His handle has to get a lot better to contribute at this level. He has the build to get a lot better. It really depends on his mental approach if he comes this year...will he be happy with a 12 mpg or so rotation spot.
Sounds like Hampton might be joining this yrs squad
- Thread starter Anon200440
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You don’t come across as someone who knows much about the current roster. You avoid any breakdowns so posters can assess the value of your strongly worded conclusions. Just conclusions and condemnation for anyone who disagrees. Not much value in that. You present in this thread as an imposter here to bait.
Because the roster isn’t very good, especially on the wings.
It isn’t false. Both years he had multiple guys in his projected top 10-12 Miss Major time. Each year he was left with about 7 dudes that could actually be on the court in a real game.
Btw…Popes on record with all of this. Do you think he’s a liar? His hand has just been forced (thankfully).
This will easily be one of the tallest teams we've ever had at UK. That should help some, spreading the load. Morton, Wilkins, and Diallo are big for guards.
I think it hurt having Oweh and Robinson at the 3 the last two years, essentially giving us guard-size. Now we have Momcilovic, Williams, and Hawthorne there.
You can’t read apparently. The 3 games I mentioned we were fully healthy and played 4 guys around 30 mins a game. In big games that’s what he does and what most coaches do. In lesser games mins are definitely divided more equally.
So Hampton is Better than Milan and Wilkins? That’s the 2 starting wings. Hampton isn’t ready at all for anything more than Jasper mins at best. He has weak handles and hasn’t gotten efficient enough.
Kam currently can’t walk and basically hasn’t played since January (yes, I know he hobbled around a few games in March). He also had about three decent games last season. I don’t think it’s too crazy to think a top 10 2027 player will be better than that.
No, but he’s better than Kam or Hawthorne. And I honestly believe Mom plays more 4 than 3. Partly because I also believe the 4 options aren’t going to be very good either. McBride is super limited athletically. N’Diaye is another of the Euros we have zero clue what we’re getting. But most don’t seem to be physically ready.
Sign me up…with the caveat that’s the top 9. Hell, I’m not sure that rotation is as good as last years.
You said we only played guys that amount of mins due to players being hurt. I showed that’s not true. Also pope has said he likes to keep guys fresh and play a big rotation. Doesn’t mean he don’t play his top guys 30 mins. The 4/5 are usually where he spreads the most mins out trying to keep them fresh. And if you show me a coach who doesn’t lie to the media It would be the first.
He could be better than Hawthorne but he’s not better than Kam when Kam is healthy. Kam is a very good defender and way better shooter. He will be good to go come start of season. This lay off was expected. His dad talked about it a while ago. No reason for him to be practicing right now.
It’s def better. Zoom is better than zel at PG and at best a wash. Wilkins is better than Chandler. Milan and Oweh I’ll give a wash even though Milan fits pope style way better. Moreno this year is better than last year. Ousmane and McBride just have to function and they will be better than jelavic and mo. Bench wise Morton is better than Jasper. Kam is a year older and at minimum is same player. Go watch him guard Caleb Wilson in Unc game. Dude gave him fits and Wilson is a freak. As far as Wilkins I’ve seen him play a lot being close to Furman and he is going to surprise everyone of the doubters.
It wouldn’t take much to be better than last years rotation. PDS score for you is a 7 but could trend higher.
Mock draft boards have:
Moreno: most have in first round, at least one predicts lottery, no lower than very beginning of second round
MilMom: most early second round, some first round
Wilkins: just outside of the draft, being watched to see how his game translates to SEC.
NDiaye: not eligible - if he had a good year (or 2) will be a free agent. NBA is reportedly watching
Zoom: on some boards in first and second round.
Kam: on some boards in second round. His injury is a factor.
Moreno: most have in first round, at least one predicts lottery, no lower than very beginning of second round
MilMom: most early second round, some first round
Wilkins: just outside of the draft, being watched to see how his game translates to SEC.
NDiaye: not eligible - if he had a good year (or 2) will be a free agent. NBA is reportedly watching
Zoom: on some boards in first and second round.
Kam: on some boards in second round. His injury is a factor.
I think this is clearly popes best roster on paper. Im confident they make a sweet 16.
Im also confident they dont win the sec reg or tourney or make a ncaa final 4.
So the debate becomes for the new UK AD is two sweet 16s n 3 seasons spending all this moneu worth another year of this experiment. The new AD didnt hire Pope and probably would hire a coach based on resume and not where he played college ball (barney only rubric). So pope better perform this season.
Im also confident they dont win the sec reg or tourney or make a ncaa final 4.
So the debate becomes for the new UK AD is two sweet 16s n 3 seasons spending all this moneu worth another year of this experiment. The new AD didnt hire Pope and probably would hire a coach based on resume and not where he played college ball (barney only rubric). So pope better perform this season.
Here's a list 8 that we offered...OFFERED, and there have been talks with others that we didn't offer. Not to mention, others that can play the 2/3 or 3/4 spots interchangeably. And, we have always had Hawthorne and Kam and Noah. And, while it now appears to be untrue, the subject of this thread is about Hampton reclassifying. And hes a 3.
