Calipari visits Jalen Johnson

[jrpross_rivals]

I'm really trying to be objective here. I don't understand what the draw to Duke is for these kids, vs. Kentucky. Besides the payouts which we all know is going on, I don't get it. When you compare the two...coaches, practice and training facilities, name recognition, NBA future, legendary status of school, fan base...I just don't get it. I am trying g to get in these kids head and I don't see it. It should be a no brainer. What am I missing? What have I overlooked?

The social status. The pretentiousness of an elite “education” at an Ivy League level school. They’ll be there all of 9 months but it gives the appearance that they give a crap about more than being a pro basketball player. And their parents push it because then mama can be the envy of the ladies at the beauty shop because “her son goes to Duke.”

 

[RalphDaltonFan]

What’s the issue with montverde? Dakari was the last kid we got from there. Is Boyle still the head coach?

I'll see if I can get more detailed answer. All I know is that was a program who UK hasn't engaged with lately. You'd have a more accurate recap for me but can't remember the last kid from that program UK recruited-not signed--but recruited.

EDIT--RJ Barrett is last I can remember and as I wrote after his visit, they were out. EJ Montgomery started there, but we know UK wasn't involved when he was there.

 

[akaukswoosh]

I'll see if I can get more detailed answer. All I know is that was a program who UK hasn't engaged with lately. You'd have a more accurate recap for me but can't remember the last kid from that program UK recruited-not signed--but recruited.

EDIT--RJ Barrett is last I can remember and as I wrote after his visit, they were out. EJ Montgomery started there, but we know UK wasn't involved when he was there.

St least we’ve gotten Montverde kids. UK is 0 for Huntington Prep.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

The social status. The pretentiousness of an elite “education” at an Ivy League level school. They’ll be there all of 9 months but it gives the appearance that they give a crap about more than being a pro basketball player. And their parents push it because then mama can be the envy of the ladies at the beauty shop because “her son goes to Duke.”

This is exactly part of the puzzle.

It's always given Duke a slight advantage over most schools. Some parents want to pretend that their kid is an academic elite. And then you look at these pictures and reality comes back into focus:

A regular academic "Who's Who", not to mention His Majesty, Lord Zion.

 

[EmCats3]

The 2020 class is loaded. Not sure how many we will bring in but my realistic dream class at this point would include

Cooper
Johnson
Todd
Dante

 

[Wall2Boogie]

Do we stand a chance in hell with green fir 2020? I know he’s west coast so there’s one strike. What about Mobley who I’m sure is a puke lock for some reason?

 

[SmoothRunner32]

Every player is a duke lock. They just don’t have enough Scholarships for the whole top 10.

 

[K-Town Kat]

Do we have a chance ? Or is family looking for a house and consulting fees ?

If there is an offer we have to match, no shot. Duke bound.

 

[NomadVOL_rivals]

Are you talking about the kid from Webb school in Bell Buckle? He is ranked 34. Jalen is a top 5 kid from Wisconsin and UT is not in his future.

The Webb School player is Keon Johnson. And the Wisconsin high school player Jalen Johnson is obviously the topic of this thread. But Jalen Johnson from North Carolina is already at UT and will be a redshirt senior in 2020. He came in with Grant Williams and was actually ranked higher than Grant as a high schooler.

 

[K-Town Kat]

The social status. The pretentiousness of an elite “education” at an Ivy League level school. They’ll be there all of 9 months but it gives the appearance that they give a crap about more than being a pro basketball player. And their parents push it because then mama can be the envy of the ladies at the beauty shop because “her son goes to Duke.”

Also doesn't hurt when mama gets a new car and house to brag about at the beauty shop.

 

[BBCoach22]

@ralphdaltonfan

How was UK’s visit with Jalen Suggs last month?

 

[Cindog28]

"Johnson (6-8, 215) is ranked No. 3 overall in the class of 2020 by both 247Sports and the industry average 247Sports Composite. He became the third junior to receive a scholarship offer from the Wildcats during a visit from Calipari and UK assistant Kenny Payne in late September.

"It feels great. It's very humbling. He said they don't really offer guys this early so being one of the few means a lot," Johnson told CatsPause.com. "It feels amazing that they're recognizing me as a player and think that I could fit into their program. They see a lot of potential in me and they don't think I realize how good I can be. They said I can be as good as I want to be."

While he's yet to take an official visit to Kentucky, he did visit Lexington for each of the last two Big Blue Madness events on unofficial visits.

Johnson, who will play with Phenom University on the Nike EYBL travel circuit this spring, has drawn comparisons to Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Paul George."

opcorn:

 

[TNCatfanforever]

The Webb School player is Keon Johnson. And the Wisconsin high school player Jalen Johnson is obviously the topic of this thread. But Jalen Johnson from North Carolina is already at UT and will be a redshirt senior in 2020. He came in with Grant Williams and was actually ranked higher than Grant as a high schooler.

