Chris Collins update

Hitman206

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I think people let their hate for Cal blur their vision a little bit. Every player Cal had can’t be a NBA MVP like Shai and D Rose. Not every single one can be an all star.

Kentucky needs talent point blank. Collins would by far be the best player of the Pope era. I don’t think he dominates next season like Stokes will but he will be solid. He would have the talent to change games out of the blue like Marcus Lee.

Marcus Lee would for sure start on this team or last years. He’s played professionally ever since he left UK I think. Not gonna look it up. For someone to say aw I don’t want another Marcus Lee is crazy. Yea he wasn’t better than the high level players on that 2014 Kentucky team but he’s levels above the talent we have now.

it’s like the fanbase won’t admit to wanting talent. Well five stars just to make it seem like we moved away from Cal. We wanted talent before, during, and after Cal. Well I do anyway.

Yes he could get up. Even if that was his only skill. That skill alone won us some ball games. Talent alone. Some of the more exciting years for me as a fan. Seriously Marcus Lee coming off the bench to dominate during the NCAA tournament.

Did we really have talents like Marcus Lee tucked away as after thoughts back then? So many players get overlooked because of the high end talent that came through here.
He transferred to Cal. He had the great game against Michigan in the NCAA tournament but I also remember him disappearing against Indiana in his last NCAA tournament game for UK.
 
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SamePooter

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He transferred to Cal. He had the great blame against Michigan in the NCAA tournament but I also remember him disappearing against Indiana in his last NCAA tournament game for UK.
He’s no program changer. But I’d take him all day every day as a tenth man. He was always a bench peice. Never expected to do much but had the ability to make a big impact from his talent alone. Volleyball skills I guess it was. He made easy layups for the most part.

I got to add this before everyone gets my point mixed up… I think Collins is a much much better basketball player.
 
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SamePooter

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He transferred to Cal. He had the great blame against Michigan in the NCAA tournament but I also remember him disappearing against Indiana in his last NCAA tournament game for UK.
Can you imagine Trent Noah coming into an elite eight game off the bench and grabbing 8 rebounds. 7 offensive rebounds. Getting three put back dunks in the first half and helping Kentucky win a elite 8 game by three points?

Noah is actually higher up on the depth chart than Marcus Lee ever was.

Take away one of our final four appearances if Marcus Lee didn’t play that game. No way we would want another Marcus Lee right? I know some of you seriously wouldn’t.
 
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SamePooter

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He transferred to Cal. He had the great blame against Michigan in the NCAA tournament but I also remember him disappearing against Indiana in his last NCAA tournament game for UK.
I reckon I don’t remember that game. Indiana put us out of the tournament one of his years?
 
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SamePooter

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Come on guys. Yall can not agree with my opinion. Can say it’s dumb af. But at least give yours… nothing I said is false. Marcus Lee would most definitely start on this team in a heart beat.
Gotta remember he played alongside several NBA allstars. Also several NBA guys who had good careers.
 

SamePooter

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You don’t remember his great game vs. Michigan in the tournament?
And if you are making a point like I’m focusing on one game to remember him by.. well you’re right. I’ll never forget that game when he started dunking every missed shot seemed like. I’ll never forget him helping us reach the final four. It’s not like it was a meaningless regular season game. We all just went crazy when Trent Noah went 1-3 against Arkansas regular season.

. I did forget the Indiana game tho I’ll admit.
I doubt he was to blame for the loss tho. He was a bench player his entire UK career.
 

SamePooter

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Also he played when we were the number one program in the country. On paper and on the court. Literally number one ranked team.

now days we are number one only when fans say “THIS IS KENTUCKY” we are a joke now days.
Yes I stand by what I said. Marcus Lee would start for our current team. And it’s not close.

he played for the best team in America and produced. We aren’t even getting votes in the top 25. Yall can say what you want. But you’re probably gonna be wrong.
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
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Aren't you guys glad we haven't bothered signing guys like Ament, AJ, Acuff or the other freshmen this year? I much rather seeing Mo D get blocked at the rim, Jelavic miss open threes, and Chandler float on the perimeter with a defender face guarding him because we don't have a guard who can break down his man on offense.
 
