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Portal Tracker of UK Targets

JPFisher

JPFisher

Heisman
Jul 24, 2013
6,649
12,634
113
Farsight Clone said:
No Thomas and no Blackwell. Interesting.

Based off this potential list, we are loading up in the backcourt instead of front court. This is good.

Thoughts on the guys he's targeting?

Click to expand...

With how quiet Pope and his staff have been in past recruitments, I don't expect anything to be known for a couple of our targets until the news breaks that we got em or that they're down to 2-3 programs.

Not a bad list, but definitely incomplete. Thomas is on there, btw, unless you meant a different Thomas.

I'd love to have Riley. Don't know enough about the guy from Oregon to have an opinion. Bizjack would be fun as a backup.

The one I want most from this list is Vanterpool. By far. Riley and Thomas close seconds. Only player in the portal I like more for us than Vanterpool is Blackwell.
 
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Yardeth

Yardeth

Heisman
Jan 2, 2007
13,419
17,615
67
kywildcat1021979 said:
We are bargain shopping again I see to only over pay again..... Man if I knew my *** was on the line I would be swinging for the fences on hiring assistants and swinging for the fences recruiting the portal since he couldn't get anything from the high school ranks!
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I think this lineup we are looking at is swinging for the fences for Pope. I don’t know if Pope knows what are difference makers that we need.
 
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TFCat11

TFCat11

Heisman
Mar 25, 2019
5,803
10,259
108
Pope needs the same dudes that Duke, UNC, KU, Michigan, Arizona, UCONN etc. are after, or it’s going to be business as usual in the Commonwealth…

I believe the new standard for UK is hoping to lose 10 games or less, and make a Sweet 16. About 30% of BBN has already accepted this as the new normal.
 
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F

Farsight Clone

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2025
2,485
4,744
103
JPFisher said:
With how quiet Pope and his staff have been in past recruitments, I don't expect anything to be known for a couple of our targets until the news breaks that we got em or that they're down to 2-3 programs.

Not a bad list, but definitely incomplete. Thomas is on there, btw, unless you meant a different Thomas.

I'd love to have Riley. Don't know enough about the guy from Oregon to have an opinion. Bizjack would be fun as a backup.

The one I want most from this list is Vanterpool. By far. Riley and Thomas close seconds. Only player in the portal I like more for us than Vanterpool is Blackwell.
Click to expand...
I saw him right as soon as I posted. I fixed it lmao
 
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TellurideCat

TellurideCat

Junior
Jul 21, 2025
124
277
63
I do like Evans as an upgrade to BG. Can score in the post, rebound, pass a little and above average defender with size. Only 30% from 3 so he needs to be accompanied by a true stretch 4.
 
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W

Wildcat_in_DC

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2025
702
1,004
93
that list tells me:
  1. i think the staff is all in on stokes to play SF
  2. going after a guy like evans who can play PF and C - bring back jelavic to play back up
  3. thomas assist guy to distribute
  4. vanterpool is your bucket getter, riley to replace kam williams if he leaves or if we dont get stokes
  5. flyer on combo guard as insurance
 
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U

UKSanders

Senior
Aug 27, 2007
293
555
93
Farsight Clone said:
No Blackwell or Pate (Not sure if Pate would qualify to be on here). Interesting.

Based off this potential list, we are loading up in the backcourt instead of front court. This is good.

Thoughts on the guys he's targeting?

Click to expand...


Honestly, if that's the list, I don't understand a couple of those being high/top priority. Pope's offense clearly is at its best with good perimeter shooters at every position.

Neither SG Byrd, SF Haralson or PF James are good perimeter threats. So, if you get one of those, the other 2 don't need to be on the floor with him.

I mentioned it in another thread, but for the PF, I would target SDSU Magoon Gwath... he's 6'11-7'0ish, and he shoots 40% from 3pt range. He could absolutely play as the primary PF and even backup the C in spots.
 
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H

HipTer

Senior
Apr 11, 2012
979
678
93
Vek96 said:
We need big, athletic forwards who can score and REBOUND.

We need more than one ball handler.
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You might like Kwame Evans as a forward option. I also like Najai Hines, but he's more of an old school power basketball C-PF and not a 3pt. shooter. Evans is a little more bouncy and can shoot from the perimeter a little bit (but I would prefer he cut back on that).
 
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Wildcat_in_DC

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2025
702
1,004
93
blackwell is going to demand too much and we need 5 pieces or so. pate is something hart cooked up because of an existing relationship. no one else is recruiting him. zero loss there.
 
B

Blue till I die

All-Conference
Dec 20, 2004
1,552
2,959
113
Definitely feel like Pope would prefer to recruit covertly as much as possible. It's been hard for him to finalize deals. So the fewer people he is recruiting against, the better chance he has.

Meaning, some of the information leaked could be intentionally misleading and the recruits that he wants the most may not get leaked at all.
 
