[jetpilot]

I think Mark Pope and his staff and UK are going to do sooooo good in the portal going forward. I mean GREAT. You?

[Bluecat]

With more time to recruit than last year I feel we will see a much better product on the floor. Now that doesn't mean results as we are used to having the best recruiting classes. We will get a good look at how well Pope does with better talent. If he gets the same out of more talented group it will be so fun. I feel we will see a great product from here on out. UK's name sells itself and with Pope's coaching style I think it only helps.

[Mr. D]

The thing that I trust about this coaching staff is their eye for talent and fit. Last year we immediately landed Amari Williams and Lamont Butler when neither was the top-rated player at their position in the portal. Pope will ultimately go with the player that is unselfish and can play in an advanced system more than just raw talent or scoring ability.

Most players in the portal are going to really like Pope's positivity and his system. Every transfer (outside of Kerr) has had starring moments this year and has actually improved from November to now. I think that will be a big selling point for us.

[jetpilot]

Could be big...

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Conversation
Jacob Polacheck
@PolacheckKSR
NEW: One school is gaining momentum for top available transfer Donovan Dent, sources tell KSR+.

[Cactus Jack]

Haven't really kept up. There's a whole off-season and summer lull for that.

[jetpilot]

Haven't really kept up. There's a whole off-season and summer lull for that.

I get it but top players are committing NOW.

[Cactus Jack]

I get it but top players are committing NOW.

I'm with you, but I'll read up and watch clips on the ones I've not already heard of once this run is over. Trying to enjoy every moment since it's been awhile. There'll still be plenty of movement two and a half weeks from now.

At this time last season, we thought we were stuck with Calipari for at least one more season.

[jetpilot]

I get it but top players are committing NOW.

I'm with you, but I'll read up and watch clips on the ones I've not already heard of once this run is over. Trying to enjoy every moment since it's been awhile. There'll still be plenty of movement two and a half weeks from now.

At this time last season, we thought we were stuck with Calipari for at least one more season.

Enjoying every moment of this run while simultaneously keeping up with recruiting news and the portal is making it that much more fun for me.

[Old School Hound]

I don't follow anything except for regular season and postseason basketball games. No portals for me. Same in other sports---no drafts, off season transactions, NIL nonsense, transfers, etc... Don't give one shit about it. I just watch games, and mostly just UK games, Corbin games and Bengals games.

[Van Hagar]

Well, OSH, don’t read this, but UK just this morning got a transfer commitment from Kam Williams, a 6-8 wing player from Tulane considered one of the best shooters entering the portal (41% from three this year.) Possibly a taller version of Koby Brea.

[Old School Hound]

Well, OSH, don’t read this, but UK just this morning got a transfer commitment from Kam Williams, a 6-8 wing player from Tulane considered one of the best shooters entering the portal (41% from three this year.)  Possibly a taller version of Koby Brea.

Enchanting news . Hope it works out. Just this morning I finished reading Phillip Rucker and Carol Leonnig 's book, A Very Stable Genius.  Highly recommend. Sent shivers down my spine in a way that any transfer portal news couldn't.

[Van Hagar]

Two good writers I’m sure, but can they shoot the three?

[jetpilot]

Well, OSH, don’t read this, but UK just this morning got a transfer commitment from Kam Williams, a 6-8 wing player from Tulane considered one of the best shooters entering the portal (41% from three this year.)  Possibly a taller version of Koby Brea.

Enchanting news . Hope it works out. Just this morning I finished reading Phillip Rucker and Carol Leonnig 's book, A Very Stable Genius.  Highly recommend. Sent shivers down my spine in a way that any transfer portal news couldn't.

If you don't care about portal news it should be very easy to not click on/post in this thread. Reading fiction is more your cup of tea anyway.

[Old School Hound]

Posted by a friend of mine on another board:

They didn't get the top transfer-- Donovan Dent.

If Kentucky's going to play in the recruiting secondary market (Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno, Kat Williams, Collin Chandler), they're not going to have the talent of those who will be perennial favorites year after year.

That reminds me a bunch of Tubby Smith's tenure.

But, hey, at least they're four-year players, amirite 

[jetpilot]

Posted by a friend of mine on another board:

They didn't get the top transfer-- Donovan Dent.

If Kentucky's going to play in the recruiting secondary market (Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno, Kat Williams, Collin Chandler), they're not going to have the talent of those who will be perennial favorites year after year.

That reminds me a bunch of Tubby Smith's tenure.

But, hey, at least they're four-year players, amirite 

Your friend is an idiot.

[-STAT-]

Well, the first portal casualty has hit, Kerr has put his name in the portal.

Don't think it will be the last.

[-STAT-]

Just seen where Big Z has hit the portal also.

BBN helped free Big Z, and I remember Pope had reached out to see if he had any interest in staying before leaving for Arkansas. Have to wonder if he will reach out again or move on.

[Cactus Jack]

I'd be surprised if Perry and Noah are elsewhere. Same, but to a lesser degree for Chandler. Would be the least surprised if Garrison were gone, but could equally see him back based on what we know now. Based on that:

Incoming/Returning:

PG/SG - Jasper Johnson, Fr.
PG/SG - Acaden Lewis, Fr.
PG - Travis Perry, So.

SG/SF - Otega Oweh, Sr.

SF/SG - Trent Noah, So.

PF/SF - Kam Williams, Jr.

C - Malachi Moreno, Fr.



Currently Unknown:

SG - Collin Chandler, So.

PF/C - Brandon Garrison, Jr.


Lots of unknowns still out there. Kriisa is gone IMO. If the bulk of the guard rotation is Johnson, Lewis, Chandler, and Oweh, then we're going to see at least one more impact SF and C, plus another rotation piece (think Almanor at minimum). Even if Ament is added, still think we'd need to allocate a good chunk of our NIL budget to his replacement.

Still see a rotation of around 10/11 players total, with Perry or Noah being the 12th and Moreno the 13th. That's a lot of spots remaining.

[jetpilot]

Well, the first portal casualty has hit, Kerr has put his name in the portal.

Don't think it will be the last.

Not really a casualty IMO.

[-STAT-]

Well, the first portal casualty has hit, Kerr has put his name in the portal.

Don't think it will be the last.

Not really a casualty IMO.

I will agree w/ that, probably should've used something more different than casualty. 

Obviously didn't get to see a full body of work from Kerr as he only played 9 games, but he developed a reputation for an arrogant/cocky attitude w/ his past schools at Arizona & West Virginia, one of those guys who could bring an edge to any team, but in the short time he did play, just wasn't that much impressed with anything he done on the court, although I think he would have been good to have ball-handling wise whenever Butler went down, but other than that just didn't seem like a good fit.

[Cactus Jack]

Looks like we are involved with lots of names.

Just food for thought: the portal is a very inexact science. Lots of teams who were considered "winners" in the portal didn't have the greatest years (e.g., Kansas).

Very hopeful that Kentucky is able to land Alvaro Folgueiras.

[Cactus Jack]

Feel like there will be at least 2-3 portal targets that we don't really find out about until after they've actually visited or even signed.