Against DJ team was a hell of a game. Even though DJ team lost, DJ was insane. We got one hell of a guard coming to Lexington next year. He’s elite.
Boozer twins…
- Thread starter bigblue_07_rivals
- Start date
Boozer guy is yugly. Maybe him and his yugly brother can come to UK and ugly teams to death.
Larry Bird wasn’t pretty but could sure hoop, not saying they are in the same ballpark as Bird. Bring on ugly players.
Delk was pretty ugly, and was our most successful guard in the 90s, so I'm cool with the ugly ones.
They’ve got a lot of game. Impressed with DJ carrying his team as far as he did without Bradshaw playing.
DJ's been impressive. Do you think he reclaims the #1 spot in the composite rankings?
I don’t follow it closely enough to guess, and I know it can be pretty political.
Personally, I would slot him in front of Collier based on the McDonald’s outcome and Collier skipping the H2H next night. They have been neck and neck.
I think you can make an argument for Bradshaw moving up based on potential. I’d be inclined to move up Stewart and McCain, Castle, and maybe Biliew. Wouldn’t shock me for Edwards to dip slightly due to lack of flash, nothing he’s done wrong. It’s hard to stay the king.
Elmarko Jackson and Aden Holloway were a couple others who stood out to me at the McDonald’s but again, I don’t watch or follow this to the level that many others do.
If he keeps playing as he is, he's got a chance. Got around to watching the McDonald's Scrimmage that took place this past Monday and was impressed with the class overall. I keep hearing how crappy it is, but I saw competitive basketball and guys who were unselfish and had nice skill. There's not a lot of overwhelming athleticism and that doesn't project to NBA basketball to go with the skill but there's a lot of guys who will be great college players which should excite fans.
DJ set the tone in that scrimmage and was best guard on the court. He and his East teammates mentioned that nobody had won the scrimmage and the game following day and it meant something to them. Now kids say things, but the way they competed/played both days, you could tell it mattered to everyone.
Collier is extremely gifted and has all the traits you look for. Has some of that Dennis Smith Jr thing that I personally don't care for which gives off "I don't give a sh*t...get me to league" which shows in the games I've seen and often eats up a guy when he eventually gets there. Now Smith Jr has had a nice bounce back, but he's still same guy I saw get eaten alive when he moonlighted with Team Penny on a backcourt at EYBL session against De'Aaron Fox, Carsen Edwards, and company. Fox destroyed him that day and he went back to Adidas Circuit real quick.
I'd look for Justin Edwards to drop out of top spot, DJ to reclaim it on ESPN if he has a strong week at Nike Hoop Summit this week.
Echo Aike, I love Sean Stewart's game, McCain can shoot the snot out of the ball, Ron Holland is a personal favorite, Bradshaw was excellent, Stephon Castle is going to be great at UConn (along with Solomon Ball who wasn't in game), and Elmarko Jackson is a guy that I think Kansas is going to do great things with-he and Chris Johnson will be a very athletic backcourt and fun to watch.
Guy I'm most disappointed with personally as I keep waiting to be blown away is Mgbako. Everyone talks of him like he's this elite shooter and I've watched him in AAU, Hoop Summit last year, All Star events and I don't see it. I think he's a nice player but he's multi year all the way (which is fine). based on how he's been playing. Last year it was the overhype of Dariq Whitehead and while he was banged up, never saw what the media did on him. Nice player, young guy for class but he's not elite at any skill. He was more Scottie Lewis Jr like.
This is great feedback. You are one of the best here, my friend. Keep posting!
Left out one thing about Collier too. The East was up in the scrimmage by 13 pts clock winding down....and Bradshaw had the ball in frontcourt wide open, took 2 steps toward hoop, pulled the ball out to dribble out the last 12 secs or so.....he's dapping up players clock is around 5/6 secs and Isaiah Collier came from behind--stole the ball and passed to Bronny for a dunk at the buzzer. So without knowing a player, you see this, then you see him gag at the FT line in the game following night, then you see him skip out on an event where the player who stepped up and got MVP for the winning team gritted it out and won a game against his team with a 3 in his home city, and played out the week of a made for TV Event.
If competitiveness matters, that should move DJ up a notch over Collier. He killed him in the Scrimmage head to head, showed up when it mattered in the game and got the W, and then showed up when he could've copped out and played at a high level too. It's kind of the Jeter/Nomar thing in '04 game where Jeter goes into the seats and splits up his face for a ball while Nomar sat out with "soreness". While it was only a regular season game...it meant something to teammates and spoke about both players mentality. DJ hitting a dagger 3 to send your school/teammates home in front of home fans while you are wearing a hoodie....not a great look if you are a competitor and this means something to you other then being talented. That "dawg" is what separates players at this level and beyond IMO.
If competitiveness matters, that should move DJ up a notch over Collier. He killed him in the Scrimmage head to head, showed up when it mattered in the game and got the W, and then showed up when he could've copped out and played at a high level too. It's kind of the Jeter/Nomar thing in '04 game where Jeter goes into the seats and splits up his face for a ball while Nomar sat out with "soreness". While it was only a regular season game...it meant something to teammates and spoke about both players mentality. DJ hitting a dagger 3 to send your school/teammates home in front of home fans while you are wearing a hoodie....not a great look if you are a competitor and this means something to you other then being talented. That "dawg" is what separates players at this level and beyond IMO.
