[OutsideLookingIn]

I often hear everyone questioning Derrick's ability to play at UK. He is obviously not going to be a one and done, but Darius Miller was not either. I think Derrick definitely has the ability to contribute toward a championship before he leaves UK. Best wishes to Derrick and I look forward to him wearing blue next season. :Wave:

[ballstar]

I think he will be fine at UK. I wish him nothing but the best and hope he gets to contribute for 4 national championships. Nothing like a in state kid playing at UK.

[RunItUpTheGut]

If Cal is somehow able to get 3 more classes like this one coming up, Willis will never play more than 5 minutes in a whole season.

Its the sad truth, but the truth nonetheless.
Miller was a great player and could have started on any team in the country the last couple of years, as weve seen from Hood, your not going to play unless its a really down year.

[BlackcatAlum]

Willis is not near the player Darius Miller was in high school.

Willis career at UK will be just like Jon Hood's.

Wish him nothing but the best though.

[OutsideLookingIn]

Not even comparable to John Hood, not taking anything away from Hood's high school career. Willis plays in a Region (6th) that Bowling Green would rarely ever get a trip to the state tourney. His team was a 2 time regional champion 2011, 2012. He is a solid 6'9" player that has an unbelievable upside. Obviously some of you all are haters or judging a young man on one game you have watched him play instead of a whole body of work of 4 years. Time will tell and we shall see how successful he becomes. True fans should be excited about a player with his talents coming into their program.

[boogiedawg]

I think Willis will be fine if hes willing to put in work!! He needs alot of work in the weightroom and if he could possibly shoot high 30's to 40% from three while he is there he will contribute!! If you go to UK and stay there your whole career your going to be set because whatever job you apply for in the central ky area your gonna be a frontrunner to get it. Former players are treated well and make nice livings. Good luck to Willis.

[Fatt Jones]

Not sure why people make generic comments regarding topics on this site and never give any reasoning with them. He'll never play 5 minutes in a season. Why? Not nearly the player that Miller was. Why? Can't handle? Not athletic? Poor shooter? Bad passer? Not a team player? Uncoachable? He's as good as he will ever be? Purdue offered immediately. So did Calipari! Crean...Yep. Pitino wanted him BADLY. What do you see that I don't see?

[RunItUpTheGut]

Not sure why people make generic comments regarding topics on this site and never give any reasoning with them. He'll never play 5 minutes in a season. Why? Not nearly the player that Miller was. Why? Can't handle? Not athletic? Poor shooter? Bad passer? Not a team player? Uncoachable? He's as good as he will ever be? Purdue offered immediately. So did Calipari! Crean...Yep. Pitino wanted him BADLY. What do you see that I don't see?

Because there are atleast 8 players that will be better than him next year.

Its simple. The kid will be the next jon hood. If he wants to play and shine, he should have went somewhere else. The fact that they couldnt even get out of region with two mr basketball finalist tells you hes no where near capable of being at the same caliber.

[RunItUpTheGut]

Not even comparable to John Hood, not taking anything away from Hood's high school career. Willis plays in a Region (6th) that Bowling Green would rarely ever get a trip to the state tourney. His team was a 2 time regional champion 2011, 2012. He is a solid 6'9" player that has an unbelievable upside. Obviously some of you all are haters or judging a young man on one game you have watched him play instead of a whole body of work of 4 years. Time will tell and we shall see how successful he becomes. True fans should be excited about a player with his talents coming into their program.

Hes very comparable.
They will get the same amount of playing time over there careers.

[vundy33]

I think Willis will get plenty of minutes eventually at UK.

[Fatt Jones]

I do not pretend to have the psychic abilities to predict the future regarding KY recruits. The fact is Willis had an outstanding year and will bring a very competitive fire, coupled with a great skill set to UK next season.

[11thRegionHoops]

I think Willis is a fine player and I am glad he is coming to Kentucky to play, but in no way is he the high school player that Darius Miller was.

