Ray Kasongo

[TrueBlueMGH]

You may remember the name from his insanely bizarre recruitment before settling in at a JUCO. He tells Adam Zagoria that he spoke at length with Kenny Payne and that UK "seems interested" in him. Now, recruits putting out info about talking to UK is nothing new, whether it's accurate or not. It's the best way to get your name out there a little bit more.

But assume for a second it's true. If UK is checking on a player like Kasongo at this juncture, it seems inevitable that win or lose, we're going to get gutted. Truly cleaned out. I know some fans are holding out hope for guys like Lyles and Booker, but if Ray becomes a legit target for the staff (and again, may be an exaggeration on his part so who knows for now) it would seem to clearly indicate that almost every relevant player on this team is heading off following the Tournament.

Have to say, that isn't a name I expected to be associated with UK at any point. Interested to see if there really is something there or not.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Have to say, that isn't a name I expected to be associated with UK at any point.

I agree. Hope nothing goes beyond the talking stage.

 

[bradscats]

Kentucky is going to keep tabs on most anyone with much ability. Doesn't mean they are not a real longshot to end up here.

 

[Nubb16]

He went to my former high school and the dude is a head case.

Averaged only around 10 ppg, playing against people mostly 6'2 and smaller. (He's around 6'8-6'9)

 

[deplion_rivals116063]

Just a WAG, but I am thinking he may be "insurance" in case Poythress decides to move on.

 

[GonzoCat90]

The staff just refuses to get caught short handed again. We have options like Bryant, Diallo, and Zimmerman that are basically at the wait-and-see-who-Kentucky-needs point of their recruitment, and we're already okay at guard.

Our WORST case scenario is:

Ulis/Hawkins
Briscoe/Matthews
Matthews/Willis
Lee/Skal

That's assuming Towns, Willie, the twins, Lyles, Booker, Dakari, and Poythress all go pro and no more players are added. With the hype around this program and the way Cal recruits, we could get "gutted" by departures, but you'd have to be insane to think we'd lose that many and with so much playing time available that Cal wouldn't fill those spots with blue chippers.

Conservatively, you're looking at:

Guards-UIis, Briscoe, Matthews, Hawkins
Wings- Matthews, Poythress. Willis
Bigs- Skal, Lee, Poythress, Bryant/Diallo.

Then if you get Booker or Dakari back and add a guy like Newman or a guy like Zimmerman, you're plenty deep and versatile again. It may look thin by the "we have 12 guys who could start for top 25 teams" standards of this year, but there's nothing wrong with that roster aside from lacking a shooter like Booker, and we're a LONG way from JUCO headcases.

 

[KA4Prez_rivals78700]

If all we get back is Ulis, it will STILL be okay. There will be 6 or 7 new guys coming right in. It will be a completely brand new year, similar to 2012-13, but with a veteran PG. Even that team without the Noel injury had 3 first rounders and 5 pros.

 

[Rhavic]

Originally posted by KA4Prez:
If all we get back is Ulis, it will STILL be okay. There will be 6 or 7 new guys coming right in. It will be a completely brand new year, similar to 2012-13, but with a veteran PG. Even that team without the Noel injury had 3 first rounders and 5 pros.

When using the benchmark of "Okay" while talking about Kentucky basketball, we do not use an NIT team as the standard.

 

[KA4Prez_rivals78700]

Originally posted by Rhavicc:

Originally posted by KA4Prez:
If all we get back is Ulis, it will STILL be okay. There will be 6 or 7 new guys coming right in. It will be a completely brand new year, similar to 2012-13, but with a veteran PG. Even that team without the Noel injury had 3 first rounders and 5 pros.

When using the benchmark of "Okay" while talking about Kentucky basketball, we do not use an NIT team as the standard.

That team was a top 6 seed with Noel. Not great, but they would've been as good in the regular season as last year's team. Losing Noel was not only a physical loss, but it zapped the energy from the rest of the team. He was the inspirational leader.

 

[TheDude73]

Originally posted by Nubb16:
He went to my former high school and the dude is a head case.

Averaged only around 10 ppg, playing against people mostly 6'2 and smaller. (He's around 6'8-6'9)

Sounds like a quality BCG recruit...