Draft Declarations Thread
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Declarations will probably pick up now that the season is over.
I imagine Brunson, Bridges, Wagner, and Newman will all declare with or without agents in the next few days. Quite a few others may test the waters.
It wouldn’t be the worst decision for guys like Azubuike and Dean Wade (KSU) to test the waters so they know where they specifically need to improve over the next year. That’s what Barry Brown is likely doing, and I think it is smart for a guy that may be a year away to test and get feedback. Because you can’t really have contact, most college players don’t have anyone they can talk to that can give them legitimate feedback and guidance. Vick should at least test the water for that reason. Even if he does return, he needs a specific list of things to work on so that he can round out his game to have the best possible opportunity in the pros.
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Kcmatt7 said:
@BShark I don’t think Self helps himself though. He trusts experienced players to a fault. Look how much of an impact De Sousa made when Self was forced to develop him.
Oubre, Cliff, Diallo and Bragg (not OAD, but probably could have been in the right circumstance I think) all got screwed coming here imo. Tons of talent that we just never unleashed.
Bill will forever be fitting square pegs into round holes. I’m not saying to go full Calipari and just hope your talent plays well enough to overcome poor strategy, but 3 out of those 4 should have been major impact players at the college level.
But then there are other guys that I think never were here mentally. Henry, Selby and Wiggs should never have played college ball. We weren’t even Henry’s or Selby’s first choice. So that definitely doesn’t help with buying in. Wiggs has literally never looked like he even likes playing basketball.
The only OAD that has seemed worth taking so far is JJ.
That’s the reason I like the recruits we have this season. Dotson De Sousa and Grimes would have to have monster years to be OAD. They have something to play for instead of these higher ranked guys that are just trying to make it through a year.
Overall I would agree.
Cliff was coming along before the suspension issue.
Oubre and Diallo were just about Self’s biggest failures at KU imo. Oubre played about as many minutes as Jamari, while Oubre was no worse than the third best player on that team. Self should have unleashed Oubre from the start, instead he stifled him and it hurt his development.
Grimes thinks he is OAD. He very well might be but I can see some struggles with him early. Dotson I think will be the man from day one. Very nice job by the staff getting a good class with good fits in an overall weak class.
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I will respectfully disagree on Oubre. Only Mason (36), Perry (34) and Selden (36) started more games than Oubre (27) and comparing his time with Traylor is not correct since Traylor was the starting Center sharing time with Lucas and Alexander and neither of them was that competent or experienced at the the time while Oubre was competing for time with Selden, Ellis, Svi and Green and yet he managed to average 21 mpg (more in conference play) and was the overall #15 pick in the draft after his freshman year. Perry, Selden, Mason, Graham and Green had all better 3 point shooting % than Oubre.
All things consider, a pretty successful year for Oubre.
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@JayHawkFanToo Oubre was never competing for time with Perry for PT really. I never remember a time where Ellis played the “3.” Oubre should have been playing 30mpg easy. His advanced stats are off the charts compared to all of the other guards. Had we let him play through mistakes and grow, I think he probably goes top 5 in the draft and leaves on a similar note as JJ. He was our best defender and most efficient scoring guard. He almost lead the team in steals despite the fact he played much less than any Frank or Selden.
He should have gotten all of Svi’s minutes that year. Svi was a 17 year old who could barely speak any English at that point. Yet he ate up 11 mpg.
I could not confidently say Oubre was handled correctly, or in the best way to maximize the team’s potential by the end of the season.
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Ethan Happ declares but won’t hire agent which probably means he’s back (fingers crossed) for his senior Badger season.
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@JayHawkFanToo Oubre was better than Selden that year. It wasn’t particularly close either.
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Kcmatt7 said:
@JayHawkFanToo Oubre was never competing for time with Perry for PT really. I never remember a time where Ellis played the “3.” Oubre should have been playing 30mpg easy. His advanced stats are off the charts compared to all of the other guards. Had we let him play through mistakes and grow, I think he probably goes top 5 in the draft and leaves on a similar note as JJ. He was our best defender and most efficient scoring guard. He almost lead the team in steals despite the fact he played much less than any Frank or Selden.
He should have gotten all of Svi’s minutes that year. Svi was a 17 year old who could barely speak any English at that point. Yet he ate up 11 mpg.
I could not confidently say Oubre was handled correctly, or in the best way to maximize the team’s potential by the end of the season.
Real talk right here.
I think Selden was playing nicked up that year which didn’t help.
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It is hard to tell whether Oubre was better than Selden since it a a subjective opinion but Selden had the advantage of an extra year in the system. Oubre’s numbers might be somewhat skewed because he did not play as much at the start of the season and his playing time increased as the season moved on. Both were All Big 12 Honorable Mention; Perry was First team and Mason Second team All Conference.
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@JayHawkFanToo In that case it’s kind of more impressive, because Oubre couldn’t compile stats against weak teams. Like what Vick did this year.
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I was referring to playing time, his scoring increased in proportion to the increased playing time.
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Oubre came on strong late. Bill himself said he should’ve played him more early in the season. Lesson learned. Water under the bridge.
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PJ Washington of Kentucky, no Agent
Isiah Moss of Iowa, no Agent
Kris Wilkes of UCLA, no Agent
Konate of West Virginia, no Agent
Zhaire Smith of Texas Tech, no Agent
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PJ Washington of Kentucky, no Agent
Isiah Moss of Iowa, no Agent
Kris Wilkes of UCLA, no Agent
Konate of West Virginia, no Agent
Zhaire Smith of Texas Tech, no Agent
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Smith is a projected first rounder everywhere I look.
