The portal JUST opened and the season recently ended. It takes a bit of time. Players are not basing their decisions on what suits fans or the fans timeline. It is a pretty damn big decision and they need to gather information. I get it, we need to build for next year as quickly as possible, but a week is asking a bit much. SEVERAL players in college (not just the UK players) have not made a commitment either way, as well as MOST of the portal guys haven't chose a school or even IF they are going to enter the portal. There will be many more guys to decide to enter, it takes time.
McDonalds AA game
- Thread starter TNCatfanforever
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I was just about to post the exact same thing, and then I thought, no, just keep reading, someone else has probably already posted it, and voila
I can see that. He was listed as a 2G, though. He's bigger than the Harrison twins, though, so I don't know what he's thinking of.
I'd be pleased with those guys returning too. That's the type of carryover I would like to see as a base most years. And unlike many it seems, I'm still in on Burks and Hart. If all the players you mentioned return, I would still like to add another top 2G (a really good perimeter shooter and scorer) to what you've listed. Let everybody earn their spot, no gifts; although I would say the carryovers have earned/shown some already.
Didn’t see it that way. Thot he looked like 6th or 7th man who wouldn’t hurt you
I’ve seen some breakdowns of some issues he has. He’s definitely gonna be good but how good is up in the air. You never know.
He’s the player I would have wanted most out of this class.
Wagner disappointed last year but you can see that he can still be a good college player. We should be excited if he returns. He’s the type of guard who ends up leading a team to a final 4 his 3rd year. I’d love to have him back for a couple years. The issue is we never get those type guys to stay.
If we get him to stay 2 years. Knowing our luck, he will struggle a little. Get a massive transfer option and crush it his second year while we are a post player short again.
I would rather get Sheppard back, but if Wagner returns, that’s better than trying to find a transfer PG in the portal or going with a Freshman. I like Fland. He’s going to help us next season, but I don’t want him to have to be the man at PG.
I'm sure he will improve because let's be honest, he can't get much worse. But there's just not much need for a 6-3 tweener, who's not overly athletic, doesn't shoot well and doesn't make others around him better. Those guys just don't thrive in modern basketball anymore.
He did not improve AT ALL this year. I've never seen a guy so hyped who missed so many layups. And why he continually drove left when he is a right handed player and airballed so many, I'll never know. Too bad we didn't have a coach who would correct that.
In his defense he played hurt much of the season.
If he stays, he has to show that he can be a facilitator from the PG spot. He can’t be looking for his shot all the time. That’s how he gets to the league and stays in the league. He has to be a legit PG.
So, it would be like Reed arriving at UK after his sophomore season. I am not sure what to expect from Jayden next season but from glimpses of the McDonalds game, he is a man at 16.
This is what terrifies me. He's NOT a PG. Never been one and doesn't have the innate mindset to play the position. If you have played high level basketball your entire life and never played a position, why would a coach try to force the role on a guy in his FR year with 2 guards who were both superior to him in that position? Rob/Reed playing off the bench was stupid. DJ playing PG was stupid.
DJ staying...him in the PG role his Soph year would be stupid. Boogie Fland is a PG. Been one/is one and has won at same level Wagner did only without the assortment of talent on his teams. Guy makes everyone better by his presence on the court. DJ can't say that and proven performance (a Cal favorite saying) showed it. If DJ returns he needs to be off the ball and only play the 1 if Boogie is off the court.
Fland is a true point guard. That is his natural position and he's got good instincts. Wagner just doesn't have that same skillset at the college level. He's more of a combo guard with an inconsistent shot and average athleticism.
Making Wagner play the 1 as a starter was one of the biggest blunders Cal made last season, as he's more of a 2 guard.
Making Wagner play the 1 as a starter was one of the biggest blunders Cal made last season, as he's more of a 2 guard.
It was a mistake to start Wagner as the point guard. I think it is another case of Cal trying to develop a kid into what he needs to be at the next level. Wagner did not usually play point more than 3 to 5 minutes per game. Rob and/or Reed took over that position within the first few minutes of every game.
I do think Wagner could turn out to be a solid college player, but I don’t think it will be under Cal. This is one of those instances where his loyalty to the family is blinding him, and it does no favors to give him a green light for everything. DJ needs some guidance and someone to be frank and say don’t do that **** anymore.
It was so annoying when a media member would say something like “Rob and Reed had a great game tonight” and Cal would go in his usual “Well did you see Wagner hit a three in the first two minutes, did you know he was shooting 40% before the injury?” I think DJ did what the staff told him to do, and at that point I can’t blame him for it; but the staff should live in reality and not hopes for the future.
Exactly. Only Cal would do that. ALL YEAR.
The problem with Wagner at shooting guard is his shooting. LOL!
Cal thinks Wagner is a PG. Wagner thinks he’s a PG. The NBA will only take him if he is a PG.
So we are stuck with him at PG, if he returns.
With that being the case, Wagner has to change his mentality. He needs to be a facilitator.
If that’s impossible, then that’s on Cal for trying once again to fit a square peg in a round hole.
Yes, Fland looks like a 10 times better 1 than Wagner.
As a PG it's not even an argument. Fland understands that role and DJ doesn't. DJ is wired to score and Boogie is wired to win. Doesn't mean DJ doesn't want to win-but his way of winning is putting up pts--where Fland will figure out what the team needs and contribute. That's how real PG's operate and Cal just would be F'ing with so much if he stuck DJ back at the PG spot without any tools or feel for the position.
That's right. But why didn't they pass him up? Often after lost minutes of a team without a true PG on the court just pissing away opportunities. Think of the last game--Oakland came out 1-13 or something--and UK didn't have a big lead because they didn't run any offense or get any easy looks either. It was just wasted time that allowed a team to get comfortable and then UK played tight because they never had an 8-10 pt lead like they may have had if they had Rob/Reed in from jump.
Yeah, the plays Fland made the other night the whole game were team plays. High IQ when he drove it he wasn't looking to throw up a left handed runner. He was under control to either take an easy short shot or pass to the open man inside if he is picked up. Nothing wild or crazy, always under control and looking to get the ball to his teammates. Unless Shep is back, he just looks too good to not play the 1 because of how good he is playing team ball and making good decisions.
Like Ralph said the only way DJ has a shot is if he’s in a role looking to score and not run the offense .
Cal really messed up this year trying to force him to be something he’s not . He was clearly uncomfortable in the role . Fland is a natural PG and hopefully Cal isn’t on ******** this year .
Cal really messed up this year trying to force him to be something he’s not . He was clearly uncomfortable in the role . Fland is a natural PG and hopefully Cal isn’t on ******** this year .