Dink Pate silent verbal?

SamePooter

All-Conference
Feb 21, 2026
946
1,232
93
Cal did a good job of keeping the knuckleheads away from the program.
I would have to get your version of knucklehead before I assume but…

I would guess John Wall Eric Bledsoe and Boogie would be labeled knuckleheads if they went to Kansas or Memphis. Maybe not. Cal was respected and still is. For the reasons he is. It’s not because his x and os. But he’s a great coach at the end of the day.
 

VernHatton52

Heisman
Aug 9, 2005
7,455
10,700
113
I have mixed emotions about this guy. I read one of his interviews and he made it clear coming to UK was about being on tv every game and putting up big numbers to set himself up for the NBA draft. And no, I'm not exaggerating or paraphrasing his words, but maybe he's just more honest than the other players.
Good, we need someone to come in and put up big numbers.
 

The_Catfather

All-Conference
May 21, 2002
13,926
4,881
92
He's definitely a wait and see type prospect.
Some people are rolling with the narrative that he's doing it against " grown men" in the g League.
For reference, Brandon Boston absolutely tore up the G league dropping 40 pt games and Reed dropped 36 in his first game when the Rockets sent him down last season.
The guy Baylor brought in is barely playable.
Yeah, Brandon Boston and Reed Sheppard put up Hall of Fame numbers in the G League. Bronny James tripled his career scoring average from USC his first year in it. Mac McClung is putting up Pete Maravich stats and doesn't get a sniff from the NBA unless it's the dunk contest.

If we got Pate hopefully the jump in 3-point shooting from last season to this is legit. He's got a weird-looking shot. Not sure what kind of defender he is. If guys like McClung are dropping 30 ppg there's probably not a lot of defense going on anywhere. Pate does have good athleticism. Some fancy dunks on fast breaks. But if Pope gets skittish and feels like he needs to overpay for a "star" and this guy ends up being mediocre then we're royally screwed.

 
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Crazy4Blue

Senior
Aug 5, 2021
192
528
93
In the Class of 2023, Rival had Dillingham rated #26, Sheppard #27 and Pate #28



26Industry Ranking16
Robert Dillingham Avatar

Robert DillinghamHigh School Class YearH.S. 2023Height6-2Weight165High SchoolOvertime EliteHometown(Charlotte, NC)
97
Natl26Pos5St3


SG
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Reed Sheppard Avatar

Reed SheppardHigh School Class YearH.S. 2023Height6-3Weight170High SchoolNorth LaurelHometown(London, KY)
97
Natl27Pos3St1


CG
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Rank28Industry Ranking29
Dink Pate Avatar

Dink PateHigh School Class YearH.S. 2023Height6-7Weight180High SchoolPinkstonHometown(Dallas, TX)
97
Natl28Pos7St2
-


24/7 had Pate rank #30 with this on his profile

Pate is loaded with talent. At 6-foot-8, he is best at the guard position where he shows a natural feel for the game and excellent ball handling ability for someone his size. With that being said, he is versatile enough to excel at all three perimeter positions and even the small ball four if need be. He has a clean stroke and is comfortable shooting off the catch and the bounce. While Pate is capable of filling the statsheet in all categories, his overall game is streaky at the moment but he is a confident prospect whose upside is clear at first glance. He must continue to work for consistency in his overall approach to the game and produce with the sole purpose of winning. How good he ends up being will be a direct indication of if he can consistently channel his efforts productively. Should he do so, he will have a chance at being one of the better names to ever come out of the metroplex.
 

TFCat11

Heisman
Mar 25, 2019
5,745
10,074
108
Add Pate to the list of must gets, right up there with Stokes, Wilson, and a few others too numerous to mention!

Point blank… If Pope can’t get Pate with everything that Pate has said about UK and college, then Pope needs to go back on another Missionary, and not come back.
 

Vek96

All-Conference
Jul 4, 2025
2,375
4,932
113
Hard pass. Would rather get proven players in the portal.
 

