Staff visiting Adem Bona

[catsfanbgky]

I really hope Cal takes the bird in the hand approach with these two. With what we have signed already and people who SHOULD come back from this years team, take the sure thing and then put the full court press on Lively until he signs. Bona will commit before Lively, I do not think it is worth the risk of losing both by going all in on Lively and passing on Bona if he wants to sign. BUT,,,, having said that, all though I would love to, I do not see us getting both. A little bonus with Bona is that with a stacked team, if he doesn't shine from day 1, he MAY end up being here for more than a year, especially with NIL in play. Lively, he is a can't miss one and done. Just my opinion, not stating as fact, just do not see us getting both. Take Lively over Bona, but only if he will commit BEFORE spring.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Something worth considering is that in the first several years here, Cal almost always (I can't think of a time he didn't) chose to play the long game and go after the big fish.

I can remember times where we were hoping he'd just take the first guy who wanted to come on board, but he seemed to always know exactly where we stood and seemed content to wait and get the guy he really wanted most.

If this is a return to obliterating the recruiting trail, and it appears to be, history would suggest Cal will wait for Lively and that he probably knows he has him if he chooses to do so.


I also think that letting a kid have 8 months to realize Jon Scheyer is his other option while Kentucky has built one of the greatest classes of all time and is the talk of the sport again is probably a good thing for our chances.


But man, it'd be hard to tell a top 10 kid no when you seem to have the rest of the class locked up and could grab a guaranteed center of Bona's caliber to go along with it. I think the transfer portal makes that less of a high-wire act than it's been in the past, but it would be brutal to have a team as loaded as we should be with nobody elite at the 5.

It would also be tough to know the difference between really good and all-time good was not waiting on Lively though. 2012 looks a lot different if we grab Khem Birch instead of Anthony Davis.

 

[gossie21_rivals69805]

Something worth considering is that in the first several years here, Cal almost always (I can't think of a time he didn't) chose to play the long game and go after the big fish.

I can remember times where we were hoping he'd just take the first guy who wanted to come on board, but he seemed to always know exactly where we stood and seemed content to wait and get the guy he really wanted most.

If this is a return to obliterating the recruiting trail, and it appears to be, history would suggest Cal will wait for Lively and that he probably knows he has him if he chooses to do so.


I also think that letting a kid have 8 months to realize Jon Scheyer is his other option while Kentucky has built one of the greatest classes of all time and is the talk of the sport again is probably a good thing for our chances.


But man, it'd be hard to tell a top 10 kid no when you seem to have the rest of the class locked up and could grab a guaranteed center of Bona's caliber to go along with it. I think the transfer portal makes that less of a high-wire act than it's been in the past, but it would be brutal to have a team as loaded as we should be with nobody elite at the 5.

It would also be tough to know the difference between really good and all-time good was not waiting on Lively though. 2012 looks a lot different if we grab Khem Birch instead of Anthony Davis.

Playing the long game seemed to work out in most instances.

2010 - We signed Enes Kanter, Brandon Knight, and Terrence Jones all in the late period.

2011's class was all locked up early.

2012 - we landed Nerlens late, but lost out on Shabazz. Made a late run at Anthony Bennett but didn't get him either (there was doubt that he would be academically eligible)

2013 - Landed Julius Randle late. Lost out on Andrew Wiggins.

I didn't particularly love the waiting game. But the only time it really left us empty handed was when Shabazz audibled late. Even without Wiggins we still had James Young and the Harrison twins.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I'm still not sure why Bona and Lively are mutually exclusive. I know Livingston will probably be our small-ball 4, but why can't Livingston, Lively, and Bona split the majority of the minutes at the 4/5 positions? There's 80 minutes at those spots. Each could get 26-30 minutes/game without much of a hassle.

 

[westerncat]

I have to say I will not be disappointed if Bona commits early and wait on Lively. You just don't turn down Bona if he wants to come. Lively needs to make up is mind and not wait so long.

 

[GonzoCat90]

I'm still not sure why Bona and Lively are mutually exclusive. I know Livingston will probably be our small-ball 4, but why can't Livingston, Lively, and Bona split the majority of the minutes at the 4/5 positions? There's 80 minutes at those spots. Each could get 26-30 minutes/game without much of a hassle.

The reports seem to be that Bona’s camp thinks they’re mutually exclusive or he’d already be a Cat.

Maybe the visit changes some minds and smooths that over. Or maybe top 10 players had rather be the guy at their spot than in a timeshare.

Lively seems to want to be a 4, so Bona might help with him. But it doesn’t help with Bona. If anyone is gonna make a kid and his camp see the benefits of sharing like that, it’ll be Cal.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Staff and bona? Lol

 

[akaukswoosh]

Lively, he is a can't miss one and done.

Agree. Even if he looks like he needs another year the pros will be fighting over this kid.