Recruiting Master Thread Part Deux
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@BShark yeah, still gotta catch a ball!
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@BeddieKU23 said:
He better not end up at Texas
But agreed he’s going to be a problem defensively wherever he goes. Insane Wingspan
I get the sentiment, but I kind of hope he/other top talent pick the Big12 so KU is more battle tested late in the season. KU always gets everyone’s best shot. I just wish it was a bit better to push KU to higher heights. Juices our team up to play a Durant, Beasley, Griffin, or even Heild.
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Bamba is just going to be an absolute pest for any team that plays against him. He could defensively have the impact that a Anthony Davis had. If he ends up at Kentucky we’ll play him next year anyway. He’ll make Kentucky really scary in the front-court again.
He’s not a polished offensive player so he’s really not in the mold of the players you mentioned above. He might have the most potential of anyone in the class because he plays hard and if his offensive game catches up he’s going to be a major problem for any big.
If he was going to end up in the Big-12 I wish it was anyone but Texas. Just can’t get on board liking Smart or wishing he gets talent that keeps him around
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Yeah Smart can eat dirt. Big 12 is going to be way down next year and I don’t think late recruits can change that.
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@BeddieKU23 @BShark I took a look at 247 to find out more about Bamba. Under the list all teams page, we are included but it say KU has not made an offer.
Is that true? I do not know much about recruiting sites, but this cannot be a reliable site, in my opinion: they show KU as still having C Diallo on the roster at Bamba’s position.
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We offered but Bamba never showed any interest back. Word is Bamba is an interesting dude and has really been slow with his recruiting process and doesn’t talk much to the media. He established some relationships early with Texas due to playing on Team USA, Duke, Kentucky and just stuck with them. The Michigan visit was interesting but they were never really in it.
He plays defense with a motor like Josh Jackson with a near 8 foot wingspan. It’s just not fair.
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Well I know Quinton Grimes and then the Dotson kid is surpose to be heavy KU leans - - I rad off Zags blog that Kentucky had just offered Grimes. – -So what’s peoples feelings o these guys, what’s your gut telling you on Grimes? - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Man maybe just me, but I don’t think I have ever seen the amount of transfers as I’m seeing this year, seems quite a bit higher - -am I imaging this or is there an excess this year?
Just read of ESPN where there are three UNLV players transferring this yr - -not graduate transfers these are still in school : - - - Troy Baxter Jr - -A freshman guard , Zion Morgan , A freshman guard & Jalen Poyser , a Sophomore guard. - - I can’t begin to name them all, just seems like a lot of kids.
I know Freeman from Baylor - - -The guard from Oklahoma- - - plus another player from the league from the Big 12 just many many players.- - -What you think is going on? – Why so many? - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@jayballer54 The number of transfers has been increasing every year. I did a Google search on “increase in basketball transfers” and there was an article in 2012 about the increase, then another one from 2014, and this 2017 Sports Illustrated article on how it is changing things:
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Like @BeddieKU23 said KU was interested in Bamba, he just never reciprocated that interest.
Oh and https://twitter.com/coreyevans_10/status/847569195533385728 I would bet it’s VCU, but good that KU has shown interest.
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There are more transfers every year.
Part of it is the widely-held perception on transfers. They used to be viewed very negatively, like divorced people used to be treated.
But as it has become more common, the negative perception has died down, just like with divorced people, too.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 I agree with your basic take on Graham and Svi. However, Svi is holding and believe he can improve his stock next year. He’ll be fine and will at least get some of that European money.
I do want to address your 4 spot issue. We will have a complete nightmare match-up with Billy P at the 4. He is 6-10 and plays like a freakin 3 guard. IF HCBS tries to play him at the 5, it will be a huge mistake. We have plenty of size with the other bigs at the 5. We don’t need BP at the 5. BP is looking more and more like a LeBron/KD type player.
Lastly, I guess you’re basing your academic issues on past history? I think we learned our lesson with Ayton. We tried to land Ayton and were the only team that showed any interest with him. Zona came in at the last minute and snatched him maybe due to our pause with his “academic” eligibility.
