Blackshear Visiting Florida this Weekend

Mr_GG

All-American
Oct 11, 2016
1,369
5,044
0
Would be great to finally add the missing piece.

Missed on Wiggins in '13.
Missed on Stanley Johnson in '14.
Missed on getting Dakari back in '15.
Missed on Miles Bridges in '16.
Missed on Bamba in '17.
Missed on Zion in '18.

Blackshear is the missing piece this time around.

I agree with all of those except Johnson. I think the missing piece that season was a healthy Poythress. He had turned into our best perimeter defender and UK's numbers were off the charts before he got hurt. I don't think Higgins could've stopped that team if Poythress stayed healthy the entire year.
 

Nooneputsbabyinacorner

All-Conference
Aug 19, 2013
2,849
1,008
0
Gainesville is a 2 hour plane ride from Lexington. He wants exposure to get to the league. That’s not happening in Gator country.

To Florida - 115 miles 2 hour drive each direction.
To Lexington 817 miles 12.5 hour drive each direction.

If you land Blackshear, you jump to the top of my list of title favorites.
 
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bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
29,352
0
Would be great to finally add the missing piece.

Missed on Wiggins in '13.
Missed on Stanley Johnson in '14.
Missed on getting Dakari back in '15.
Missed on Miles Bridges in '16.
Missed on Bamba in '17.
Missed on Zion in '18.

Blackshear is the missing piece this time around.

If we get him and then flame out of the tourney, do we change the narrative and say that McDaniels or Wiseman was the missing piece?

Duke got Williamson and still lost. Who was their missing piece?

Don't mean to sound like a jerk, but it seems like there's always a missing piece when you lose.
 

dave5164

All-Conference
Apr 6, 2009
4,119
2,599
0
I really don't understand why fans think since Richards and EJ returned then that automatically eliminates Kerry Blackshear. We all knew including Blackshear and his family and team around him that both Richards and EJ was just like Blackshear in where they stood in the 2019 NBA Draft. They wasn't in the Top 100 for 2019 NBA Draft and none of the 3 was looking to go in the 1st or 2nd round of the draft and none was invited to the 2019 NBA Combine. So, Blackshear and his team knew that if he was returning for another season of College basketball then both EJ and Richards would likely return to UK. When Coach Cal said in his summer Press Conference is that we have 2 Centers currently with Richards and Sestina playing center and if anyone gets hurt we are going to be hurting at Center. We know that EJ, his family, and team wants him at PF next season and not playing Center so that is why Coach Cal said that at the Press Conference.

We are going to have to bring in another Big Man whether it is Grad Transfer Kerry Blackshear or one to Reclassify. I would rather have the experience that Blackshear brings to the team and how well he played in the ACC last year vs. Duke. UNC. UVA, and the other teams. In the sweet 16 game vs. Duke in a great game and Blackshear had 18 and 16 in that game. In the regular season VT upset over Duke Blackshear went 23 and 10 vs. DUKE. I don't see where Blackshear would look at Richards and also EJ playing at PF instead of Center and think he wouldn't come in to Lexington and start over Richards and average double/double at Kentucky next season. Just like Reid Travis last year coming in and knowing he had Richards and EJ to go up against and Travis averaged 25-30 minutes a game and had 12 and 8 at UK last year. We know that at VT in the tough ACC competition Blackshear had numbers at 16 and 9 and he had even better numbers during the ACC Conference Play going Double/Double for most of his games. We would see this at Kentucky next season. This is the Final Piece of the Puzzle that Kentucky is missing for the 2019-2020 season and this could be an awesome team if we add Blackshear this would put us in the Final Four and possible National Championship for next season! We need Blackshear bad next year and it looks like if we do miss on him we could be missing on 2 players for next season that would have carried us to the Final Four and a National Championship. We could had RJ Hampton at PG with to go with Maxey, Whitney at the 3, Brooks or EJ at the 4, and Blackshear, Jr. at Center. That would have been an outstanding and dominating starting 5 for next season for Kentucky. I am glad that Hagans, Quickley, EJ, and RIchards all came back and gives us that leadership and experience but we really need Blackshear to be that final piece of the Puzzle for UK next season to get us to the Final Four and a possible National Championship!
 
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Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,403
99,614
113
If we get him and then flame out of the tourney, do we change the narrative and say that McDaniels or Wiseman was the missing piece?

Duke got Williamson and still lost. Who was their missing piece?

Don't mean to sound like a jerk, but it seems like there's always a missing piece when you lose.

Duke was loaded. No excuse.

If UK lands Blackshear and flames out, they soak up the failure. No excuse.

But if you can convince me EJ and Nick are ready, have at it. I'm all ears (or eyes, since we're on a message board). As of yet, I've seen nothing that convinces me the 5 spot is ready. Could they become those guys? Sure. Blackshear is already that guy and Cal wants him. That's telling.

