2019 Recruiting
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Gabriel was coming off the bench for them this year, so I don’t see that being an issue for him next year.
Wynward was suspended last year anyway, and had discussed transferring, so he was on his way out as well. Washington is leaving. That leaves SKJ and Vanderbilt (got hurt, so he’s probably coming back), plus Richards, Gabriel and Montgomery. They also have Jemarl Baker coming in (missed the whole season with injury). He should help with their shooting issues. UK has the advantage that Calipari has shown that even guys coming off the bench can get drafted, so guys aren’t going to be as worried about starting as they would other places.
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dylans said:
I was impressed with Underwood at OSU. Wish he was still in the Big12, but the guy OSU hired seems to have Bill’s blessing (2 gifted w’s imho) and isn’t too shabby so far.
Next year is going to be very rough for both the Okie schools. If Bill loses to OSU next year I’ll be fully convinced LOL.
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@justanotherfan It’s a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy though. If Self had a completely stacked roster like Cal he would have bench players drafted more often too.
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Wynyard was injured (back) and out for the year and got suspended on top of that. Kid seems to be a walking headache and not worth the aggravation.
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Self has had McDs AA’s come off the bench for him (or barely play). That’s what hurts a kid coming to KU. Look at a guy like Sam Cunliffe. He’s not a guy that was in line to be drafted by the NBA, but he played 74 total minutes this season. Once Self decides he’s not going to play you, you just don’t see the floor. And that’s on a team that was desperate for depth. And Cunliffe still couldn’t get off the bench even when this team was struggling.
If you’re a recruit and you see that, it makes you think twice. That’s Self’s style. He’s going to cut his rotation down and play those seven or eight guys. Calipari will keep a larger rotation, and will play nine or ten guys, so it’s easier for him to stack a roster. KU has a pretty loaded roster next year, but I guarantee that only eight of those guys see any kind of time. That makes it less attractive for more guys to come, particularly if you know that there are veterans in front of you, since Self has a tendency to go to those guys.
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Kcmatt7 said:
EJ Montgomery to UK means one of their post players is gone imo. It could honestly be any of the posts still on the roster. But 40 minutes to feed 6 mouth doesn’t seem like it is going to work. Honestly, I sort of expect two of them to be gone. None of those guys is going to be ok sitting.
I agree there. Someone is going. Washington is going through the process with a bum thumb I believe. Needs surgery but they are putting off until after combine. Have heard Gabriel could leave to pursue pro contract somewhere. Vanderbilt is a wildcard. Would seem Cal recruited over him with EJ
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@justanotherfan I just don’t see PJ leaving. He is a skinny 6’7 PF that can’t stretch the floor at all and is a liability defensively. I just am not seeing the NBA intrigue. If he doesn’t leave, I just don’t see how Cal can keep 6 guys happy. No way no how. Especially when 2 of them are Juniors. Gabriel isn’t going to want to come off of the bench for his entire career. He was a top 15 recruit. Same for SKJ, he was a top 25 recruit. Vanderbilt is not coming off of the bench or playing fewer than 25 minutes without becoming a lockerroom disaster. Richards camp isn’t happy I’m sure. He went from a projected lottery pick to the last Big off of the bench at the end of the season. I don’t know what they are thinking, but I am sure that they won’t be happy playing only 14 mpg again.
At the very least, PJ is leaving you may be right. But he isn’t on a single mock draft I have seen. If he comes back, you are telling me that you really believe Cal will be able to keep 6 top post recruits happy on the same roster with only 40 minutes to split?
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Should also be noted that Montgomery can slide up a position and play the 3 a bit (can shoot and handle), so that unclogs the interior some because if you only have 4.5 guys, that gives you more options.
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@justanotherfan No he cannot.
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Is nobody curious how Bryce Drew went from Valpo to Vandy and somehow turned himself into a top 5 recruiter after two not great years? I just saw he was in play with Montgomery at the end still. If he pulls the Langford coup, my goodness. Just haven’t seen anything like it.
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@justanotherfan Cunliffe was severely overrated (money helps) and Hurley was done with his act. Sometimes, it’s not the coach.
That said Cunliffe is saying the right things now. He’s been terrible in games obviously, and I’ve seen it mentioned that he isn’t any better in practice.
I’ll be very interested to see if he toughs it out at KU. He, like Preston, has been a kid that quits and moves on when the going gets tough.
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@justanotherfan I do agree with your overall point about Self’s playing rotations though.
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Kcmatt7 said:
@justanotherfan No he cannot.
Cal is dumb enough to play that big though, he’s done it before.
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Wonder if UK is going back to “platoons?”
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@FarmerJayhawk lmao
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@BShark I sure hope he’s that dumb. Best way to ruin a team with the perimeter play they potentially have would be to not use it lol.