I’m not convinced Bragg can and will ever develop at this point. I do like your idea with Lightfoot and see him follow a 5th year senior type experience, call it the LL experience. Lightfoot is too light to bang inside right now. Hudy needs to Hudy-ize him. Remember, Jeff Withey never quite developed into the 5 that we all wanted. Withey never gained the weight needed to really bang, even though he did. However, Withey had those volleyball blocking skills that were perfect for his game. We also had a nasty bruiser in that little guy named Thomas Robinson.
I’m really really curious about Cunliffe. I am completely holding my breath and hope this kid is worth the transfer.
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@Crimsonorblue22 Reminds me of Mario Little. I also remember that year and how Bill Self really forced Rio into the 4. It never quite worked real well. He had moments against smaller teams, but to me Little looked like a fish out of water at the 4. Mario Little was also a 3, NOT a 4 and it showed in his game too.
Maybe it was Rio’s juco game that never quite translated to the D1 stage. He was overall a good player, but each time he slipped into the 3, his game always showed flashes of what could’ve been. We also got a little guard from the juco ranks name Tyrone Appleton. No disrespect to Appleton, but he was a total waste of transfer. I’m not completely sold on juco transfers yet. I’m not saying they can’t work, I’m saying it’s yet to be determined for HCBS. The only juco transfer that shined at the D1 was the kid at WSU that beat us in the 2015 tourney. Cleanthony Early was one of the best juco transfers that translated fairly well for WSU.
This is my way of saying that I’m not sure about Bill Self and juco transfer. I’m a little concerned that we even have to scour the juco ranks, but gotta do what you gotta do…I guess.
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@BeddieKU23 Exactly. HCBS will not play that crap either. He shouldn’t have to play that kind of recruiting non-sense to get a recruit. Let’s leave it to the sleaze ball coaches and you can name them all.
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I think that hutch juco kid will be good.
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YA, so very true- - -ha boy do I know about the way a divorcee was kind of looked at, but now it seems almost TO easy for a divorce, just seems a lot of times couple argue and the 1st thought crosses the kids minds - -the hell with this I’ll just get a divorce. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Grimes and Dotson are probably the two recruits we have the best chance with right now, and I stress right now.
Grimes has a lot of big programs after him because he’s a top player, his Jr year was really good and he’s the prototypical combo guard that Bill Self loves. Grimes came off a visit to Kentucky last year and said KU was his favorite. I’m sure things have changed, like Duke getting involved as well as Arizona. Although Duke is also targeting other point guard types Grimes is one of their options. Kentucky is also after some other kids but is keeping Grimes in the loop. Arizona seems like the other main program that has prioritized Grimes and that will be interesting to monitor. I’m sure Bill will be following him all summer
Dotson on the other hand is a kid KU has a really good chance to get. He’s from an area where you would expect UNC/Duke to be all over that but UNC locked up 2 guards already and as mentioned before Duke is after a few other guards. Most notably Darius Garland, who KU just offered is one that is probably locked up to Duke. Actually Duke people are surprised why he hasn’t already committed. Dotson paying his own dime to visit during the season says we have to be his favorite if one was to read between the lines. Dotson had a great Jr year and is the type of point guard that could become a fan favorite like Frank Mason. I expect he’ll be a 3-4 year type that can really impact a program. Dotson has other schools after him, maybe most notably Villanova but I would say at this moment Dotson is KU’s to lose.
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It’s the culture we live in today. Coaches have been doing this for a long time and it seems that the kids have finally caught on.
I would say contributing factors are the AAU scene, the OAD rule and the graduate transfer rule which basically makes you a free agent.
Billy Preston went to five high schools for example and played on a few AAU squads as well. The constant moving around starts at a young age.
The OAD rule has created this culture where kids want to prove they are good enough in one year, not 4. The development curve these kids think is best has changed significantly.
If kids don’t get the situation they want and are forced to sit the bench, chances are your at risk of losing him. If Mitch Lightfoot wasn’t a lifetime Jayhawk fan he would be a prime candidate of someone looking for more opportunity today.