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Surprising to see Kevin Knox reports about him being torn on whether to declare. A lotto pick if he leaves…
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Cal must want him back then.
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BShark said:
Cal must want him back then.
He sold his soul and told him he should come back to both Kevin and his dad. Seems like they are buying into it
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Cal getting desperate lol.
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@Kcmatt7 Yeah, the 18 class is pretty bad. Looks like he really won’t take a big this class so it will be interesting to see who goes and stays.
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@BShark Well let’s hope SGA, Washington and Knox all go. Then Green transfers. That would leave them with a rough group lol.
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@Kcmatt7 Rough by UK standards I suppose. Still a lot of talent. Post situation won’t change a ton either way.
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Kcmatt7 said:
Cal getting desperate lol.
I think I’ve read Cal has never returned his leading scorer since coaching Kentucky. I don’t know what to believe but there are some UK people believing he’s coming back…
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BShark said:
Yeah you have to go when you are projected top 5. Then again Bridges stayed. Something in the water up there I guess.
Has a player ever really improved his stock by coming back that was projected lottery after their freshman year. I remember Smart coming back and he dropped a bit, Bridges didn’t really improve his stock, Robert Williams didn’t either…
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BeddieKU23 said:
Kcmatt7 said:
Cal getting desperate lol.
I think I’ve read Cal has never returned his leading scorer since coaching Kentucky. I don’t know what to believe but there are some UK people believing he’s coming back…
Drugged by Cal.
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Auburn’s Mustapha Heron signing with an Agent
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Oregon’s Troy Brown signing with an Agent. No surprise there
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I could actually see Knox moving up to be a top 5 pick in 2019 if he returns. If he can improve his ball handling so that he can be a primary scorer at the next level, he’s a top 5 pick, particularly since the 2018 HS group isn’t exactly overwhelming. If Knox can make himself into a star at the next level, he should return and do that. If he can’t, he should go and be a role player now.
SGA probably leaves. Washington probably returns. UK is probably stacked if that happens. If SGA stays, look out. They are right on the level with KU and Duke.
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The only declaration I have is I have no clue who the acronyms stand for if they aren’t a KU guy.
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@dylans The problem with America today is there is way too much acronymony, er, acrimony.
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@dylans Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is SGA. The only reason I abbreviate his is because it is a lot to write every time lol.
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Looks like Cal’s magic is wearing out. For all the talent UK has accumulated it has only 1 NC to show. The UK forums after the loss to KSU were harsh; fans are tired of the OAD that does not benefit the program but only a handful of players and Cal’s reputation.
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@JayHawkFanToo But when UK had a bunch of players drafted that was the best day in UK basketball history according to Cal.
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It was great day for Cal but not necessarily for UK and fans are starting to realize it is not working that great for them.
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I don’t have to self ban, as expected.
http://www2.kusports.com/news/2018/apr/04/kansas-guard-malik-newman-enter-nba-draft/
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@BShark I like Malik, a lot! Gonna miss him. I hate this time of year.
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Crimsonorblue22 said:
@BShark I like Malik, a lot! Gonna miss him. I hate this time of year.
I would have loved him back as much as anyone but this is the correct decision for him and was, like I said, the worst kept secret in Lawrence.
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@BShark so does this leave us over 1 on schollies or back to even? Room for Romeo yet ?
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@Blown Full up (13) on scholarships as of right now. Vick should leave though, thus room for Romeo. There is room for Romeo either way though.
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Newman is gone.
http://www2.kusports.com/news/2018/apr/04/kansas-guard-malik-newman-enter-nba-draft/?mens_basketball
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Best of luck to Malik, I think he can be a serviceable back up in the NBA.
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BShark said:
Oubre and Diallo were just about Self’s biggest failures at KU imo. Oubre played about as many minutes as Jamari, while Oubre was no worse than the third best player on that team. Self should have unleashed Oubre from the start, instead he stifled him and it hurt his development.
Oubre with all of his talent was not playing good enough defense and Self sat his ass. It motivated him and it worked. Go look at the guys Cal at Kentucky doesnt get to quick enough in the short amount of he has. Self has run into that a couple of times too. Some kids take a bit longer to get it mentally. When they are considered one and done there is pressure, which Self will NEVER succumb to, to play them anyway.
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Duke’s Trevon Duval declares for NBA Draft @AdamZagoria
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Crimsonorblue22 said:
Duke’s Trevon Duval declares for NBA Draft @AdamZagoria
No shocker there. He didn’t really want to play college ball anyway.
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@FarmerJayhawk Quite frankly I was surprised he did.
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Jayhawks’ Malik Newman could go in first round, NBA execs say
Ok…Vick? Cunliffe? Since Newman declared, that opens up pt for Romeo. Look for Romeo to commit once Vick jumps or Cunliffe transfers.
Come on Romeo, commit already. Self will work out the paper.
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BShark said:
@FarmerJayhawk Quite frankly I was surprised he did.
Really? He was always a guy who was gone no matter what. It was Duke or overseas for him. Kid wants paid.
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@FarmerJayhawk No I mean I’m surprised he played in college. I was thinking he might go the Mudiay/TFerg route and play somewhere else for a year and get paid.
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BShark said:
@FarmerJayhawk No I mean I’m surprised he played in college. I was thinking he might go the Mudiay/TFerg route and play somewhere else for a year and get paid.
Ah gotcha. I was too. I figured he’d go with the UA to Australia pipeline.
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@kjayhawks I don’t know you well enough, but if that were from my lips “Serviceable NBA backup” it would have been dripping with sarcasm.