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UKGrad24

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Aren't you guys glad we haven't bothered guys like Ament, AJ, Acuff or the other freshmen this year? I much rather seeing Mo D get blocked at the rim, Jelavic miss open threes, and Chandler float on the perimeter with a defender face guarding him because we don't have a guard who can break down his man on offense.
I never realized some people wanted NO freshman elite talent. I thought we understood Calipari was too far in and wouldn’t adapt to the portal or retain enough of them to be able to put himself over the top. I never realized some people were actually saying never recruit top NBA talent and go straight mid level 2nd tier portal Jackie Benjamin’s. lol. What in the world. And some are serious.

Others just find any way to make excuses for why Pope can’t get them, but some are serious. If it’s a freshman John Wall they want Lowe! It’s the craziest sht I’ve ever seen. But if you remember back to Gillispie, same types were actually talking about how smart it is of Gillispie to recruit Dakota Euton because we “got in early” before he was recruited by Duke and UNC! You could write a book on the ability of a coaches charisma to make some fans drool and go weak. It’s pretty crazy what they’ll miss. Half the time they pretend it never happened and move on to the next. I always wonder, when it blows up, do they move on intentionally knowing how they face planted or is it a subconscious delusion and they don’t?
 
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Son_Of_Saul

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I never realized some people wanted NO freshman elite talent. I thought we understood Calipari was too far in and wouldn’t adapt to the portal or retain enough of them to be able to put himself over the top. I never realized some people were actually saying never recruit top NBA talent and go straight mid level 2nd tier portal Jackie Benjamin’s. lol. What in the world. And some are serious.

Others just find any way to make excuses for why Pope can’t get them, but some are serious. If it’s a freshman John Wall they want Lowe! It’s the craziest sht I’ve ever seen. But if you remember back to Gillispie, same types were actually talking about how smart it is of Gillispie to recruit Dakota Euton because we “got in early” before he was recruited by Duke and UNC! You could write a book on the ability of a coaches charisma to make some fans drool and go weak. It’s pretty crazy what they’ll miss. Half the time they pretend it never happened and move on to the next. I always wonder, when it blows up, do they move on intentionally knowing how they face planted or is it a subconscious delusion and they don’t?
Good points. Calipari was at his best when he was landing RSCI top 5ish (or a few from the 6 through 10 rankings like the 2017 team had).

When Cal had multiple top 10 RSCI guys, he was usually winning 30+ games or making Final Fours. This was the case with the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017 teams.

There were exceptions of course, like the 2013 team that had RSCI top 10 Noel/Goodwin (with Noel getting hurt), and the 2016 team with Murray/Skal where Skal turned out to be a lemon. The years where it went south were often defined by Cal missing on priority RSCI top 5 guys (Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, Jalen Johnson, etc.).

Cal needed a balance with some veterans and he also had great classes that turned out to be disappointments (the Justin Edwards group comes to mind).

 

bnewt5

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Come on guys. Yall can not agree with my opinion. Can say it’s dumb af. But at least give yours… nothing I said is false. Marcus Lee would most definitely start on this team in a heart beat.
Gotta remember he played alongside several NBA allstars. Also several NBA guys who had good careers.
Lee wasn't even good at California
 
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SenseMaker_Cats

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Come on guys. Yall can not agree with my opinion. Can say it’s dumb af. But at least give yours… nothing I said is false. Marcus Lee would most definitely start on this team in a heart beat.
Gotta remember he played alongside several NBA allstars. Also several NBA guys who had good careers.
It’s dumb af. He would play but there’s no way he’s starting over Moreno and that’s the ONLY position he could play. Zero 3 attempts while at uk and was a 40% free throw shooter.
And if you are making a point like I’m focusing on one game to remember him by.. well you’re right. I’ll never forget that game when he started dunking every missed shot seemed like. I’ll never forget him helping us reach the final four. It’s not like it was a meaningless regular season game. We all just went crazy when Trent Noah went 1-3 against Arkansas regular season.

. I did forget the Indiana game tho I’ll admit.
I doubt he was to blame for the loss tho. He was a bench player his entire UK career.
Murray was probably the biggest reason imo but Lee didn’t help. He played 28 minutes. Most of them hiding from Thomas Bryant.
 

