Kyle Tucker Tweet

[Cowtown Cat]

I think you mean DA and Mercer, but your point is taken

And I agree. Cal has never had a pair of scoring wings like these 2 guys. If the rest of the supporting cast around them hold up, that team will be really hard to beat. Return Quickley and I don’t see how anyone can stop them from scoring.

Lmao yeah. Was watching the 2012 UK-Arkansas game I had recorded. My bad.

 

[TortElvisII]

A junior IQ leaps to Tony Delk status if he comes back here.

EJ and Brooks start at the 4/5 spots. Two lottery pick wings in Clarke and Boston. Plus a bench that features Askew, Juzang, Jackson, Ware, Fletcher, and Allen. That's a title team.

40-0

Titles are for chumps.

 

[Mike-D]

Good luck in the D-League Ashton

 

[dckala2_rivals16641]

Askew
Quickley
Clarke/Boston
Brooks
Richards

That’s dreaming right there.

man, Hagans in terms of his stock, could not of asked for a worse way for the season to end.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I guess I’m crazy for taking the “wait and see” approach, especially with Boston.

Nah. You just never can really tell.

 

[Orange Soda King]

I am excited for Clarke and Boston, but are we ready to say that they will be offensively better than Monk and Murray without seeing them play? That would be awesome if they are! I just wanna wait till we actually see them in action…

 

[UKWildcatT]

If Quickley comes back he should be the starting 2G not the point. Stop building a team based on what it does for someone's draft prospects. Playing PG in the NBA is very different than playing PG in college. So even if we tried to do that IQ would still have major questions about moving to the point in the NBA. Besides you are best served by highlighting the things you do well and let the NBA worry about the question marks, rather than highlighting the things you struggle at. Bring IQ and make him the teams best scorer. Put a team including a PG around him that features him. I bet IQ scores over 20 per game and will be back to back best player in the SEC. Plus the team will look better an that will make him far more appealing to the NBA than if he were to produce meager numbers in a different role.

I still remember us making this same mistake with Tony Delk in the 90's. TD was a very poor PG and the team struggled. Move TD back to his best position and we win a title, TD was an All American and the NBA drafted him much higher than they would have if we left him at point.

as soon as I read the first sentence of your post, I thought of Tony Delk...and you made the comparison, lol

 

[kyjeff1]

I am excited for Clarke and Boston, but are we ready to say that they will be offensively better than Monk and Murray without seeing them play? That would be awesome if they are! I just wanna wait till we actually see them in action…

Well, at least they will be on the same team. Monk and Murray weren’t.
But we can't let one bust (Dragon) trump the large number of top 10 guys we have had that were legit pro talents.
From what I'm seeing out of Clarke and Boston, they are the real deal, they are highly skilled, long and have high revving motors. Kahlil was a project that had incredible athletesism.
Truth is, Boston and Clark will he an incredible 1-2 punch and if you add IQ to those two, wow.

 

[BBallin23]

I am excited for Clarke and Boston, but are we ready to say that they will be offensively better than Monk and Murray without seeing them play? That would be awesome if they are! I just wanna wait till we actually see them in action…

Both top 5 prospects so I’d say pretty damn close.

 

[dnabbott25]

Lets actually look at the projections, which are usually very close to what actually happens as far as where they get picked...

Maxey 1st round 22nd pick Houston
Haggans 1st round 27th pick Boston
Richards 2nd round 34th pick Minnesota

If there are no workouts then anyone else not listed cant improve their stock. Maxey and Haggans would have guarantees. Nick would not, but his girlfriend graduates and I don't see him coming back.
Plus he's earned it man, the improvement he showed is amazing and even if he plays a few seasons he is the type of guy that could be an MVP overseas like Dakari Johnson and Randolph Morris.
I think Maxey will be a better pro than college player and I'm not sure about Haggans but he is a specialty player defensively and those guys always have a spot.
Quickley is the guy who could benefit the most by returning. He came on so late and without the benefit of showing out in the tournament his stock hasn't risen yet. He could improve to All American status and move into the lottery.
Most people on this board dont realize just how good BJ Boston is. He is an immediate impact/national player of the year candidate. He is a 6'-7" two guard that can also run the point. He is athletic and is very crafty and long enough to guard multiple positions. Boston on next year's roster makes everyone better but the one guys who will benefit most playing with him is Quickley. We will see what happens but expect Kentucky to be the clear cut preseason #1 and be a loaded team. If EJ Montgomery is able to make the improvement that Nick did we should win it all.

