Returners
- Thread starter May98
- Start date
I would welcome everyone back, although maybe not in the role they expect or even have this year.
That said, here is 1) the PRIORITY list for me from most important to bring back to least important to bring back; and 2) the ODDS list from most likely to return to least likely to return. Obviously Oweh & Aberdeen are not on either list. I'll then add my commentary to each player. IMO, I think we return 8.
PRIORITY list: Moreno, Chandler, Johnson, Quaintance, Williams, Jelavic, Noah, Hawthorne, Dioubate, Lowe, Garrison, Potter
ODDS list: Potter, Noah, Williams, Moreno, Garrison, Chandler, Hawthorne, Lowe, Jelavic, Johnson, Dioubate, Quaintance
Moreno - He likely will and should test the waters. But I think he needs to get stronger, better able to play through contact, show some kind of face up shot. He's not a lottery pick (especially this year), IMO he isn't a top 25 pick. But in 1 more year I think he could be a top 10 pick.
Chandler - balls of brass on him, plus he can shoot. People are saying he's likely leaving, but why? He was voted in as President of the UK Chapter Turning Point group, which to me says he is has a community/group even outside of the team at UK. Sounds like someone not leaving.
Johnson - He doesn't look happy, and I'm not one usually to comment on body language or facial expressions. But I'd love to have him back, because even though he's "raw" & rough around the edges, he has that "IT" factor. I could see him be more Dillingham for us next year.
Quaintance - I know it's quite unlikely he returns. But it's quite possible NBA teams tell him "we are concerned about the knee, would like to have seen you play some games without shutting it down" and "you have ZERO offensive game more than 3' from the rim" show us that you can start to develop that too.
Williams - Was just starting to find his groove before the injury. I think he can be that good 2-way player that Pope wants and needs.
Jelavic - IMO there is always some uncertainty w/ the Euros. He's shown glimpses though. Need more from him, but the potential is there.
Noah - Some might have him lower, but he is skilled. Needs to work harder at getting himself open. But there is value in having 3 & 4 yr guys, especially ones good enough to contribute, which he is.
Hawthorne - Haven't seen him play. But the reports were good. Just needs to add muscle. Maybe not burning his Redshirt earns Pope some loyalty points and he returns, and can have the kind of growth at UK that Swain has had at Xavier and Texas. I think he could be that kind of guy for us in 2 years.
Dioubate - In his current role he has value. But he isn't more than that. He not "a dude". He's a role player. Is he willing to accept that role?
Lowe - Given his injury, and given his shooting struggles and style of play (wanting to keep the ball in his hands), I'm ok with him in a backup role, but not as the starting PG. Is he willing to accept that?
Garrison - I think he and Pope have some bond that may be closer than most other guys on team. But he's a bad rebounder, erratic in other areas. Just doesn't bring much to the table 70% of the time. I will say the effort has been better since he got benched.
Potter - He obviously didn't come with much expectations to play. Then he had some injury. It's obvious he needs to be stronger to play at P5 level. But if he can get stronger, he might be fine as 3rd C/5. I think he's just there to live out the UK dream, which is fine.
That said, here is 1) the PRIORITY list for me from most important to bring back to least important to bring back; and 2) the ODDS list from most likely to return to least likely to return. Obviously Oweh & Aberdeen are not on either list. I'll then add my commentary to each player. IMO, I think we return 8.
PRIORITY list: Moreno, Chandler, Johnson, Quaintance, Williams, Jelavic, Noah, Hawthorne, Dioubate, Lowe, Garrison, Potter
ODDS list: Potter, Noah, Williams, Moreno, Garrison, Chandler, Hawthorne, Lowe, Jelavic, Johnson, Dioubate, Quaintance
Moreno - He likely will and should test the waters. But I think he needs to get stronger, better able to play through contact, show some kind of face up shot. He's not a lottery pick (especially this year), IMO he isn't a top 25 pick. But in 1 more year I think he could be a top 10 pick.
Chandler - balls of brass on him, plus he can shoot. People are saying he's likely leaving, but why? He was voted in as President of the UK Chapter Turning Point group, which to me says he is has a community/group even outside of the team at UK. Sounds like someone not leaving.
