Top freshman recruit versus Top transfer portal recruit in today's game...

[MdWIldcat55]

I've been saying on this board since April I'd rather have the top guy out of the portal, who I'd rate as Momcilovic, rather than the top freshman recruit in today's era, Stokes.

Last year backs up that perspective:

Kansas had the #1 high school recruit Darryn Peterson. They were blown out by 30 in the B-12 tournament and lost in the round of 32.

Michigan had the #1 portal transfer in Yaxel Lendeborg. They won the national championship.

Yes, I know there are many, many other factors, and I'm not predicting a UK championship. But by any measure, the top portal guys were more valuable last year than Peterson, Acuff, Dybantsa, Caleb Wilson and lots of other highly touted freshmen.

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

I would have certainly liked to have gotten some of the elite freshman we’ve missed out on but once you do, I’d rather go portal.

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

I would like a good mix honesty. Get a couple top 20 freshmen and a balanced portal class

 

[Johnnie Africa]

Haven’t cared about freshman since cals last 2 years

 

[UKreturntogreatness]

The fact that we missed on ALL the top H.S. recruits can't be excused as OK.

When it comes to either Stokes vs. Momcilovic I feel we won with an experienced top player versus a top player with no college experience). But, those pointing out the balance of each top high school and top portal would be best in the long run.

I believe if we get Crawford for Assistant coach it will be a game changer with future recruiting.

 

[Bill_the_cat]

It looks like a Happy Ending emotional response.
The top shooter committed and everyone is thrilled. But choosing between the top transfer - Bidunga - and the top freshmen - Stokes - depends completely on team needs.

 

[BlueBomb]

Depends on the recruit. Anyone would be out of their mind to want any portal player over BYU's Dybantsa or Boozer at Duke.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

At UK, this really shouldn't be an either / or proposition.

 

[MonsterMash79]

I've been saying on this board since April I'd rather have the top guy out of the portal, who I'd rate as Momcilovic, rather than the top freshman recruit in today's era, Stokes.

Last year backs up that perspective:

Kansas had the #1 high school recruit Darryn Peterson. They were blown out by 30 in the B-12 tournament and lost in the round of 32.

Michigan had the #1 portal transfer in Yaxel Lendeborg. They won the national championship.

Yes, I know there are many, many other factors, and I'm not predicting a UK championship. But by any measure, the top portal guys were more valuable last year than Peterson, Acuff, Dybantsa, Caleb Wilson and lots of other highly touted freshmen.

Michigan was also loaded . That helps a little idk

 

[UKCowboys]

I've been saying on this board since April I'd rather have the top guy out of the portal, who I'd rate as Momcilovic, rather than the top freshman recruit in today's era, Stokes.

Last year backs up that perspective:

Kansas had the #1 high school recruit Darryn Peterson. They were blown out by 30 in the B-12 tournament and lost in the round of 32.

Michigan had the #1 portal transfer in Yaxel Lendeborg. They won the national championship.

Yes, I know there are many, many other factors, and I'm not predicting a UK championship. But by any measure, the top portal guys were more valuable last year than Peterson, Acuff, Dybantsa, Caleb Wilson and lots of other highly touted freshmen.

Great point

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

Depends on the recruit. Anyone would be out of their mind to want any portal player over BYU's Dybantsa or Boozer at Duke.

Sure. Everybody wants those guys and we need to start landing them but there’s only a handful of those guys at best. There’s a ton of talented players in the portal each year.

Unless you’re getting an A in high school recruiting (maybe a B) who cares if you get an F. There’s more talent with often multiple years of eligibility in the portal.

 

[UK_Kelly]

It looks like a Happy Ending emotional response.
The top shooter committed and everyone is thrilled. But choosing between the top transfer - Bidunga - and the top freshmen - Stokes - depends completely on team needs.

I know some have him listed as that but if you think Bidunga is the top transfer dude, then you're wrong.

 

[UKSanders]

Michigan was also loaded . That helps a little idk

But the roster also just happened to click, too, right? I mean, I don't remember anyone really expecting Mara to make the jump he did. Then you have guys like Lendeborg who stepped up in level of play, AND his level of play jumped...

for example, for Lendeborg
at UAB
23-24: 3pt 12/36 for 33%
24-25: 3pt 25/70 for 35%
25-26: 3pt 67/180 for 37%
So, he went up in volume AND percentage...

Even as ugly and broken as his form was, I was hoping for something somewhat similar from Mo-D
24-25: 3pt 12/26 for 46%
25-26: 3pt 6/28 for 21%... I think he shot more airballs than he had makes from the 3pt line

If Mo had a similar growth in production to Yaxel, it would have changed the offense SO MUCH if he shot well enough from the perimeter to spread the floor...


My point is to your comment... it was about the whole team, but I don't think it was automatic that it was a loaded roster as there were still some unknowns... if Yaxel had struggled making the jump up in competition from UAB to the Big Ten, if Mara hadn't made the big jump, etc.

We just have to be careful to make such "factual" opinion statements when using hindsight.

 

[MonsterMash79]

But the roster also just happened to click, too, right? I mean, I don't remember anyone really expecting Mara to make the jump he did. Then you have guys like Lendeborg who stepped up in level of play, AND his level of play jumped...

for example, for Lendeborg
at UAB
23-24: 3pt 12/36 for 33%
24-25: 3pt 25/70 for 35%
25-26: 3pt 67/180 for 37%
So, he went up in volume AND percentage...

Even as ugly and broken as his form was, I was hoping for something somewhat similar from Mo-D
24-25: 3pt 12/26 for 46%
25-26: 3pt 6/28 for 21%... I think he shot more airballs than he had makes from the 3pt line

If Mo had a similar growth in production to Yaxel, it would have changed the offense SO MUCH if he shot well enough from the perimeter to spread the floor...


My point is to your comment... it was about the whole team, but I don't think it was automatic that it was a loaded roster as there were still some unknowns... if Yaxel had struggled making the jump up in competition from UAB to the Big Ten, if Mara hadn't made the big jump, etc.

We just have to be careful to make such "factual" opinion statements when using hindsight.

Starting PG from UNC and other players that produced as well. Honestly the coaching was key imo.

 

[TomTraubertsBlues]

Not speaking with any real knowledge here, but just based off of what I have heard about Stokes, I am glad we got MM rather than him. You don't get kicked out of your school for no reason. And we haven't been having great success lately with highly touted recruits. Stokes might be the better player, but that doesn't mean he would be a better fit for us.

 

[BringItONUK ROCKS_rivals]

Kansas-top freshman last year -no championship, Duke-top freshman /Cooper- No Championship

 

[DelkBowl]

At UK, this really shouldn't be an either / or proposition.

Exactly. Also the portal hasn't gotten us a title yet.

 

[Bungalow Bill]

Wrong thread my bad

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

Exactly. Also the portal hasn't gotten us a title yet.

No, we had the right idea last year though. Yaxel was our top prospect and he ended up winning a championship. So it could happen

 

[UKSanders]

Starting PG from UNC and other players that produced as well. Honestly the coaching was key imo.

that's what I was trying to say (apparently not very well )... they really complimented and clicked together well, but even that wouldn't have been so solid had Mara & Lendeborg also not made significant jumps.