Trae Young
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Everything I read about Allen was that he was a shy kid that didn’t want the attention that recruiting brought. He was mostly silent throughout that whole process. Kid can play, @Kcmatt7 is right, even though Texas isn’t good he’s being showcased and allowed to do what he wants. He’s clearly their best player and his stock is as high as it will be because of where he is.
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the latest from Matt…
Alright - it begins now.
Trae Young will announce tomorrow at noon. It’s OU or KU and people are wildly guessing like crazy now. KU has the lead in Crystal Ball right now so we shall see if it sticks over the next 24 hours.
I’ve heard both from multiple people. Nothing that would make me switch my Crystal Ball pick though. I have KU picked right now.
So Oklahoma media have KU - a lot have OU.
As of last night all coaches left in the race have NOT been notified of the decision. NOT!!! I expect that will happen before his announcement though.
Either way - Trae is a great kid that has worked his arse off to get to where he is.
More to come…
and feel free to post anything you guys find on the interwebs.
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Another thing to remember is that while some of these kids enjoy or at least can handle the spotlight aspect of recruiting, there are a lot of kids that are shy and really don’t enjoy the other side of the recruiting (i.e. interviews, questions from strangers, etc.). Basketball is their safe space, they have no issue playing on the court, but don’t really want to deal with too many strangers off the floor.
I’ve seen and known several kids like that over the years. They tend, like Allen did, to stay closer to home where they already have a good support system of people they can trust around them. Some of these kids are just naturally introverted and, were it not for their incredible athletic skills, they would likely just fade into the background.
Sometimes they get labeled as the “dumb jock” because they don’t talk much during interviews, but they are not necessarily unintelligent, they just don’t like speaking in public. Heck, I was a pretty articulate kid when I was in high school, but I didn’t like talking to strangers if I hadn’t prepared something to say.
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@justanotherfan Larry Bird!
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FYI KU isn’t recruiting Kevin Knox.
Duval has already said his interest in KU will be over if Young picks KU…
MJ Walker, well it seems like we got our foot in the door with him. Staying home seems like the popular thought with him. So far has only visited Florida St so the longer that plays out, the better chance they have.
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@justanotherfan said:
Simply put, I think Young goes to Oklahoma because the Kansas backcourt is exceptionally crowded whether Graham stays or goes, and will be even more crowded if he stays.
But your not talking about the position which Young plays-PG. Newman was brought into be what he is, a scorer and ball handler. Mason is gone, we need a point guard.
Why would there be so much emphasis from coach on getting another PG if he didn’t need one?
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Saw Allen looking at the score board after the game and I was wondering what he was thinking. Being an elite athlete, quiet or not, sucks to lose, over and over…
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He probably didn’t think they would struggle so much.
Most of their struggles are coaching related. I know they lack a point guard and their leading scorer was suspended mid-season but they have been competitive in games. Andrew Jones is an NBA player as well. Shaka is failing with talent
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@justanotherfan said:
Another thing to remember is that while some of these kids enjoy or at least can handle the spotlight aspect of recruiting, there are a lot of kids that are shy and really don’t enjoy the other side of the recruiting (i.e. interviews, questions from strangers, etc.). Basketball is their safe space, they have no issue playing on the court, but don’t really want to deal with too many strangers off the floor.
I’ve seen and known several kids like that over the years. They tend, like Allen did, to stay closer to home where they already have a good support system of people they can trust around them. Some of these kids are just naturally introverted and, were it not for their incredible athletic skills, they would likely just fade into the background.
I think Allen is a natural introvert. He played at a small high school, basically neglected being recruited like a top kid and wanted to stay close to home. He’ll make money at the next level, will be interesting to see if his character holds him back from being more than a big that gets a paycheck.
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If you can get a Young or Duval, you do it because those are elite level players. You don’t have to get those guys, but if they want to come, you take them because you don’t turn down elite skill players.
