JQ Status? Vandy

StuBlue270_uk

Senior
Jul 3, 2025
321
626
93
Season 4 No GIF
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,206
98,384
113
At least he played a couple games. He and Shady Sharpe can swap stories about shutting it down.

We should have known that this would happen. His dad is a control freak. His dad is the same one who got mad at Calipari because Cal didn't go through him to inform him that he was leaving for Arkansas..
 
Last edited:

TheDude73

Heisman
Jan 7, 2006
24,083
23,451
113
At least he played a couple games. He and Shady Sharpe can swap stories about shutting it down.

We should have known that this would happen. His dad is a control freak. His dad is the same one who got mad at Calipari because Cal didn't go through him to inform him that he was leaving for Kentucky.
I was surprised he even played at all, but a few games to "flash" his talent was probably all his "handler/agent" allowed.

But many folks who said he'd never play for UK were ridiculed. Yeah, he played, for a short bit, but ultimately I'm guessing this was part of the plan - flash some play so he's not "Sharpe-ing" UK again, then hide and wait for the draft. I predict he'll be in great form come combine showoffs.
 

ukfan042

Senior
Jul 14, 2025
295
786
93
At least he played a couple games. He and Shady Sharpe can swap stories about shutting it down.

We should have known that this would happen. His dad is a control freak. His dad is the same one who got mad at Calipari because Cal didn't go through him to inform him that he was leaving f
Absolutely pathetic by our coach! Recruiting a kid coming off major knee surgery was never a smart plan. 3.2 million for a few games…the boosters are gonna have more than a few words for him in the offseason!
 

Tri-Countycat

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
1,378
3,072
113
Two scenarios.

1) he came back too soon and has swelling and doesn’t want to risk it unless the swelling goes down.
2) he has already informed the team and Pope he is done and Pope won’t make that public because he already has a ton of heat on him and that would make it even worse.
 

RedwoodHigh

Senior
Nov 18, 2025
476
707
93
The other players love him
Being a pal of a future NBA star has it’s benefits down the road.

Hard to blame a 19 yr old for not healing fast enough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JASUN74

Cats4321

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2025
806
2,270
93
Probably just load management. He has to be exhausted from all the minutes he's played this year.

Seriously though, I hope he isn't having long term knee complications. It's just natural to be skeptical after his dad's public comments.
 
  • Like
Reactions: *Fox2Monk*
Oct 9, 2015
13,895
36,700
78
don’t care and not surprised. I’m thinking MP made a very poor decision to bring this kid on seeing as how he had major surgery to repair his knee not long before. Why did Mark pay him? Doesn’t make sense. What a waste of money.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
50,691
71,051
113
Two scenarios.

1) he came back too soon and has swelling and doesn’t want to risk it unless the swelling goes down.
2) he has already informed the team and Pope he is done and Pope won’t make that public because he already has a ton of heat on him and that would make it even worse.
I get the feeling his father is the one calling the shots here and if I'm being honest, it doesn't seem like he's very reasonable, or smart.

Honestly, if he's holding his son out, he's hurting his draft stock. All he showed so far this year, is how NOT NBA ready he is and that his knee isn't right. If he can’t play even half a college season, how is he going to sustain a long NBA season?

If his knee actually was swelling, it would surely be fine by now and the lack of information coming from Pope, is concerning to me. The silence is deafening.
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
12,304
19,247
113
get this dude off the team and stop paying him
I would have even more respect if Pope went to the media and stated something along the lines of "we're all having a difficut time with this NIL situation, players opting out of playing yet still taking pay. This isn't how most of the real world works, therefore I have made the decision to remove from the roster anyone who might choose opting out over playing to help this program win games".
 
Last edited:

peterpiper09

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2006
1,127
2,237
112
I’m sure when they were finalizing the terms of his big NIL deal, the Quaintances weren’t given the option of just tanking it if they felt like it after he was playable. I’m sure part of getting all that $$$$ is playing basketball. They’re obligated to play, I would think, if able. If the kid is still really having issues getting healed, then rack it up as a good hard lesson to not make the same mistake again.
 

