Will Sharpe Be A Cat?

Tubbyfan78

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Yep, if there is one thing Cal is known for it is poor recruiting!
That’s all a bit misleading though. When you’re UK and your roster empties every year it’s easier to have a highly rated class. It’s more impressive to me to have a top 5 class with lots of guys coming back than #1 with a ton of PT to hand out. His recruiting through 2014 was elite. Since then it’s been good not great. It’s a sliding scale because asking Tyler Herro to be your second or third best player as a freshman isn’t the same as asking him to be a 6th or 7th man as a freshman. It’s much better recruiting to get that kid to agree to a role. If Cal isnt getting elite guys for 30 minutes a game at UK he isn’t recruiting at an elite level.
 

G-PIP

All-American
Mar 14, 2014
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Love to see this starting five next season:

G Wallace
G Smith
G Sharpe
F Lively
F Bona

With Clark, Fredrick, Allen, Hopkins, and Ware off the bench.
It could be enjoyable watching that starting 5 develop, but I certainly wouldn't root for that if I wanted the best chance to win big in college.
 

jgraf1

All-Conference
Feb 2, 2006
2,060
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Soooo..... Still an August decision? Or is this going to be a "well he was locked up but things changed" and then he decides in the spring between the g-league, some rando school and Kentucky with Kentucky just being a hat in the table?

 

Gromcat_rivals

Heisman
Jun 28, 2021
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Soooo..... Still an August decision? Or is this going to be a "well he was locked up but things changed" and then he decides in the spring between the g-league, some rando school and Kentucky with Kentucky just being a hat in the table?



Anyone who thinks Sharpe to UK is some guaranteed or close to guaranteed thing is fooling themselves. It’s possible we land him, it’s not like he’s one of the “game changer” recruits like Wall, Randle, or KAT. However if there are bigger offers or the Gleague’s offer is better that’s where he’ll go.
 

JAC71

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Jun 28, 2015
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Soooo..... Still an August decision? Or is this going to be a "well he was locked up but things changed" and then he decides in the spring between the g-league, some rando school and Kentucky with Kentucky just being a hat in the table?


I’ll say Arizona since the new coach was on staff at Gonzaga and seems to be on a mission to clean that place up
 
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jrpross_rivals

Heisman
Feb 21, 2008
17,565
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Anyone who thinks Sharpe to UK is some guaranteed or close to guaranteed thing is fooling themselves. It’s possible we land him, it’s not like he’s one of the “game changer” recruits like Wall, Randle, or KAT. However if there are bigger offers or the Gleague’s offer is better that’s where he’ll go.
We won’t know until he gets into the court for sure, but after his showing in the Peach Jam, a lot of scouts are saying he’s absolutely at that level. One Rivals guy said that when the new rankings come out “the number one spot is reserved for Shaedon Sharpe.”
 
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Gromcat_rivals

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Jun 28, 2021
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We won’t know until he gets into the court for sure, but after his showing in the Peach Jam, a lot of scouts are saying he’s absolutely at that level. One Rivals guy said that when the new rankings come out “the number one spot is reserved for Shaedon Sharpe.”

Hope to get him and find out for sure. We need a prized recruit. I don’t personally think he’s near the level of a Wall, Randle or AD, but the better he is the harder he’ll be to get now more so than ever. He’s going to be offered a lot.
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
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Fool us once shame on you. Fool us twice shame on me. Fool us 60 times well then we re all just a bunch of friggin mentally ill idiots. Seriously!

I see the same people who worship these inept insiders. You still see the golden calf and everyone is a lock. Sharpe may like 12.5% may come to UK. But a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. I’m sorry but if sharpe is visiting all these schools and looking at g league he is no lock. He is far from a lock. Man wake up people and stop perpetuating this garbage of locks and secret commitments. It’s old and it’s adding to the cal disdain bc the sunshine pump has an endless supply of mindlessness
 

Mastershake1234a

All-Conference
Jul 21, 2020
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Fool us once shame on you. Fool us twice shame on me. Fool us 60 times well then we re all just a bunch of friggin mentally ill idiots. Seriously!