As for the notion that it always seems like you're missing a piece when you lose, I think it's fairly obvious those teams I Iisted had weaknesses even before the first practice. Even the 2015 team didn't really have a legitimate three man to stop opposing players, not even when Poythress was out there. People forget he struggled to defend the three as a sophomore, but somehow our fan base anointed him a lock down perimeter player as a junior before he went down with an ACL injury. I mean, he did get better, but to the point where I feel like he would have been some type of lockdown defender out on the perimeter.
 
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Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,176
54,946
100
Duke was loaded. No excuse.

If UK lands Blackshear and flames out, they soak up the failure. No excuse.

But if you can convince me EJ and Nick are ready, have at it. I'm all ears (or eyes, since we're on a message board). As of yet, I've seen nothing that convinces me the 5 spot is ready. Could they become those guys? Sure. Blackshear is already that guy and Cal wants him. That's telling.

As for the notion that it always seems like you're missing a piece when you lose, I think it's fairly obvious those teams I Iisted had weaknesses even before the first practice. Even the 2015 team didn't really have a legitimate three man to stop opposing players, not even when Poythress was out there. People forget he struggled to defend the three as a sophomore, but somehow our fan base anointed him a lock down perimeter player as a junior before he went down with an ACL injury. I mean, he did get better, but to the point where I feel like he would have been some type of lockdown defender out on the perimeter.
During the 2015 season when POY was healthy, the man he guarded shot 12%. Yes, that's an accurate number. Sounds like a lockdown defender to me.
 
Jan 30, 2018
16,155
24,636
0
FL is a risk period. All the other options besides UK are unknowns. UK is the only sure option for big-time exposure and a shot at a title and a place you know will be in the tourney with a shot like most years. If this is a business decision like it should be he should end up here.
 

JAC71

All-American
Jun 28, 2015
5,006
9,415
113
If Florida lands Blackshear it’s a hurts UK in two ways in that UK didn’t land him and that UK will have to play him twice or maybe three times next season. Blackshear going against Nick and EJ I would definitely give the edge to Blackshear.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,201
71,971
113
Relax everyone. Hopefully he doesn't commit on the spot this weekend. I would rather UK get the last visit if he's going to visit all the schools on his list.

I won't understanding it if he goes to Florida or aTm, those are lateral moves, but hey, it's his life.
 
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BlueVelvetFog

Heisman
Apr 12, 2016
14,303
19,792
78
Either he has made up his mind like Reid Travis had, and his first visit will be his only visit - in which case this is bad news. Or he’s really trying to make up his mind - then Kentucky is still the favorite.

Because walking past that swimming pool in June, huffing chlorine to get to that cracker box gym, and being in that town while everyone is totally focused on football won’t light anyone’s fire compared to a visit to Lexington - if he’s really serious about making a splash in college basketball. I think he’s still making up his mind.
Is it OK if UK cares about both?
 

MdWIldcat55

Heisman
Dec 9, 2007
21,377
85,621
113
Is it OK if UK cares about both?
Care about whatever moves you. I'm describing reality - Gainesville is a town saturated with football. Lexington is a town saturated with basketball. Plenty of people in both places care about both, but to deny there is a clearly established tone in both places is to deny the truth. If I'm a college basketball player looking to be inspired during my final push to the NBA, I want to be where Hoops Is King.
 

JesusCal91

All-Conference
Mar 26, 2019
2,665
1,991
0
Would be great to finally add the missing piece.

Missed on Wiggins in '13.
Missed on Stanley Johnson in '14.
Missed on getting Dakari back in '15.
Missed on Miles Bridges in '16.
Missed on Bamba in '17.
Missed on Zion in '18.

Blackshear is the missing piece this time around.

So basically the roster is never good enough for you? If we get blackshear and don’t win the title you’ll say we needed McDaniels

:flush:
 

Blue Bigfoot

Heisman
Dec 13, 2014
7,042
20,765
0
Let's see...should he split minutes with EJ, Nick and Sestina or be the MAIN option for 40 minutes at Florida? He'll definitely get more exposure here, but that doesn't necessarily mean a higher draft pick. The campus, beautiful girls, and being so close to home probably gives them the edge. However, can never count out Cal.

3 quick points:
1. Who will he practice against at Florida that will make him better at his position?

2. If being close to home is important to him, why did he stay at Virg. tech 3 years? I believe he was offered by Florida State in 2014. And if Florida didn't offer him, that has to irk him some.

3.
.
 
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Newcattitudes

All-Conference
Apr 1, 2005
2,301
1,976
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Didn’t Dave Keraey say something along the lines that we have a little less than 50% chance at landing Blackshear. Dave has had to heard something that leads me to think Fla is the slight favorite or at least was at the time he posted. I’m under the impression we have a very strong chance but Fla might have the slight edge. Did I read Dave right?
 
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hoops20

Redshirt
Apr 28, 2008
10
7
0
Any minute now, our residential Florida fan who remains anonymous (pun intended) will be over to tell us he plans on having blackshear by the weekend

Why do this? We crave any legit info and TheAnonymous clearly has it. Why run him off? Are you incapable of hearing any true news that is not good news?