Vek96

All-Conference
Jul 4, 2025
2,375
4,932
113
In the Class of 2023, Rival had Dillingham rated #26, Sheppard #27 and Pate #28



26Industry Ranking16
Robert Dillingham Avatar

Robert DillinghamHigh School Class YearH.S. 2023Height6-2Weight165High SchoolOvertime EliteHometown(Charlotte, NC)
97
Natl26Pos5St3


SG
Avatar
Enrolled
Rank27Industry Ranking37
Reed Sheppard Avatar

Reed SheppardHigh School Class YearH.S. 2023Height6-3Weight170High SchoolNorth LaurelHometown(London, KY)
97
Natl27Pos3St1


CG
Avatar
Enrolled
Rank28Industry Ranking29
Dink Pate Avatar

Dink PateHigh School Class YearH.S. 2023Height6-7Weight180High SchoolPinkstonHometown(Dallas, TX)
97
Natl28Pos7St2
-


24/7 had Pate rank #30 with this on his profile

Pate is loaded with talent. At 6-foot-8, he is best at the guard position where he shows a natural feel for the game and excellent ball handling ability for someone his size. With that being said, he is versatile enough to excel at all three perimeter positions and even the small ball four if need be. He has a clean stroke and is comfortable shooting off the catch and the bounce. While Pate is capable of filling the statsheet in all categories, his overall game is streaky at the moment but he is a confident prospect whose upside is clear at first glance. He must continue to work for consistency in his overall approach to the game and produce with the sole purpose of winning. How good he ends up being will be a direct indication of if he can consistently channel his efforts productively. Should he do so, he will have a chance at being one of the better names to ever come out of the metroplex.
He looks like PJ Washington.
 

MichaelGray

All-Conference
Jan 13, 2026
709
1,004
93
His numbers improved this year but he's still only 40 percent overall from the floor. One of the concerns I've read is his potential fit with Kam and CC. Pate settles for jumpers and has an absurdly low free throw rate. That would be 3 guys in the lineup that can't create and get to the rim. Mainly spot-up shooters. I like his rebounding numbers though.

Would rather tamper with Juke Harris from Wake Forest to enter the portal, imo.
We need shooters & a couple that can flat out get to the rim off the dribble, the shooters need to be ready to shoot when the defense breaks down.
 

MichaelGray

All-Conference
Jan 13, 2026
709
1,004
93
His last 4 years he stopped getting guys that were different makers in their first year in the NBA. Cason Wallace is the only player that got significant playing time his first year in the league. Compare that to his first 11 years and you can understand the drop off his last 4 at Kentucky.
Duke started getting all the best ones funneled to them from Nike, Calipari pissed off Phil Knight when he refused to play in the Nike invitational, so Phil Knight said "**** you Cal".
 

MichaelGray

All-Conference
Jan 13, 2026
709
1,004
93
Up the middle against one of the best d lines in the country 4 times in a row from the one yard line? For the win? But can’t get a yard?
Just imagine, if Dowdell got that 1 yard against Texas, Ole Porky Stoops would probably still be the coach lol. 🤣🤣
 
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TX Wildcat

All-Conference
Apr 12, 2024
860
1,755
93
If ruled eligible, he’s a take. Young, but with professional experience. G-League PG, who would likely be a SG here. Versitile enough to play SF too. With our injury luck, would be nice to have some talent who can play 3 spots if need be.

Just need to coach the dribble drive into him, which would serve him well as a pro (again) prospect.
 
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Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
41,472
63,302
113
Is there Dinky baggage that should give us pause or is this a good match with Pope?
 

CrimsonCats_rivals

All-Conference
Mar 22, 2022
1,634
3,327
61
He's definitely a wait and see type prospect.
Some people are rolling with the narrative that he's doing it against " grown men" in the g League.
For reference, Brandon Boston absolutely tore up the G league dropping 40 pt games and Reed dropped 36 in his first game when the Rockets sent him down last season.
The guy Baylor brought in is barely playable.
A lot of people really overestimate the G League. There’s occasionally an intriguing prospect or two who gets some run there, usually for only a brief time before going back to the NBA, but the overall depth isn’t very good. A lot of the guys who are truly just one small step below NBA quality can get more money and play in better leagues by going overseas.

That’s not to say that Pate is a total zero of a college prospect, but you’re correct to take his G League stats with a grain of salt.
 

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,515
15,552
113
I can't wait for us to scheme with him in blue and white ... the "Dink and Dunk" game !! :cool:
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
50,470
70,655
113
No no pass ,we need to take him
Would you take Dink Pate, or would you rather have PJ Haggerty?

Looking at Pate's numbers against DL competition, that doesn't defend, give me Haggerty.

There will be far better options than Pate in the portal.
 
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megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,515
15,552
113
Would you take Dink Pate, or would you rather have PJ Haggerty?

Looking at Pate's numbers against DL competition, that doesn't defend, give me Haggerty.