PDX_Blue

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Jun 29, 2025
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Did you know Lee played volleyball at a high level?

and WCS played high school football bet you all didn’t know those two things
 

Son_Of_Saul

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It’s dumb af. He would play but there’s no way he’s starting over Moreno and that’s the ONLY position he could play. Zero 3 attempts while at uk and was a 40% free throw shooter.

Murray was probably the biggest reason imo but Lee didn’t help. He played 28 minutes. Most of them hiding from Thomas Bryant.
Dakari Johnson should have returned. He was the missing piece to that 2016 team. He ended up being a total burnout in the NBA anyway.

Another year at UK and he's a first rounder with a slightly longer NBA shelf life.

Johnson - Lee - Humphrey
Poythress - Skal
Briscoe - Matthews
Murray - Briscoe
Ulis - Murray

That's a Final Four team.
 
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rivercatinfl

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We needs Stokes or Collins AND A BUNCH OF GUYS AT GUARD WHO CAN SHOOT, PENETRATE TO SCORE OR DISH. Maybe even play some D.
 

Loucatfan30

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Aren't you guys glad we haven't bothered signing guys like Ament, AJ, Acuff or the other freshmen this year? I much rather seeing Mo D get blocked at the rim, Jelavic miss open threes, and Chandler float on the perimeter with a defender face guarding him because we don't have a guard who can break down his man on offense.
Acuff would have been nice
 

Loucatfan30

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Good points. Calipari was at his best when he was landing RSCI top 5ish (or a few from the 6 through 10 rankings like the 2017 team had).

When Cal had multiple top 10 RSCI guys, he was usually winning 30+ games or making Final Fours. This was the case with the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017 teams.

There were exceptions of course, like the 2013 team that had RSCI top 10 Noel/Goodwin (with Noel getting hurt), and the 2016 team with Murray/Skal where Skal turned out to be a lemon. The years where it went south were often defined by Cal missing on priority RSCI top 5 guys (Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, Jalen Johnson, etc.).

Cal needed a balance with some veterans and he also had great classes that turned out to be disappointments (the Justin Edwards group comes to mind).
Great post. Cal always needs some returning shooters and maybe a returning big to go with the top talent. When Duke got in the one and done game it definitely hurt us. When Cal missed it was usually on the big not being what we hoped for like Noel getting injured or Skal not living up to his ranking. Cal with this budget for players and no concern about players going early to the league because they are already making money would have been a good time to be at UK.
 
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jlett

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View attachment 970208


From this, seems that if Stokes does not come to Kentucky, Collins will be our commit

If Stokes comes to Kentucky, Collins may go to other school


But Kentucky will get at least one of Stokes/Collins. I like it
I'll raise a glass of good bourbon if we get either. I'm willing to take one for BBN and raise two glasses if we get both. God bless the Crafts as we need to pay whatever to get at least one of these gems.
 

SamePooter

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It’s dumb af. He would play but there’s no way he’s starting over Moreno and that’s the ONLY position he could play. Zero 3 attempts while at uk and was a 40% free throw shooter.

Murray was probably the biggest reason imo but Lee didn’t help. He played 28 minutes. Most of them hiding from Thomas Bryant.
A game we won by three… he had 7 offensive boards. 10 points. Several blocks. Those dunks came in key moments when we were stalling. If he doesn’t play we don’t win. And I’ll play him at the four. He would start. Idc if you got to play him at the three. Of course I wouldn’t.

everyone is forgetting the talent difference. He blended in on those teams back then. When we were the number one team. He would be a standout in this sorry team.
It’s dumb af. He would play but there’s no way he’s starting over Moreno and that’s the ONLY position he could play. Zero 3 attempts while at uk and was a 40% free throw shooter.

Murray was probably the biggest reason imo but Lee didn’t help. He played 28 minutes. Most of them hiding from Thomas Bryant.
In a game where we won by three.. Lee had 8 boards. 7 offensive. 10 points. All coming from highlight put back dunks in the first half when we were stalling. Had some blocks. We wouldn’t win a three point game without that production.

of course he wasn’t the only player that helped. He was a bench player: a role player. Never was the star: yall know what I’ve been saying. Can ignore my point. I never said he was a star. I replied to the guy saying he didn’t want another Marcus Lee. But we are ok with the Trent Noah’s…….


and I still think he would start on this team. I didn’t have him taking Moreno spot but if I had him at the 5 he would start over Moreno. And I think Moreno has been great as a freshman. Lee was all energy. Something this teams lacks.
 

