Nick Declares And Staying In Draft

[Shaudylo]

It’s just amazing losing 3 possibly 4 guys who stock is in the 50s or undrafted . That’s unbelievable . At first I didn’t think this Covid **** really factored into it but I wonder if the uncertainty played a decision with IQ or Nick . I believe Hagans was leaving regardless .

 

[STL_Cat]

We have question marks at PG and center next year. These wing guys better be as good as advertised.

 

[RoyKent]

It’s just amazing losing 3 possibly 4 guys who stock is in the 50s or undrafted . That’s unbelievable . At first I didn’t think this Covid **** really factored into it but I wonder if the uncertainty played a decision with IQ or Nick . I believe Hagans was leaving regardless .

6 guys will be leaving early and only 1 is likely to be a 1st round pick. Very frustrating.

 

[sosoblue]

I'm happy for big Nick. He put the work in and did not give up on Kentucky and the coaching staff. I support his decision to declare.

 

[Canned Heat]

you can update the thread title to HE GONE

 

[RoyKent]

We have question marks at PG and center next year. These wing guys better be better than advertised.

Fixed it for you

 

[dckala2_rivals16641]

I don’t get it with these fringe players this year.

This nba season could extend to The fall. no summer league, no combines, no normal draft process. Stay at your school and let this **** work out over the next year.

Can’t have Clarke and Boston fall into the skal type or its nit bound.

 

[UK90]

Don’t most teams have two centers and two power forwards? Haarms and Richards as the 5’s, Ware and Jackson as the 4’s

You're dreaming. Haarms is not gonna expend his final year of eligibility at a place where he'll be a backup.

Our center position next year will Nick or Haarms or neither. But there's no way we'll have both.

 

[Shaudylo]

6 guys will be leaving early and only 1 is likely to be a 1st round pick. Very frustrating.

I forgot about Whitney . Hell technically he counts . I didn’t even count Juzang leaving . Crazy times

 

[STL_Cat]

6 guys will be leaving early and only 1 is likely to be a 1st round pick. Very frustrating.

goodness gracious ... yikes

 

[coryrusso]

Nick's a great guy and I hope he does amazing in the NBA but as a UK fan it really sucks to lose the whole team.

 

[UKWildcatT]

6 guys will be leaving early and only 1 is likely to be a 1st round pick. Very frustrating.

and this is what’s frustrating the normal fan so much.

 

[STL_Cat]

It’s one thing to lose a bunch of 1st rounders every year. It’s always a bit of a gut punch but understandable. Losing a group of underclassmen projected as 2nd round picks is hard to swallow.

 

[RoyKent]

I forgot about Whitney . Hell technically he counts . I didn’t even count Juzang leaving . Crazy times

goodness gracious ... yikes

and this is what’s frustrating the normal fan so much.

And I wasn't counting EJ. If he leaves it's 7 guys (Hagans, IQ, Richards, Maxey, Whitney, Juzang, EJ)

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

It’s just amazing losing 3 possibly 4 guys who stock is in the 50s or undrafted . That’s unbelievable . At first I didn’t think this Covid **** really factored into it but I wonder if the uncertainty played a decision with IQ or Nick . I believe Hagans was leaving regardless .

I think these guys were going to leave regardless.

It just goes to show that we need either an abundance of returners, or an elite class of freshmen (or a mixture of the two, obviously). We're probably one stud away from serious title contention right now for next season. Getting someone like Kuminga would change that obviously, as leaning too much on two stud freshmen and a bunch of second tier newcomers is not a recipe for a title team.

 

[Shaudylo]

I think these guys were going to leave regardless.

It just goes to show that we need either an abundance of returners, or an elite class of freshmen (or a mixture of the two, obviously). We're probably one stud away from serious title contention right now for next season. Getting someone like Kuminga would change that obviously, as leaning too much on two stud freshmen and a bunch of second tier newcomers is not a recipe for a title team.

Even if we got Kuminga or Brown it’s still frustrating not returning any vets . If EJ returns which is funny that we are asking at this point I hope he makes a big jump like we seen with Nick and PJ.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

And I wasn't counting EJ. If he leaves it's 7 guys (Hagans, IQ, Richards, Maxey, Whitney, Juzang, EJ)

Reminds me the the exodus that happened after that "meh" 2018 team got finished off by Kansas State. We lost SGA, Knox, Vanderbilt, Diallo, Gabriel, SKJ, Wynyard, and ultimately Green, who transferred the next winter.