 

[MoneyMuntz]

Maxey, Hagans, and Quickley should all return. Quickley could be the best player in the NCAA next year and Maxey and Hagans are so flawed that they would great benefit from coming back.

 

[STL_Cat]

0% chance of Maxey returning. No need to even suggest it.

 

[kyjeff1]

Lets actually look at the projections, which are usually very close to what actually happens as far as where they get picked...

Maxey 1st round 22nd pick Houston
Haggans 1st round 27th pick Boston
Richards 2nd round 34th pick Minnesota

If there are no workouts then anyone else not listed cant improve their stock. Maxey and Haggans would have guarantees. Nick would not, but his girlfriend graduates and I don't see him coming back.
Plus he's earned it man, the improvement he showed is amazing and even if he plays a few seasons he is the type of guy that could be an MVP overseas like Dakari Johnson and Randolph Morris.
I think Maxey will be a better pro than college player and I'm not sure about Haggans but he is a specialty player defensively and those guys always have a spot.
Quickley is the guy who could benefit the most by returning. He came on so late and without the benefit of showing out in the tournament his stock hasn't risen yet. He could improve to All American status and move into the lottery.
Most people on this board dont realize just how good BJ Boston is. He is an immediate impact/national player of the year candidate. He is a 6'-7" two guard that can also run the point. He is athletic and is very crafty and long enough to guard multiple positions. Boston on next year's roster makes everyone better but the one guys who will benefit most playing with him is Quickley. We will see what happens but expect Kentucky to be the clear cut preseason #1 and be a loaded team. If EJ Montgomery is able to make the improvement that Nick did we should win it all.

Hagans.
I don't know if UK will be the overall #1 team next year. It sounds like Gonzaga is going to be loaded. They have some legit talent coming in and unlike us, their top talent will he returning to school.

This is where we lose. We're always young, but there is always a different group of teams that have talent, size AND experience.

So, you are seeing Hagans shown in the first round? Where? I haven't seen that.

 

[TankedCat]

based on past history, I'm at a loss as to why there is optimism about the SEC POY of the year coming back to Kentucky

What can he do to improve his position next year?

I would think Hagans would be more likely to come back than Quickley, but only on skillset. I think the last week or so has put Hagan in the anywhere but here category of player for UK.

just my .02

 

[kyjeff1]

Maxey, Hagans, and Quickley should all return. Quickley could be the best player in the NCAA next year and Maxey and Hagans are so flawed that they would great benefit from coming back.

Dude, Maxey is a lottery pick. Would you come back to UK if you were a lottery pick?

 

[EmCats3]

Quickley returning could vault him into legend status here at UK. Sophomore SEC POY returns to lead possibly they most talented team in the country. He’d be pre season first team AA

 

[BassProCat]

Quickley returning could vault him into legend status here at UK. Sophomore SEC POY returns to lead possibly they most talented team in the country. He’d be pre season first team AA

Easily.

 

[yoshukai]

Dude, Maxey is a lottery pick. Would you come back to UK if you were a lottery pick?

Plus , even if he improved he might fall in the draft simply because next years draft is expected to be so much stronger.

 

[Jkwo_rivals113955]

It always feels like certain guys get pushed out. Il take the heat on this but it's what I see. Worse part of the season for me.

Pushed out?

Okay then, let's talk a common scenario that we've seen before.

Take a kid that is projected low first round with the possibility of slipping to high second. Maybe he can improve his stock with a stellar year to mid first round lock, but due to his measurables, there's nothing he can do to be a lottery pick. In his mind, another year could also cause exposure or injury.

Which do you think happens more frequently: The kid wants to stay and the coach has to shove him out the door, or the kid is raring to go and it would be an uphill battle to get him to even give serious thought to returning?