One of the main issues I see with the high number of transfers is how many are transferring from lower level D-1 schools and crippling those teams that cannot find someone they have spent 2-3-4 years developing. You see a lot of the best players from smaller schools trying to “level up” and get to a high major. As @drgnslayr has said, the reputation of transfers has completely changed recently. Bill Self has taken how many transfers in the past 5 years? The number seems to be increasing by the year. It’s almost an necessity to include transfers in the discussion of recruiting. The game has definitely changed, for better or for worse.
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I agree, with Barrett, Nike is going to do its best to influence where he ends up. It’s just the truth nobody wants to talk about.
Barrett is a future NBA SG/SF and the next star from Canada. He loves Andrew Wiggins and that’s a big part of why KU has any chance of landing him next year if he does drop down a class. Adidas doesn’t help KU, at least we don’t seem to hear about them pushing kids our way. Maybe that’s Self keeping his hands clean from that aspect of recruiting, or he’s just really good at keeping it hush. There are a lot of 2018 top kids that are not Nike which is rare and a sign of how things have changed.
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@truehawk93 Preston has legitimate academic eligibility issues because of how long he was at API which has a long history of producing players who failed to academically qualify for NCAA competition.
You’re also backwards on Ayton. KU was the only major program recruiting him while Ayton was dealing with his issues. Once it appeared like that would no longer be a stumbling block for him, the usual suspects got involved and he chose Arizona over Kansas and Kentucky.
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Have to close Grimes.
(original post) offered grimes tonightWould have included Grimes on that list but hear Kansas leads and by maybe a wide margin.
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Yeah it’s definitely harder to find program players now. Even the “mighty” Kentucky, both their recent program players are Kentucky boys Willis and Hawkins.
Duke until recently, seemed to have 5 stars be content to be bench warmers. But now we are finally seeing some transfers.
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FYI Shakur Juiston is the #1 ranked Juco player according to Jucorecruiting.com
Other notables
Jordan Brangers #3 going to Texas Tech- lethal scorer from the perimeter.
Shawn Olden #11 going to TCU
D’Angelo Hunter #14 going to West Virginia
Josh Webster #17 going to Texas Tech
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Must be so difficult to recruit to Lubbock. Sorry @KUSTEVE !
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@jayballer54 I actually wish more couples would divorce if they think about it when they have their first big fight if it means they split before having kids, because all too many get married before they are ready, then have kids thinking that will make things better, then divorce anyway, then fight over custody and money forever ruining the kids’ childhoods.
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Interesting that Texas Tech is using juco guys being that they run the motion offense. That offense take some time to understand and run effectively. You have to fill out a roster though.
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@mayjay nah,
Tongue in cheek.
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Brangers is a kid that will make an impact for Tech next season. He played for the Juco team that the coach has copied the Golden State Warriors method on offense. I believe it was the NY Times that ran their story recently if I’m correct…
Brangers averaged 20.9 pts this year on 49% shooting and 46% from 3 (151-327). He’s the type of shooter that Tech has needed.
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@BeddieKU23 Dang my friend , Looks like Texas Tech did a really good job with these Juco’s can’t do anything but help their program for sure, This league is getting to be very competitive , It’s getting to the point that there is no gimme’s any longer. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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So my friends, let me ask you this - -Just how much of a legit contender for Shakur are we? - -We for sure could use him correct? - -I see posted he was ranked # 1 - -is this for Juco in Kansas OR in the Nation? -I think before this is all said and done this season I think we are going to end up with yet 2-3 more players and I feel we may be surprises just exactly how well we turn out. - - Seems to be even yet at this point there are actually quite a few quality players whether high School route, Post Grad or just regular transfers, going to be very interesting how this all turns out. - - I think just like always we are going to be just fine. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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ISU will be bad.
Texas if Jones stays in the draft not much hope for them despite a solid recruiting class.
Baylor might be pretty bad.
KSU, Bruce is still the coach.
TTU will be bad.
Plenty of chaff in the league next year.
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@jayballer54 In the nation. But Juco sports are bigger in KS than most states, so it’s a fair question.
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@dylans So what you think? - -You think we have a legit shot for him? - -Would you want him? - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Juco ranking for the nation.
