Still cant believe Dakari Johnson declared

Louis_Skunt

All-American
Oct 4, 2013
6,300
6,917
66
The benefits to coming back would've been so beneficial. The draft is loaded with great big guys this year, and DJ would've played major minutes for a top program next season. Instead playing 8 mins a game, he could be playing 30, vastly improving his stock. He's one of my favorite Cats, but this wasnt a wise move.
 
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UKWildcats#8

All-American
Jun 25, 2011
30,327
9,338
0
Playing 30? Yeah right. Skal will be playing 30. DJ would have played about 15 per game.
 

ukfan606

Senior
Oct 27, 2007
6,604
483
0
He is late first round projected pick. I never blame a kid for trying to get paid.
 

.S&C.

All-American
Jul 8, 2014
45,292
6,422
0
My issue is more with the NBA making kids like Dakari think they even have a place on an NBA court. dakari is a 4 year guy that graduates and figures out the rest after graduation if this was 1995. Just because it's the old way doesn't mean it's not the right way. This current system blows. It's not really the players fault.
 
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GYERater

All-Conference
Jul 19, 2012
2,489
3,375
0
Honestly Im glad Dakari declared, just too slow and unathletic for my liking.
 

GonzoCat90

Heisman
Mar 30, 2009
32,377
34,559
0
Dakari is a meat head I'm not surprised

You're terrible.

Also, Dakari wasn't going to get more explosive, and that's what keeps his stock where it is. Teams know what they're getting, they've seen him in extended stretches for two years, and that wasn't going to change with more minutes.

He'll be drafted in a solid spot, and what he develops and improves on from there will decide how long he plays and for how much money. Kendrick Perkins makes several million a year to sit on the bench, and Dakari is already better offensively than Perk ever was. We've seen that he plays hard and works to get better and will accept a role on a team. At 7' 260 pounds, that'll keep you around.
 

GonzoCat90

Heisman
Mar 30, 2009
32,377
34,559
0
Truth be told karl trey and willie only 3 that had any business declaring but nobody wants the cold hard truth

Truth be told, the only ones who could have improved their stock by coming back were Lyles and Booker, but they're late lotto to mid-first round picks, but terrible fans don't want the cold hard truth.
 
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qwesley

Heisman
Feb 5, 2003
17,606
23,461
0
Like Lamb I think a lot of it has to do with all your buddies going and feeling left behind.

He will not go in the first round. Probably a 1 in 3 chance he goes undrafted.
 

KentuckyStout

Heisman
Sep 13, 2009
10,624
20,073
65
Can't dribble, can't jump, can't score. Got his shot thrown a bunch last year. Bad things happened every time he tried to do the simplest move with a basketball in his hands.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.
 
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W_Heisenberg

All-Conference
Aug 2, 2013
2,435
1,075
0
LOL...I swear some of you guys....look, there is zero point zero chance he goes undrafted....if there was a number less than zero, that would be the number.

Can we please just support his decision instead of questioning it?
 

W_Heisenberg

All-Conference
Aug 2, 2013
2,435
1,075
0
Can't dribble, can't jump, can't score. Got his shot thrown a bunch last year. Bad things happened every time he tried to do the simplest move with a basketball in his hands.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

Wow, so are you glad he's gone?
 

W_Heisenberg

All-Conference
Aug 2, 2013
2,435
1,075
0
My issue is more with the NBA making kids like Dakari think they even have a place on an NBA court. dakari is a 4 year guy that graduates and figures out the rest after graduation if this was 1995. Just because it's the old way doesn't mean it's not the right way. This current system blows. It's not really the players fault.

So the NBA wants to trick players who you say don't belong in their league, into coming into the their league?

I got news for you...it's not the "NBA", these are coaches, scouts, GM's, etc. from a lot of teams that give feedback. You think they will draft a player who can't play in the league? Have you thought, just for a second, that perhaps they know a little more about their own league than you?
 

KentuckyStout

Heisman
Sep 13, 2009
10,624
20,073
65
Wow, so are you glad he's gone?

No I'm really not happy about it. I like Dakari. Would have been glad to have him back.

It's just that he was so frustrating to me last season, he seemed to regress after having a strong tourney in 2014. And now he's going pro?
 

.S&C.

All-American
Jul 8, 2014
45,292
6,422
0
So the NBA wants to trick players who you say don't belong in their league, into coming into the their league?

I got news for you...it's not the "NBA", these are coaches, scouts, GM's, etc. from a lot of teams that give feedback. You think they will draft a player who can't play in the league? Have you thought, just for a second, that perhaps they know a little more about their own league than you?

Some of the things you say... Man.

The NBA has butchered their draft. Anyone can see it. Almost everyone. Do you know how many of those scouts miss their *** drafting these prospects? Don't you see all the different coaches that DONT like the system currently? Please with that crap.
 

Habiki

Redshirt
Jun 22, 2009
342
26
0
Can't dribble, can't jump, can't score. Got his shot thrown a bunch last year. Bad things happened every time he tried to do the simplest move with a basketball in his hands.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

Honestly, I felt the same way. He was one of my favorites his freshman year, but something happened. I support his decision and hope he finds a solid spot, but there were miles of difference between his freshman and sophomore seasons.

It got to a point with my friends where we would zero in anytime Dakari touched the ball. Rarely did something good happen.
 

