Yeah, it’s absurd to do this at this point. But let’s get it started:
PG Malik Mack
SG Perry
SF McNeeley
PF Thiero
C
Do any of the centers stay put?
PG Malik Mack
SG Perry
SF McNeeley
PF Thiero
C
Do any of the centers stay put?
Post-Cal Roster Speculation
- Thread starter CincyUKFan
- Start date
Thiero will not be at UK next season.
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Long shot but I think the right hire may be able to keep Reed
I think you get the right coach—Donovan or Oats—and Z would come back. I would love to see him in a system that really unleashes his best skills, shooting and passing.
It would be smart for Big Z to consider staying. Cal didn't know how to properly utilize the big fella. If Somto doesn't want to play behind Quaintance, he could stay depending on who the next coach is. Have a feeling Quaintance reopens and likely goes with Cal as most will. I feel more optimistic about Reed returning if that thread was accurate about Jeff posting ''we'll always back Kentucky." Burks may end up staying instead of getting recruited over by all of those forwards Cal had signed for next year.
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He’s not following Cal. So I wouldn’t be so sure. This is still a great place for exposure and he will likely play for a solid coach.
It’s literally impossible to speculate on this. So many variables. As of now, only Travis Perry would be a lock.
It has been speculated Thiero would ultimately come back to UK next year. He wasnt hitting must interest in his rumored asking price. I would imagine with the NIL investment Ark is guaranteeing Cal, he can swoon Thiero if he wants him.
Perry almost went to Cinci or Ole Miss. I wouldn't say he is a lock.
I think Thiero was mostly just tying to increase his NIL here. At some point, he and his father need to think long term. He’s an NBA talent. But he has to be given court time to develop. He still won’t get enough minutes under Cal, especially when all those recruits go to Ark and Cal convinces their current forwards to stay.
It's more important to get the right hire--I could give a damn what the roster looks like right now. Portal closes on May 1st and whomever comes will bring recruits with them too. If it's Oats, he too recruited Fland, Perry, and Richmond. He's got Aiden Sherrell and Derrion Reid committed and is always strong with Portal recruiting.
Scott Drew would be bringing in Rob Wright, VJ Edgecombe, and Jason Asemota with him.
Get the right hire and they'll get talent and build a PROGRAM, not a team each year.
Scott Drew would be bringing in Rob Wright, VJ Edgecombe, and Jason Asemota with him.
Get the right hire and they'll get talent and build a PROGRAM, not a team each year.
Of course he's trying to increase his NIL money.
He averaged almost 22 min per game. Dillingham averaged 2 more min per game and is likely a top 10 pick. Edwards averaged the same amount and is a late 1st rd early 2nd rd pick. Thiero could easily climb up draft boards with the minutes he gets, but he is just way too limited offensively at this point.
There's only 6 recruits, and only 1 of them may be able to play at the 4. Doubtful most of the current forwards will be asked to stay, particularly off of a losing team. Something tells me Cal will get Thiero minutes.
I'm personally not a fan of Drew long-term, but I like his class for next year the most. Edgecome is going to be electric.
I liked Scott Drew with Jerome Tang. I don't like Scott Drew since Tang left and got his own gig.
VJ Edgecombe is talented but whose to say he ends up going with Drew if he leaves Baylor? I get that UK was a finalist but he'd be open and others would go after him.
Imagine this roster coached by Dan Hurley next year...
Returnees
Reed Shepperd
Adou Thiero
Big Z
Fresh from current UK Class
Travis Perry
Transfers
Stephon Castle - Uconn Guard, Sophmore
Alex Karaban - Uconn Forward, Junior
Youssouf Singare - Uconn Forward (big man)
Clifford Omoruyi - Rutgers (Spencer from Uconn is from Rutgers) (big man)
Uconn incoming Freshman
Ahmad Nowell - Guard
Isaiah Ambraham - Forward
Uk's Starting Five under Dan Hurley
Reed Sheppard
Stephon Castle
Adou Theiro
Alex Karaban
Big Z
That would be an exciting line up.
Returnees
Reed Shepperd
Adou Thiero
Big Z
Fresh from current UK Class
Travis Perry
Transfers
Stephon Castle - Uconn Guard, Sophmore
Alex Karaban - Uconn Forward, Junior
Youssouf Singare - Uconn Forward (big man)
Clifford Omoruyi - Rutgers (Spencer from Uconn is from Rutgers) (big man)
Uconn incoming Freshman
Ahmad Nowell - Guard
Isaiah Ambraham - Forward
Uk's Starting Five under Dan Hurley
Reed Sheppard
Stephon Castle
Adou Theiro
Alex Karaban
Big Z
That would be an exciting line up.
That’s why oats and Hurley are the clear top 2 choices. Look who they could potentially bring with them, and can get in the portal
You don't think there's any other coach that could convince Z to come back? I think there's other coaches that could.
I'm not going to even consider Hurley realistic. If they pulled that off, then I'll be pleasantly shocked and dedicate an entire thread that Mitch Barnhart is best AD in the country.
Oats is doable. Get this done.
Castle is projected lottery. Highly doubt he comes back next year regardless of where Hurley coaches.