I can tell you which one happens more frequently, but I won't spoil it for you if you don't want me to.

 

[caneintally]

Hagan's won't go drafted unfortunately.
Nick most likely won't eithier.

There are only 60 slots available. You got 300 something NCAA D1 alone.
You got at least 30 overseas guys.

It always feels like certain guys get pushed out. Il take the heat on this but it's what I see. Worse part of the season for me.

Now for Maxey. He has been a lockdown top 10 guy all year.....best of luck to him.

But if you dont have a guarantee please dont go!

Both Nick and Hagans are top 40 picks. Hagans is shown between 25-40 in all MOCKS. Richards is more up and down ( some have him in the top 20 others in the 50s) . No one wth any understanding of the draft can think those 2 aren't getting drafted. Hagans is thought of higher in the mocks but I think RIchards will go first none the less. But we gotta remember the draft might not happen til Sept or August and there might not be pre draft camps .

I truly think Maxey Hagans and Richards are the only one for sure gone no matter what. I think QUick would of left if this season had been normal but now I think EJ and Quick come back.

 

[new era cat]

Maxey, EJ, IQ, Hagans, Richards and Nate go bye bye.
This is how it works and Cal wants it.
His recruiting strategy requires getting everybody to the NBA as soon as possible, not just who is ready!
We take the incoming with Brooks, Allen, Juzang and a transfer and deal with the beginning again.
Only 2 things can ease the pain next year ---
* Real top 5 talent and not just "athletic"
* Natural Basketball intelligence from enough players without experience

I cannot wait until one and done is gone.
With the amount of players who MUST come back and Cal's recruiting, the Cats mix of talent and experience compared to others will rule the world!

 

[catswin]

Quickley could mean to next year’s team what Jodie Meeks would have meant to Wall’s team.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

I said it in another thread but cal needs to convince IQ that by staying he will enhance his stock. Idc what some people think but IQ has what it takes to run the team and you throw in Clarke and Boston and they will make IQ look real nice as a PG. he’s gonna be undrafted or maybe very late second rd this year. I think he has a solid shot at a first round pick if he stays as a PG. giovony from espn has already suggested quickley needs another season based on scout feedback, most draft boards don’t have him on the radar. His stock is gonna rise by showing out as pg in ncaa games not at the combine as an undersized 2.

Cal will not try to convince Quickley to stay. He will get feedback from the NBA scouts and give that to Quickley and let him make up his own mind.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

Hagan's won't go drafted unfortunately.
Nick most likely won't eithier.

There are only 60 slots available. You got 300 something NCAA D1 alone.
You got at least 30 overseas guys.

It always feels like certain guys get pushed out. Il take the heat on this but it's what I see. Worse part of the season for me.

Now for Maxey. He has been a lockdown top 10 guy all year.....best of luck to him.

But if you dont have a guarantee please dont go!

Nick will be drafted. It may be the second round but he definitely will be drafted.

 

[MoneyMuntz]

Dude, Maxey is a lottery pick. Would you come back to UK if you were a lottery pick?

Is he? I thought he was in the low 20s

 

[Farsight]

Quickley, Juzang, Brooks and Montgomery back would be huge. If we get 3 of those 4 I'd be fine with that.

We do need Quick or Hagans back. From what I am hearing, Askew may be a 2-3 year player and not ready to run the team.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Will be interesting for quickley. Not sure how draftable he is but it will never be higher than now. Historically poor draft plus sec player of the year.

 

[STL_Cat]

Both Nick and Hagans are top 40 picks. Hagans is shown between 25-40 in all MOCKS. Richards is more up and down ( some have him in the top 20 others in the 50s) . No one wth any understanding of the draft can think those 2 aren't getting drafted. Hagans is thought of higher in the mocks but I think RIchards will go first none the less. But we gotta remember the draft might not happen til Sept or August and there might not be pre draft camps .

I truly think Maxey Hagans and Richards are the only one for sure gone no matter what. I think QUick would of left if this season had been normal but now I think EJ and Quick come back.