I agree with you on Allen being an introvert. I don’t think he will be a star in the NBA because of that, but I do think he can succeed because he will be a perfect off the bench guy. Because he’s quiet, he won’t cause a stir in the lockerroom, but he has more than enough talent to help a team out. I could see him carving out a 12-15 year career as a backup big that scores near double figures, but never jumps to the elite level.
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I thought that Newman came to KU to become a PG since he is not tall enough to play SG in the NBA. I would be interested to know if someone knows what position he has been playing during practice as it would shed some light on where he will be playing next season.
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Quote from when he signed.
Newman said Self and his staff sold him on the opportunity to be a playmaker in the backcourt.
“They just said they want me to get back to the player I was,” Newman said. “I told the staff that I don’t need to play the point. They just want me to handle the ball, make plays and make the team better. That’s what they sold me on.”
Another
Noted Self: “In our opinion, Malik was a top-five player coming out of high school. He’s a combo guard that has good size, can really shoot the ball and stretch it. There are things he needs to get better at, but the year off will allow him to address things that the NBA people wanted to see more of out of him.”
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I would think the NBA wants to see him play PG, he just does not have the build to play SG in the NBA…in college ? Yes, in the NBA? No.
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He’ll get the chance to have the ball in his hand if a NBA career is what he wants. We have seen Mason/Graham/Jackson this year handling the ball. Newman is not a natural passer, he has been a score first guard his entire career.
Are we just looking for reasons to say Young won’t be coming here because this player or that player needs to run point? Wouldn’t KU be out of the running if the point position wasn’t available to him?
The same pitch was given to Duval, who has relayed to the media that KU was looking for a point guard to come in and play right away.
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Not at all. I believe that Young would be a better PG than Newman, but if Newman wants to play in the League it will likely be as PG. Remember Mario? he was turnover machine when he played PG as a freshman and Jeff Hawkins and Russ Rob played PG, He played some PG but at KU he was primarily a SG and dropped to the second round in the draft, after a great Junior year and a National Championship where he was the hero, but had to learn to be a PG to play in the League.
Hopefully tomorrow around this time, things will become clearer.
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I do agree that if Malik Newman wants to play in the NBA its most likely at PG even though that isn’t his natural position. He just happens to be a tweener in size for the average SG. He doesn’t have elite athleticism or wingspan so much like Trae Young he has to perfect other area’s of his game. Newman wouldn’t even be at KU today if he had the right measurable’s for the NBA. He can score and shoot the 3 so those are things that fit in perfectly in the new-age KU offense.
Hopefully what the staff wants from Malik and what Malik wants from himself can coexist. Usually Self does great with getting both of those factors to mesh well. We know Devonte is a great teammate but maybe their is a part of him that wishes he had Frank’s role? I would hope that if Young signs with KU, that Malik is perfectly okay with another guard joining and possibly taking the role that Mason is leaving behind. Or vice versa, Young will be okay with playing off the ball with his elite shooting ability. I think the way Self has been showcasing his guards of late makes who’s 1A and 1B a non issue.
Yes I hope tomorrow gives us some clarity on the situation.
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I have a younger brother who is a senior at OU and he just texted me and said he has heard from some Oklahoma HS coaches that Young will pick OU. Not sure how reliable the people he has heard from are… Everything I’ve read and heard I still think Trae will pick KU. Rock Chalk!
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FYI Ryan on 247 just CB’d Young to KU based on intel he got… He is a career pessimistic person on recruits and was the first to give us the intel on Marcus Garrett from this cycle.
FWIW, I’m thinking Kansas based on the little bit of intel I got today. Enough that I changed my CB pick back to Kansas. I know you guys don’t like the CB though.