I
In your opinion what is UK’s 2024 recruiting strategy at this point? Seems like (1) we are behind schedule (2) we are ALL in on Boogie Fland.
DJ also made his free throws to win the game while Collier missed BOTH...
DJ is CLUTCH.
I've been all in on Boogie Fland since seeing him on Team USA that won Gold medal this past Summer. He's special. Very young guy too. Like DJ Wagner--he'll be 17 as a SR in HS. So much room to grow but he controls the game and can score. I'm big on the combo/lead guard and Fland can pass the ball. Every time he entered the game for Team USA, great things happened and energy picked up. That's a trait you can't teach.
So far it seems '24 recruiting is Tre Johnson, Boogie Fland, Flory Bidunga, and Travis Perry as the focal points going into Spring--there are 2 Live Periods coming up later this Month so we'll see who they are going after. A few others we've heard already are Karter Knox and Billy Richmond too. But the staff went out to see these guys.
I've had friend send me some names that he likes in ' 24 and I'd not heard mentioned with Kentucky--Tyler Betsey, VJ Edgecombe, Jalil Bethea, Robert Miller, Jesse McCullouch to name a few. Don't know if Cats are involved or have a chance, these are guys he personally likes and passed on to me.
I know of 2 guys in MN, I've passed onto him--one I did a few years ago in Daniel Freitag a 6'3 combo guard from Bloomington Jefferson HS and 6'9 Jackson McAndrew from Wayzata HS. Teammates for Howard Pulley.
Anthony Davis was no Brad Pitt.
If it meant getting the Boozer twins, I would be all on-board with getting their dad as an assistant. Plus, it would be a gut punch to "tHe BrOtHeRhOoD."
Like the taller Boozer Twin a lot more than the wing. Been impressed with their HS team all year and speaks to just how good Justin Edwards team was because they thumped these guys with ease.
I think Justin Edwards is going to come into Lexington under the radar a bit nationally due to some not knowing just how talented he is without the ball. Cory Alexander did a great job on ESPN this week. He works with these guys in Offseason and watches them play, gets to know them and such an upgrade over the days of Jay Williams and Jalen Rose commentating on people they knew nothing about and turning it into "back in our day" stories. Alexander literally discussed the games of the players, stuck up for guys who weren't playing great but have ability and mentioned how they'll fit in at their school of choice.
That scrimmage was run well and can say this class for taking a ton of heat by many put together competitive and unselfish basketball in the Scrimmage/All Star game.
I think Justin Edwards is going to come into Lexington under the radar a bit nationally due to some not knowing just how talented he is without the ball. Cory Alexander did a great job on ESPN this week. He works with these guys in Offseason and watches them play, gets to know them and such an upgrade over the days of Jay Williams and Jalen Rose commentating on people they knew nothing about and turning it into "back in our day" stories. Alexander literally discussed the games of the players, stuck up for guys who weren't playing great but have ability and mentioned how they'll fit in at their school of choice.
That scrimmage was run well and can say this class for taking a ton of heat by many put together competitive and unselfish basketball in the Scrimmage/All Star game.
Thank you! I appreciate the 2024 rundown immensely! Have a good rest of your weekend sir.
There is a reason Jeter is not just a HOF player but a guy with a handful of rings. Nomad got his stats and HOF but nothing else.
I think this class is more talented than most have given it credit for, it may not be as deep as some but at the top it looks pretty good at least for college production/impact.
Speaking of Scottie Lewis Jr. his running mate Bryan Antoine was one of the biggest disappointments I have ever seen . I know he couldn’t stay healthy but man
The UK recruits from this incoming class seem to know how to play the game the right way and the makeup of their own games. They play to their strengths and don't seem like they're trying to impress a scout or celebrity in the crowd. These kids appear to want to win whether its a scrimmage or championship game.
I remember that dude, I thought he would be really good. He played for Radford this year.
Last edited:
He is one the rare recruits they disappointed and stayed at the school 3 years . He didn’t transfer until his 4th year to Radford.
Look at his Villanova stats .
I was really hoping not to read this when I opened the thread. Between this and hearing Jameer Nelson Jr. is transferring I'm starting to feel very old.
Yuck, he always reminded me of Khalil The dragon Whitney. Very similar games and they both didn’t have a handle to get where they wanted in college. Couldn’t shoot either. Looks like Radford is the place he should be.
I think he was known as a shooter but he just couldn’t stay on the court . I’m sure his confidence went away after all of the injuries .
Absolutely correct. Antione and Lewis are 2 of the biggest busts in recent recruiting. Remember when everyone wanted the "package deal"? Lewis Jr always wearing UK gear and starter jacket when he was going to select Florida who went as far to land his friend whose dad had ties to UF and was bankrolling Scottie. Then the Lewis change to be Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man with the hair...it just got ****ing weird beyond belief. If you can't play, you need to be humble.
At least Antione has injuries as his reasoning for dropping off. He became the East Coast CJ Fredrick.
They were both busts compared to their hype but I’d say Lewis was the better college player for sure.
Yeah by Default lol .
Always weird to me that these HS/AAU duos don’t go to the same college more .
Yes but that's like saying that Keion Brooks was better than Kahlil Whitney.