Calipari says every eligible KY player will enter NBA draft

[Bulldogg31]

One thing to consider with Malik...the new rule is going to create a MUCH deeper pool of players considering entering the draft this year. He will really need to impress to move back into the first round, in my opinion.

This is the new look of NCAA postseason basketball...dozens of players will "enter" the draft to get a grade. Hopefully only the TRULY elite players will stay in the draft and the rest will go back to class. Could be very good for both the NBA and the college game.


http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2016/st...ble-kentucky-wildcats-players-enter-nba-draft

 

[aTotal360]

Every recruit he gets is a supposed NBA talent. Makes sense to me.

 

[olblue.sixpack]

Every recruit he gets is a supposed NBA talent. Makes sense to me.

Even the walk-ons are tossing their hats in the ring.

 

[Bulldogg31]

If you think about it, there are 337 D1 hoops teams. If half of them have a FR/SO/JR who thinks they're good enough (or has an agent tell them they are) you've got minimum kids "declaring". If the top 50 teams have more than one (Kentucky will have what, 13?) you're looking at 250-300 kids trying out for the 60 draft spots, not including international players, prospects who've been playing overseas, etc.

You're going to have fewer of the one-and-done players, and likely more guys playing three or four years when they get a 2nd round grade or lower.

This could be the best thing the nba and NCAA have done in a while.

 

[Junction John]

Yep, and you couldn't ask for a better marketing tool for his next crop.*

Every recruit he gets is a supposed NBA talent. Makes sense to me.

*

 

[DerHntr]

I'm not a fan of Calipari but this is actually a smart move. Here we are with articles being written about Malik because he is testing the waters for the NBA. It's being made into a big deal. We even had a press conference about it. There is a lot of pressure to stay in school.

On the other hand, Calipari tells his players during recruitment that he will do everything he can to get them in the NBA and now he is putting his money where his mouth is. Encouraging all players to take advantage of the new rule is brilliant. I think Cal is creating the appearance that he is the only guy saying he won't pressure you to stay in school and he can point to proof by doing this.

 

[olblue.sixpack]

I'm not a fan of Calipari but this is actually a smart move. Here we are with articles being written about Malik because he is testing the waters for the NBA. It's being made into a big deal. We even had a press conference about it. There is a lot of pressure to stay in school.

On the other hand, Calipari tells his players during recruitment that he will do everything he can to get them in the NBA and now he is putting his money where his mouth is. Encouraging all players to take advantage of the new rule is brilliant. I think Cal is creating the appearance that he is the only guy saying he won't pressure you to stay in school and he can point to proof by doing this.

As I mentioned in another thread, this might be the most John Calipari thing ever. He gets it even if his fanbase doesn't. The more players that can pass through Lex in the shortest amount of time, the more will be lined up at the upstream end of the pipeline. You can look no further than Tyler Ulis - a really good college player. When everyone was saying he would be a four year player last year, Cal was saying "no he want". Even told Ulis that his goal should be to move on after year two - much to the chagrin of he BBN. Cal has put on the full court press to push that narrative and the kid - despite only being 5-8 - is showing up in the 1st round of some mock drafts. There will come a time in the near future where former Cal players collectively would have signed NBA contacts that total a billion dollars. That's a pretty good sales pitch.

 

[DAWG61]

As I mentioned in another thread, this might be the most John Calipari thing ever. He gets it even if his fanbase doesn't. The more players that can pass through Lex in the shortest amount of time, the more will be lined up at the upstream end of the pipeline. You can look no further than Tyler Ulis - a really good college player. When everyone was saying he would be a four year player last year, Cal was saying "no he want". Even told Ulis that his goal should be to move on after year two - much to the chagrin of he BBN. Cal has put on the full court press to push that narrative and the kid - despite only being 5-8 - is showing up in the 1st round of some mock drafts. There will come a time in the near future where former Cal players collectively would have signed NBA contacts that total a billion dollars. That's a pretty good sales pitch.

Thanks for the info Kentucky fan

 

[Bulldogg31]

I agree, and I think you'll see more coaches follow suit, including a guy like Howland.