For context, we had Kam, Hawthorne, Noah and Milan when I commented on this thread... a thread about another 3 reclassifying to this year.
2026 Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Offers
2026 Kentucky Wildcats basketball team offers list.
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Yea those are all guys he offered before Milan lol. If we would’ve gotten stokes then no Milan. Are you really that lost? Pope doesn’t want Hampton to reclassify. It’s why he hasn’t yet. No use for him really. He’s a redundant player.Here's a list 8 that we offered...OFFERED, and there have been talks with others that we didn't offer. Not to mention, others that can play the 2/3 or 3/4 spots interchangeably. And, we have always had Hawthorne and Kam and Noah. And, while it now appears to be untrue, the subject of this thread is about Hampton reclassifying. And hes a 3.
For context, we had Kam, Hawthorne, Noah and Milan when I commented on this thread... a thread about another 3 reclassifying to this year.
2026 Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Offers
2026 Kentucky Wildcats basketball team offers list.www.on3.com
Seriously? No reason for him to be practicing? He was awful for 2/3 or 3/4 of the time he played. Dude had at most a handful of decent games. And he’s currently hurt. I can definitely envision a world where Hampton is better. I like Kama game IF he’s making shots and healthy. But he’s not been either consistently as a Cat.
According to whom, Grad24 and Eagleball 69? Dear God people, do any of you have one ounce of positivity in your bones? Your basketball knowledge is severely limited as indicated by these ridiculous posts. No one on this stupid site has seen these kids play and if you are basing your views on " i heard someone say he's not ready" then u should stop posting. Just wow.
People who have attended practice and heard from the staff, all of this is available on KSR chat.
Meaning no reason to not let foot fully heal. Not that he don’t need to get work in. He can still shoot which is good.
BS. Sorry. Not good enough. Practice isn't open to the public unless Pope changed it. I put nothing into anything from Matt Jones' people.
You’re buying hope. I’m not. I think, at best, DA/OO and ZD/AW are a wash. At best. DA and OO are far better defensively and on the boards. That’s my biggest concern. I think offensively this yrs team will be much better, but I think they’ll be one of the worst defensive teams in the country at the P5 level. We need a good and healthy Kam to change that.
I know. That’s kinda my point. I think there’s depth, but you can only play so many guys. Problem Popes two teams have had. No real dude.
Ahhhh, gotcha. Sorry, misunderstood. My worry with Kam is he was borderline good enough to help last season. Took him FOREVER to get going. Now he’s been out a long, long time. It’s super easy to see that same scenario play out. He’s not a sure bet, but we’ll damned for sure be better if he’s the starter at the 3.
OO was not a good defender. He was good at getting some steals and in spurts but overall not good. He lost his man a ton. DA was a solid defender. I’d say they are the same defensively with strengths and weaknesses. But offensively way better
You guys that are stubborn about info from the KSR guys are so weird. It’s fine not to like them or Matt and his politics. Whatever. But to think that Goose, Tom, and any other former player or media member don’t talk to them about what they’re seeing in practice is so mind numbingly shortsighted. Hell, Ryan is as connected as probably anyone in the media. You won’t believe the negatives but will just buy hook line and sinker the positive stuff? Interesting.
Otega was when you factor in rebounding, which is part of the game. Metrically outside of Kam and DA he was as good as they had. Zoom and Wilkins were both awful defensively. But they’re better on offense id think.
Apparently you just want to argue. No, I'm not lost. Go back and read what I've said. Hopefully it'll make more sense to you the second time and in context with the title of this thread. I never said Pope wanted him to reclass, did I? Read the title again, too.
Was it you that said we're set at the 4 and needed another 3 but now Hampton is a redundant player? Maybe that was someone else that said we needed another 3. But yeah, if Kam is healthy, Hawthorne is ready, Noah is improved, AND we have Milan....then I agree. Pope sees them in practice(and a boot), so in the context of the title of this thread, can you finally see it yet.. And that was my point all along!
So no, I'm not lost at all but you clearly either didn't read all of what I said or...you just want to argue. That if Hampton did indeed reclassify, it seems clear that Pope wasn't satisfied with our depth/talent or health at that position.
I never said we needed another 3. Pope doesn’t want Hampton to reclass. Hampton is a 2 who can play some 3. But he’s not close to ready to help next year. If pope wasn’t satisfied with the 3 spot Hampton would be on the roster already.
Exactly right on Noweh. He gambled all the time on defense. Sometimes the gamble payed off and he got a run out. Most times his man had an open shot or drive.
DA was an OK defender. Far better than Noweh. Probably the best defender on a bad defensive team.
It’s hard to judge a guy’s defensive ability in Pope’s system though. There’s no defensive identity. Who knows if those guys could guard with coaching?
zoom and OO were a rebound apart per game. DA was lower than zoom in rebounding.