3rex

Senior
Nov 3, 2002
10,278
804
0
It's the culture that's been cultivated here. If you come, the expectation either externally or within the player, is that you're here for a short time, then on to the league. And if you don't, then you're somehow a failure.
Still goes to Cal's mindset that the greatest days for UK now are the NBA draft. Players feel the pressure/need to be a part of it as soon as they can.
 

CatsFanGG24

Heisman
Dec 22, 2003
22,267
27,137
0
This year he played with a weaker interior player when he was on the court. Lee isn't the offensive threat that Randle was, therefore the double team came often on Dakari...he was great 1v1, horrible against the double...he didn't like passing out of it, probably because he was trying to do too much since his minutes were limited by all of the other talent on the team.
 

actiondan

Redshirt
May 5, 2008
3
0
0
He's seven feet tall and has some skill, he's GOING to get drafted in the first round. Get paid while you can.
 

Arrogant Blue

Redshirt
Nov 15, 2011
306
10
0
Wow, are these people for real ?.... Don't know if its jealousy or bitterness.

The kid was ready to get paid, and he will. He's being projected as a late 1st rounder, but even if he doesn't make it.... he'll make good money playing somewhere.

It's posts like these that remind me of the the hate these kids must get on social media..... It's a damn shame, especially if coming from some of our own "fans".
 

ManitouDan_anon

Heisman
Dec 7, 2006
20,073
32,434
0
I dont blame the young man cashin' in .. its the system that allows such limited role players to go pro EARLY thats all screwed up . I remember the dinosaur days , like 5 years ago , where going pro EARLY meant you were a stud . You were an accomplished player if you went pro early . Now nominal players who havent done much , or actually very little at all , are going early. Its just a piss poor broken system. Hurts both the college game and the pro game .
 

bcox13

Senior
Apr 23, 2009
4,488
944
71
It's the culture that's been cultivated here. If you come, the expectation either externally or within the player, is that you're here for a short time, then on to the league. And if you don't, then you're somehow a failure.
Still goes to Cal's mindset that the greatest days for UK now are the NBA draft. Players feel the pressure/need to be a part of it as soon as they can.
Cal was quoted last year as saying that he told Dakari the NBA was interested in him. Dakari said he would talk to his mom, but ultimately, he came back. I guess the pressure didn't get to him.

The fact is, our coaches gather info and present it to these kids, then they make a decision. Dakari is what he is, a 7 footer with decent skills. If he gets to practice all day every day and not have to worry about school, or practice limitations, he will probably be a serviceable NBA player. What's in their best interest isn't always in the best interest of the fans that support them, I get it.
 

JasonS.

All-American
Moderator
Oct 10, 2001
41,867
7,316
66
Eh, he wasn't getting any better here and decent chance he goes in the First Round.

Might as well go.
 

Hoskins91_rivals

All-Conference
Jun 12, 2011
6,750
1,619
50
I don't blame them for going to get the money. The twins and Dakari leaving doesn't bother me, because they are what they are, and that wasn't really anything that was not realistically replaceable. Lyles and Booker were the two that possibly could have gained something by coming back, and you could even argue that Booker could easily drop if he didn't come back and show he could be something other than be a guy who spots up and comes off screens. We have Poythress so Lyles leaving just opens up the starting spot for him, but we could have really used Booker.
 

brianpoe

Heisman
Mar 25, 2009
27,769
21,825
113
No one can judge the kid until we see how he pans out. Who thought Nazr would be playing this long?
 

W_Heisenberg

All-Conference
Aug 2, 2013
2,435
1,075
0
Some of the things you say... Man.

The NBA has butchered their draft. Anyone can see it. Almost everyone. Do you know how many of those scouts miss their *** drafting these prospects? Don't you see all the different coaches that DONT like the system currently? Please with that crap.

How have they butchered the draft? If anything it's better than before since they have an extra year to evaluate.

Tell me how, I'm reading.....
 

UKWildcats#8

All-American
Jun 25, 2011
30,327
9,338
0
Cal was quoted last year as saying that he told Dakari the NBA was interested in him. Dakari said he would talk to his mom, but ultimately, he came back. I guess the pressure didn't get to him.

The fact is, our coaches gather info and present it to these kids, then they make a decision. Dakari is what he is, a 7 footer with decent skills. If he gets to practice all day every day and not have to worry about school, or practice limitations, he will probably be a serviceable NBA player. What's in their best interest isn't always in the best interest of the fans that support them, I get it.

3 Rex and others like him are too dense to understand that Coach Cal said that in 2010 for marketing and recruiting purposes. Intelligent UK fans know what he meant. Unfortunately, we have a lot of stupid so called UK fans on here.
 
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3rex

Senior
Nov 3, 2002
10,278
804
0
UKWildcats8-- the ultimate Cal worshipper. To him, it's all about Cal.

And he's my biggest stalker.

I believe, as I said, it's part of the culture here now.
 

FtWorthCat

All-Conference
Aug 21, 2001
6,721
4,532
0
If he goes early Second Round, which is where I think he will go, he will likely end up negotiating about a 2-year, $1.5 million guaranteed contract. If he comes back and blows out a knee he risks losing it all. So even if he never makes it in the NBA, he'll make about $1.5 million by the time he is about 22 years old. Not a bad start to your adult life. He seems like a really good young man. I wish him the best, and I'll be rooting for him.
 
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