I see the same people who worship these inept insiders. You still see the golden calf and everyone is a lock. Sharpe may like 12.5% may come to UK. But a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. I’m sorry but if sharpe is visiting all these schools and looking at g league he is no lock. He is far from a lock. Man wake up people and stop perpetuating this garbage of locks and secret commitments. It’s old and it’s adding to the cal disdain bc the sunshine pump has an endless supply of mindlessness
Damn you really know how to cover all your bases.

"He won't come here, but if he comes here like everyone says they just got lucky and I was right all along."
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
Damn you really know how to cover all your bases.

"He won't come here, but if he comes here like everyone says they just got lucky and I was right all along."

I appreciate you quoting me for what I didn’t say or come close to saying. Probably time for you to take some comprehension classes or meds something
 

bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
29,352
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It could be enjoyable watching that starting 5 develop, but I certainly wouldn't root for that if I wanted the best chance to win big in college.
We are talking about two top 5 players (Sharpe, Lively), two top 10 players (Wallace, Bona), and a top 15 player (Smith) in an absolutely loaded class. That’s an amazing starting five. Even if one or two are duds, you still have three or four studs. Plus, we will likely have a couple of older guys like Fredrick, Allen, Hopkins, and Ware as insurance.

So, I am willing to take my chances with those guys.
 

BigCat241

All-Conference
May 3, 2021
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Love to see this starting five next season:

G Wallace
G Smith
G Sharpe
F Lively
F Bona

With Clark, Fredrick, Allen, Hopkins, and Ware off the bench.
That starting 5 is a sweet 16 or elite 8 team IMO. Having a starting 5 of all freshman is just not a winning strategy as you cant rely on freshman to always shoot the ball consistently or play defense at a high level in year 1.
 
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Raroyder

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Sep 17, 2002
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^ Other than switching in Allen to the starting 5, not much else can be done. That's the hand we're dealt with, and I'd still take an Elite 8 run with that bunch.

That's no knock on them at all, an Elite 8 run is solid and there's no shame in that. Just like how people always rail on the 2010 team, that doesn't mean it wasn't a special team with great memories
 
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G-PIP

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We are talking about two top 5 players (Sharpe, Lively), two top 10 players (Wallace, Bona), and a top 15 player (Smith) in an absolutely loaded class. That’s an amazing starting five. Even if one or two are duds, you still have three or four studs. Plus, we will likely have a couple of older guys like Fredrick, Allen, Hopkins, and Ware as insurance.

So, I am willing to take my chances with those guys.
Yes those are top 5, 10, 15 whatever HIGH SCHOOL players, not college players. If UK were a high school team those guys would probably make them very dominant. But physical maturity, experience and skill development are incredibly undervalued by some enamored by high school rankings and draft position projections. I'll take the college All-American or All-Conference upperclassmen (whether our own or transfers) and likely wear your high school kids out. Heck, next season Wheeler, Fredrick, Allen, Hopkins and Ware would probably be significantly better than your freshman lineup. If you want the best basketball team, let those freshmen learn and develop backing up the more highly skilled upperclassmen.

I'm not saying don't recruit the best high school players for your program (which may not always be the higher ranked recruit). I think you have to do that. But, freshmen should generally be viewed as supplemental pieces that first year while they're learning to play. A top college program shouldn't have to rely on freshmen to carry the team. That's too much unnecessary gambling for a program like UK, and they shouldn't have "to take [their] chances with those guys."
 

jrpross_rivals

Heisman
Feb 21, 2008
17,565
36,120
113
Yes those are top 5, 10, 15 whatever HIGH SCHOOL players, not college players. If UK were a high school team those guys would probably make them very dominant. But physical maturity, experience and skill development are incredibly undervalued by some enamored by high school rankings and draft position projections. I'll take the college All-American or All-Conference upperclassmen (whether our own or transfers) and likely wear your high school kids out. Heck, next season Wheeler, Fredrick, Allen, Hopkins and Ware would probably be significantly better than your freshman lineup. If you want the best basketball team, let those freshmen learn and develop backing up the more highly skilled upperclassmen.