[ballstar]

Because there are atleast 8 players that will be better than him next year.

Its simple. The kid will be the next jon hood. If he wants to play and shine, he should have went somewhere else. The fact that they couldnt even get out of region with two mr basketball finalist tells you hes no where near capable of being at the same caliber.

Seriously man. It's always something negative from you. I'm sure Polson came into the season thinking he was gonna ride the pine to but we see how that worked out. Just because u have 4/5 all Americans coming n don't mean that Willis won't get any clock. Look at UNC right now. They are playing terrible w/ 4 All Americans on their team.if he can fit into the system, which I think he can, he will play early.

[hop24]

Because there are atleast 8 players that will be better than him next year.

Its simple. The kid will be the next jon hood. If he wants to play and shine, he should have went somewhere else. The fact that they couldnt even get out of region with two mr basketball finalist tells you hes no where near capable of being at the same caliber.

To early to tell. NO ONE can tell how a player will develop under a good coach. Bullit played a top notch scedule all year and beat some pretty darn good teams. In a region such as the 6th youv'e got to bring it every single night come regionals. If they were in any of the mountain regions they would already have there rooms booked.

[GamedayScout]

I have scouted Willis 3 times this year and I think he is a just a step about Jon Hood.

Jon Hood was obviously a great High School player as well.

From my perspective, he should focus on a starting position at a KY Private School and get a free, solid education/degree, but Willis will be a fine backup at UK as well.

Good Luck to Mr Willis

[RunItUpTheGut]

Seriously man. It's always something negative from you. I'm sure Polson came into the season thinking he was gonna ride the pine to but we see how that worked out. Just because u have 4/5 all Americans coming n don't mean that Willis won't get any clock. Look at UNC right now. They are playing terrible w/ 4 All Americans on their team.if he can fit into the system, which I think he can, he will play early.

Its not negative, its the facts.
Unless UK has another year like this one while Willis is at UK, he will never start and see very limited playing time. Its just the truth. If he does start, you know were having a down year. Im not ragging on the kid, its just the simple facts.
IMO, when UK started sigining all these ridicolously good players, he should have rethought his decision and asked out of his LOI and went somewhere he could contribute. Polson is playing, and thats fine, however, were also in danger of missing the tourney and thats why, were not that good.

[Wildcatk23]

Hes very comparable.
They will get the same amount of playing time over there careers.

Have you seen him play?

[Hoot Gibson]

Nobody knows which recruit will or will not pan out at Kentucky. I remember watching Mel Turpin play in high school and when Joe Hall offered him a scholarship, very few people expected him to do much at Kentucky. Turpin grew into a great college center who, if he could have controlled his weight, would have enjoyed a long and productive NBA career. This morning I read a quote of Joe Hall where Hall said that Turpin was the best shooting big man that he had ever seen anywhere.

When multiple major college coaches recruit a high school player, that player's chances of enjoying a successful career is generally pretty good. So what if Willis does not contribute for a year or two, or even if his role on the team is to thoroughly learn the system and challenge the starters in practice? Calipari would not have offered Willis the opportunity if he was not filling a need.

Kentucky does not need fill its complete roster with 5* recruits. They need some year-to-year continuity that the one-and-dones do not bring to the table.

[RunItUpTheGut]

Have you seen him play?

I never seen Polson, Hood, or any of the others play, and i called them exactly right.

On the flip side, have you? Or any other person saying he will get playing time? If so, that means youve had to of seen all of the recruits coming into UK next year to be able to compare.

We will come back to this thread a year from now and see whos right.

[ballboy]

He may transfer after 2 years.

[Fatt Jones]

I never seen Polson, Hood, or any of the others play, and i called them exactly right.

On the flip side, have you? Or any other person saying he will get playing time? If so, that means youve had to of seen all of the recruits coming into UK next year to be able to compare.