Hurley is a dream scenario I agree. Oats is clearly the guy. You get some of his good players, he attacks the portal and Reed would consider a come back with him, it’s the best possible scenario
Sears, wrightsell, griffin, Sheppard, and whoever else oats could bring here, and also get from the portal
Found a site talking about Alabama's roster next season.
Then we know Alabama will add at least one transfer in Pepperdine guard Houston Mallette. He committed right before the NCAA Tournament and figures to be able to fill a role similar to Estrada.
That means at least four have to move on, whether that's to the draft, to another team or to be done with college basketball. The group eligible to stay for another season: Mark Sears, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Grant Nelson, Rylan Griffen, Jarin Stevenson, Sam Walters, Mo Dioubate, Nick Pringle, Mo Wague, Davin Cosby Jr. and Kris Parker.
He's a senior but has eligibility remaining if he so chooses. He spent two seasons at Ohio and two seasons at Alabama. Sears had a solid first season with Alabama in 2022-23, but he became the motor of the team in 2023-24, earning consensus second-team All-America honors. Then he took his defensive game and leadership to the next level in the NCAA Tournament and brought the Crimson Tide to the Final Four.
His decision essentially comes down to this: Does he want to stay another season, try to boost his draft stock, and headline a roster that should have the potential to win the SEC and go deep in the NCAA Tournament again? Or is he ready to give the next level a shot now, feeling he won't gain much by one more season of college basketball?
Here's what Nelson said about his upcoming decision after the loss to UConn in the Final Four:
"If I do come back to college, I'm hoping it's Alabama," Nelson told The Tuscaloosa News. "I'm definitely going to talk to my agent, talk to the coaches, see what's best for me. Hopefully I can enter the draft process and get drafted this year. But if all else fails, hopefully it's Alabama coming back."
Who won't be back for Alabama basketball
Let's start with a certainty. The Crimson Tide will have to replace at least one starter, because Aaron Estrada has exhausted his eligibility. The guard was a valuable one-year addition for Alabama after a playing career that took him from St. Peter's to Oregon to Hofstra and now Alabama.Whom Alabama basketball will add
The Crimson Tide will bring in five-star forward Derrion Reid, five-star center Aiden Sherrell and four-star forward Naas Cunningham. That's three of 13 roster spots taken.Then we know Alabama will add at least one transfer in Pepperdine guard Houston Mallette. He committed right before the NCAA Tournament and figures to be able to fill a role similar to Estrada.
Who will be back for Alabama basketball in 2024-25?
In this exercise, the Crimson Tide has seven scholarships left and 11 players on the current roster who have remaining eligibility.That means at least four have to move on, whether that's to the draft, to another team or to be done with college basketball. The group eligible to stay for another season: Mark Sears, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Grant Nelson, Rylan Griffen, Jarin Stevenson, Sam Walters, Mo Dioubate, Nick Pringle, Mo Wague, Davin Cosby Jr. and Kris Parker.
Will Mark Sears stay for another season?
Sears has a decision to make.He's a senior but has eligibility remaining if he so chooses. He spent two seasons at Ohio and two seasons at Alabama. Sears had a solid first season with Alabama in 2022-23, but he became the motor of the team in 2023-24, earning consensus second-team All-America honors. Then he took his defensive game and leadership to the next level in the NCAA Tournament and brought the Crimson Tide to the Final Four.
His decision essentially comes down to this: Does he want to stay another season, try to boost his draft stock, and headline a roster that should have the potential to win the SEC and go deep in the NCAA Tournament again? Or is he ready to give the next level a shot now, feeling he won't gain much by one more season of college basketball?
What about Grant Nelson?
He tested the draft waters a year ago before he ended up deciding to transfer from North Dakota State to Alabama. A year later, Nelson might decide he's done with school and pursue a pro career. Or, he might see value in a second season in the Crimson Tide's system. With his attributes, that could very well turn him into a first-round pick. He's the exact type of big Alabama wants in its system, but he was inconsistent in his first season in Tuscaloosa. His games against UNC and UConn showcased his potential, but those games alone might not be enough to boost his draft stock in the same way a season with more performances like that could. His upcoming decision is another interesting one to track.Here's what Nelson said about his upcoming decision after the loss to UConn in the Final Four:
"If I do come back to college, I'm hoping it's Alabama," Nelson told The Tuscaloosa News. "I'm definitely going to talk to my agent, talk to the coaches, see what's best for me. Hopefully I can enter the draft process and get drafted this year. But if all else fails, hopefully it's Alabama coming back."
I don’t think it’s as long as a shot. I think reed could end up with a monster nil deal to stay and help transition with a new coach especially a Hurley type or oats. They would bring a following of players to Kentucky
Doable but we have a gutless ad. And this hire will take some guts.
I think there are others, but those are my two most likely/preferred options.
Every single recruit will re-open their recruiting process
Every single player we have on scholarship will enter the transfer portal.
Yes, a few MIGHT return to Kentucky - but it all depends on who the next coach is.
Apparently JQ will meet with Mitch. This would be wonderful. He’s the one guy that stands out in this class and you get him for two years.
I really think Cal started getting cold feet because of the reaction he got from players and recruits. Will be interesting to see how this unfolds
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