2009 UK Basketball Thread - Part III

[WVRed]

Originally Posted by George Foster

Hey coach Cal...NEVER apologize or feel guilty for being successful. NO ONE would turn down 30 million dollars.

He actually turned down more money at Memphis to go to Kentucky.

[BRM]

Originally Posted by WVRed

He actually turned down more money at Memphis to go to Kentucky.

Memphis never released how much they offered, did they? I've read where they supposedly were ready to top UK's offer but I have never seen how much they actually put on the table.

[WVRed]

Originally Posted by BRM

Memphis never released how much they offered, did they? I've read where they supposedly were ready to top UK's offer but I have never seen how much they actually put on the table.

It was never released to my knowledge but Cal has said it on more than one occasion.

[Blimpie]

CBS Sports is now reporting that Josh Pastner will be named the head coach at Memphis. As good as that is for Josh, that might seriously hamper future recruiting initiatives for Coach Calipari.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebask...story/11600010

[WVRed]

Originally Posted by Blimpie

CBS Sports is now reporting that Josh Pastner will be named the head coach at Memphis. As good as that is for Josh, that might seriously hamper future recruiting initiatives for Coach Calipari.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebask...story/11600010

I'm actually not too disappointed in this.

Pastner is supposed to hire Carl Henry (Xavier and CJ's dad) to the same job Rod Strickland had. That means we will lose on on Xavier Henry, but it's not like we were going to land him anyways.

He doesn't hurt us in getting Wall or Cousins to Memphis. Reggie Theus I would have worried about, and I doubt Xavier is going to go after Theus (I could be wrong).

Best of luck to Josh, we hardly knew ye'.

[BRM]

Jsaon King at Yahoo Sports is claiming Meeks has decided to enter the NBA draft. He will not hire an agent though.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketb...yhoo&type=lgns

[improbus]

Originally Posted by BRM

Jsaon King at Yahoo Sports is claiming Meeks has decided to enter the NBA draft. He will not hire an agent though.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketb...yhoo&type=lgns

I'm surprised considering that he is not listed as a 1st round guy. Nbadraft.net has him listed as a 2nd round guy in 2010! It is starting to look like that dream we all had of a super team next year is slowly dissipating. His anouncement kind of reminds me of Azubuike's. Hopefully he doesn't have the same issues getting into the league.

[WVRed]

Originally Posted by improbus

I'm surprised considering that he is not listed as a 1st round guy. Nbadraft.net has him listed as a 2nd round guy in 2010! It is starting to look like that dream we all had of a super team next year is slowly dissipating. His anouncement kind of reminds me of Azubuike's. Hopefully he doesn't have the same issues getting into the league.

No surprise, and hardly similar to Azubuike.

IIRC, Az's dad went to prison and he had a monetary situation to where he had to go pro. Meeks is more like Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans, just using the NBA draft camps to see what he needs to work on and seeing where he grades out.

IMO, he and Patterson will be back. We aren't going to get Henry but Cousins and Wall are still strong possibilities. If we get those two we are set. Anything else is icing on the cake.

[BRM]

Originally Posted by improbus

I'm surprised considering that he is not listed as a 1st round guy. Nbadraft.net has him listed as a 2nd round guy in 2010! It is starting to look like that dream we all had of a super team next year is slowly dissipating. His anouncement kind of reminds me of Azubuike's. Hopefully he doesn't have the same issues getting into the league.

I'd think it's still pretty likely he returns to UK next season.

[improbus]

Originally Posted by BRM

I'd think it's still pretty likely he returns to UK next season.

I hope so.

[WMR]

It's not a surprise at all that Meeks is putting his name into the draft. He isn't hiring an agent, and you're only allowed to put your name into the draft and then return to school once. It will give him an excellent indicator of where he stands and what he needs to improve upon most his senior season.

[WVRed]

Originally Posted by WilyMoROCKS

It's not a surprise at all that Meeks is putting his name into the draft. He isn't hiring an agent, and you're only allowed to put your name into the draft and then return to school once. It will give him an excellent indicator of where he stands and what he needs to improve upon most his senior season.

Out of curiosity, do you think Pastner going back to Memphis has any effect on us landing Cousins?

[WMR]

Originally Posted by WVRed

Out of curiosity, do you think Pastner going back to Memphis has any effect on us landing Cousins?

I don't think so. I think Cousins is the type of kid who wants the "sure thing" to make himself a one and done player. I think it mostly hinges on him getting himself eligible academically. He still hasn't taken the ACT.

I think Pastner is going to ultimately struggle at Memphis, to be completely honest. I think he'll win the league next year but will soon realize that recruits aren't nearly as enamored with coming to Memphis when the name "John Calipari" isn't on the Tiger letterhead.

[leakbrewergator]

Originally Posted by WilyMoROCKS

It's not a surprise at all that Meeks is putting his name into the draft. He isn't hiring an agent, and you're only allowed to put your name into the draft and then return to school once. It will give him an excellent indicator of where he stands and what he needs to improve upon most his senior season.

I agree. Smart move by Meeks. Nick Calathes is doing the same thing (although, I'm sure Meeks will have a tougher decision.) I expect both to be back.

[Puffy]

Well, it appears there are more legs to the Wall story than even thought of last week. An article on Wall on Rivals BBall Recruiting front page is titled "New Player in Wall Saga" and the last line (I can't repost the whole artile because its premium content) is:

"I think it is pretty good to have schools like Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas recruiting me," he said. "Those are four of the top schools that you hear about the most. It's great that coaches from schools like those want to see me and recruit me. In the end this is my decision, so I'll definitely be looking at North Carolina."

The last part was said because Brian Clifton "handles" Wall and Clifton has stated (last week) that no player he advises will ever play for Roy Williams (goes back to Eric Wallace, the OSU player).