Sure we have a chance. He hasn’t taken any visits. Schools have popped in and out to his games etc including KU. Iowa St has probably put in more time then most especially with their need for post players and losing so much this year.
Iowa St has an insider that says relationships will be important with Shakur from what his coach says. I also think the same Iowa St guy is trying to imply that ISU being on him longer will potentially be an advantage The KU offer was obviously his biggest and who knows how much sway that has because we have probably come in late compared to other programs that knew about him earlier.
We should know fairly soon if he does decide to set up some visits. Hutch just won the Juco Championship and Self will be back from the Final 4 to do 1 on 1 with the players next week. We should start hearing decisions on the draft and transfers after that. I would imagine that is when Juiston could be a possible visitor especially if a certain player is no longer with the program…
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Tech has 5 transfers from either Juco or from D-1 schools. They also return 4 starters who will all be seniors. I think Beard will be a tough out in year 2.
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I like this post from MS…
“I’ve mentioned a number of times the KU has a great in with Grimes. Lets just say that his mom knows KU well. VERY WELL!”
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@BShark Well that sounds favorable - -hopefully anyways. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Got Josh due to mom, lost Cody Riley due to mom. Mom definitely matters.
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Just what we want to hear. Momma on board
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Definitely. Forgot to mention we lost Trae due to mom. That one was crystal clear even.
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Wish more of these kids had mom AND dad involved in their lives.
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I am leery of JuCo players. Yes, they dominate in JuCo play but it is just a step above HS and more than a step below mid minors. There is huge difference between JuCo and Division I and regardless of how much a player dominates at that level, it is highly unlikely he will do the same in Division I. With very few exceptions, I would consider a JuCo player a bandaid solution or maybe bench insurance but I would not count on one to be a substantial contributor…maybe at a small program but not at an elite one.
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Marvin Bagley has added KU back to the list of schools he is considering. Lol.
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Generally Juco kids are what they are. Sometimes you do get a player that can really help you out though.
Taking the Juco rankings from the past few years:
2011 #1 Pierre Jackson- had a nice career at Baylor
2012 #2 Cleanthony Early- nice career at Wichita St, got drafted
2012 #10 Marshall Henderson- what a shooter and nutcase he was at Ole Miss
2013 #1 Chris Jones- KU wanted him, he ended up at Louisville and was a starter.
2013 #6 Elgin Cook- Started at Oregon, was an important part of their Elite 8 run last year.
2014 # 2 Kadeem Allen- Starter at Arizona this year.
2014 #11 Gary Payton Jr- Solid player at Oregon St, ended up in the NBA.
2015 #3 Chris Boucher- Solid starter at Oregon the past 2 years. Injury de-railed his run with Oregon towards the Final 4.
2015 #4 Joel Acuil Jr- Led the Big 12 in blocks this year.
2015 #20 Vlad Brodziansky- Leading scorer for TCU this year.
Juiston is that type of kid that can help KU. It’s not like the 4 spot has any guarantee right now. He does a lot of things well (especially rebounding, blocks, assists) and is a high level athlete. He just led his team to a Juco title. He’s better than any HS recruit we’d get at this point outside of Duval.
More than anything I think his character would be a big plus to this team that is losing senior leaders and is transitioning into life without Mason & Lucas.
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You really have to look at why the kid is in JUCO. Then of course throw out the stats and just evaluate. KU hasn’t had the best luck with JUCOs but I feel Juiston could change that.
Yeah, no idea what is going on with Bagley but no way he ends up at KU. He will be great wherever he goes, probably UK.
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Sometimes it depends why a player ended up in JuCo. Some just do not have the talent for Division 1 but explode in JuCo and others do not have the grades and have to do a one or two year sting in Purgatory…in a manner of speaking. In any case and as I indicated, the ones that end up as contributors in Division I are few and far in between.
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Good point Juco’s haven’t been a strong path for KU in the past. Sometimes kids just slip through the conventional path and Juiston is one of them. Kid has talent, I don’t see a reason to label him anything else then that
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If he could shoot EVERYONE would be on him.