I think Keon will go to UT or Vandy. His mother wants. 4 year degee

 

[NomadVOL_rivals]

I think Keon will go to UT or Vandy. His mother wants. 4 year degee

Vandy was really strong earlier but the Bryce Drew collapse did not help Vandy's chances. I suspect Virginia may be a possibility too.

 

[stoneycat_20]

Do we stand a chance in hell with green fir 2020? I know he’s west coast so there’s one strike. What about Mobley who I’m sure is a puke lock for some reason?

His brother is at USC.I say they are the huge favorite

 

[RalphDaltonFan]

St least we’ve gotten Montverde kids. UK is 0 for Huntington Prep.

Technically you got Keldon Johnson who went there prior to Oak Hill, and he visited several times. Jonathan Kuminga was at Huntington for a year before leaving too and we've seen Brakefield visit a lot--also JT Thor. Now I know they aren't signed/committed, but UK is actively recruiting or at least been in contact. Some of these Montverde guys, UK doesn't waste time contacting.

 

[mebeblue2]

St least we’ve gotten Montverde kids. UK is 0 for Huntington Prep.

Keldon Johnson played two years (?) at H-Prep before transferring

i go to a few H-Prep games very year
i can't remember a time since Wiggins that Cal has been to one of their games

 

[arenk]

The social status. The pretentiousness of an elite “education” at an Ivy League level school. They’ll be there all of 9 months but it gives the appearance that they give a crap about more than being a pro basketball player. And their parents push it because then mama can be the envy of the ladies at the beauty shop because “her son goes to Duke.”

Reputation and reality rarely coincide. I always wanted to attend UK once I reached the age of 13 and became an avid UK basketball fan. Later on, and after I graduated from a middle tier law school, I attended a so-called Ivy League level university to earn an LL.M that would give my pedigree the requisite snob appeal to become a law professor. It worked very well and I finally retired in 2017 after 28 years of law teaching. What I learned is that the quality of education I received at UK was better than either of the two universities I subsequently attended.

I seriously doubt that the parents (or guardians) of aspiring NBA players who are fixated on making millions of dollars really give a damn about whether their sons or daughters attended Duke, UK, or even Harvard or Yale for that matter. They want their kids to be as prepared as possible to reach the next level asap and at the highest possible salary. There are always going to be exceptions to this, but if these parents thought that playing for any particular school for one year would achieve that, that's where their kids would go. The question is why do so many of them believe it's Duke and not UK given Cal's record of landing players in the NBA as high salaried first round picks who end of staying in the league for many more years and at much higher salaries because they get that coveted second NBA contract?

I can only think of one reason: fringe benefits such as $900,000 homes, temporary high paying jobs for their parents that they could not otherwise obtain legitimately, expensive cars, prostitutes and other perks, assuming you can call hookers perks. Cal and UK are not prepared to stoop that low, but many schools are. Besides, the NCAA would search underneath every rock if we re-ascended to pretty much cherry picking the cream of the crop each year as we came close to doing during Cal's first 6 years at UK. What are the chances that Kanter would have been declared ineligible if he had picked Duke or UNC rather than UK? Enough said.

 

[mjj_2K]

His brother is at USC.I say they are the huge favorite

No, it's way beyond that. His father is an assistant coach at USC.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

It seems Cal has lost his wow appeal he had from 2010-2014. I wonder if it's his antics on the bench with his faces and berating players on national tv? The next couple of recruiting classes will tell us bunches. If he can't land some top five guys then we will know. I don't mind grad transfers but it sorta seems like last ditch efforts...

 

[Bluegrassking]

It seems Cal has lost his wow appeal he had from 2010-2014. I wonder if it's his antics on the bench with his faces and berating players on national tv? The next couple of recruiting classes will tell us bunches. If he can't land some top five guys then we will know. I don't mind grad transfers but it sorta seems like last ditch efforts...

Coddling, anything goes, and lack of accountability don't lead to anything even with the top 5 guys. It sounds like you love the way Romeo Langford was handled at IU this year, I don't think the player, team, or program historically faired well.

I love the quality of young men Cal consistently brings in here on and off the court as well as how they represent this program even after they are long gone where ever they were ranked.

The grass may on occasion look a bit greener on the other side of the fence or down the road but year after year our lawn is among the best looking high, low, and in between.

 

[Cardsstink]

Coddling, anything goes, and lack of accountability don't lead to anything even with the top 5 guys. It sounds like you love the way Romeo Langford was handled at IU this year, I don't think the player, team, or program historically faired well.