Hagans 25-40? Dude I’m 100% confident in saying there is a 0% chance Ashton Hagans is drafted in the 1st round of the NBA draft. There’s just absolutely no reason to pick that guy in the 1st round of the NBA draft, he does literally nothing at an NBA level.

 

[HenryMuto]

Everyone except for Maxey should come back. If you are not getting drafted in the 1st round it makes little sense to leave.

 

[Bigtyrone]

Why is Richards projected so low? I would expect him to go mid first round. Some mocks have him listed towards the end of the second. What am I missing here?

 

[BoulderCat_rivals187983]

If IQ and EJ come back along with Brooks, Juzang, and Allen, and we add 6 guys who make up the #1 class that would be a team I’d be excited about. Very excited!

 

[EmCats3]

Maxey, EJ, IQ, Hagans, Richards and Nate go bye bye.
This is how it works and Cal wants it.
His recruiting strategy requires getting everybody to the NBA as soon as possible, not just who is ready!
We take the incoming with Brooks, Allen, Juzang and a transfer and deal with the beginning again.
Only 2 things can ease the pain next year ---
* Real top 5 talent and not just "athletic"
* Natural Basketball intelligence from enough players without experience

I cannot wait until one and done is gone.
With the amount of players who MUST come back and Cal's recruiting, the Cats mix of talent and experience compared to others will rule the world!

You just complained about the one and done but do you even realize only 1 of the 5 players potentially leaving early is a freshman?

 

[Crawfords Corner]

How much say does IQs father have in this decision. I would think his first and foremost goal for his son would be to stay and get that degree. Or like his basketball career does he basically stay out of the decision making process.

 

[fatguy87]

Tucker's prognostication, if proven prophetic, is a "best" case. Have we ever had a player as good and high usage as Quickley return for a second season? A coin flip probability regarding his return is a boon.

 

[CatEye2010]

Just imagine a point guard that could knock down a 3....

Go CATS!

And shoot over 90% from the ft line; huge.

 

[kyjeff1]

Is he? I thought he was in the low 20s

Even if he was in the low 20's, he would be foolish to return.

But that doesn't matter, he's expected to be the 6th overall pick.

 

[dnabbott25]

Hagans.
I don't know if UK will be the overall #1 team next year. It sounds like Gonzaga is going to be loaded. They have some legit talent coming in and unlike us, their top talent will he returning to school.

This is where we lose. We're always young, but there is always a different group of teams that have talent, size AND experience.

So, you are seeing Hagans shown in the first round? Where? I haven't seen that.

NBA draft.net is the one to follow. Its the one that is actually "connected" to the league. Thats where I saw it. Here is the link....

https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/

 

[kyjeff1]

Tucker's prognostication, if proven prophetic, is a "best" case. Have we ever had a player as good and high usage as Quickley return for a second season? A coin flip probability regarding his return is a boon.

There has been several that returned for a 2nd season. T. Jones, Patterson, Lamb, the twins, WCS, Richards and Lamb to name a few, but if IQ returns, it will be for a 3rd year, which is very rare.

However, we are seeing different circumstances right now. IQ comes from a religious family that appears to.put a lot if stock in education first and we have a major pandemic going on that is going to effect everything.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Maxey, Richards, and Hagans are gone, IMHO.

Quickley should come back if Cal will give him a shot at PG. If Cal wants him to play on the wing again, there is no reason to return. His stock only rises if he plays PG.

Montgomery needs to come back and continue to work hard to get stronger.

If both return, we are in excellent shape for a title run.

Starters

G Quickley
G Clarke
G Boston
F Brooks
F Montgomery

Bench

G Askew
G Allen
G Juzang
F Fletcher
F Ware
F Jackson

Talent, experience, and depth. That team would check all the boxes.

 

[kyjeff1]

NBA draft.net is the one to follow. Its the one that is actually "connected" to the league. Thats where I saw it. Here is the link....

https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/

Man, that's crazy. I just don't see how anyone takes Ash in the first or 2nd round. I can't imagine that is accurate, but, we shall see.

Heck, the way things are going, there might not even be a draft. UK is the one program that would benefit the most in that scenario.