I've been a patient supporter for years, trying to wait for him to turn the corner. My kids and I were watching last night and were just stunned at his play. Not looking to pile on and I wish nothing more than for him to get his head right and play to his potential consistently from here on out - but I'm about to give up (certainly looked last night like he has). No focus, no desire to excel it seemed. Bad passes, shots, terrible defense (grabbing instead of defending), traveling with the ball. Has he given up? I just don't know what to think of him.
What's wrong with Alex?
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I've been waiting as well. But I thinks it time to realize, he is who he is. Yes, the injury slowed him down, but I keep feeling like people are waiting for him to turn into Terrance Jones, sorry, it's not happening.
Timing isn't great. Neither is his handle. Small hands as folks have pointed out. Has never had high self esteem. Just have to accept he can have horrible games and very good games.
He is not a basketball player, he is a athlete playing basketball. /thread
I think he needs to play mad. We need to trash his car before the game to get him motivated, like they did to Forest Whitaker in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. I guess we would have to do it for every game though.
I played basketball in college many moons ago, at a level well below Kentucky. I mention that because I have a theory about Alex that I'll admit would have applied to me. I'd played basketball all my life to get a scholarship, and battled through lots of injuries in both high school and college. By the time I was a senior in college, I was burned out on hoops and much more interested in getting on with my post-educational life.
Of course, I didn't have the prospect of making millions of dollars in the NBA or Europe, but maybe Alex has come to realize he's not really an NBA-caliber player, and he's just ready for the rest of his life to begin. Maybe this is a feeling that has grown for awhile, but he's kept it at bay as he fought back from last year's injury because part of him realizes how privileged he is to be at Kentucky as a basketball player. Internal conflicts are not that uncommon, especially among intelligent 21-year-olds. By all accounts he's a great kid and an excellent student. If so, good luck to him.
It's easy for people whose careers topped out in junior high to say, 'man, if that were me I'd be running through brick walls to play for Kentucky.' I'm not doubting anyone who feels that way. But the reality can be more complicated.
Of course, I didn't have the prospect of making millions of dollars in the NBA or Europe, but maybe Alex has come to realize he's not really an NBA-caliber player, and he's just ready for the rest of his life to begin. Maybe this is a feeling that has grown for awhile, but he's kept it at bay as he fought back from last year's injury because part of him realizes how privileged he is to be at Kentucky as a basketball player. Internal conflicts are not that uncommon, especially among intelligent 21-year-olds. By all accounts he's a great kid and an excellent student. If so, good luck to him.
It's easy for people whose careers topped out in junior high to say, 'man, if that were me I'd be running through brick walls to play for Kentucky.' I'm not doubting anyone who feels that way. But the reality can be more complicated.
This is what we are going to get with Alex. His personality is one of being timid and shy when the bright lights come on. I doubt it will change over night. We may as well move on and if he contributes fine if not, we weren't expecting it anyway
Personality, mostly. He's just a fairly passive kid - kids like that have motors that aren't always on, they have to "turn them on", which by definition means you're going in fits and starts. Will always be that way. Heard a coach at one of Cal's summer camps say "the thing that makes Alex such a great kid is the thing that will prevent him from ever becoming a great player, and that's his personality."
The other thing is, as physically gifted as he is, he looks like he's got some bad hands. Hands of Stone. No mas, no mas.......
The other thing is, as physically gifted as he is, he looks like he's got some bad hands. Hands of Stone. No mas, no mas.......
I actually think he, himself has seen the draft boards and finally figured out what he is. Him sassing Cal during the Ole Miss game and giving him the "whatever" body language towards the end of the game last night were hard to watch.
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Is it possible that with one year of eligibility left, Alex could be a "done-and-one" that actually leaves Kentucky for a smaller, less stressful place? I've seen him look at Cal a couple of times this season with an "Oh shut up" look on his face.
Alex is one of those players that thinks he is better than he really is.
He has to play hard to be successful and just doesnt have the motivation to do so.
He has to play hard to be successful and just doesnt have the motivation to do so.
He's just not very good. In this day and age if you are in school 4 years for b-ball you are just not that good most of the time. I know, I know, if he stays healthy he leaves after last year and he may have helped us win a national title (I have my doubts on this the more I see of him this year but we will never know), and then been drafted in the 2nd round perhaps (same as this years max potential).
I said a few weeks back that Alex is a role player, he is not a go to guy. Great student, great person, great talent, but average at best basketball production. He just isn't a guy that you can depend on every night.
