Jaden Hardy buzz

GonzoCat90

Heisman
Mar 30, 2009
32,377
34,559
0

They nailed my good side. What do you think of my quarantine look?
 

Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,078
54,690
100
It doesn't cost anything to be optimistic, but reporting "if he does the thing everyone knows he won't do, it'll be this" feels kinda silly.

The renewed attention and reporting on it is interesting. Might be Cal just doing one last kicking of the tires, might be that the G League route seems less popular among this class (as of now), might be the NIL stuff.

Either way, I guess we're in the best spot you can hope to be in. I just don't feel like it ultimately matters if you were choice 2 or 200.
Cal is undoubtably making a late push for Hardy. To me, going the college route would be the smart and most logical choice. It’s going to be really difficult for him to increase his draft stock playing in the G League, as opposed to college.

I think all these “experts” saying it’s 100% G League are either doing a CYA or Hardy has already taken $ from the G League. That’s the one thing that I’m worried about. Whether or not he’s already bound to the G League or not. If that were the case, though, I couldn’t see Cal pursuing him this hard. Gonna be a longgggggggg week!
 
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Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,078
54,690
100
Tracy Mcgrady was also
That still makes me ill. Imagine that 1998 team with T Mac! Obviously we still won the title that year, but just having T Mac as a former player would’ve been awesome.

The other one that really stings is Iverson. That one probably stings even worse than T Mac. Probably the best “small” guard of all time.
 

STL_Cat

Heisman
Dec 4, 2011
64,895
57,659
98
That still makes me ill. Imagine that 1998 team with T Mac! Obviously we still won the title that year, but just having T Mac as a former player would’ve been awesome.

The other one that really stings is Iverson. That one probably stings even worse than T Mac. Probably the best “small” guard of all time.
I love AI but feel no sting whatsoever that he didn't come to Kentucky. In his one year at Georgetown, Kentucky just so happened to have the greatest college basketball team I have ever seen. I wouldn't trade anything for what that team was.

I watched his documentary the other night for the 2nd or 3rd time. As good as he was, he wasn't what that 96 Cats team needed. That team needed nothing. He could've been a disruption as much as anything.
 

GonzoCat90

Heisman
Mar 30, 2009
32,377
34,559
0
Cal is undoubtably making a late push for Hardy. To me, going the college route would be the smart and most logical choice. It’s going to be really difficult for him to increase his draft stock playing in the G League, as opposed to college.

I think all these “experts” saying it’s 100% G League are either doing a CYA or Hardy has already taken $ from the G League. That’s the one thing that I’m worried about. Whether or not he’s already bound to the G League or not. If that were the case, though, I couldn’t see Cal pursuing him this hard. Gonna be a longggggggg week!

It seems like the G League is great for maintaining stock. Guys like Green, Kuminga, etc. didn't drop. So a guy like Cade would have been fine going that route.

But if you're a kid like Hardy who isn't currently projected number one, but who wants a chance to do so, I think college provides the potential boost for that. The risk is higher too, though. If he struggles, he can fall out of the first round, however unlikely that is.


All that said, I think Hardy has been done to the G League and nothing is changing. I hope I'm wrong, obviously, but even the "buzz" we're hearing is all "if he weren't going to the G League..."
 

Blueisbest

All-American
Mar 22, 2003
24,628
5,325
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While I would love to add Hardy to our roster, I hope he doesn't commit, only to change his mind later. We would be up the proverbial creek at the point guard position if his commitment costs us TyTy and then a few weeks later decides to take the G League money.
 

Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,078
54,690
100
I love AI but feel no sting whatsoever that he didn't come to Kentucky. In his one year at Georgetown, Kentucky just so happened to have the greatest college basketball team I have ever seen. I wouldn't trade anything for what that team was.
I can’t disagree with that. Actually, AI played two years in college. He had to sit out one year, which would’ve been his freshman season for those legal issues, 1993-1994. Technically, if the “brawl” never happened he would’ve been here two seasons: 1994 and 1995. I think that’s all accurate anyway. 🤣
 
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Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
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100
While I would love to add Hardy to our roster, I hope he doesn't commit, only to change his mind later. We would be up the proverbial creek at the point guard position if his commitment costs us TyTy and then a few weeks later decides to take the G League money.
I don’t think he would cost us TyTy. Cal has been pitching them as a package deal. Plus, Hardy would be mainly a SG.
 

STL_Cat

Heisman
Dec 4, 2011
64,895
57,659
98
I can’t disagree with that. Actually, AI played two years in college. He had to sit out one year, which would’ve been his freshman season for those legal issues, 1993-1994. Technically, if the “brawl” never happened he would’ve been here two seasons: 1994 and 1995. I think that’s all accurate anyway. 🤣
Wow, brainfart on my part even having just watched the documentary. Unimaginable today that a talent like Iverson played more than one year of college basketball.

Nonetheless, I wouldn't have replaced any of the guys from that era with Iverson. Not even Epps. Crazy, I know.
 

Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,078
54,690
100
Wow, brainfart on my part even having just watched the documentary. Unimaginable today that a talent like Iverson played more than one year of college basketball.

Nonetheless, I wouldn't have replaced any of the guys from that era with Iverson. Not even Epps. Crazy, I know.
Yeah, I had to go look it up awhile back. Very hard to believe he played two years in college.

