Isaiah Jackson Picks...KENTUCKY!!

Jakarii

All-Conference
Jan 29, 2016
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not so sure about that. We yeh got a two way and he was on the same level or below the guards and everyone else other than Juzang,EJ and Brooks, and I think Brooks will be higher by the end of the season as well as EJ


Quickley/Hagans/EJ/Nick/Whitney/Brooks/Juzang all have a mountain to climb before NBA teams will even throw the smallest scent of a two-way contract at them. The chances that more than half of those guys climb that mountain by season's end is reasonably minimal. I think we lose about 3 to 4 to the NBA and if we lose more than that it will likely be because guys transferred and/or chose overseas.
 

MdWIldcat55

Heisman
Dec 9, 2007
21,523
86,544
113
Right now he’s where Marcus Lee was but hopefully he develops better
He has the same high level of athleticism as Marcus Lee but he looks much smoother and proficient on the offensive end. With nearly a full year to get stronger he’s a very promising recruit - the Marcus Lee comparison is damning with faint praise because Lee had virtually no offensive game.
 

crxohio

All-Conference
May 6, 2009
1,570
1,855
113
I agree. I think he slightly ahead of marcus lee. Both ends of the ball. He might be skinny. But he plays tough. From what i've seen. We want tough hardworking players here! And this team we got now! Will become that! Watch n see! Go big blue. I love isaiah jackson! I've been worried we wouldnt get him for awhile now. I can sleep easy now! Ware and jackson are a slick tandum!!!
 

Nooneputsbabyinacorner

All-Conference
Aug 19, 2013
2,849
1,008
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2019 class: 10, 11, 24, 33, 111 Sestina and returned 2018: 6, 12, 19

2020 class: 4, 13, 18, 26, 34, 45

Which roster are you more excited about?
 

KyCatFan1

Heisman
May 6, 2002
30,867
31,594
113
Some of the posters on here won’t like him cause he’s not big bruiser who plays back to the basket

All I care is that he be able to rebound and block some shots. I don't care if he can't back people down like DeMarcus Cousins. Most all of our best teams under Cal have someone that can block or alter shots and not get into foul trouble doing it. You have a guy like that and you can gamble on defense more and have someone to watch your back if you get beat.
 

CatfanMike47

All-American
Oct 9, 2017
4,861
5,222
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All I care is that he be able to rebound and block some shots. I don't care if he can't back people down like DeMarcus Cousins. Most all of our best teams under Cal have someone that can block or alter shots and not get into foul trouble doing it. You have a guy like that and you can gamble on defense more and have someone to watch your back if you get beat.
You’ll see what I mean reading some of these threads!
 

School boy

All-Conference
Oct 29, 2007
5,506
3,865
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We gotta have people return for me to get excited. No big Super star again. We seen what happen these last 5 years without one.

Class is good but not 2009-2014 great
 

Son_Of_Saul

Hall of Famer
Dec 7, 2007
45,703
100,986
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not so sure about that. We yeh got a two way and he was on the same level or below the guards and everyone else other than Juzang,EJ and Brooks, and I think Brooks will be higher by the end of the season as well as EJ

Wenyen was the exception to the NBA two-way contract, not the rule. Plus, he's a 6'9" forward who can shoot at a high clip from the perimeter. None of the guys on my original list do anything spectacularly, which is precisely why I think only a few of them will make the necessary improvements by season's end. Will Brooks and Whitney? Maybe. Will Richards and EJ? Maybe. But they'll have to show us things they haven't show us yet, and do it at least somewhat consistently.
 

Grs51

Sophomore
Mar 31, 2016
212
189
43
Big pick up.

Worse case scenario next year we have four 5-star starters with Askew, Clarke, Boston, and Jackson, with two high 4-star backups in Fletcher and Ware. Should at least get Allen back.

Need Banchero to finish out this class.

Then need some guys like Quickley, Brooks, and Juzang to be smart enough to come back.


Where are they going, can’t play college ball how do they think they will earn a spot in the NBA
 

Jakarii

All-Conference
Jan 29, 2016
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Quickley is starting now when many thought it would be Maxey so........
 
Jul 26, 2003
21,180
11,162
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What's fascinating about this is that Calipari will likely have an elite slasher (Clarke) surrounded by multiple perimeter players who shoot at a high level. I really like the idea of Juzang (6'7") and Boston (6'7") on the wing at times together. Throw in two lead guards who can also shoot the ball (Askew/Quickley) and as you noted, all UK needs is a legit big to make a serious push at the title next year.
Forget about Allen? He is a high level offensive player.
 

Cats192

Heisman
Apr 22, 2011
14,906
17,824
93
Lose to a mid major and get 2 five star commits less than a week later. Hope we don't have to do that every year. [laughing]

Who was the 2nd commit less than a week after the game? Are we being cute and trying to pretend we JUST got Askew?
 

FFWhite

All-American
Dec 20, 2006
26,551
7,734
98
Jackson is similar to Lee in size and athleticism but ahead of him in skills and basketball IQ. Lee is still unable to dribble from baseline to baseline without kicking the ball out of bounds.
 