What's the risk? The guy gets drafted and goes to the NBA? That's good for the program in the long run if you hope to become a pipeline program (which we do...and so does Adidas). If he doesn't get drafted you say, "well, he did well and he learned a few little things he needs to work on so we look forward to helping him with those things."

It's a win-win.

 

[moneydawgs]

How long until the NFL adopts some rule like this? I'm sure De'Runnya would've came running back to State when he saw his draft grade. Maybe the NFL draft is too large for a rule like this

 

[dawgstudent]

I enjoy the fact he's making a mockery of the rule.

 

[dawgstudent]

If the NFL did this - I think spring practice would go away.

 

[patdog]

On the other hand, Calipari tells his players during recruitment that he will do everything he can to get them in the NBA and now he is putting his money where his mouth is.

How is this different than what Howland is doing with Malik and the new class coming in?

 

[DerHntr]

How is this different than what Howland is doing with Malik and the new class coming in?

It's different because Cal is openly encouraging, and actually requiring, all of his players to test the waters. He's saying it is in your best interest and showing that the player's best interest is above the program's best interest. Howland has been positive about Malik making the decision on his own. He said recently that he was excited for Malik and that he knew along that this was what Malik planned to do. He didn't say "I have encouraged him to do this from day 1."

I realize that sounds like a subtle difference but to a recruit it could make the difference between choosing schools. Cal requiring all players to enter the draft is very different than simply saying you are happy your player made that decision on his own.

Of course most coaches will end up following Cal's lead on this and it won't make much of a difference in the end. It's smart to do it first.

 

[patdog]

Howland couldn't have possibly been more open about the fact Malik was a 1-and-done from the beginning. Now, that may possibly change when he gets his draft grade, but Howland publicly said many times that the plan was for Malik to be a 1-and-done and that we want to be a school that puts players in the NBA quickly. You're making too much of this.

 

[DerHntr]

Get back to me when Howland says "I am encouraging Malik, Q, and all of my players to enter the draft."

 

[anon1787432961]

clearing room for next wave of 1st rounders WW Wes has on the payroll

Watch and see them sign 5 of the best players nationwide like a few years ago

Big blue network isn't going to put up with the crap they had on the floor this year and not making the sweet 16.

 

[HD6]

I don't think so. The combine was in late February, schools could get pro days two in the next two weeks, and then start practice mid-March. It's not like the guys who declare will let themselves get out of shape.

 

[patdog]

Other than Q, the rest would just be a waste of the players time. Give it a rest. Howland is on board the pipeline to the NBA train. We're OK on this.

 

[Junction John]

You are correct, he's not technically encouraging it. Howland can't afford to shove his two best players out the door like Cal can. It's just not the same situation at this point. In Malik's case, the best you can do is what Ben has done -- outwardly show support so it appears you're on board with it.

Unfortunately, it looks like both of them are going to 'test the waters' at this point, with or without his encouragement. Malik I knew about, I am a little surprised about Q.

 

[dawgstudent]

A college football head coach would be ok with players leaving Starkville or any other college town to train and take online courses to remain eligible?

 

[olblue.sixpack]

I enjoy the fact he's making a mockery of the rule.

That's his whole deal. You give him an inch, he'll take a mile and rub your nose in it the whole time he's doing it.

Absent the strippers in Minardi Hall, I prefer Coach P's approach at Louisville but after 4 Final Fours in 7 years (after an 11 year drought with Tubby and Gillispie), you can't argue with his success.

 

[olblue.sixpack]

Get back to me when Howland says "I am encouraging Malik, Q, and all of my players to enter the draft."

Exactly. When Howland calls a press conference to announce that Carter Holmes is entering the draft, then we can compare apples to apples.

 

[DerHntr]

Other than Q, the rest would just be a waste of the players time. Give it a rest. Howland is on board the pipeline to the NBA train. We're OK on this.

Give it a rest? You asked me a question. Was I not supposed to answer it?

 

[HD6]

"Hey star redshirt sophomore all American candidate, I forbid you from doing this!" How does that conversation go over?

I don't know how all of the nuts and bolts would be worked out, I just don't think it's an impossiblity.