I don’t mean to replace him with anyone necessarily. I’m just saying it would’ve been nice to have had him on those teams. Not 1996, but 1994 and 1995. Would’ve been insane.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
50,679
71,040
113
I've always said, if you're going to bring in these one-and-done guys, they need to be top shelf guys, Jaden Hardy is top shelf and I hope Tyty is too.
If Cal gets both to add to Allen, CJ and Grady, well that's a hell of a backcourt.
If he can still get Mintz back too, he can go with a 4 guard set anytime he wants.
I prefer veteran players, but anyone Cal gets out of the transfer portal, will be a 1 year guy anyway, so he might as well go with the most talented and polished guy.
I think JH likes the spotlight based on his tweets, if that's the case, he has to know there is no spotlight in the GL, nobody watches it. But $500k+ is really tough to pass up.
I don't know what to think on this one.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
28,666
68,445
113
I've always said, if you're going to bring in these one-and-done guys, they need to be top shelf guys, Jaden Hardy is top shelf and I hope Tyty is too.
If Cal gets both to add to Allen, CJ and Grady, well that's a hell of a backcourt.
If he can still get Mintz back too, he can go with a 4 guard set anytime he wants.
I prefer veteran players, but anyone Cal gets out of the transfer portal, will be a 1 year guy anyway, so he might as well go with the most talented and polished guy.
I think JH likes the spotlight based on his tweets, if that's the case, he has to know there is no spotlight in the GL, nobody watches it. But $500k+ is really tough to pass up.
I don't know what to think on this one.
Get that lap ready
 
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Shaudylo

Heisman
Apr 2, 2011
11,466
25,729
112
That still makes me ill. Imagine that 1998 team with T Mac! Obviously we still won the title that year, but just having T Mac as a former player would’ve been awesome.

The other one that really stings is Iverson. That one probably stings even worse than T Mac. Probably the best “small” guard of all time.
The one guy I wish did play at UK.
One of the most effortless scorers
 
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LEDGENDARY

Senior
Apr 27, 2021
288
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I pray you all don't get upset when Hardy doesn't pick us Sarurday. His college eligibility is already over, let's just leave it at that.


At least the Washington news will be the same day. Hopefully that prevents anyone from going off the deep-end.
 

jrpross_rivals

Heisman
Feb 21, 2008
17,553
36,086
113
That still makes me ill. Imagine that 1998 team with T Mac! Obviously we still won the title that year, but just having T Mac as a former player would’ve been awesome.

The other one that really stings is Iverson. That one probably stings even worse than T Mac. Probably the best “small” guard of all time.
In retrospect, I’m glad we didn’t get McGrady. Who knows what it would have done to the chemistry? I mean, they won the championship. What else could they have done?
 
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Jperry1987

Senior
Sep 23, 2019
397
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I agree. I want an experienced pg starting and if we get TyTy he can back him up. We already have 3 SG.
We may have 3 SG's but we have ZERO Jaden Hardy's on this team. This kid is an absolute bucket getter. Steph curry range. If Cal and the squad pull this one out, wow! Would love to add this kid to the team on any given year, no matter who or what is on the roster.
 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
45,135
81,434
113
I believe that UK may be the choice IF he were to go to college but I still don't see him doing it.

However, read an article over the weekend that the G League only has one guy committed to joining them (Michael Foster). I can't imagine Hardy wants to do it basically by himself so who knows what happens.

But, if Foster gets $500k+ (as reported), Hardy could probably get $750k+...that's a LOT to turn down.
So find some booster money and pay him a million. Done deal.
 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
45,135
81,434
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Also does anyone even know where to watch G league games and see information about it? I check ESPN, CBSSports quite often and don’t recall one article about the Gleague players all year. No scores or anything promoted.
 

BigBlueFanGA

Heisman
Jun 14, 2005
26,435
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That’s not how the spreadsheet looks. To them year 2 is the same in all plans. Year 1, G league 750k for a SWAG. KY is a scholarship with a subgroup of fans that have a terminal case of what have you done for me lately.

Winner almost every time will be the money.
Of course the winner is money but thats where the discussion starts, not ends. The G League is a wasted year so far as brand development is concerned. The very top kids should never consider the G League, not seriously at least. The average fan does not and will not watch the G League. If one considers the tax consequences, how could 750K ever be better in the long run over developing name recognition and a long term fan base. The G League simply can't compete with that. Its great for some I guess but the top guys should use every bit of branding a top college program can give them.
 
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BassProCat

Heisman
Jan 5, 2017
11,993
27,465
81
Also does anyone even know where to watch G league games and see information about it? I check ESPN, CBSSports quite often and don’t recall one article about the Gleague players all year. No scores or anything promoted.
Ive caught one game in the early afternoon during a week day...think it was espn2 or espnews. Pretty sure they get zero primetime games.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

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Jun 10, 2009
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Ive caught one game in the early afternoon during a week day...think it was espn2 or espnews. Pretty sure they get zero primetime games.
I mean Hardy may want quick money and I get that but there is no comparison to how much more hype he would enter the draft coming out of UK than the G league IMO. I think off court earnings would more than make up for that 500k on one year playing quicker in the G league.