Jackson gets Green Room invite

[GonzoCat90]

Sounds like good news.

Hope Cal can be there. Whatever you think of it, it absolutely played a factor in our recruiting success.

If we're getting the band back together and going to dominate recruiting again, draft night is part of it, and the program can use good pub right now.

 

[Dablueman]

Sounds like good news.

Hope Cal can be there. Whatever you think of it, it absolutely played a factor in our recruiting success.

If we're getting the band back together and going to dominate recruiting again, draft night is part of it, and the program can use good pub right now.

Wait tho! So your telling me a 6ft10 210 lb kid who was ranked as barely a 5star. In the low 20s can contribute on that level but we're doomed cause we didn't get Kofi cause Ot won't have a backup cause Collins who many claim is a better shot blocker and more athletic and is ranked at 10-12 can't contribute at 6ft10 210? Not be our best player but backup the 4 and 5 lmao

 

[P. Fanning]

Sounds like good news.

Hope Cal can be there. Whatever you think of it, it absolutely played a factor in our recruiting success.

If we're getting the band back together and going to dominate recruiting again, draft night is part of it, and the program can use good pub right now.

I have a good feeling Cal will be there. He's never met a camera he hasnt liked.

 

[BigKari]

Would be very on brand for Coach Cal to get a guy drafted Lotto after a 9 win season…

 

[BigKari]

I have a good feeling Cal will be there. He's never met a camera he hasnt liked.

And supporting his guys is his main emphasis..

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

Sounds like good news.

Hope Cal can be there. Whatever you think of it, it absolutely played a factor in our recruiting success.

If we're getting the band back together and going to dominate recruiting again, draft night is part of it, and the program can use good pub right now.

If this was 2007 I would agree more. Unfortunately the underbelly of college basketball is business now. Since the NBA drafts anywhere and anytime based on potential, I’m afraid Cals record with NBA players isn’t that useful of a recruiting tool inside of the elite freshman.

I’m sure it still matters within the top 15-50 range, but if they’re only coming for a season, it’s not usually going to be long enough to give us an incredible edge. In some cases it could hurt us in several ways.

You have to think, if it really mattered these days Cal would have never lost a single battle to coach K for an elite freshman. Talk about one of the worst places a player could go in this scenario. A man known to hold you back, berate you for leaving, and an advocate in favor of upperclassman.

I guess the publicity isn’t bad simply to keep the Kentucky name dominant in the minds of basketball circles during the NIL transition, but again it’s just a different time. Calipari’s draft night success was unprecedented, and it still led to him losing tons of recruiting battles to a coach known for the opposite. I think it’s proof that shoe company’s interests take precedent because of the NBA’s “potential factor”. Nike wanted Duke so many players went that route even though, as far as basketball itself, it never made sense. Zion is all the proof you need.

More than anything we need Nike at our back again.

 

[GonzoCat90]

If this was 2007 I would agree more. Unfortunately the underbelly of college basketball is business now. Since the NBA drafts anywhere and anytime based on potential, I’m afraid Cals record with NBA players isn’t that useful of a recruiting tool inside of the elite freshman.

I’m sure it still matters within the top 15-50 range, but if they’re only coming for a season, it’s not usually going to be long enough to give us an incredible edge. In some cases it could hurt us in several ways.

You have to think, if it really mattered these days Cal would have never lost a single battle to coach K for an elite freshman. Talk about one of the worst places a player could go in this scenario. A man known to hold you back, berate you for leaving, and an advocate in favor of upperclassman.

I guess the publicity isn’t bad simply to keep the Kentucky name dominant in the minds of basketball circles during the NIL transition, but again it’s just a different time. Calipari’s draft night success was unprecedented, and it still led to him losing tons of recruiting battles to a coach known for the opposite. I think it’s proof that shoe company’s interests take precedent because of the NBA’s “potential factor”. Nike wanted Duke so many players went that route even though, as far as basketball itself, it never made sense. Zion is all the proof you need.

More than anything we need Nike at our back again.

There were absolutely bigger factors at play because Cal never stopped doing right by his guys and preparing pros better than anyone.

I just think this is a transitional moment. NIL is huge, K is retiring, Capel is gone, Antigua is back. John Calipari made himself by capitalizing on transitional moments better than his peers and if he's going to be who he wants to be historically, he's got a chance to do it one last time.

I'm not saying that hinges on him being in the green room. Just that the door is ajar and he's more likely to kick it off the hinges if he's lurking outside it.

I want the skinny, good hair, tailored suits, glad-handing, product-selling, cut-your-throat-when-the-camera-turns-off guy back. He's got a chance to return if he wants to take it.

I'm betting on that ego one last time.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

Sounds like good news.

Hope Cal can be there. Whatever you think of it, it absolutely played a factor in our recruiting success.

If we're getting the band back together and going to dominate recruiting again, draft night is part of it, and the program can use good pub right now.

Completely agree. He seems like a great kid and represented the team well. I hate that this year had to be the way that he experienced being a player for of UK.