Johnson - He doesn't look happy, and I'm not one usually to comment on body language or facial expressions. But I'd love to have him back, because even though he's "raw" & rough around the edges, he has that "IT" factor. I could see him be more Dillingham for us next year.
Quaintance - I know it's quite unlikely he returns. But it's quite possible NBA teams tell him "we are concerned about the knee, would like to have seen you play some games without shutting it down" and "you have ZERO offensive game more than 3' from the rim" show us that you can start to develop that too.
Williams - Was just starting to find his groove before the injury. I think he can be that good 2-way player that Pope wants and needs.
Jelavic - IMO there is always some uncertainty w/ the Euros. He's shown glimpses though. Need more from him, but the potential is there.
Noah - Some might have him lower, but he is skilled. Needs to work harder at getting himself open. But there is value in having 3 & 4 yr guys, especially ones good enough to contribute, which he is.
Hawthorne - Haven't seen him play. But the reports were good. Just needs to add muscle. Maybe not burning his Redshirt earns Pope some loyalty points and he returns, and can have the kind of growth at UK that Swain has had at Xavier and Texas. I think he could be that kind of guy for us in 2 years.
Dioubate - In his current role he has value. But he isn't more than that. He not "a dude". He's a role player. Is he willing to accept that role?
Lowe - Given his injury, and given his shooting struggles and style of play (wanting to keep the ball in his hands), I'm ok with him in a backup role, but not as the starting PG. Is he willing to accept that?
Garrison - I think he and Pope have some bond that may be closer than most other guys on team. But he's a bad rebounder, erratic in other areas. Just doesn't bring much to the table 70% of the time. I will say the effort has been better since he got benched.
Potter - He obviously didn't come with much expectations to play. Then he had some injury. It's obvious he needs to be stronger to play at P5 level. But if he can get stronger, he might be fine as 3rd C/5. I think he's just there to live out the UK dream, which is fine.
Makes sense....I'd keep Dioubate...his energy is a real thing and value in college.
But this having to buy players from portal and lacking to recruit has to stop....i don't think you can sustain greatness doing it this way. TO have zero HS kids (even a solid 4 star like Chandler) is absurd. I mean we have tons of spots to take for next year...why we narrowed down to a few 5 stars and were not fishing for a few 4 star kids is like...what in the world is the strategy in recruiting.
GET RID OF HIM
Noah?? LOL
What have you seen from Noah to cause you to make this absurd statement?
But would pope leave them on floor?? He’s proven for 2 yrs that isn’t the case when everyone watching can see who needs the vast majority of the minutes except him. If you play Mo with actual studs or a couple studs, then his offensive deficiencies aren’t as big a deal but pope hasn’t proven he can get an actual stud to this point.
I’m not against Lowe coming back. The problem is if Pope wants to go back to the same offense he ran last year. He plays his PG off the ball a lot. I don’t think Lowe it’s very suited for that. I think Pope needs a bigger more physical point guard to be able to properly run his system. Denzel Aberdeen size but with a PG skillet.
If P.J. Haggerty from K State hits the portal and doesn’t go pro. He’s the second leading scorer in the country, can scored all three levels, averaging four assist a game. He would be perfect for Pope’s system. He’s the guy you go all in with your NIL. Let Haggerty run the point and have Chandler and Williams on the wings. That would be one of the best backcourts in the country. We would just have to somehow keep Pope from subbing them out when they’re on a 11-0 run…..
If P.J. Haggerty from K State hits the portal and doesn’t go pro. He’s the second leading scorer in the country, can scored all three levels, averaging four assist a game. He would be perfect for Pope’s system. He’s the guy you go all in with your NIL. Let Haggerty run the point and have Chandler and Williams on the wings. That would be one of the best backcourts in the country. We would just have to somehow keep Pope from subbing them out when they’re on a 11-0 run…..
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Yea but Pope is an offensive coach, he's not very good defensively, so he should recruit offensive players who have length/athleticism to be decent defenders on their own.
Oh it’ll look bad by next October as well unless pope pulls a rabbit out his a** hole we will still suck . We need to get every big portal get a pg sg two of each need a replacement for mo and a backup for Moreno. Need 4 portal studs will be lucky to get one
He isn't bad on D & he is a good rebounder
I think his shooting problems Are do to Popes offense