So both people connected to this situation from KU says its KU…
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@BeddieKU23 I don’t know WHAT to think anymore, It’s just all over the place - - KU - - OU – OU - -KU , ya know.? I would love to have Trae, but have come to the realization you know what? - - If we get him - -we get him, I’m just ready for this to be done. If we don’t, we will still be just fine when it is all said and done. - -I have complete confidence in Coach. If he doesn’t come, I think we can patchwork through well enough till the following year, I think we will land a nice PG for sure the next year.
Again I would love to land Trae, - -HOWEVER I’ve bounced back and forth on my thinking on this, and I think in the end run I just have to say I think he is going to OU. - -That’s my last pick, hope I’m wrong, part of me still says I feel I might be wrong, but then on the other side of the fence, my guy just says now OU - he is crazy if he does, but that’s my prejudice of being KU, I think in the end MaMa wins out, She really wants him to stay home - - -She would settle if she had too but in her heart she wants him at OU - -so be it- -play in half full lifeless arena’s -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@dylans IF he is an alpha, then he shouldnt be afraid to make whichever choice he has in mind. Just speaking in general terms, right?
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I know we now have the last FIVE CB picks for Trae, but we all know that’s the CB. I mean that makes it look better for us, cause usually when we are this late in the commitment , usually these guys have picked up something or heard something - -the ol where there is smoke there is fire, but I made a final predict Trae to OU so gonna man up and stay with it - -not jumping the fence again. GOD I hope I’m wrong. the CB now shows KU 56% OU 36%
The last 5 CB picks: - - -Ryan Noel, Chris Bunn, Matt Agnoli, Josh Stirn, forgot the fifth one, also Jerry Meyer says Trae to KU - -we shall see - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@BeddieKU23 Ya your right I know, I’m just little mr negative Nellie I guess, I mean either way we will be ok in the end run. BUT sure would be nice. - -Going to the OU boards see what those chumps are saying now lol - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Since Duvall said we’d be off the list if young picked KU, was he going to pick us? Why not pick us first? Did coach tell him we wanted young first?
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@kjayhawks Good points. One thing, I seem to recall Russell Robinson as a top25 (“22nd ranked” guard) coming out Rice H.S. I think I saw recently online that he was a McDonalds All American. I recall as a frosh, when Self played him, he’d slash to the rim with East Coast toughness, I referred to him as a mini-Langford. I think he scored 22ppg in h.s…
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RussRob was scorer in HS and changed his role to that of a facilitator at KU, and without him, KU does not win it all in '08. One of my favorite KU players of all time.
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Good question.
I know there are many out there that believe Duval is better than Young and those people may be right but Self has been after Young for years so I’m sure they didn’t want to jeopardize their position with him by taking Duval first.
Plus I don’t think Duval was in any position to end his recruitment when he visited here. He’s taking advantage of his visits, that’s why he went and saw the Duke/UNC game and is going to Arizona soon as well.
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No worries, I’m sticking by my belief that he ends up here. We need him more, we have the position open for him. So if he picks the opposite so be it, its his choice but I’ll disagree. I hope its a happy thursday around 1pm
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@JayHawkFanToo Yep. And he knew by not putting up stats & becoming more offensively polished while in college, it would cost him in his chances at the NBA. He did get some tryouts, but was an nbaDL player for couple yrs. He added a silky smooth nba-range 3 a couple of yrs after graduating. He and Billy Thomas teamed up one summer in the camp games at KU to literally run the then-KU-team outta the gym (RR bombing deep 3s, and Billy Thomas in his early 30s putting on an MJ impersonation). It was that display that convinced me RR was correct that shelving his college offense stats would hurt his nba chances. If he could shoot like that in college, like Mario, he might have stuck in the L as he may have gotten more opps.