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

There were absolutely bigger factors at play because Cal never stopped doing right by his guys and preparing pros better than anyone.

I just think this is a transitional moment. NIL is huge, K is retiring, Capel is gone, Antigua is back. John Calipari made himself by capitalizing on transitional moments better than his peers and if he's going to be who he wants to be historically, he's got a chance to do it one last time.

I'm not saying that hinges on him being in the green room. Just that the door is ajar and he's more likely to kick it off the hinges if he's lurking outside it.

I want the skinny, good hair, tailored suits, glad-handing, product-selling, cut-your-throat-when-the-camera-turns-off guy back. He's got a chance to return if he wants to take it.

I'm betting on that ego one last time.

Thats the one thing I’m hoping for too. I think all coaches at some point have to make a transition. This would be it for Cal. And bringing Antigua back in is a good sign.

I don’t really think the perception that we are the “place of the pros” hurts us at all. I just wish it was the same way it was for UNC during the 80’s and 90’s. They were able to really live off of that label, and really, it’s not even close to Calipari’s method because they were just names associated with UNC. Cal and UK sort of made a name for preparing and creating professionals at young ages. I don’t think he’d lose a single recruiting battle if this were 1999.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Completely agree. He seems like a great kid and represented the team well. I hate that this year had to be the way that he experienced being a player for of UK.

Absolutely. On a team where everyone else was who they were supposed to be, he'd have been a game-changer. You can win a title with a guy like him in the paint.

Shame he didn't have the help, but I'm glad it didn't mess up his own situation.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Thats the one thing I’m hoping for too. I think all coaches at some point have to make a transition. This would be it for Cal. And bringing Antigua back in is a good sign.

I don’t really think the perception that we are the “place of the pros” hurts us at all. I just wish it was the same way it was for UNC during the 80’s and 90’s. They got to really live off of that label, and really, it’s not even close to Calipari’s method because they were just names associated with UNC. Cal and UK sort of made a name for preparing and creating professionals at young ages. I don’t think he’d lose a single recruiting battle if this were 1999.

Totally agree.

A friend of mine compared it to social media. Said Cal was MySpace, the first guy to do it, did it the right way for the right reasons, everyone had fun, and he made a name for himself.

Then Facebook (Duke) came along and did it the corporate way, made way more money, and destroyed civilization while nobody had any fun.

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

Totally agree.

A friend of mine compared it to social media. Said Cal was MySpace, the first guy to do it, did it the right way for the right reasons, everyone had fun, and he made a name for himself.

Then Facebook (Duke) came along and did it the corporate way, made way more money, and destroyed civilization while nobody had any fun.

Damn that’s top shelf. I’m gonna steal it.

 

[Col. Angus]

Good for him.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Damn that’s top shelf. I’m gonna steal it.

In that case it was me who came up with it and definitely not my friend after two steaks and half a bottle of Old Forester 1920.

 

[jwheat]

hard to root against a kid like Jackson who came in and worked his way into a possible lottery pick.

I wish he could have injected some of that into a couple of his teammates

 

[Aike]

Totally agree.

A friend of mine compared it to social media. Said Cal was MySpace, the first guy to do it, did it the right way for the right reasons, everyone had fun, and he made a name for himself.

Then Facebook (Duke) came along and did it the corporate way, made way more money, and destroyed civilization while nobody had any fun.

With NIL, we’re onto Web 3.0 now.

 

[Yardeth]

I pray Jackson is drafted in the first round and not sitting in the green room alone with Cal. When you see players waiting and sweating it sucks for everyone. Unless it is a Duke player!

 

[sa_hunt]

Wait tho! So your telling me a 6ft10 210 lb kid who was ranked as barely a 5star. In the low 20s can contribute on that level but we're doomed cause we didn't get Kofi cause Ot won't have a backup cause Collins who many claim is a better shot blocker and more athletic and is ranked at 10-12 can't contribute at 6ft10 210? Not be our best player but backup the 4 and 5 lmao

Uh, a green room invite has nothing to do with what Jackson done at UK necessarily. It has to do with flashes of future potential. He wasn’t a world beater here in the least. Collins will be the same type but he won’t be a huge contributor. He’ll be a Jackson type player but he won’t win games for us. Wanna know why he won’t? He’s to skinny and inexperienced. He will be invited to the green room next year though so I guess that’s your greatness criteria.

 

[ORCAT]

All behind Jackson and wishing him great success in the draft and in his career. Hope he has a super night and we see him with a great smile when he gets drafted. Seemed like a very good guy while here under very bad circumstances and wish nothing but the best for the kid.

 

[DerekMcPwn]

Wait tho! So your telling me a 6ft10 210 lb kid who was ranked as barely a 5star. In the low 20s can contribute on that level but we're doomed cause we didn't get Kofi cause Ot won't have a backup cause Collins who many claim is a better shot blocker and more athletic and is ranked at 10-12 can't contribute at 6ft10 210? Not be our best player but backup the 4 and 5 lmao

Did you just have a stroke?