I'm not saying don't recruit the best high school players for your program (which may not always be the higher ranked recruit). I think you have to do that. But, freshmen should generally be viewed as supplemental pieces that first year while they're learning to play. A top college program shouldn't have to rely on freshmen to carry the team. That's too much unnecessary gambling for a program like UK, and they shouldn't have "to take [their] chances with those guys."
If he’s an elite guy it’s one thing. A Davis, Randle, Fox etc. leading your team is great. But yeah, if someone like a freshman Tyrese Maxey or Keldon Johnson is your best player, you’re in trouble. (Not that they were the best players on their team, but that’s how a typical top 15 guy plays)
 
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Jul 28, 2006
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So, he said he would probably make a decision late August, but now he's setting up visits in Sep. What in the Mother Phuck? We've seen this ending before, and we don't like how it ends.
Yeah, we're going to be another hat on the table I'm afraid.

Love to have the young man become a Kentucky Wildcat, but of late it would appear we're losing ground rapidly with him.
 

bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
29,352
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Yes those are top 5, 10, 15 whatever HIGH SCHOOL players, not college players. If UK were a high school team those guys would probably make them very dominant. But physical maturity, experience and skill development are incredibly undervalued by some enamored by high school rankings and draft position projections. I'll take the college All-American or All-Conference upperclassmen (whether our own or transfers) and likely wear your high school kids out. Heck, next season Wheeler, Fredrick, Allen, Hopkins and Ware would probably be significantly better than your freshman lineup. If you want the best basketball team, let those freshmen learn and develop backing up the more highly skilled upperclassmen.

I'm not saying don't recruit the best high school players for your program (which may not always be the higher ranked recruit). I think you have to do that. But, freshmen should generally be viewed as supplemental pieces that first year while they're learning to play. A top college program shouldn't have to rely on freshmen to carry the team. That's too much unnecessary gambling for a program like UK, and they shouldn't have "to take [their] chances with those guys."
I expect to have Fredrick, Allen, Hopkins, and maybe Ware back to provide experience. I expect them to play big roles on that team off the bench.

Veterans off the bench are as important as superstar Freshmen.

Remember the Fab Five in 1992 and 1993 had three or four guys off the bench who had been starters and key reserves the year or two prior to their arrival at Michigan.

So, we will need some seasoned veterans to lead the way. I doubt they start because Cal starts talent over experience every time.
 

KYFOSSIL

Heisman
Jan 13, 2005
8,355
11,522
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That’s all a bit misleading though. When you’re UK and your roster empties every year it’s easier to have a highly rated class. It’s more impressive to me to have a top 5 class with lots of guys coming back than #1 with a ton of PT to hand out. His recruiting through 2014 was elite. Since then it’s been good not great. It’s a sliding scale because asking Tyler Herro to be your second or third best player as a freshman isn’t the same as asking him to be a 6th or 7th man as a freshman. It’s much better recruiting to get that kid to agree to a role. If Cal isnt getting elite guys for 30 minutes a game at UK he isn’t recruiting at an elite level.
2017 was absolutely a great year for recruiting.
 

Tubbyfan78

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Feb 9, 2021
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2017 was absolutely a great year for recruiting.
2017 was a great year. That’s the the 1 year in the last 6 he has recruited well enough with his style of play. Even then though, that team wasn’t a 1 seed. In fact, they were the overall #8 if memory serves. That’s not good enough to be your best year in 6 years at UK.
 

G-PIP

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I expect to have Fredrick, Allen, Hopkins, and maybe Ware back to provide experience. I expect them to play big roles on that team off the bench.