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Just to give perspective, I think RR is 31yrs old now. At least he’s been earning mid-6figs US$ in Europe for several yrs now, again a mini-Langford…
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Well of course on the Oklahoma Boards they are feeling pretty cocky - -confident, saying they are getting news from reliable sources that Tare is going to pick Ou, said they have talked to the moderators off KU sites saying that Trae is going to OU. - It’s all just a big he said , she said, they said lol. - Then they talk about the CB’s and trending to Ku, but saying well the one’s that had their CB pick for UK and the Trae elimanated them felt like they needed to change their pick to another blue blood and these people know nothing. - -They say Eric Bossi said Trae was going to pick OU, let’s get this over with - - JUMPIN – -GEE - -HOSSA - -FATS - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@jayballer54 Win or lose, it isn’t life threatening. I think we’ll get him. I already called it.
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@KUSTEVE me too
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Me three…
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When a fan base gets too cocky about predicting a recruit win, it often backfires.
It shows arrogance and a disrespect to the recruit… after all, it is the recruit that decides… not a fan base.
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@KUSTEVE EXACTLY BUD,that’s what I ended up saying. Would be great to get him BUT if we don’t in the end run, we gonna be just fine. The sun still come up in the East and will sit in the West lol. - -I have all the confidence Coach self will always find that guy. - - - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@drgnslayr Very very true - - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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I hope Trae becomes a Jayhawk, but ultimately, whatever is best for him is the right decision for me, too.
I think he would make an excellent Jayhawk!
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@drgnslayr ya, just read of the shiver that Gerry Meyer which is the guru from 247 said all the buzz he is hearing now is for the underdog OU, Eric Bossi pretty big name from rivals is saying OU, and Jeff przsbello well know is saying OU, it’s all right though we are going to be just fine - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@Fightsongwriter said:
Three bucketeers, including me, want the Young B- day present. Either way, I hope you have a great Feb 16. The Big 5-0 for me. Go Hawks!
Mere youngster! 61 is where it’s at! Hope we all have a Happy Day. Feeling Young-er all the time!
Didn’t see these posts until today because there were so many flying in the Trae thread. Thanks to @Crimsonorblue22 for looking out for me!
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@ralster Right, but I can understand not wanting to hurt others as his decision will to some extent. A boon to one program a bust to another. KU will be fine either way, but I’d sure like this kid to lead KU the next couple of years.
I’m just saying you can be considerate off the court and be an alpha on it. We shall see. I hope to see additional high character guys on the roster to balance out some of the recent bad crap.
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I wouldn’t be surprised if we got a transfer to play PG for us next year if both Young and Duval pass up on us. It’s an attractive opportunity to be the starting PG at KU and someone is going to be willing to change schools to get it. Hopefully it won’t come down to that, though.
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Only a junior that graduates early or a senior that had to sit or red-shirt one year and can graduate would be eligible to play immediately and there are not many of those avaiable; all others would have to sit one year.
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@cjbooth38 awesome avi! Welcome!
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@KUSTEVE If kusteve called it, we learned Monday we ought to go to Vegas and plunk down some greenbacks.
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Crystal Ball within the last 20 mins has all gone OU’s way with Matt Scott and Jerry Meyer now picking OU.
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@chsguy2008 all of them?
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@chsguy2008 yep look like for sure time to raise the white flag – I just don’t get it, but something must of leaked for Jerry meyer to change his predict to OU and Matt from the shiver going OU, matt has been in pretty tight with this - -It’s a done deal and Ryan Noel who had just predicted to Ku is NOW back to foggy and then another pretty big predictor Andrew slater predicting OU - -and all I have to say is - -S - - - . this year has NOT been very good in our recruiting for sure, losing a lot of players. - - dam, - - dam, - -dam - -well we better get our act together - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@jayballer54 Time to throw all our horses at Duval or hope to find a transfer PG. I wonder what has happened within the last 24-48 hours maybe DG said he is coming back or maybe Young just wanted to go to OU and was finally able to get his dad onboard with that. Anyhow on to he next guy!
@Crimsonorblue22 all that have out predictions in which include Ryan Noel, Matt Scott, Jerry Meyer, and Andrew Slater
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54% OU, 38% KU, link here…. FWIF, I really don’t pay much attention to it.