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Cats192

Heisman
Apr 22, 2011
14,906
17,824
93
It's cool.

He's the kind of kid I get excited about because I think he'll be here for 2-3 years.

But what happens with those kids of late is often: Surprise us and go pro after 1 year or surprise us and look lost in year 2.
 

Bratkartoffeln

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2003
3,642
2,033
113
Big pick up.

Worse case scenario next year we have four 5-star starters with Askew, Clarke, Boston, and Jackson, with two high 4-star backups in Fletcher and Ware. Should at least get Allen back.

Need Banchero to finish out this class.

Then need some guys like Quickley, Brooks, and Juzang to be smart enough to come back.
Let the logjam begin!

Right now, I don't see anyone but maybe Maxey leaving. Yes I know, that'll probably change as the year progresses...
 

RalphDaltonFan

Heisman
Apr 3, 2002
60,266
41,763
113
If you go back to the Nike Top 100 in 2018 Corey Evans named Isaiah Jackson the best defender and one of the top 5 defensive players he's ever scouted. He also named Terrence Clarke the best iso scorer at the same event. This is when they were Sophs going into JR year and a who's who is there for Top underclassmen which has turned out to be an elite class. Evans also said in a shortened scrimmage at even Jackson blocked 11 shots.

This is a much bigger get then some are giving it. Defensive presence and rim protection. Elite athleticism. And he said he'll be recruiting whomever they need to get as well. Great mindset.
 

HoldMyBeer

All-Conference
Feb 22, 2017
2,508
3,512
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Let the logjam begin!

Right now, I don't see anyone but maybe Maxey leaving. Yes I know, that'll probably change as the year progresses...
Rafters Kentucky "fans" : Why don't Cal use up all the scholarships, we don't have enough DEPTH.. ARRRRRRGHHHH!

ALSO Rafters Kentucky "fans": Our roster next year is going to be full, LET THE LOGJAM BEGIN!
 

CarolinaCatsFan

All-Conference
Sep 14, 2015
1,290
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If you go back to the Nike Top 100 in 2018 Corey Evans named Isaiah Jackson the best defender and one of the top 5 defensive players he's ever scouted. He also named Terrence Clarke the best iso scorer at the same event. This is when they were Sophs going into JR year and a who's who is there for Top underclassmen which has turned out to be an elite class. Evans also said in a shortened scrimmage at even Jackson blocked 11 shots.

This is a much bigger get then some are giving it. Defensive presence and rim protection. Elite athleticism. And he said he'll be recruiting whomever they need to get as well. Great mindset.

Thanks for the insight as always @ralphdaltonfan!
 

WallMash

All-Conference
Oct 30, 2009
4,562
2,894
103
In what I've read the thing I like most is " has high basketball IQ" because some of our big athletes like Richards and Lee (who he's being compared with) not so much. Someone said he doesn't leave the floor on pump fakes. I'm totally liking' the sound of that. And he looks like a MKG high energy player.
 

TomTraubertsBlues

All-American
Oct 13, 2014
4,919
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In what I've read the thing I like most is " has high basketball IQ" because some of our big athletes like Richards and Lee (who he's being compared with) not so much. Someone said he doesn't leave the floor on pump fakes. I'm totally liking' the sound of that. And he looks like a MKG high energy player.

I could be wrong, but I think some guys watch the shooter's eyes to gauge whether it is going to be a shot or a pump fake. Of it could just be that some players are confident that they can go up and block the shot once the shooter has committed. The clip I saw of him did have several blocks, which you don't usually see in highlight reels. If he can give us a reliable rim protector and passable offense, then I'm on board.
 
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TomTraubertsBlues

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Oct 13, 2014
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Rafters Kentucky "fans" : Why don't Cal use up all the scholarships, we don't have enough DEPTH.. ARRRRRRGHHHH!

ALSO Rafters Kentucky "fans": Our roster next year is going to be full, LET THE LOGJAM BEGIN!

Maxey gone for sure unless he falls apart. Obviously many of them are going to "test the waters" and I could see NR or EJ moving on regardless of their draft prospects. Seems to be the way it goes with bigs here. They either go pro after a year or two, or transfer. You'd think after AD, Cousins, Noel, KAT, and Adebayo, that bigs would be dying to come here, but something has changed. Maybe other coaches have been able to paint UK as a guard-oriented school. Who knows.
 

TomTraubertsBlues

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Oct 13, 2014
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Wenyen was the exception to the NBA two-way contract, not the rule. Plus, he's a 6'9" forward who can shoot at a high clip from the perimeter. None of the guys on my original list do anything spectacularly, which is precisely why I think only a few of them will make the necessary improvements by season's end. Will Brooks and Whitney? Maybe. Will Richards and EJ? Maybe. But they'll have to show us things they haven't show us yet, and do it at least somewhat consistently.

I like how active Brooks is, and I hope his shot come around, but the few times I saw him play in HS, I was not impressed with his shot. It was very much a hurried, haphazard shot. Even the ones that went in got a lot of rim. I would like him to focus more on put-backs and points in the paint, rather than jumpers.