagree. I would think it was a kid that went to a lesser program.

The comment comes off as him feeling being above the other program to me. There’s plenty of those as options though sadly lol

 

[MarvinHagler89]

I love Pope for his passion and love for UK but he has to go. He can’t handle it at all and he has to go.

 

[NociHTTP]

This one has the Caleb Wilson recruitment written all over it. Pope let his pride prevent us from landing a top 5 pick level talent.

It's disgusting. He needs to step down at the end of the season.

You think having pride, and standing up for his principles, is disgusting? C'mon, SOS. This is a much, much bigger issue than Pope or even Brainfart.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

You think having pride, and standing up for his principles, is disgusting? C'mon, SOS. This is a much, much bigger issue than Pope or even Brainfart.

If you try to hold back the ocean, you drown. Pope has to know that.

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

You think having pride, and standing up for his principles, is disgusting? C'mon, SOS. This is a much, much bigger issue than Pope or even Brainfart.

Doesn't seem to be an issue for Duke or Uconn

 

[Tri-Countycat]

No one wants to play for a coach that hasn’t won a single thing or got anyone to the NBA.

 

[NociHTTP]

Doesn't seem to be an issue for Duke or Uconn

Maybe they're part of the problem? Think big picture. The real problem here isn't any particular school.

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

Maybe they're part of the problem? Think big picture. The real problem here isn't any particular school.

What do you think is going to happen? Everyone is going to have their seasons vacated except us?

 

[Farsight Clone]

What are other coaches saying specifically about Pope?

Maybe Herbert Davis was the one who said stuff because it seems like he ultimately pulled Caleb Wilson.

More than likely off the top, he's inexperience and the NIL is not transparent immediately.

 

[Farsight Clone]

And you know coaches are saying, "Look what he's done to Mo D and Aberdeen". The days of poaching SEC players is over.

Made them worse. Last year Mo D destroyed us if i remember correctly. Oweh couldn't score when Mo D was guarding him.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Maybe they're part of the problem? Think big picture. The real problem here isn't any particular school.

There are no good guys and bad guys, just winners and losers.

 

[catfando]

Pope needs to understand that kids don't give $**t about UK and its history. They want max money, and to get to the NBA. Only Kentucky kids care about UK and its history. Mitch needs to resign and move away fast. Cause, he's about to see what happens when you screw around with our basketball program.

 

[Farsight Clone]

There are no good guys and bad guys, just winners and losers.

 

[meteordealer]

Nobody outside of 40+ year olds in KY, know who Pope is.

 

[Monday Nitro]

No one wants to play for a coach that hasn’t won a single thing or got anyone to the NBA.

Cal was the best. Well, other than the 2 first round exits, a 2nd round exit, blowed out in the NIT, etc. UK fans never wanted a Freshman again and now its doomsday because we aren't getting them. smh

 

[Tri-Countycat]

Cal was the best. Well, other than the 2 first round exits, a 2nd round exit, blowed out in the NIT, etc. UK fans never wanted a Freshman again and now its doomsday because we aren't getting them. smh

Dude we aren’t getting freshman or the top transfers. Your players have to have talent. I could care less if we get Freshman but he has missed on 85% of his top transfer picks over two years.

 

[tinfoil]

Calm down. It ain't Pope. Money is the culprit, the parents and fools who shudder.

 

[Monday Nitro]

Dude we aren’t getting freshman or the top transfers. Your players have to have talent. I could care less if we get Freshman but he has missed on 85% of his top transfer picks over two years.

Its shameful to bag on Pope when there are so many factors at work. But hey, bag on him and then bag on the next coach. Some are so delusional why players and coaches dont want to come here. The loud minority is insufferable.

 

[LadyCaytIL]

To be fair, we'd have to kick players off the team or tell them to transfer to get players early when Collins and Stokes decided not to sign early.