Veterans off the bench are as important as superstar Freshmen.

Remember the Fab Five in 1992 and 1993 had three or four guys off the bench who had been starters and key reserves the year or two prior to their arrival at Michigan.

So, we will need some seasoned veterans to lead the way. I doubt they start because Cal starts talent over experience every time.
But, it’s not a choice of talent vs. experience. Basically, the point Calipari has made in the past is that all the experience in the world can’t overcome a complete lack of talent. On the other hand, a talented player with experience (encompassing physical maturity, skill development – especially shooting – and know how) can be a much better player in the short-run than the more “talented” freshman player. Calipari and any other good coach is going to go with who he thinks is the best player NOW – not the player who will be the best in a couple of years.

Michael Jordan was the most talented player in college his freshman year – you could just tell he was different in the way he moved and could see the potential oozing from him - but he wasn’t anywhere near the best college player at that stage of his development. By the end of his sophomore year, however, he may well have been the best player in college – or at least he was in the conversation to be. But, today, Jordan would not likely play a 2nd year of college. So, the question is: Would UNC have been better off with a freshman Jordan, or one of the All-American upperclassmen guards that season? Of course, UNC didn’t have to rely on freshman Jordan. He was just a talented piece who was given the space to develop.

You have no doubt identified some really good talent, bucsrule8872. I’ve watched some of them more than once (but not Sharpe in a game yet). They’re all likely to be good players and it would be fun to see them at UK. But, I certainly don’t expect these guys will be dominant college players as freshman. If your projected starting lineup is in fact what UK goes with next season, I would put the chances of winning a championship at near zero – and not a whole lot more for winning the conference. However, if you flipped your projected starters and backups (with maybe a couple of the freshmen starting), I would like UK's chances a lot more.
 

nssdigitalchumps

All-Conference
Jul 29, 2008
7,253
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Fool us once shame on you. Fool us twice shame on me. Fool us 60 times well then we re all just a bunch of friggin mentally ill idiots. Seriously!

I see the same people who worship these inept insiders. You still see the golden calf and everyone is a lock. Sharpe may like 12.5% may come to UK. But a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. I’m sorry but if sharpe is visiting all these schools and looking at g league he is no lock. He is far from a lock. Man wake up people and stop perpetuating this garbage of locks and secret commitments. It’s old and it’s adding to the cal disdain bc the sunshine pump has an endless supply of mindlessness
Man, you said Duren was make or break for Cal. Well, Cal broke, so I thought you wouldn’t care about this stuff anymore.

Pick a lane.
 

KYFOSSIL

Heisman
Jan 13, 2005
8,355
11,522
62
2017 was a great year. That’s the the 1 year in the last 6 he has recruited well enough with his style of play. Even then though, that team wasn’t a 1 seed. In fact, they were the overall #8 if memory serves. That’s not good enough to be your best year in 6 years at UK.
They were a ton of bad calls and a last second shot away from the final 4 and a good shot at the title.
 

Tubbyfan78

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They were a ton of bad calls and a last second shot away from the final 4 and a good shot at the title.
If and buts, candy and nuts. If they were better during the year, they wouldn’t have had to play UNC in the elite 8. They are what they were, an elite 8 team.
 

bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
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But, it’s not a choice of talent vs. experience. Basically, the point Calipari has made in the past is that all the experience in the world can’t overcome a complete lack of talent. On the other hand, a talented player with experience (encompassing physical maturity, skill development – especially shooting – and know how) can be a much better player in the short-run than the more “talented” freshman player. Calipari and any other good coach is going to go with who he thinks is the best player NOW – not the player who will be the best in a couple of years.