SamePooter

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Lee wasn't even good at California
He was a bench player here. Not a superstar. His one talent helped win an elite eight game. We need talent.

more talented than Lee. That’s the point. We need talent. Like a Collins Stokes or Holt. My first reply was to the guy saying no thanks to another Marcus Lee.

Yall wouldn’t want a Marcus Lee as a tenth man? Let’s roll with Trent Noah I reckon.
 

SenseMaker_Cats

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A game we won by three… he had 7 offensive boards. 10 points. Several blocks. Those dunks came in key moments when we were stalling. If he doesn’t play we don’t win. And I’ll play him at the four. He would start. Idc if you got to play him at the three. Of course I wouldn’t.

everyone is forgetting the talent difference. He blended in on those teams back then. When we were the number one team. He would be a standout in this sorry team.

In a game where we won by three.. Lee had 8 boards. 7 offensive. 10 points. All coming from highlight put back dunks in the first half when we were stalling. Had some blocks. We wouldn’t win a three point game without that production.

of course he wasn’t the only player that helped. He was a bench player: a role player. Never was the star: yall know what I’ve been saying. Can ignore my point. I never said he was a star. I replied to the guy saying he didn’t want another Marcus Lee. But we are ok with the Trent Noah’s…….


and I still think he would start on this team. I didn’t have him taking Moreno spot but if I had him at the 5 he would start over Moreno. And I think Moreno has been great as a freshman. Lee was all energy. Something this teams lacks.
I was referring to the IU game that we lost. He played 28 minutes and had 4 points and 4 rebounds. Me mentioning Thomas Bryant should have tipped you off. With all the respect I can try and muster up, if you’d start Lee over Moreno, you’re not someone to have a serious conversation with about basketball.
It’s obvious you just remember the Michigan game and he did some great things in that game but that wasn’t him overall as a player.
 

SenseMaker_Cats

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Yall wouldn’t want a Marcus Lee as a tenth man? Let’s roll with Trent Noah I reckon.
This is why I don’t take you seriously. You said he would start. I said he could only play the 5 and that he wouldn’t start over Moreno and you said you would start him over Moreno. Don’t think anyone would object to having him over Garrison.
 

AllBall

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Dakari Johnson should have returned. He was the missing piece to that 2016 team. He ended up being a total burnout in the NBA anyway.

Another year at UK and he's a first rounder with a slightly longer NBA shelf life.

Johnson - Lee - Humphrey
Poythress - Skal
Briscoe - Matthews
Murray - Briscoe
Ulis - Murray

That's a Final Four team.
Agreed. Dakari knew how to get position inside and played hard. Definitely wanted him to stay.
 

JonathanW2

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Y'all are remembering Lee way too fondly.
Someone said you aren't going to see Noah put up 10 points and 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in a big game like vs Michigan in NCAA-T. First of all Noah plays a different position and has a different skill set than Lee had. But yeah, Noah did have a game like that on the ROAD at ranked Arkansas (9 points & 7 rebounds). Last year, playing vs #5 UT he put up 11 points on 3-4 3pt shooting.
But both Lee and Noah have/had way more unproductive games than productive ones.

Someone claimed Noah is higher up the depth chart than Lee ever was. Noah is our 9th man (with only 9 healthy players), at 10.4mpg. Even in the past 8 games (since we got reduced to 9 healthy players) he's averaging just 12.5mpg. In comparison, in 2015 Lee averaged 10.9mpg also as our 9th man, and in 2016 Lee averaged 21.8mpg as our 5th guy & starting over half the games. So yep, you are WRONG!

Across his 3 UK seasons, Lee played in 100 of 116 games, 1365min, averaging 3.4pts, 3.1reb, 1.0blk. His per30min averages were 8.6pts, 7.9reb, 2.5blk. He did make 66% of his shots (all within 3' of the rim), but was an attrocious 38.8% at the line (so was unplayable late in close games). Lee was comparable to Garrison, or maybe very slightly better than BG.