2018 Recruiting
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Thank you! totally forgot about him.
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This comment on that article intrigued me:
“Onto Cunliffe. I will tell you EXACTLY who he reminds me of from his Soph year through his Senioe year in HS. A 2” shorter Micah Downs! He also has the same issues that Micah had when he was 18/19 and parents influence. Micah went to Kansas expecting to be the star and it didn’t work out. Best move of his life was to get under Coach Few’s handling. Turned his LIFE around. As for Cunliffe, off to Arizona State with the same dreams as Micah had. Wrong Coach in Hurley (style). He just got his ego bruised.
I’ll tell you this, I watched them both for 3 years in HS and they are mirror images of each other: talent, BBIQ, athleticism, shooting style and range. Great hops too! Also transfered around in State alot (both). Only difference is height and parents! I would give this young man a chance if “I” had the room but like Peter pointed out, I don’t see it now either. Oh well. Thanks Peter for the info, especially the charts. Mike"
ASU posters claim he is a head case. Sounds like there is some truth to it. Might be one of those cases where he was never going to succeed on his first college stop. Regardless of if he ends up at KU or not I hope the kid turns it around, he is quite talented.
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Saw that post somewhere else. Not sure I agree with that comp but to each their own.
Definitely seems like this is a messy exit for Sam with the amount of press being thrown around about his transfer. Anytime a Top 40 kid leaves so early into a career there is always going to be flags thrown up and concerns to address. We’d be similarly upset if a top 40 kid from KU transferred out of the program so early. I do think Sam could be a very good fit at KU. Scores on all 3 levels, has that athleticism and shooting ability that Self loves to have from his wing player.
A lot of benefit to adding him right now with the open scholarship. If anything is true about his character it won’t fly under Bill so I have no concerns about what kind of player he was, only that if he wants to play here he’ll be a better version of himself by the time he steps foot on the court.
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@BShark To me, he looks a little more athletic than Micah, but that isn’t a bad comparison. I’d take 3 1/2 years of a Micah Downs.
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Yeah the rumour is that he decided to transfer after Hurley unloaded on the team after the Purdue game. I think he is definitely worth a shot if the visit goes well. If there are bad signs on the visit then I bet Self moves on.
I mentioned it elsewhere as well but Cunliffe, Newman and Preston is a lot of mercurial talent to have on one roster. If anyone can make it work, it’s Bill though.
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I think there are many possible scenarios and it depends on who the new HC ends up being. He might prefer to bring his own people or he might keep Porter in some capacity as long as Michael and then his brother are there; Michael seems to be a OAD and I am not sure about his brother. Keep in mind that while any program would take Michael, there are really very few places where he would be able to truly showcase his talent for the NBA, including a depp rum in the Tournament. Having said this, Ben Simmons went to a crappy programs and it did not seem to hurt his draft status.
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@BShark said:
I mentioned it elsewhere as well but Cunliffe, Newman and Preston is a lot of mercurial talent to have on one roster. If anyone can make it work, it’s Bill though.
Really good point. Word is Preston “loafed” in his game last night and had 2 points. Trust in Bill that he’ll make these pre-madonna’s into men
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If this did happen when would Cunliffe be eligible? Does he sit out next year?
Jerry Meyer:
Hearing Kansas is solidly in the driver’s seat to land Sam Cunliffe. Former top 40 prospect will visit Jan. 2. https://t.co/Y19u0CzmLo (https://twitter.com/jerrymeyer247/status/811974634237267968?s=09)
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He’d have to sit the rest of this year and the 1st semester of next year. Would be eligble after 9th game of 2017-18 season.
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Thanks
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Quick updates:
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Washington heading into conference play 7-6. Just lost at home to WSU, a Pac-12 bottom feeder this season. Romar talk is heating up more and more. More likely than not, going to finish last in the conference. Not a bad job for a Mid-major guy to take over. I think he is gone.