Michael Jordan was the most talented player in college his freshman year – you could just tell he was different in the way he moved and could see the potential oozing from him - but he wasn’t anywhere near the best college player at that stage of his development. By the end of his sophomore year, however, he may well have been the best player in college – or at least he was in the conversation to be. But, today, Jordan would not likely play a 2nd year of college. So, the question is: Would UNC have been better off with a freshman Jordan, or one of the All-American upperclassmen guards that season? Of course, UNC didn’t have to rely on freshman Jordan. He was just a talented piece who was given the space to develop.

You have no doubt identified some really good talent, bucsrule8872. I’ve watched some of them more than once (but not Sharpe in a game yet). They’re all likely to be good players and it would be fun to see them at UK. But, I certainly don’t expect these guys will be dominant college players as freshman. If your projected starting lineup is in fact what UK goes with next season, I would put the chances of winning a championship at near zero – and not a whole lot more for winning the conference. However, if you flipped your projected starters and backups (with maybe a couple of the freshmen starting), I would like UK's chances a lot more.
If the returning players are good enough, then they will play. Look at Darius Miller. He played just as much as the super talented Freshmen in ‘12. But he came off the bench. WCS before his injury in ‘14 came off the bench.

It won’t really matter who starts, the best players will likely play. I bet if that team came to fruition, Fredrick plays starter minutes and Allen and Hopkins might also. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them started.

Still, give me a mix of. some elite recruits and some seasoned veterans. Might take a transfer or two if needed.

I think we want the same thing, you just don’t want five Freshmen starters to have to rely on. I don’t either, so having Fredrick, Allen, Hopkins, and maybe Ware (or some transfers, if those guys split) is very important for us to make a run with that team.

And when was the last time Cal had a haul like the one I mentioned? 2013 and that 2014 team went to the title game with five Freshmen starters. And they had one Sophomore veteran coming off the bench after WCS got hurt.
 

KYFOSSIL

Heisman
Jan 13, 2005
8,355
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If and buts, candy and nuts. If they were better during the year, they wouldn’t have had to play UNC in the elite 8. They are what they were, an elite 8 team.
One… you said recruiting class and Fox, Bam and Monk were a hell of a class.

Two… That team was good playing at a championship level in the tournament and if you can’t see that they were screwed you would be in a small minority. I’m sorry it didn’t meet your agenda.
 
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Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
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Andrew Slater is not listening to overly optimistic Kentucky sources for his info. If he says Sharpe is going to Kentucky there’s a REALLY good reason. Things can always change, but as of now, Sharpe is a Cat in waiting.
Agreed. I really think he will be a Cat and have the entire time. However, if something happens, and he doesn’t come here, WOW! The meltdown will be legendary. I will participate in said meltdown. 😆
 

Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,291
55,287
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If and buts, candy and nuts. If they were better during the year, they wouldn’t have had to play UNC in the elite 8. They are what they were, an elite 8 team.
LOL this is absurd. They lost what, five regular season games? Just going on recollection. That’s a pretty damn good regular season. That was the same year that duke got a 2 seed (just like UK) with like eight or nine losses.

Not that team’s fault the committee totally screwed the pooch in that selection process. They slotted THREE top FIVE teams in the same region: the cheats, UK and UCLA. Then, UK got totally hosed in that EE game, after having to play another top five team in the S16.
 

Tubbyfan78

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One… you said recruiting class and Fox, Bam and Monk were a hell of a class.

Two… That team was good playing at a championship level in the tournament and if you can’t see that they were screwed you would be in a small minority. I’m sorry it didn’t meet your agenda.
They were a 2 seed who lost in the elite 8. Sorry that doesn’t fit your agenda
 

bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
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We get Sharpe and at least one of Wallace and Smith and our backcourt is in good shape. That and Clark coming in, plus Fredrick and Allen should be back. Hopkins probably plays mostly at the 4, but can play the 3. Then maybe add Miller.

Need to add at least one of Lively and Bona inside. Probably get Ware back or a transfer big man.

Love to get all of our primary targets, but it’s unlikely. Realistically get 3-4 of those guys, 3-4 guys back, and fill in the blanks with transfers.