 

[UK90]

It’s one thing to lose a bunch of 1st rounders every year. It’s always a bit of a guy punch but understandable. Losing a group of underclassmen projected as 2nd round picks is hard to swallow.

Yep, this is what has really changed. This system made a lot more sense in Cal's early years back when the guys leaving were all first rounders.

But now it seems that a mere second round projection is all it takes. Hell, we've even got guys jumping who know they won't be drafted at all (see Briscoe, Gabriel, Humphries, probably EJ this year, etc.). That is the troubling new development.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Even if we got Kuminga or Brown it’s still frustrating not returning any vets . If EJ returns which is funny that we are asking at this point I hope he makes a big jump like we seen with Nick and PJ.

Yes, and no team in history has won a title without significant contributions from multiple upperclassmen. Not the 2012 UK team. Not the 2015 Duke team.

Can it happen? I suppose. But, if we count on a bunch of second tier freshmen ( our class of newcomers outside of Boston and Clarke) to play to their ceilings or above those ceilings, we're going to be in for a rude awakening.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

We have question marks at PG and center next year. These wing guys better be as good as advertised.

Point guard will be fine with Mintz and Askew.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

Yes, and no team in history has won a title without significant contributions from multiple upperclassmen. Not the 2012 UK team. Not the 2015 Duke team.

Can it happen? I suppose. But, if we count on a bunch of second tier freshmen ( our class of newcomers outside of Boston and Clarke) to play to their ceilings or above those ceilings, we're going to be in for a rude awakening.

Really

 

[kl40504_rivals]

and this is what’s frustrating the normal fan so much.

I look forward to seeing the new guys next year.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

Point guard will be fine with Wentz and Askew.

wentz?

 

[RoyKent]

If Boston and Clarke aren't everything (and then some) that people are expecting, next season could go south quickly.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Point guard will be fine with Wentz and Askew.

Maybe. It could also be the equivalent of having similar to Julius Mays and Quade Green in the backcourt.

We've seen in the past that guys who have a bunch of question marks regarding their instant impact tend to live up to the reality of those question marks. The SGAs of the world who come from out of nowhere are pretty rare. It's more reasonable to expect something close to what we got from our point guard play in 2019 from Hagans/IQ - an up-and-down collective contribution that couldn't really be counted on consistently.

 

[dckala2_rivals16641]

honestly, I want EJ to go. He will just be standing in the same spots that we will need the wings to be.

we need someone to rebound, and EJ doesn't like contact.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

If Boston and Clarke aren't everything (and then some) that people are expecting, next season could go south quickly.

And even if they are, you need more than two consistent legitimate players. We had two in 2018 with Knox and SGA and a supporting cast that I would rate as being better than next year (assuming our class is done if Haarms commits to UK). Those guys needed a third consistent option. We all hoped it would Diallo, but he fizzled out in the Sweet Sixteen.

We're going to need a third stud. People can inflate Brooks or Askew or Jackson or whoever, but we've seen this script before. The players who we expect to outperform realistic expectations rarely do so whereas the guys who we know will perform often do precisely that. Right now, we have two guys in the latter category.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

It’s just amazing losing 3 possibly 4 guys who stock is in the 50s or undrafted . That’s unbelievable . At first I didn’t think this Covid **** really factored into it but I wonder if the uncertainty played a decision with IQ or Nick . I believe Hagans was leaving regardless .

It seems to slide back further and further. At the beginning, we figured if a player wasn't in lottery, they were coming back. And then if it wasn't the 1st round. And then if it wasn't the top40 picks (as those first 10 often get contracts).. and now, it's if there's even a chance of getting drafted, you go.

And I still keep thinking "Is coming back to Kentucky for one year that unfathomable, that you'd roll the dice on even being able to PLAY professional ball?" Nick and IQ would for sure have draft positions, as both would be preseason POY candidates from the start.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

And even if they are, you need more than two consistent legitimate players. We had two in 2018 with Knox and SGA and a supporting cast that I would rate as being better than next year (assuming our class is done if Haarms commits to UK). Those guys needed a third consistent option. We all hoped it would Diallo, but he fizzled out in the Sweet Sixteen.