CrimsonCats_rivals

All-Conference
Mar 22, 2022
1,658
3,387
61
I understand everyone’s cynicism after the Sharpe fiasco, the heavy suspicions that Wheeler claimed an injury to quit on the team, and probably some other stuff I’m forgetting at the moment.

As much as it sucks, I do think there’s a pretty decent chance that he’s actually injured in this case though. Although that kind of injury is no longer a near automatic career killer thanks to medical advances, setbacks can still happen, and his timeline for returning was definitely on the aggressive side. If nothing else, he gains nothing for his draft stock by playing a handful of games where he looks a little tentative and then claiming an injury that could lead teams to believe his knee is already a chronic problem.

Whether or not we should have gambled so much of our NIL budget on a half season of a player coming off a major injury is another matter entirely. I think it’s safe to say that didn’t work out at this point, and criticizing Pope for that is fair.
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
12,304
19,247
113
I was surprised he even played at all, but a few games to "flash" his talent was probably all his "handler/agent" allowed.

But many folks who said he'd never play for UK were ridiculed. Yeah, he played, for a short bit, but ultimately I'm guessing this was part of the plan - flash some play so he's not "Sharpe-ing" UK again, then hide and wait for the draft. I predict he'll be in great form come combine showoffs.
I think a lot of us feel the way you do about the situation. If he did try that, it sure backfired on him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheDude73

peterpiper09

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2006
1,127
2,237
112
I understand everyone’s cynicism after the Sharpe fiasco, the heavy suspicions that Wheeler claimed an injury to quit on the team, and probably some other stuff I’m forgetting at the moment.

As much as it sucks, I do think there’s a pretty decent chance that he’s actually injured in this case though. Although that kind of injury is no longer a near automatic career killer thanks to medical advances, setbacks can still happen, and his timeline for returning was definitely on the aggressive side. If nothing else, he gains nothing for his draft stock by playing a handful of games where he looks a little tentative and then claiming an injury that could lead teams to believe his knee is already a chronic problem.

Whether or not we should have gambled so much of our NIL budget on a half season of a player coming off a major injury is another matter entirely. I think it’s safe to say that didn’t work out at this point, and criticizing Pope for that is fair.
They talked like he could’ve played in September or October. It was just extra time for certainty. How long should it take a year and a half? Put me in the camp of people believing that daddy had something to do with all of this.
 

Eastkybball

All-Conference
May 7, 2019
1,554
2,838
98
If he’s done playing for Kentucky.
Get him the F off our bench!
Sick of this continuing to happen to us.
If he’s really injured and wants to give it more time then I’m fine with that.
But him seeing Kam go down and it’s not lighting a fire in him to play than f him.
 

peterpiper09

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2006
1,127
2,237
112
Here’s the thing

If he’s not hurt and could be playing, then he’s killing his draft stock because the last couple times he played, he didn’t look very good. Plus, who’s to say he’s ok health wise. They’re not gonna gamble too much on that.

If he is still got a nagging swelling and just can’t do it, then announce that you’re shutting it down, and that you’ll be back next season. Get it right this spring and summer and come back strong. Prove yourself, then go into the draft in a strong fashion. I mean he’s only 18, right?

From our perspective, I’d say it would prolly be best to move on past this.
 
Jan 10, 2015
18,868
31,855
62
At least he played a couple games. He and Shady Sharpe can swap stories about shutting it down.

We should have known that this would happen. His dad is a control freak. His dad is the same one who got mad at Calipari because Cal didn't go through him to inform him that he was leaving for Kentucky.
Wheeler , Vanderbilt, and the list can go on and on…
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
12,304
19,247
113
HIs camp is fooling no one. Pope needs to either inform himself, or come clean on this. I believe that one of the changes that will be coming with NIL is that if you don't play and insurance/medical teams prove that you can, you either have to pay back a portion or have a portion taken out at the end of the contract.