He is the biggest f-ing hypocrite too. He would do it and then play at a pace slower than ever after just this year talking about how he hates when teams play slow.
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Preston was never going to play at KU, so it is no surprise that he left. That’s not a case of the going getting tough. That’s a case of coming to the end of the road.
As for Cunliffe, I wouldn’t say he’s been terrible. I would say he’s been uneven, but hasn’t played enough to really grade out. Now I have not been at practice, so I trust if other people say he hasn’t been good in practice, he hasn’t been good. Cunliffe had a five game stretch where he played 20 minutes, 9 minutes, DNP, 9 minutes, 11 minutes. That’s 49 of the 74 minutes he played all season in five games (including a DNP). In that stretch he shot 9-19, had 22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and two turnovers. Those are not great numbers, but they are not so bad as to be unplayable. Cunliffe didn’t play more than six minutes in a game after that, and, after playing in the next two games, never played in back to back games after that. It’s basically impossible to evaluate a player when they play that little.
I wouldn’t fault Cunliffe if he were to transfer out. He didn’t play last year (wasn’t really given much of an opportunity) and he likely won’t play next year. Dropping down to Division 2 would give him an opportunity to prove himself and have a chance for a pro career overseas.
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@justanotherfan Wasn’t referring to KU with Preston. The kid was at 3 or 4 different high schools, I forget the total. Preston’s mom is pretty much psychotic though, so it’s hard to fault him too much.
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I really like Cunliffe’s potential. As a solid role player in the future. Kind of put him there with Moore. I hope he finishes college here and never starts and is just a really solid sub for two years. He needs to redshirt this season though if Ochai isn’t at least.
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@Kcmatt7 Yeah if Cunliffe sticks around and another guard is added (likely) that is 7 guards/wings not even counting KJ. That screams someone should redshirt. If Cunliffe really wants to stick around he could be a candidate.
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Kcmatt7 said:
Is nobody curious how Bryce Drew went from Valpo to Vandy and somehow turned himself into a top 5 recruiter after two not great years? I just saw he was in play with Montgomery at the end still. If he pulls the Langford coup, my goodness. Just haven’t seen anything like it.
It definitely raises suspicion.
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Just noticed on Twitter, Jalen Romande Green at 4:40 PDT “blessed to receive an offer from the University of Kansas.” 2020 shooting guard. 6’5” SG out of Fresno CA.
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I don’t know whether either of these developments will ultimately make the difference but I have been seeing and hearing that UConn’s new assistant coach has a good relationship with Precious Achiuwa and they are pushing for him hard.
Another one, Matthew Hurt. With Mike Miller being hired at Memphis who has a relationship with Matthew and his father they could be getting into his recruitment
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@BeddieKU23 I think KU will prioritize Hurt over Achiuwa. I’m hopeful that Hurt commits early. JRE too actually.
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@BShark it would be very telling if both of them committed early. Would make me think both Lawsons are here for one season only.
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@Kcmatt7 I think KJ sticks around.
Dedric and Doke will be gone. That’s two spots. Just Duke that shit. Hurt, JRE, Silvio, McCormack, KJ, Mitch…
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BShark said:
@BeddieKU23 I think KU will prioritize Hurt over Achiuwa. I’m hopeful that Hurt commits early. JRE too actually.
tough choosing. Hurt might be the better College Player especially since he might stay more then a year. Achiuwa is that prototype forward for the NBA… No way he’s staying more then 1, way too good
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I realize I’m probably in a minority and I sure hope I’m wrong but the thing is with this one Hurt , I just get this weird feeling we won’t end up landing him. I mean I really don’t have much if anything really to back it up , I mean KU is sounding like we are doing all the right things with him - really on him hard and everything it’s just for some reason I just don’t get that feel like I have with some others from the past such as Grimes & Dotson - even when Dotson’s recruitment became a hot thing/rumor saying oh look out for Florida - through that I still though Dotson was ours.
With Hurt I’m just getting that opposite feeling for some reason - -might come down to the end but I think two things with him - -He either just ends up wanting to stay in State to strongly and play for Minnesota -or as like what has just been mentioned with the New addition at Memphis and the connection he has with Hurt and his dad - may land in Memphis. - -Yet I don’t think so , - -my gut feel right now tells me - -he stays home , like I said nothing really solid as to why - just gut feeling , same feeling as like when a woman knows she is pregnant lol I reckon - hope I’m wrong - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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I highly doubt he stays home. His brother is decent but the Hurt family knows Matthew is on a different trajectory.
Self is after this one like a hawk. Duke will be in it until the end as well and we haven’t won many battles with them H2H. I consider them the biggest threat, however Duke people don’t think he’s a likely commit at this point either.
