Think some people assume McDaniels is a traditional PF type--he's not. If he played at UK-he'd be a stretch 4 like Skal should've been--and Cal admitted he should've been after he left.
Skal's issue was he didn't play much basketball prior to entering UK. He was injured, transferred from his HS to the odd team that played about 8-10 HS games his Sr year...so he'd not had competition and was talked of as if he were Anthony Davis. He was what everyone hoped EJ Montgomery would be for Cats this year. Skal could actually make jumpshots though. If he stayed for the '17 season, that UK team cuts nets down-he'd have been perfect alongside Bam but he/family needed $, so he needed to go as soon as possible.
Also needs to be mentioned that the UK class has repeatedly mentioned what the staff is telling them in terms of playing style. Understand skepticism, but we've heard small ball mentioned a lot and a 6'10 stretch player fits perfectly.
Blackshear Jr might not return to college. It's not about priority as much as availability. Some think UK isn't involved--Staff went to visit him before he started his workouts/etc..for NBA. Until he withdraws from NBA Draft, you assume they are leaving-just as UK has to do with Montgomery and Richards. That means there are 7 scholarship players set for '20 roster right now that we know of.....and while I agree with everyone about at least 1 of Richards or Montgomery returning, learned a long time ago not to assume what is going to happen.
McDaniels is a guy who possesses some abilities that are completely different then the players he's compared to that played at UK. He's an excellent passer, handles the ball very well, and the areas he needs to improve, UK staff would push him hard. The UK model works--look a the success...and while the NCAA Titles are at 1 in 10 years--that measures up better then majority of the sport. It's not easy to win a National Title--experienced, young, etc....and for all the "UVA was experienced" talk---they won a game down 3 with 5.2 secs left and splitting FT's (strategically) with a guard chasing down a ball in backcourt and making a pass to tie game. Then followed that up where they committed a double dribble which was not called, and were fouled on a 3pt attempt with 1.2 secs left. Then won down 3 with 12 secs left in regulation and hit a 3 and got a stop to send a game to OT. Did experience win as much as good fortune? Now you make some breaks..but you need your opponent to help--Purdue gave up 18 offensive rebs, Auburn missed FT and fouled, and Texas Tech has 2 weakside defenders chase a guy going to a layup down 3 to leave open the tying shot. Rely on that type of thing too often and you lose to a 16 in 1st Rd.......
Roster balance is important and UK will have Hagans, Quickley, Sestina (who has played CBB....which matters unless you want to be trashing where you play and to me Sestina is a better fit for how UK has talked of playing then Travis was for last year's team).
Going to wait and see how the roster ends up, but I'm not turning down a top 5/10 caliber player and one of the few with huge NBA upside in the '19 class because he is thin or looks like Skal or may remind you of this guy.....because everyone develops at a rate they put in. You put in work, you will succeed in improving and McDaniels went from being outside the top 100 to into the top 10 and some had in top 5 with his improvement last Spring/Summer. He's not afraid to work.