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Sam Cunliffe visited yesterday and is still here today to see the KState game. I expect that decision to come before too long. He also visited Seattle and Georgetown.
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So the question is for me - - -IF we had to choose between two options who would you take Cunliffe? 6ft 6 # 36ranked in 2016- - - OR Copeland? 6 ft 9 # 23 in 2014 - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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The one not having back surgery
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@jayballer54 Cunliffe 100%.
He was averaging 10 ppg as a freshmen. He can shoot the trey. And he would have basically 4 years left.
Copeland is a solid get as well. Just not the same upside. He would be a guy you could count on to be a very solid player off the bench or someone who can fill a spot if we were really lacking depth.
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Cunliffe has attitude problems, basketball skill problems and a helicopter dad. It may not end well but when you miss on all your wing targets and none are Spring decisions this is where it leaves you.
And fwiw Maxwell’s departure should open the door to take Cunliffe and Copeland.
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Cunliffe although he comes with more baggage potentially. He’s here for tonight’s game and I don’t see him going anywhere else after.
Copeland is someone who has underachieved for his ranking. There was talk he would be a OAD and now he’s a mid season transfer in his junior year. I’m not sure Georgetown was ever the best fit for his skill set but I also wonder if Copeland has just not progressed like a lot of people thought.
Cunliffe fills a need, Copeland would be another role player in the post that we have no idea how he would put his game into our current offensive scheme… we will see
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And a lot of those issues can be solved with a change of scenery. He has risk but if we lose all of our wings we are hard pressed to find a better option
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Oh I agree, gotta take him if he wants to come here. Can’t just hope to land MJ Walker late.
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We will see what else emerges. It’s hard to get a read on Walker, if he never visits it’s hard to see us as a serious player for him and the one school he did visit FSU has a likely opening at his position. Taking Cunlifffe would put us in jeopardy of landing him imo but that is just based on the current situation… we know we need an immediate wing who can score and play minutes
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Thanks guys, kinda of what I was thinking. I mean taking Cunliffe. - - The problem I have if we were to take Copeland for one is, yes he is as been mentioned going through back surgery, so my train of thought is he fully recovered will he be if we were to take him? - -Will he be another Coleby still limited? is that what we wanna use a scholi on? not trying to talk smack on the kid but his ability might be limited, the only thing I can go off on this is I’ve had 3 back surgeries myself, so kind have a feel as to what happens with that, some days good - -some days not so much Like my surgeon told me, we can’t eliminate the problem what we do is try to make it tolerable - -so see what I’m saying. Back has a tendency – scar tissue acts up starts to tighten up- - - - so ya anyways thanks guys - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@jayballer54 said:
If he has back problems I’d say we probably will pass on him. I see he will visit NC ST this week so there’s no telling he makes it past that visit without going there
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There are all kinds of back problems. Do we know? My friend had back surgery, out of the hospital the next day and had instant relief. Recovery was no lifting for 4 weeks.
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@Crimsonorblue22 Mine was my l-4 , l5 has been problems, now have a spacer in my back, to separate the vertebrae, and titanium screws no fun but yet having said that feel better. Have had to have bone taken from my hip and placed into my spine lol, hell after surgery my dam hip hurt worse then my back I ask why didn’t you just take the sterile bone from the cardavor and put in my spine and leave my butt alone? they said because the bone in my hip was already acquainted to my body system, they said always a chance that my body would rejuect the sterile bone - -I SAID DAMM it really hurt lmao… - -Any kind of back surgery is no fun, I personally would stray away if I had to choose between the two. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Any news on Cunliffe?
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@Ralph Apparently word is no more visits. He had a great time. Supposed to decide in the next 3 days or something.
My manager friend told me that his dad basically said he was coming here.