Indiana & UNC are also recruiting him as priorities. Memphis as you mentioned could join this. Kentucky offered late but they are kicking the tires.
KU just has to keep consistent and keep on it. This one doesn’t feel like its ending anytime soon
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@BeddieKU23 Good points. Like I said I REALLY don’t have anything to back my thoughts really other then just this certain feel , I actually think like you mentioned that OL Roy might be more of a factor also with him then Duke on this one - and I know he is one of our top targets hope it turns out for us. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@BeddieKU23 JRE is a multi year guy, barring a phenomenal season right?
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jayballer73 said:
@BeddieKU23 Good points. Like I said I REALLY don’t have anything to back my thoughts really other then just this certain feel , I actually think like you mentioned that OL Roy might be more of a factor also with him then Duke on this one - and I know he is one of our top targets hope it turns out for us. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
I think UNC is definitely a factor as well.
I expect this recruitment to have some twists- like the Memphis thing now. Penny has some momentum until he loses games (LOL).
The general consensus is that KU leads and certainly has put in miles already with him. We also stand to have a starting spot for him. I’m feeling pretty good with him right now
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Kcmatt7 said:
@BeddieKU23 JRE is a multi year guy, barring a phenomenal season right?
I’ll have to watch JRE this summer but I always thought he was a 3-4 year guy. I don’t think he’ll rise in rankings, probably end in the 30’s… Right in the wheelhouse for 3-4 contributor
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BeddieKU23 said:
BShark said:
@BeddieKU23 I think KU will prioritize Hurt over Achiuwa. I’m hopeful that Hurt commits early. JRE too actually.
tough choosing. Hurt might be the better College Player especially since he might stay more then a year. Achiuwa is that prototype forward for the NBA… No way he’s staying more then 1, way too good
If Hurt is willing to stay 2 years it’s a no brainer imo. His parents seem to be taking a very practical approach.
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Duke people still don’t think Hurt leaves the midwest. I’m hoping Self’s time with Hurt this summer seals the deal.
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@BeddieKU23 Hurt is starting anywhere he goes I think that is a non-issue. KU has visited him about a million times already and it’s not even his SR year.
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BShark said:
Duke people still don’t think Hurt leaves the midwest. I’m hoping Self’s time with Hurt this summer seals the deal.
Ding Ding we have a winner!
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Hagans to UK in 2018.
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@BeddieKU23 Feels like Self had been waiting to do this USA thing until the right time.
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@BShark Maybe that post belongs here. But I don’t see how Quade Green stays at this point.
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@Kcmatt7 Firmly recruited over twice. Lol.
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that’s an oucharoni
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I’d be pissed if I was Tyler Herro.
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@BeddieKU23 Should have stayed at Wisconsin. Would have been a star there.
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BShark said:
@BeddieKU23 Should have stayed at Wisconsin. Would have been a star there.
Haggans is really good but he can’t shoot worth a beans. I still don’t see Kentucky being great unless Vanderbilt and Washington return.
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@BShark You would think that would have to be a big bonus for him on top of any others that might be there just like your friend and mind at Kentucky had lol
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Just looking at the projected depth chart for the 2019 season:
- PG: Dotson - Jacobs - moore
- SG: Grimes/Top Recruit SG - Agbaji
- SF - Garrett - KJ
- PF - KJ - Hurt - JRE - Mitch
- C - De Sousa - Big Dave
I actually think that works PT wise as long as Hurt is ok getting his 25 minutes coming off of the bench. I am worried about the Lawson clan getting pissed if KJ doesn’t start. Of course, that could all be solved if SDS is leaving early. I would love to know who the staff thinks is here after next season.
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Kcmatt7 said:
Just looking at the projected depth chart for the 2019 season:
- PG: Dotson - Jacobs - moore
- SG: Grimes/Top Recruit SG - Agbaji
- SF - Garrett - KJ
- PF - KJ - Hurt - JRE - Mitch
- C - De Sousa - Big Dave
I actually think that works PT wise as long as Hurt is ok getting his 25 minutes coming off of the bench. I am worried about the Lawson clan getting pissed if KJ doesn’t start. Of course, that could all be solved if SDS is leaving early. I would love to know who the staff thinks is here after next season.
It looks like we could have big man “good problems to have” next year as well. I think we get an impact wing and impact guard. NBA scouts seem to love Grimes. I think he impresses enough to go
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As of now I’d say Grimes is the only guard likely to leave. Langford if he ends up here as well of course.
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@BeddieKU23 Anyone remember that last year around this time we thought we might have problems dividing time among all our bigs? Dwight, the Stache, Dok, Mitch, Billy…let’s just hope the sensation of deja vu stops here!
