2010 Kentucky Wildcats Men's Basketball - 5th edition

[Scrap Irony]

Kanter was 25 last I saw. That's probably too low, as he's talented, tough, and can shoot from 20 feet pretty well. Not to mention a good motor and really high basketball IQ. Perhaps the best in the class. But he's not as quick on his feet or off his feet as Cousins and he hasn't yet shown the same affinity for offensive rebounding as did Cousins. (Though, to be fair, neither did Cousins until he got to Kentucky and then only five or six games in.)

Poole was rate 26, which seemed too high for me. He's streaky and can shoot, but he's not automatic. He's not great with the ball and is a bit short on the runners and floaters. Reminds me a bit of Miller at UK, actually. Solid player. Fairly smart. He's a lot like his dad, after the knee injury. Heady, decent shooter, will play hard.

Lamb was at 21 last I saw. But I think that's way too high. From what I've seen, he's short athleticism (lateral quickness especially, but top end speed and hops, too) and a streaky shooter. He leaks out early (a lot) to pick up garbage points on run-outs in AAU and pick-up games, especially when his man shoots. He does play good man-to-man D. For a high school kid. He has a knack for deflections and steals, but will likely struggle with quicker guards in high Division I.

Knight was a great, great HS player. Super smart on the court. Always in control. Good shooter. Good passer. Just doesn't get rattled or make many mistakes. Played two or three seconds ahead of other players. He's not as athletic as other PGs (suprised Cal liked him more than Selby, honestly, as Selby is close to Wall athletically-- well, kind of. Wall was a freak.) Might struggle with the speed of the college game.

Then again, when they came to Kentucky last season, I thought Orton would end up the starter and Cousins on the bench, so what do I know?

[Razor Shines]

1) I've never seen a program recruit like UK is right now. If either Jones or Leslie sign with Kentucky, they'll likely have the top class again this year. (#1 Knight, top 10's Leslie or Jones, and 20-26 Kanter, 20-26 Lamb, and 20-26 Poole) Next year, they've already got the top two prospects (Gilchrist and Teague) and the third (Quincy Miller) has the Cats as his favorite, as do Wroten (a top 10-15 pick) Amir Williams, and a couple others in that 15-25 range. That should make it three top classes in a row.

I understand they're hot. If you're a kid, what's not to love? The coach is getting plenty of air time all over the place and has just enough of a questionable character as to be interesting, rather than old-school. The whole Nike/ LeBron celeb love thing cannot be overstated. Neither can the DDMO, as kids think it's been put in place to allow them to showcase their talents. The facilities are awesome, the winning, and the fans are nuts, all postives when being recruited. Most importantly, the lure of high NBA draft slots, as shown not just by Cal PGs, but by this year's class.
Am I just misremembering recruiting classes? UNC has always been able to recruit, but not at this level. And they had both Jordan and the Dean Smith mystique. Same thing with K and the whole "student-athlete" thing at Duke. The closest I've seen at this is Wooden at UCLA in the 60's and 70's.

)

This is what I was talking about with the "Yankees" comment and I didn't mean it in a derogatory way either. These classes are absolutely incredible and I agree I don't think UNC or Duke have ever had runs like this. Cal is just on fire.

[cumberlandreds]

I'd say they are the Yankees when it comes to "player acquisitions". Hard to say they are at the top though until they start winning championships. Or at least until they become semi-regulars in the Final Four.

I can agree with that. But the Yankees went from 2000 to 2009 without winning a championship and were hated as much as if they had won it all those years. I'm used to hate coming from the SEC more than nationally though. UK has thoroughly dominated the SEC for the last 80 years and no one in the league likes UK. For good reason too.

[BRM]

I can agree with that. But the Yankees went from 2000 to 2009 without winning a championship and were hated as much as if they had won it all those years. I'm used to hate coming from the SEC more than nationally though. UK has thoroughly dominated the SEC for the last 80 years and no one in the league likes UK. For good reason too.

The national hatred you're sensing is mostly about Calipari and not so much about UK. Cal's image isn't a sterling one, whether that's deserved or not.

[WVRed]

The national hatred you're sensing is mostly about Calipari and not so much about UK. Cal's image isn't a sterling one, whether that's deserved or not.

I think it goes both ways.

Kentucky has a cheaters history. Whether its the point shaving scandal in the 50's, to the Emery Worldwide package that brought down Eddie Sutton. Add in Calipari and people are hoping for something like USC to happen to Kentucky.

[redsfanmia]

The national hatred you're sensing is mostly about Calipari and not so much about UK. Cal's image isn't a sterling one, whether that's deserved or not.

NM...No point

[WMR]

I had dinner with a guy who was a Calipari manager,

LOL, no you didn't.

I love when IU fans talk about probation.

[cumberlandreds]

Jarrod Polson will be a walk on at UK next season. He will never play much but it's still good for a Kentucky boy to live out his dream. When I read the article his dad,George, was mentioned. I said I knew a guy in high school by that name and knew he had moved to the central Kentucky area. I did some checking around and sure enough he was the George Polson I knew. So I'm sure he is just busting with pride now and I will have someone with extra special rooting interest.


http://www.kentucky.com/2010/04/28/1...art-picks.html

[WVRed]

Jarrod Polson will be a walk on at UK next season. He will never play much but it's still good for a Kentucky boy to live out his dream. When I read the article his dad,George, was mentioned. I said I knew a guy in high school by that name and knew he had moved to the central Kentucky area. I did some checking around and sure enough he was the George Polson I knew. So I'm sure he is just busting with pride now and I will have someone with extra special rooting interest.


http://www.kentucky.com/2010/04/28/1...art-picks.html

Congrats.

Saw he was looking at Liberty as well. As was posted on KSR, give me Liberty, or give me tons of free Nike UK gear while I never get to play much!

[WVRed]

Looks like Leslie is staying at NC State.

Bummer.

[Hoosier Red]

LOL, no you didn't.

I love when IU fans talk about probation.

To be fair, IU's had one problem with probation in 50 years, and the people responsible for that awful hire are all gone. When it became confirmed that Kelvin Sanctions was going to continue to flaunt the rules they got rid of him.

And even with that, I'll say phone calls are less of a dark mark than players(allegedly) having their SAT taken for them, and players(allegedly) receiving money from agents while in school, and players receiving cash in a UPS envelope that just so happens to break open in front of the school.

I'll admit it was a lot better to complain about dirty programs when we had NO real skeletons in the closet though.

[Javy Pornstache]

New Rivals rankings came out - Enes Kanter makes his chart debut at #3, Brandon Knight comes in at #6, Doron Lamb at #21 and Stacey Poole Jr. at #33. Terrence Jones is 13 and CJ Leslie is 14, which I believe was where they were last time the rankings were updated.

A bit of a surprise at the #1 slot, I won't spoil it for you.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketb...ings/rank-1909

[WMR]

Hopefully we'll get Terrence Jones and Marcus Thornton to round out the class.

[Javy Pornstache]

^ Good chance of it happening, bro.

[WMR]

That's what I hear too.