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Thanks
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Cunliffe was sitting next to Siemen at the Game - -Kevin Young was a row behind sitting almost caddy corner to him. – Said his parents were blown away. We shall see. - -On a side not I STILL think things are looking better for and Trae. - -Looks like Kentucky chances are going to get another guard, that were in his final 5 choices but pretty much either Kentucky possibly Conn. - if he lands at UK, no way Young going there. - -which leaves US and Oklahoma- - and the more Oklahoma loses the better we are - -bottom line unless flat out doesn’t want to leave the state of Oklahoma - I just f,eel good chance we land him, not sure if he has changed his mind again or no , - -last I hear/read he was talking about deciding in January some time - -we will see - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Hamidou Diallo. Smoke is ALL UK currently.
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BOL BOL is CAL bound http://www.maxpreps.com/news/IvsUIviQh0K02xa3n3K82g/bol-bol-enrolls-at-mater-dei,-not-cleared-to-play-yet.htm
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Name to watch: Jalen Carey
https://www.zagsblog.com/2017/01/13/recruiting-roundup-quentin-grimes-jalen-carey/
Really likes Norm.
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http://247sports.com/Player/Jalen-Carey-86031
6’3’’ top 75 PG? Me gusta.
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yes please, love his size at the pg spot
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Since I last posted BHam (I know some may disagree with his KU level player talk but he is fairly connected) relayed that he is a top 50 type talent and a combo guard moreso than a pure point.
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@BShark said:
Since I last posted BHam (I know some may disagree with his KU level player talk but he is fairly connected) relayed that he is a top 50 type talent and a combo guard moreso than a pure point.
I’ll take him for whatever position he wants to play, maybe that 2nd ball handler role with whoever is our PG after this yr. Looks athletic enough to play the 2.
BHam usually has some good scoop. I just think he sometimes doesn’t open his mind up to how a player will develop in time when the player is not a top 50-100 player
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Definitely looks like a good player. Self loves combo guards. His commitment time frame is reportedly the end of this school year or very early in the start of the next school year. And he wants to visit for a KU game this year which I think bodes well.
Edit: I think BHam is usually just brutally honest about how he feels. Lucas is kind of proving him wrong and right at the same time. Lucas has done some good things but his limitations have shown this year defensively. He does work his butt off though and rebounds well and is smart offensively usually. I do agree with him that KJ is NOT on the same type of trajectory as Graham or Mason and that is a concern. Seems like KU is not offering KJ though, so that discussion will likely be moot in terms of relevance for KU boards.
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Yeah he’s ended up dead wrong with lucas and to some extent mason as well. I get the honesty and I respect him not pumping guys up for the sake of it.
Self has an unbelievable success rate with choosing the right guy’s. With KJ I do think there is some long term intrigue, not even saying he would ever start here but if he was on a 4-5 year plan anything can happen. It looks like he will be a last resort anyway.
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Having two players with the trajectory of Mason and Graham is an incredible luxury that very few team get, not only because of their talent but perhaps more importantly because of the length of their tenure.
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@BeddieKU23 said:
Yeah he’s ended up dead wrong with lucas and to some extent mason as well. I get the honesty and I respect him not pumping guys up for the sake of it.
Self has an unbelievable success rate with choosing the right guy’s. With KJ I do think there is some long term intrigue, not even saying he would ever start here but if he was on a 4-5 year plan anything can happen. It looks like he will be a last resort anyway.
He and many were high on Mason from what I remember. I know Jerry loved Mason too.
@JayHawkFanToo said:
Having two players with the trajectory of Mason and Graham is an incredible luxury that very few team get, not only because of their talent but perhaps more importantly because of the length of their tenure.
Oh for sure. Basically you are trying to find a guard in the 20-90 ranking range that also probably has some kind of limitation when it comes to the NBA. Self has done a GREAT job getting these kinds of players tbqh. EJ, Tyshawn, Graham, Mason, Russ Rob, Sherron etc… I don’t typically question Self’s recruiting. The Ayton miss sucked but the payoff would have been worth it.