We will come back to this thread a year from now and see whos right.

How would someone judge a players ability without ever seeing them play? That's quite a talent you have there. Universities spending hundreds of thousands of dollars each year on recruiting budgets and all they had to do was call you! Even though you've never seen them play, you,ve been exactly right on every player. So enlighten me chosen one, will any other of Kentuckys' incoming freshman disappoint or are they all one and dones?

[E's Army]

Willis is much longer and more athletic than Hood. I believe their skill sets are comparable. A lot will depend on his heart and work ethic.

[RunItUpTheGut]

How would someone judge a players ability without ever seeing them play? That's quite a talent you have there. Universities spending hundreds of thousands of dollars each year on recruiting budgets and all they had to do was call you! Even though you've never seen them play, you,ve been exactly right on every player. So enlighten me chosen one, will any other of Kentuckys' incoming freshman disappoint or are they all one and dones?

Ask and you shall receive.
This past year, i knew this talent wasnt going to be as good as some believed.
The overall 2012 class was very weak compared to the last few years, and i even said it on here, and its coming true just as we seen today.
UK's incoming class, with the addition of Wiggings, if he commits, will be the best class of all time. If Wiggins comes, him, as well as Lee, Johnson, the Harrison twins, and Young will all be gone after next year, UNLESS, some of these frosh from this year stays and Cal tries to split time between them and the incoming class. Im expecting Goodwin, Poythress, WCS, and Noel all to leave, as they should with the procrastinators still having them all going in the first round although i dont know why, and you will see 5 frosh starting next year at UK.
I never said Willis wasnt a good player, nor will i ever say that. Its just unfair to him that UK has so much talent year after year, and this year was somewhat of a bust when it came to recruits allowing the bench to play. All i said was he shouldn't have come to UK if he ever expects to start and contribute to UK unless he develops into a decent role player coming off the bench by his senior year. Im not rooting against him, im a UK fan and hope he becomes the next Michael Jordan, however its highly unlikely, and unless next years players become bust as well, which is nearly impossible, Willis will not get off the bench next year, and if Cal continues to recruit this type of talent, Willis would have been better served at another D1 school.

[Fatt Jones]

Ask and you shall receive.
This past year, i knew this talent wasnt going to be as good as some believed.
The overall 2012 class was very weak compared to the last few years, and i even said it on here, and its coming true just as we seen today.
UK's incoming class, with the addition of Wiggings, if he commits, will be the best class of all time. If Wiggins comes, him, as well as Lee, Johnson, the Harrison twins, and Young will all be gone after next year, UNLESS, some of these frosh from this year stays and Cal tries to split time between them and the incoming class. Im expecting Goodwin, Poythress, WCS, and Noel all to leave, as they should with the procrastinators still having them all going in the first round although i dont know why, and you will see 5 frosh starting next year at UK.
I never said Willis wasnt a good player, nor will i ever say that. Its just unfair to him that UK has so much talent year after year, and this year was somewhat of a bust when it came to recruits allowing the bench to play. All i said was he shouldn't have come to UK if he ever expects to start and contribute to UK unless he develops into a decent role player



coming off the bench by his senior year. Im not rooting against him, im a UK fan and hope he becomes the next
Michael Jordan, however its highly unlikely, and unless next years players become bust as well, which is nearly impossible, Willis will not get off the bench next year, and if Cal continues to recruit this type of talent, Willis would have
been better served at another D1 school.

I don't quite understand your answer to a very simple question. No if ands, buts or "UNLESSES". If you truly know what will happen in the future Will all of Kentuckys' incoming freshman, other than Willis, be one and dones? Just want to make sure you get your due credit when these things come to pass! See any more injuries next season?

[RunItUpTheGut]

^
Yes, barring major injury or death, they'll all be gone except Willis.

[Fatt Jones]

^
Yes, barring major injury or death, they'll all be gone except Willis.

Gotcha!