There will be far better options than Pate in the portal.
Haggerty is a proven scorer, no question.
 
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ZaytovenCat

All-American
Apr 25, 2013
23,880
8,404
97
He's already been through the draft and can't go back through again.
He's playing college for the money and a free agent contract which hasn't been offered yet but could be at anytime the Knicks decide to pull the trigger.
Lol imagine he’s our best or second best player next year and the Knicks off him a contract in February. He takes it and tells us thanks and cya.

Pope’s fate will be sealed. Given how everything has done with Pope, i actually expect this to happen now.
 

UKSanders

Senior
Aug 27, 2007
277
532
93
He's definitely a wait and see type prospect.
Some people are rolling with the narrative that he's doing it against " grown men" in the g League.
For reference, Brandon Boston absolutely tore up the G league dropping 40 pt games and Reed dropped 36 in his first game when the Rockets sent him down last season.
The guy Baylor brought in is barely playable.

Yeah, one thing to consider in watching the g-league highlights…

defense is definitely OPTIONAL at best. It looks like pickup ball at the park with bigger, faster players and maybe even LESS defense than the park because some guys at least have personal pride in stopping someone when playing pick up games.
 

Jkr21790

Senior
Apr 21, 2015
1,043
509
113
Transfer star PG / Lowe
Chandler / Jasper / transfer elite shooter
Dink / Kam / Hawthorne / Noah
Stokes / Transfer stretch 4
Moreno / Solid transfer / Potter.

If we can land a big time PG who can give us 15 and 5 and shoot 35% or better from 3. Chandler in year 3 should be able to perform against actual good teams and light it up from 3. He needs to be taking 7 plus 3’s per game. Dink would do what he does. Same with Stokes. Moreno year 2. Stronger and more physical would be a RD1 talent. Lowe. Kam. Hopefully Jasper and a couple backup bigs would give us a deep *** team
 

Rainmaker

All-Conference
May 13, 2015
991
2,329
93
Now how would you know this? Are you really an insider or just pretending to be one?
I’ve said time and time again I’m not an insider. There are very very few actual “insiders”. I’m simply well connected to a lot of programs, and the NBA. So I know people who have direct knowledge on things and occasionally I have direct knowledge as I’m involved with high level players. I simply share what I know here because I’ve been a Kentucky fan my entire life, that’s what forums are for🤷🏻‍♂️
 

bnewt5

Junior
Feb 17, 2026
289
343
63
Would you take Dink Pate, or would you rather have PJ Haggerty?

Looking at Pate's numbers against DL competition, that doesn't defend, give me Haggerty.

There will be far better options than Pate in the portal.
Could have Haggerty last year but bought all of these injured and low talent guys for inflated prices. Room for both and plenty more
 

bnewt5

Junior
Feb 17, 2026
289
343
63
I’ve said time and time again I’m not an insider. There are very very few actual “insiders”. I’m simply well connected to a lot of programs, and the NBA. So I know people who have direct knowledge on things and occasionally I have direct knowledge as I’m involved with high level players. I simply share what I know here because I’ve been a Kentucky fan my entire life, that’s what forums are for🤷🏻‍♂️
Great, please keep the info coming and disregard the skeptics
Some of us appreciate recruiting info as the product on the floor is disappointing to say the least
 

SkyPrince

Senior
Jul 7, 2025
533
901
93
Transfer star PG / Lowe
Chandler / Jasper / transfer elite shooter
Dink / Kam / Hawthorne / Noah
Stokes / Transfer stretch 4
Moreno / Solid transfer / Potter.

If we can land a big time PG who can give us 15 and 5 and shoot 35% or better from 3. Chandler in year 3 should be able to perform against actual good teams and light it up from 3. He needs to be taking 7 plus 3’s per game. Dink would do what he does. Same with Stokes. Moreno year 2. Stronger and more physical would be a RD1 talent. Lowe. Kam. Hopefully Jasper and a couple backup bigs would give us a deep *** team
That roster is not doable.
Probably couldn't afford it or get the players to buy in.
A solid 8 man rotation should be the goal
 

SkyPrince

Senior
Jul 7, 2025
533
901
93
Haggerty is a proven scorer, no question.
Haggerty is a talent but his teams don't win.
The risk with him is that he's just here for the money and goes through the motions.
Look at AJ Storr this year at Ole Miss.
I'm just hesitant to take a fourth school in four years kid.