We're going to need a third stud. People can inflate Brooks or Askew or Jackson or whoever, but we've seen this script before. The players who we expect to outperform realistic expectations rarely do so whereas the guys who we know will perform often do precisely that. Right now, we have two guys in the latter category.

I suspect SOMEONE will take that 3rd spot. We have so many option it's almost impossible that one of Askew, Mintz, Ware, Jackson, Fletcher, Brooks don't show out. Granted, we'd prefer it for a big to be the one to do so.. but the chances are likely that SOMEONE plays to their ranking or better.

 

[STL_Cat]

Mintz is who he is. We better not be hoping for him to be our 3rd best player.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

It seems to slide back further and further. At the beginning, we figured if a player wasn't in lottery, they were coming back. And then if it wasn't the 1st round. And then if it wasn't the top40 picks (as those first 10 often get contracts).. and now, it's if there's even a chance of getting drafted, you go.

And I still keep thinking "Is coming back to Kentucky for one year that unfathomable, that you'd roll the dice on even being able to PLAY professional ball?" Nick and IQ would for sure have draft positions, as both would be preseason POY candidates from the start.

Not if they get serious injuries.

 

[STL_Cat]

Not if they get serious injuries.

How many times has this happened? Hardly ever.

 

[Yardeth]

Door slammed on Nick's career at UK. Good luck big guy and thanks for being a part of BBN.

 

[Shaudylo]

Yes, and no team in history has won a title without significant contributions from multiple upperclassmen. Not the 2012 UK team. Not the 2015 Duke team.

Can it happen? I suppose. But, if we count on a bunch of second tier freshmen ( our class of newcomers outside of Boston and Clarke) to play to their ceilings or above those ceilings, we're going to be in for a rude awakening.

Yup and they have to reach their ceiling . I like what I have seen but I always temper my expectations for incoming freshman .

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Not if they get serious injuries.

But what are the chances? We've heard this as a possibility, and there's always a chance. But it's so unlikely. What, maybe 8 or 10 power conference players have serious, season ending injuries, if that? No other athlete seems to run away from a potential injury like this. Which is why I'm not sure if it's even a factor.

Baseball players come back, with Tommy John surgery being more prevalent than a torn Achilles. Football players with head injuries and body punishment.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

How many times has this happened? Hardly ever.

IQ had a great year and his draft potential is probably at it's highest. Not much reason for him to come back other than to play some point.

 

[STL_Cat]

IQ had a great year and his draft potential is probably at it's highest. Not much reason for him to come back other than to play some point.

Maybe, maybe not. I’m not going crazy over him leaving but him coming back to potentially try to play his way into the 1st round certainly wouldn’t be a crazy thing to do.

 

[dlh331]

Reminds me the the exodus that happened after that "meh" 2018 team got finished off by Kansas State. We lost SGA, Knox, Vanderbilt, Diallo, Gabriel, SKJ, Wynyard, and ultimately Green, who transferred the next winter.

And we were one of the 3 best teams in the nation in 2019

 

[kl40504_rivals]

But what are the chances? We've heard this as a possibility, and there's always a chance. But it's so unlikely. What, maybe 8 or 10 power conference players have serious, season ending injuries, if that? No other athlete seems to run away from a potential injury like this. Which is why I'm not sure if it's even a factor.

Baseball players come back, with Tommy John surgery being more prevalent than a torn Achilles. Football players with head injuries and body punishment.

Baseball and football have no other choice but come back unless they are seniors. They are not eligible to go pro unless they have completed 3 years in college.

 

[Shaudylo]

It seems to slide back further and further. At the beginning, we figured if a player wasn't in lottery, they were coming back. And then if it wasn't the 1st round. And then if it wasn't the top40 picks (as those first 10 often get contracts).. and now, it's if there's even a chance of getting drafted, you go.

And I still keep thinking "Is coming back to Kentucky for one year that unfathomable, that you'd roll the dice on even being able to PLAY professional ball?" Nick and IQ would for sure have draft positions, as both would be preseason POY candidates from the start.

Yup that’s exactly how it’s been . We are a long way from losing a lot from a ream because they were first round picks