I love the quality of young men Cal consistently brings in here on and off the court as well as how they represent this program even after they are long gone where ever they were ranked.

The grass may on occasion look a bit greener on the other side of the fence or down the road but year after year our lawn is among the best looking high, low, and in between.

Don't feed the TN troll.... He's here to incessantly cast doubt on Cal.
________

Duke Is destroying MSU and will advance to win the 3rd title in the Cal era.

8 TNCatfanforever, Mar 31, 2019

 

[LineSkiCat14]

It seems Cal has lost his wow appeal he had from 2010-2014. I wonder if it's his antics on the bench with his faces and berating players on national tv? The next couple of recruiting classes will tell us bunches. If he can't land some top five guys then we will know. I don't mind grad transfers but it sorta seems like last ditch efforts...

I can safely say it has nothing to do with facial expressions and occasionally laying into players. Lmfao.

 

[Cardsstink]

I can safely say it has nothing to do with facial expressions and occasionally laying into players. Lmfao.

He's running out of material and grasping for straws. His beloved Coach K hath failed him, miserably, and he's not finding much company for his misery. [laughing]

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Definitely one of the worst takes in the last few weeks. Izzo literally made national news for laying into a player worse than Cal has ever done.. By a far margin. Coach K is always sneering at officials and a very off putting way.

But it's Cal that's a problem.

There isn't anything Cal has done these last few years that hurt his recruiting. Not anything on the sidelines. Not platooning. Nothing. It's a combination of top recruits realizing they don't always need a blue blood program and nike/Adidas funneling recruits to some schools. That's it. Nothing more or less.

 

[Shaudylo]

Do we stand a chance in hell with green fir 2020? I know he’s west coast so there’s one strike. What about Mobley who I’m sure is a puke lock for some reason?

That’s what I want to know because I want Jalen Green the most in this class .

I believe the only school he has visited so far is Memphis and that was with RJ Hampton

 

[Cardsstink]

Definitely one of the worst takes in the last few weeks. Izzo literally made national news for laying into a player worse than Cal has ever done.. By a far margin. Coach K is always sneering at officials and a very off putting way.

But it's Cal that's a problem.

There isn't anything Cal has done these last few years that hurt his recruiting. Not anything on the sidelines. Not platooning. Nothing. It's a combination of top recruits realizing they don't always need a blue blood program and nike/Adidas funneling recruits to some schools. That's it. Nothing more or less.

Yep. We've literally got a a few here that are vomitting on Cal because they can't pay their trailer note, their kids turned out to be losers, etc. Basically they are blaming their rotten life on Cal. But Cal sniffs that out and spits in their faces. [laughing] Enjoy the day. Gonna settle in and watch back 9 of Masters.

 

[IYAOYAS1]

He’s a Duke lean. Wonder how much $$$ they’re offering him.

 

[CatfanMike47]

It seems Cal has lost his wow appeal he had from 2010-2014. I wonder if it's his antics on the bench with his faces and berating players on national tv? The next couple of recruiting classes will tell us bunches. If he can't land some top five guys then we will know. I don't mind grad transfers but it sorta seems like last ditch efforts...

We already know the tale! Nike, Adidas, and being the man! Is why Cal isn’t getting the top 5 so sick of so called UK fans thinking otherwise! FBI trial has put it out there for the world to see!

 

[CatfanMike47]

That’s what I want to know because I want Jalen Green the most in this class .

I believe the only school he has visited so far is Memphis and that was with RJ Hampton

No he visited UNC as well

 

[Cowtown Cat]

The social status. The pretentiousness of an elite “education” at an Ivy League level school. They’ll be there all of 9 months but it gives the appearance that they give a crap about more than being a pro basketball player. And their parents push it because then mama can be the envy of the ladies at the beauty shop because “her son goes to Duke.”

You nailed it.

 

[Shaudylo]

No he visited UNC as well

Ahh thanks I didn’t know that

 

[kl40504_rivals]

The Webb School player is Keon Johnson. And the Wisconsin high school player Jalen Johnson is obviously the topic of this thread. But Jalen Johnson from North Carolina is already at UT and will be a redshirt senior in 2020. He came in with Grant Williams and was actually ranked higher than Grant as a high schooler.

What does Della think?

 

[kl40504_rivals]

He’s a Duke lean. Wonder how much $$$ they’re offering him.

His parents were offered a million dollar house. Duke bound.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Reputation and reality rarely coincide. I always wanted to attend UK once I reached the age of 13 and became an avid UK basketball fan. Later on, and after I graduated from a middle tier law school, I attended a so-called Ivy League level university to earn an LL.M that would give my pedigree the requisite snob appeal to become a law professor. It worked very well and I finally retired in 2017 after 28 years of law teaching. What I learned is that the quality of education I received at UK was better than either of the two universities I subsequently attended.

