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Missing on Stokes was a blessing in disguise

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NineIsOnTheWay

Sophomore
Aug 12, 2026
68
144
33
We don't land Mom or Mitchell if Stokes had committed here.

Stokes more than likely would have been the drama most predicted. Would have been the Stokes show all season and not the Kentucky show. A freshman star sure but not a proven college vet.

I'll take the two for one trade off all day every day. Two proven vets for one freshman star.

I wanted Stokes more than anyone. Just the sexiness of getting to say we landed the number one recruit. Just to be excited for Pope. But I think Pope prefers this also. Of course just my opinion but I don't think we get either of the vets if Stokes had came.
 
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N

NineIsOnTheWay

Sophomore
Aug 12, 2026
68
144
33
Im The Village Idiot said:
Let’s see how good Stokes ends up being at Kansas.

If he shows generational talent, we may feel burned.

If he seems human and we are better than Kansas, we look back and laugh at how freaked out we were to “whiff” on him.
Click to expand...
I wanted Stokes no doubt. But at the time I had no clue we would end up with two players like Mom and Mitchell. Maybe I'm way to high on Mitchell.

But also I'm looking at this from college ball only. Not if Stokes goes onto be a NBA all star for 15 years. I see people mentioning Terrence Jones similarities. He was the best college power forward we had Cals entire tenure. I get Randal and others had better pro careers.


I just feel the trade off for the college game this coming season benefits Kentucky more. But don't get me wrong I really really wanted Stokes. I've been sour about this up coming season until Pope pulled off this miracle. It's a miracle to me anyway because I thought we were dead in the tracks. Now I'm excited for the season again.

Build a statue lol
 
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U

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
5,007
9,474
113
NineIsOnTheWay said:
We don't land Mom or Mitchell if Stokes had committed here.

Stokes more than likely would have been the drama most predicted. Would have been the Stokes show all season and not the Kentucky show. A freshman star sure but not a proven college vet.

I'll take the two for one trade off all day every day. Two proven vets for one freshman star.

I wanted Stokes more than anyone. Just the sexiness of getting to say we landed the number one recruit. Just to be excited for Pope. But I think Pope prefers this also. Of course just my opinion but I don't think we get either of the vets if Stokes had came.
Click to expand...
I am very glad Stokes made the choice he did. Best of luck at Kansas. I think this team is not only talented, but the pieces fit well together
 
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Im The Village Idiot

Im The Village Idiot

All-American
Sep 7, 2025
2,313
5,892
113
NineIsOnTheWay said:
I wanted Stokes no doubt. But at the time I had no clue we would end up with two players like Mom and Mitchell. Maybe I'm way to high on Mitchell.

But also I'm looking at this from college ball only. Not if Stokes goes onto be a NBA all star for 15 years. I see people mentioning Terrence Jones similarities. He was the best college power forward we had Cals entire tenure. I get Randal and others had better pro careers.


I just feel the trade off for the college game this coming season benefits Kentucky more. But don't get me wrong I really really wanted Stokes. I've been sour about this up coming season until Pope pulled off this miracle. It's a miracle to me anyway because I thought we were dead in the tracks. Now I'm excited for the season again.

Build a statue lol
Click to expand...
Side bar: LOVE T-Jones

But I’d say whoever you consider PF on the 2015 team was better: either Karl-Anthony Towns or Willie Cauley-Stein. Both were All-American level players.

100% agree with you though. I care about what players can bring us in college not the NBA.
 
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N

NineIsOnTheWay

Sophomore
Aug 12, 2026
68
144
33
Im The Village Idiot said:
Side bar: LOVE T-Jones

But I’d say whoever you consider PF on the 2015 team was better: either Karl-Anthony Towns or Willie Cauley-Stein. Both were All-American level players.

100% agree with you though. I care about what players can bring us in college not the NBA.
Click to expand...
Well yea you can say they were better yea but you still know what I mean lol KAT just helped lead NY to a NBA finals so that's good company 😁
 
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S

SenseMaker_Cats

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
2,133
6,406
113
Im The Village Idiot said:
Side bar: LOVE T-Jones

But I’d say whoever you consider PF on the 2015 team was better: either Karl-Anthony Towns or Willie Cauley-Stein. Both were All-American level players.

100% agree with you though. I care about what players can bring us in college not the NBA.
Click to expand...
Welfare check on my friend @Im The Village Idiot. WCS? No one knows why he was named All American and I’m only kind of kidding. Id take TJ every day of the week.
 
F

FilsonCat

All-Conference
Apr 5, 2007
3,551
4,387
113
I think Stokes is a great talent. But he's not going to be able to carry an entire team without the right pieces around him. I would take the known production of Momcilovic and Mitchell over Stokes' potential any day.

Had Stokes come here, there is no guarantee we could get all of the pieces we have now. It seems to have worked out well.
 
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S

SenseMaker_Cats

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
2,133
6,406
113
Im The Village Idiot said:
I disagree. I can’t speak for the masses. Junior season WCS was one of the best defenders I’ve ever seen in CBB.
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I’ll respectfully disagree with your disagreement. lol. TJ had more blocks and way more rebounds as a freshman than WCS did during his junior All American year. There simply isn’t enough “I can switch off a pick and roll and check a guard for a second and a half defense” in the world to make someone an All American.

Offensively, it’s not even close.
 
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Im The Village Idiot

Im The Village Idiot

All-American
Sep 7, 2025
2,313
5,892
113
SenseMaker_Cats said:
I’ll respectfully disagree with your disagreement. lol. TJ had more blocks and way more rebounds as a freshman than WCS did during his junior All American year. There simply isn’t enough “I can switch off a pick and roll and check a guard for a second and a half defense” in the world to make someone an All American.

Offensively, it’s not even close.
Click to expand...
I think it’s clear there were parts of TJs game that were superior. He was a better slasher and post scorer by far.

That is uncontested.

I have no problem with what you’re saying. I just disagree. WCS wasn’t a great offensive player but he developed a pretty good post hook by that point but who is going to run an offense for that when you have so many other options on that 2015 team. WCS did what he was asked to do exceptionally and he anchored one of the greatest defenses of all time.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
47,190
86,367
113
Im The Village Idiot said:
Let’s see how good Stokes ends up being at Kansas.

If he shows generational talent, we may feel burned.

If he seems human and we are better than Kansas, we look back and laugh at how freaked out we were to “whiff” on him.
Click to expand...
He may be a handful and ruin their season as well. That was always a chance based on his history and reputation. Based on how he handled his recruitment, I think he has poor character.
 
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D

Dward13

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2008
10,325
1,774
72
Im The Village Idiot said:
I disagree. I can’t speak for the masses. Junior season WCS was one of the best defenders I’ve ever seen in CBB.
Click to expand...

His last game still hurts. Total no show and Decker worked him all game. He had to be sick or something. Arguably the worst game of his career here.

But I agree with you. He was the college DPoY and spearheaded one of the best defensive teams in the modern era.
 
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NociHTTP

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
13,037
20,422
113
I still think Stokes will be a bust at Kansas and they will suffer from his drama. He showed me that integrity and honesty aren't part of his character. As far as playing he's going to eat some blocked shots.
 
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