Yep. He was perfect for the team he played on with Randle, Dakari and Stein. He was the energy guy that helped us make a Final 4 run.
I've had this thought as well. Him and Cal have always seemed to have an interesting relationship, just from an outsider looking in.
Ulis needs to walk up and bit€h slap him right before tip off and then pass him the ball down low on the first play.
For most of AP's career, I've been steadfast in my evaluation of him. He has zero offensive moves. He doesn't have a reliable jump shot. He's a solid defensive player who can rebound and clean up stuff inside WHEN he's surrounded by other prominent offensive threats. He will never be a significant NBA player. He seems to be less explosive after his injury as one would expect. He's also a class guy who I'm proud has been a Wildcat.
Can we honestly stop these ridiculous "what's wrong with Alex" threads? If you can't tell he's not a very good basketball player after four years, it's probably time for you to watch a new sport.
I think he's a 'good' player...but not above that level, and not what most UK fans want him to be. But he's better than most college front line players.
I don't see it. Poy is working on his Master's at UK and is actually a legit student. It would be idiotic to go to another college that has a Master's degree UK does not offer instead of staying on another year at UK to finish his master's and prepare for playing overseas. To be fair, I think he is gone after this year and will finish the master's in the pro ball off seasons over the next few years, but I just do not see him leaving to start ANOTHER master's program when leaving won't help his NBA stock one bit.
I mean you can go to a cupcake program and rack up stats (maybe Poy can take Kyle's place in cupcake Gonzaga) and look like an All-American...but everyone knows you really are not that good and it is the system and the opponents (See Wiltjer again).
An interesting take, except, he has already graduated..I believe he is working on a Masters. He doesn't need to keep playing to get a degree. I suppose he does to pay for grad school, but with his grades, he could get grad school virtually for free, if he held down a graduate assistant position in his chosen department he wouldn't need to play.
A role player who plays best when he is 2nd, 3rd, or 4th fiddle, with no pressure or high expectations. A very nice young man, and a great student.
I read one time where Kevin Grevey said that Jack Givens would have had a lot longer career in the NBA if he only could have handled the ball better. I have always wondered why Alex after all these years has not been able to take three or four dribbles and attack the basket. I don't understand how he couldn't get better with his ball handling, but I guess it must not be as easy as I think it should be. I think it is probably hard to play with all these different teammates every year. I just hope he can rebound from this LSU fiasco and turn it on the rest of the way. Because I think he seems to be a great young man. And he deserves success!
He simply isn't as good as we all hoped he would be. Great kid, decent ball player. Tons of kids like him. Accept it.
Alex was at his best when he was using his explosive athleticism to fly for a dunk or rejection or rebound. I have not seen the same explosiveness in him this year and that isn't surprising. It's only been 12 months since the surgery. He isn't who he was athletically and he may never be. Without that explosiveness, Alex is pretty average. Hate to say it, but I believe it. This year we may get a shadow of who Alex was and even worse, a shadow of who Skal is supposed to be.
The tough part about Alex is that this year he was counted on to lead, and that is tough when you are not playing well most of some games. For whatever reason Alex is not the player that finished the Duke game his freshman year. What happened is anybody's guess, some players melt from the quality of talent being brought in each year but I thought he played well in the Bahamas last year but it didn't really continue when he got back in the states. He is an outstanding young man who has never been a problem while here but carrying that banner and leadership role doesn't seem to be his cup of tea. This group is hurting from no real experienced leadership and inside game.
Maybe. But Alex will realize one day that Cal tried to push him out of his lazy bed because he saw what he could be. But a kid like Alex "has to be" pushed. I'm not sure it will work with him. He'll always take the path of least resistance instead of climbing the mountain to success.
I agree that Alex is an athlete playing basketball because he can. Plenty of kids with his abilities are forced in to it. My question is, with Cal putting as many guys in the NBA after one year, why hasn't he taught Alex to shoot or dribble? He has had him long enough to have worked with his shot. As much as Alex has given this program, why hasn't he gotten that from this program? Are guys that aren't good enough after 1 year dead at UK? Lee is no better as a prospect than when he got here. The Harrisons stayed, their draft status didn't improve. Willie's did, but who else has gotten better draft status by staying?
Anybody remember the game he had against duke his freshman year? I hate to say it but I think AP hit his ceiling a while ago. I'll still be rooting for him to prove me wrong.