 

[JwUKFan11]

Where are the ones that said the mocks were just wrong predictions and he would slide far back come draft day?

 

[rick64]

I know there's only two guarantees in life, death and taxes. But unless I'm really really confident my name's getting called. I'm not showing up. Pretty embarrassing to be sitting there on national TV and you don't get called.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

Would be very on brand for Coach Cal to get a guy drafted Lotto after a 9 win season…

I'd be a little embarassed, tbh.

 

[STL_Cat]

Wait tho! So your telling me a 6ft10 210 lb kid who was ranked as barely a 5star. In the low 20s can contribute on that level but we're doomed cause we didn't get Kofi cause Ot won't have a backup cause Collins who many claim is a better shot blocker and more athletic and is ranked at 10-12 can't contribute at 6ft10 210? Not be our best player but backup the 4 and 5 lmao

What an odd response.

 

[STL_Cat]

Where are the ones that said the mocks were just wrong predictions and he would slide far back come draft day?

I’d like to see those. I thought it was pretty universally accepted around here that IJ is at minimum a solid 1st round pick.

 

[wildcatwelder_rivals]

Good for him!! He seems like a terrific young man, I hope he does well.

 

[UK-Chulo]

I’d like to see those. I thought it was pretty universally accepted around here that IJ is at minimum a solid 1st round pick.

Will be a surprise if he is not lottery.

 

[JwUKFan11]

I’d like to see those. I thought it was pretty universally accepted around here that IJ is at minimum a solid 1st round pick.

Maybe first round. But there were a few who said he would get promised a high end first round and then slide and that the mocks were never right.

 

[STL_Cat]

Maybe first round. But there were a few who said he would get promised a high end first round and then slide and that the mocks were never right.

Shrug. I didn’t see those comments nearly as much about Jackson as I did about Boston.

 

[natchezrule]

And supporting his guys is his main emphasis..

While he is paid 10 million a year to win titles at UK. He’s the greatest con man ever

 

[UK-Chulo]

Maybe first round. But there were a few who said he would get promised a high end first round and then slide and that the mocks were never right.

Pretty sure those were in the minority. IJ has what the NBA is looking for right now. Long, bouncy, athletic player who can run the floor like a gazelle. His shot is not broken and he has great hands and plays with intensity. Couple that with a positive attitude and he is a lottery pick.

On this forum we can find just about every opinion. In the case of IJ those who saw him slipping are few.

 

[true-blue1]

Sounds like good news.

Hope Cal can be there. Whatever you think of it, it absolutely played a factor in our recruiting success.

If we're getting the band back together and going to dominate recruiting again, draft night is part of it, and the program can use good pub right now.

Good to hear, great kid! I wish he had been on a better team.

 

[STL_Cat]

Pretty sure those were in the minority. IJ has what the NBA is looking for right now. Long, bouncy, athletic player who can run the floor like a gazelle. His shot is not broken and he has great hands and plays with intensity. Couple that with a positive attitude and he is a lottery pick.

On this forum we can find just about every opinion. In the case of IJ those who saw him slipping are few.

Exactly. Dude took the comments about Boston and transposed them to IJ (not saying one dude didn’t at least say it … sure wasn’t the majority opinion tho…)

 

[UK-Chulo]

Exactly. Dude took the comments about Boston and transposed them to IJ (not saying one dude didn’t at least say it … sure wasn’t the majority opinion tho…)

Here's the thread about IJ declaring.
LINK
There is like one negative comment in the whole thing.

 

[STL_Cat]

Here's the thread about IJ declaring.
LINK
There is like one negative comment in the whole thing.

Good thread to revisit. And @JwUKFan11 first reply to me in that thread was to call me an idiot when I made the point that I knew there was a 100% chance he was leaving. This dude is just looking for conflict.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Here's the thread about IJ declaring.
LINK
There is like one negative comment in the whole thing.

That’s not the one I was referring to, it was the many different ones that showed IJ in mock drafts.

 

[akaukswoosh]

 

[JwUKFan11]

Listen brother, me saying 100% means I was 100% certain he was leaving. Get all hung up in that if you want, but it’s silly. And I said this because I knew he was a 1st round lock and he belonged in the 1st round. And I was right. He left. **** I was complimenting IJ.

maybe take it easy on calling people idiots. Or at least wait until thy really earn it.

Everyone knew it was Likely he was leaving. You were acting like you were so much smarter then everyone because you were telling people in other threads how they shouldn’t even consider or think about him coming back.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Hey he’s a really good coach. I’m not sure what this has to do with anything, but I guess you’re on point for your usual hostility. Hope life makes a turn around at some point for ya and you can be happier.

He may be a really good coach, but you literally are making things up when comparing his success to other coaches so have fun with that.

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

He may be a really good coach, but you literally are making things up when comparing his success to other coaches so have fun with that.

Why are you talking about Chris Beard in this thread? I’m pretty sure we’re talking about Recruting and IJ.