I seriously doubt that the parents (or guardians) of aspiring NBA players who are fixated on making millions of dollars really give a damn about whether their sons or daughters attended Duke, UK, or even Harvard or Yale for that matter. They want their kids to be as prepared as possible to reach the next level asap and at the highest possible salary. There are always going to be exceptions to this, but if these parents thought that playing for any particular school for one year would achieve that, that's where their kids would go. The question is why do so many of them believe it's Duke and not UK given Cal's record of landing players in the NBA as high salaried first round picks who end of staying in the league for many more years and at much higher salaries because they get that coveted second NBA contract?

I can only think of one reason: fringe benefits such as $900,000 homes, temporary high paying jobs for their parents that they could not otherwise obtain legitimately, expensive cars, prostitutes and other perks, assuming you can call hookers perks. Cal and UK are not prepared to stoop that low, but many schools are. Besides, the NCAA would search underneath every rock if we re-ascended to pretty much cherry picking the cream of the crop each year as we came close to doing during Cal's first 6 years at UK. What are the chances that Kanter would have been declared ineligible if he had picked Duke or UNC rather than UK? Enough said.

This is also true. Lol

 

[thepip]

I'm really trying to be objective here. I don't understand what the draw to Duke is for these kids, vs. Kentucky. Besides the payouts which we all know is going on, I don't get it. When you compare the two...coaches, practice and training facilities, name recognition, NBA future, legendary status of school, fan base...I just don't get it. I am trying g to get in these kids head and I don't see it. It should be a no brainer. What am I missing? What have I overlooked?

You are not missing anything, you get it..follow the money.

 

[buck8113]

We already know the tale! Nike, Adidas, and being the man! Is why Cal isn’t getting the top 5 so sick of so called UK fans thinking otherwise! FBI trial has put it out there for the world to see![/QUOTE]
Along with the King LeBron telling kids to go there ESPN getting kids to go there, But I think the biggest is NIKE I think they have sold their soul to DUKE and i doing everything they can to send all these kids they can to Duke

 

[Rembrandt90]

We know that Cal has not had a recruiting class ranked worse than number two . We also know he hasn't been getting his first choice of players . We also know our seasons haven't been what they were when Cal was getting his top targets.

We also know UL, Arizona, Kansas, NC State, Auburn, and LSU are in trouble over wiretapped confirmation of financial solicitation of players and/or other serious suspicions of impermissible benefits paid to players. Questions have now surfaced about Zion Williamson as well. Was Avery Johnson fired for damage control because Greg Byrne knows Collin Sexton received impermissible benefits? How long until this scandal engulfs Barrett, Bagley, Duval, Langford, Bamba, Bol, and Wiseman?

Cal and UK aren't involved in any if this innuendo. Maybe this is because Cal isn't using impermissible tactics to recruit players, and maybe that explains why some of these players aren't coming to UK. Would we rather have titles taken away, banners taken down from the RA rafters, and all kinds of damaging innuendo batted around in the national media about UK? Or would we rather have Cal signing the #2 national class without taint or innuendo, then taking them to the Elite Eight and sometimes farther than that? I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm fine with the current arrangement.

 

[Susan2361]

We also know UL, Arizona, Kansas, NC State, Auburn, and LSU are in trouble over wiretapped confirmation of financial solicitation of players and/or other serious suspicions of impermissible benefits paid to players. Questions have now surfaced about Zion Williamson as well. Was Avery Johnson fired for damage control because Greg Byrne knows Collin Sexton received impermissible benefits? How long until this scandal engulfs Barrett, Bagley, Duval, Langford, Bamba, Bol, and Wiseman?

Cal and UK aren't involved in any if this innuendo. Maybe this is because Cal isn't using impermissible tactics to recruit players, and maybe that explains why some of these players aren't coming to UK. Would we rather have titles taken away, banners taken down from the RA rafters, and all kinds of damaging innuendo batted around in the national media about UK? Or would we rather have Cal signing the #2 national class without taint or innuendo, then taking them to the Elite Eight and sometimes farther than that? I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm fine with the current arrangement.

I have this dream where all these schools are on probation or worse and since Kentucky didn't lie and cheat, is pretty much the only Blue Blood left for the elite players to go to. Then, since we only have so many scholarships to give, we have to start turning kids away..."Yes, we will take you...no, we dont think so...yes...no". Wouldn't that be fun? Until then, I'm happy that our nose is clean and we have Cal. And you know our nose has to be clean, because all of the UK haters out there (media, other schools, shoe companies, etc.) would have found it by now and waving it for all to see. GO CATS!!!!

 

[FrankUnderwood]

Also doesn't hurt when mama gets a new car and house to brag about at the beauty shop.

This