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@BShark Bragg has some growing to do on and off the court. The whole pushing incident really knocked him off track. He has to prove himself even more now.
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I’m glad your memory works that far back. lol
What I remember from the whole Mason ordeal was that in general- most KU fans overreacted to him being small and a de-commit from Towson. Add in that Mason was basically our 4th choice fallback plan and there was a lot of chatter of why we got this kid. If it wasn’t for KU continuing to recruit I believe it was Mclaughin of USC even after he committed we would never have him to begin with. Crazy how that works out.
I do remember Jerry being high on him and I also remember Self saying that he basically got a steal after getting to know him and see his game.
I think kids like Mason are even harder to find these days with how much video is available from AAU ball these days.
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Sometimes it does.
And you are right it was McLaughlin. Townsend was in Vegas to see McLaughlin but I don’t think he was committed officially at the time. He saw Frank and that was pretty much the end of it I believe the staff went to check him out a couple more times or so and then offered.
I know Jerry had him top 75 might have been top 50. ESPN didn’t (maybe still doesn’t) rank post grads so that negatively impacted his overall ranking.
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I think your right about the ESPN ranking. They had Post next to his name and ranked him a 3 star. Even if his ranking was just at that time they clearly missed the ball on him. It happens all the time, its just crazy it might be happening for the 2nd straight year with a POY favorite. Hield while a 4 star prospect wasn’t exactly a household name. Mason has worked his way above what any KU fan could have imagined this year.
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ESPN slants towards Nike kids. Also they have Terrence Lewis ranked ahead of Marcus Garrett it’s so hard to take them seriously.
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And had Giles ahead of Jackson while Giles played what 2 minutes of High School ball his senior year.
That is funny Lewis over Garrett.
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Nike influence with Giles.
Yeah I’m not sure how you watch them both play and say well Lewis is better and/or has more potential. I think he will be a nice player for ISU but probably closer to the 100 range. I think Lewis is NR on Scout which is also ridiculous. I believe a lot of these services are lazy, don’t get to many events and piggy back off each other. For rankings 247 is probably my favourite.
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Yes… I remember when we signed Frank. I won’t say our fanbase was negative as a whole, but people never thought Frank would turn out to be such a plus for us. Size was the biggest factor, followed by where he was going first, seeming to rub people the wrong way like we should only be competing with other blue bloods for players.
The ultimate lesson is, “we can’t judge a book by its cover.”
I don’t put much time into following recruiting because we just see the window dressing. We don’t know the players. A lot of what Bill saw in Frank went beyond his stat sheet and highlight films. We all need to think about that when we start being overly critical about Bill’s recruit targets and commits.
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@drgnslayr Great point. I am sometimes amazed at how we all can get on this site and think we can identify whom the recruits that we need are…but all part of the fun, I guess.
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Really good points. I bet if we sat with Self and asked him “did you ever think Mason would get this good” I’m sure we’d get an interesting answer from him.
Opportunity is also a big equalizer in this whole equation with Frank.
Tharpe didn’t pan out and Mason was eating his minutes early in his Sophomore year. We also whiffed on every top PG target for the past 4 years- the staff admitted Frank was option #4 which really meant “fell into our lap” at the right time. What if we had signed a PG that was talented enough to challenge Frank for that spot. Graham ended up being that guy but Self figured out those 2 could play beside each other because of the bond they had formed. Frank in a way has been very lucky that he could capitalize on his unheralded beginning into now becoming a favorite for POY honors. Nothing short of amazing, you never know what a player has under the hood until you get him playing under your watch.
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Mason’s hs stats were pretty damn good. But HS stats are mostly meaningless.
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I was on CyFan (I know…) reading their thread on Wigginton (imo will be a stud for them for 3-4 years) and well, this post was funny so I had to share.
" Yesterday at 2:15 PM
billy preston is going to be a great ku villain, assuming bill self doesn't kick him out of any of his first 10 practices."