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K

KYFOSSIL

Heisman
Jan 13, 2005
7,733
10,301
62
TFCat11 said:
Pope needs the same dudes that Duke, UNC, KU, Michigan, Arizona, UCONN etc. are after, or it’s going to be business as usual in the Commonwealth…

I believe the new standard for UK is hoping to lose 10 games or less, and make a Sweet 16. About 30% of BBN has already accepted this as the new normal.
Click to expand...
I don't know if even five people much less 5% points have accepted this as our new normal.. it's different saying this is where we are now versus. This is where we want to be or will accepting..
 
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R

rivercatinfl

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2012
1,991
1,896
97
Blue till I die said:
Definitely feel like Pope would prefer to recruit covertly as much as possible. It's been hard for him to finalize deals. So the fewer people he is recruiting against, the better chance he has.

Meaning, some of the information leaked could be intentionally misleading and the recruits that he wants the most may not get leaked at all.
Click to expand...
not a bad strategy in my opinion. Everyone is looking the portal to upgrade. Half the stuff on these predicted guys is just a half assed guesses.
Let's see what MP can do.
My confidence is lower than ever but I'm hoping he can pull off a coup by landing a few elite pieces.
 
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R

rivercatinfl

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2012
1,991
1,896
97
*Fox2Monk* said:
Blackwell is proven and he’s worth what he asks for. We need a guy like him to replace Oweh. A guaranteed 20 a game guy.
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Blackwell is going pro. At least that's what I saw yesterday. That's why he's not in the portal. Looks like he is gonna sink or swim in the NBA. He's good enough imo.
 
AllBall

AllBall

All-American
May 5, 2015
4,410
5,627
93
JPFisher said:
With how quiet Pope and his staff have been in past recruitments, I don't expect anything to be known for a couple of our targets until the news breaks that we got em or that they're down to 2-3 programs.

Not a bad list, but definitely incomplete. Thomas is on there, btw, unless you meant a different Thomas.

I'd love to have Riley. Don't know enough about the guy from Oregon to have an opinion. Bizjack would be fun as a backup.

The one I want most from this list is Vanterpool. By far. Riley and Thomas close seconds. Only player in the portal I like more for us than Vanterpool is Blackwell.
Click to expand...
Kwame Evans is a talented 3-4.

Is UK not even targeting Vaaks or Blackwell? What they shoot too good? 😂
 
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AllBall

AllBall

All-American
May 5, 2015
4,410
5,627
93
Wildcat_in_DC said:
that list tells me:
  1. i think the staff is all in on stokes to play SF
  2. going after a guy like evans who can play PF and C - bring back jelavic to play back up
  3. thomas assist guy to distribute
  4. vanterpool is your bucket getter, riley to replace kam williams if he leaves or if we dont get stokes
  5. flyer on combo guard as insurance
Click to expand...
Well, they're out of touch with reality still. Less than 10% chance Stokes comes to UK.
 
PastorofMuppets82

PastorofMuppets82

Senior
Mar 4, 2025
397
878
93
AllBall said:
Kwame Evans is a talented 3-4.

Is UK not even targeting Vaaks or Blackwell? What they shoot too good? 😂
Click to expand...
I could see not targeting Blackwell hard. Rumors floating around he's going to the NBA unless he gets an absurd NIL offer in the 4-5 million range on social media. If that number is true, I can see targeting 2-3 players that total that amount of money instead.
 
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BlueBloodKyFan73

BlueBloodKyFan73

All-Conference
Oct 29, 2010
3,837
4,772
113
TFCat11 said:
Pope needs the same dudes that Duke, UNC, KU, Michigan, Arizona, UCONN etc. are after, or it’s going to be business as usual in the Commonwealth…

I believe the new standard for UK is hoping to lose 10 games or less, and make a Sweet 16. About 30% of BBN has already accepted this as the new normal.
Click to expand...
Zoom call with Paulius Murauskas Thursday only big name I've seen the rest are

Season 2 Reaction GIF by Parks and Recreation
 
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Madhuvan

Madhuvan

Junior
Aug 11, 2024
154
335
63
TFCat11 said:
I believe the new standard for UK is hoping to lose 10 games or less, and make a Sweet 16. About 30% of BBN has already accepted this as the new normal.
Click to expand...
Well, we haven’t lost less than 10 AND made the S16 for six consecutive seasons now. I guess at some point that is the new normal whether we choose to accept it or not. 😕
 
M

mash_24

Heisman
Sep 26, 2011
9,239
27,039
108
Popes only chance in my opinion is to land Stokes. And surround him with guys who have at least one elite trait. Byrd, Gwath, Thomas, Decker would all fit that profile. Add that to Chandler, Kam, Moreno, Noah?, Hawthorne, Potter, Williams. Maybe that roster saves Popes job.
 
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