That guy was the FIRST on any UK board or twitter to say be on the lookout for UK to be in pursuit of a big time grad transfer who hasn't yet announced. He said it like TWO WEEKS before the announcement.

Then the second it happened, he said Florida seems to be leading. Then early yesterday, before any news of a visit was out, he said he expects Blackshear to visit a school the end of this week. Then it's announced he's visiting Florida. I'm sure he knew Florida was the school and held back because several like you can't handle bad news without attacking.

In a recruitment no one seems to know anything about, TheAnonymous has been ahead of the game on this one and you're discouraging him from sharing. Not to mention, he already proved himself with the recruitments of Cam Johnson and Scottie Lewis (probably others too but those are the ones I remember.

TheAnonymous, just know I've lurked awhile and have your page bookmarked because I value what you bring. You and ralphdaltonfan are two of the most informed posters on any board. Please keep posting even while a few lames try to tell you to go away....so with that I ask you, do you think Blackshear is "done" to FL enough he takes no more visits or will he at least visit one or two other places?
 

RoyKent

Heisman
Feb 3, 2015
23,005
33,248
66
Didn’t Dave Keraey say something along the lines that we have a little less than 50% chance at landing Blackshear. Dave has had to heard something that leads me to think Fla is the slight favorite or at least was at the time he posted. I’m under the impression we have a very strong chance but Fla might have the slight edge. Did I read Dave right?

@davekersey ???
 
Oct 24, 2018
305
291
0
Didn’t Dave Keraey say something along the lines that we have a little less than 50% chance at landing Blackshear. Dave has had to heard something that leads me to think Fla is the slight favorite or at least was at the time he posted. I’m under the impression we have a very strong chance but Fla might have the slight edge. Did I read Dave right?
I think Dave said that he feels we will land Blackshear.
 

hoops20

Redshirt
Apr 28, 2008
10
7
0
I think Dave said that he feels we will land Blackshear.

I remember Dave saying:
-Less than 50/50 we land Blackshear over Florida
-But that he thinks we land one of Blackshear or Dante
-And that he thinks of those two, Blackshear is more likely

So I don't know how to best sum up that LOL. At best, we have a decent shot to land Blackshear. Have to just hope he visits.

IMO we ain't getting Dante.
 
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Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,176
54,946
100
During the 2015 season when POY was healthy, the man he guarded shot 12%. Yes, that's an accurate number. Sounds like a lockdown defender to me.
Just reread my post here. Good Lord, that's so damn depressing. That team was a total juggernaut with POY. Honestly don't think anyone comes within single digits of that team had he not been injured. He was the perfect complimentary piece to that team. He was the glue guy that made it work IMO. Also, Cal most likely never goes away from the platoon had that not occurred.
 
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Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,403
99,614
113
So basically the roster is never good enough for you? If we get blackshear and don’t win the title you’ll say we needed McDaniels

:flush:

I didn't say it wasn't good enough for me. I said there were pieces we could have added that would have helped.

This would also ring true for most contenders and even a few champions.

And yes, I'm a big McDaniels fan, but I feel Blackshear negates the need for an additional scorer while also allowing Cal to have four options (Brooks, Sestina, EJ, Whitney) at the spot Jaden would have played.
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,403
99,614
113
Just reread my post here. Good Lord, that's so damn depressing. That team was a total juggernaut with POY. Honestly don't think anyone comes within single digits of that team had he not been injured. He was the perfect complimentary piece to that team. He was the glue guy that made it work IMO. Also, Cal most likely never goes away from the platoon had that not occurred.

This is actually very helpful. Maybe Poythress would have been as good as that all season and helped UK lock down Dekker. If so, it would have meant his perimeter defense vastly improved between his second and third seasons at UK.

At any rate, we were needing a perimeter wing defender that season. Alex might have provided that if we had him. Evidently Calipari thought there was a need for Johnson as well.
 

Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,176
54,946
100
I just don't see KB going to UF with his NBA aspirations. Seems logical to me that he would go to a program best suited to get him there. I may be wrong, but UF isn't that big a step up up from VA Tech. Outside of what Donovan did, UF IS VA Tech LOL Just sayin.
 
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Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,176
54,946
100
This is actually very helpful. Maybe Poythress would have been as good as that all season and helped UK lock down Dekker. If so, it would have meant his perimeter defense vastly improved between his second and third seasons at UK.

At any rate, we were needing a perimeter wing defender that season. Alex might have provided that if we had him. Evidently Calipari thought there was a need for Johnson as well.
Oh I agree. We definitely could've used Johnson for sure. I'm not saying that we couldn't at all. We surely could've.
 
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Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,403
99,614
113
I just don't see KB going to UF with his NBA aspirations. Seems logical to me that he would go to a program best suited to get him there. I may be wrong, but UF isn't that big a step up up from VA Tech. Outside of what Donovan did, UF IS VA Tech LOL Just sayin.

This is logical, but I also didn't think McDaniels or Stewart would go the road of the cuck and pick Washington.