You Are the Top HS Prospect: Would You Go To Kentucky?
Personally, I would not want to go to UK. Call me selfish, but I would want to be "The Guy" or maybe have one other great teammate. Being from the Indianapolis area, I would probably go to Missouri. Close to home, good journalism program so I can become a sports writer if the whole basketball thing doesn't work out.
I would also stay in school all four years. I love college basketball and I would want four shots at the NCAA Tournament. My family is in no immediate financial need and I would want my degree and the whole college experience, so I would be in no hurry to go pro.
You just said if you are the "number one prospect in HS". I doubt that journalism program is going to be necessary and I'm sure the whole basketball not working out would not be a factor if you were the #1 recruit. No matter what happens, injury or anything, I am sure you would still be able to atleast make a living playing basketball somewhere. Look at Greg Oden, he is set for life even if he never plays again as long as he doesn't pull an Antoine. Also I think that your whole 4 year plan would change very fast when you see that you can be a top 5 pick. If you are the #1 prospect, I doubt you are staying four years.
But anyways, beside me a being a dick, I agree with you. Kentucky is up there for my favorite teams, but I still wouldn't want to go there. I feel as if that is just too easy. I would want to take the path less traveled and go to a small school as well. Could you imagine if KD went to North Texas? 40ppg? One last year of scoring at will before you have to be a team player and can't physically dominate EVERYONE.
I would also love to single-handedly take my team on a tournament run. I think it kind of takes away from the success when you have like 7 McDonalds all-americans. It is kind of like you have to win, and are expected to. If you do here is a pat on the back, if you don't here is criticism.
I'd go to UCLA or PITT.
UCLA-
Bball, Beaches, Beeches, Cali kush, Ben Howland, track record of success sending successful guards to the NBA (im a guard), sunny weather, national scene.
PITT- (biased soon-2-be alma mater)
Bball, bomb threats, Iron City beer, blue-collar, Jamie Dixon is the man and will make me a better player, horrible weather will make me focus on the gym and bball, the 3 rivers, teammates who play D, face Duke atleast 2x per year, Petersen Events Center, great fans.
If I was the clear top guy in my year and likely to be a one and done guy then I'd have to go to Kentucky as in recent years Coach Cal has been the best groomer of one and done prospects by a mile. I'd want to know who else they would put around me in the team but if you were the top player in your year, once you signed then other top players would surely want in.
If not Kentucky then I'd look at Duke, Baylor, Kansas etc.
of course! Kentucky would be like my first option, why?
#1 I will be the "Man" on campus
#2 It's Kentucky with Calipari lol, he will prepare me and get me to the NBA and I know if Im as good as advertised, I know Cal will coach me to be better that what some expected
#3 Im sure Cal recruited well, so we should have a team that can possibly make it to the final 4 or even win it
#4 Connection with other great players and oh yeah, It's Kentucky! (who cares if the wins are vacated later on lol)
AND IF NOT KENTUCKY THEN UNC....REALLY I GET THE SAME THING THERE :)
even tho i dislike ben howland id still go to ucla, why? you have nba players 2 months in a year playing pickups with you so you can only get better, tradition, easy girls, beautiful girls,girls from all over the world,girls,girls,girls... i prefer nike over adidas but still ucla is the place to be,
if you are really really good i don´t think it makes a big difference where you go. but i would still go to UK just because it seems like the easiest route to the NBA and that is where everybody wants to go....
Second options would be St. John´s and USC but that are just personal preferences
He doesnt have to worry about playing time. Lamb wont cut into any of his playing time. Bazz will play SF which is going to be open at UK since MKG is going to go pro. He will get major minutes where ever he goes and start. He should really decide on which coach he has the best relationship with, which teammates he wants to play with, and the team that gives him the best chance to win.
Two top 15 recruits are at the wing positions for Kentucky in Poythress and Goodwin. They wont start over Shabbazz but they will command some playing time. I think he goes to UCLA him and Anderson would be nice together. I feel like if he went to Duke he would have an underwelming year.
Nerlens to Kentucky most likely. Syracuse dark horse.
I was going to tell Johnny Chill what Hadzialijagic did. I don't get how everyone fails to mention Goodwin and Poythress when mentioning next years Kentucky team. Maybe they aren't as good as Muhammad but they are still damn good and definitley will cut into his playing time. With that said, I am a Kentucky fan and want Muhammad to come. Coach Cal will be able to distribute the playing time like he did this year and it shouldn't be a problem. He might not get 38 mins a game, but he will still def. get 30 and be on National TV like every single game.
Kentucky no doubt about it you could win a national title or a big run in the tourny for the one year you will be there. but for my personal preference i would want to go to a school that is known for really gorgeous girls ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SUN DEVILS!! That school has by far the biggest party sence in college eveyday is partying! If you were a 1 and done in that school and the girls know your the #1 pick they would be lining up outside your room to bed with you! I have seen the girls there and the parties no school can top it! So for a few months i would play basketball in the Pac 12 (good competion) and i would be partying at the biggest party school and be getting laid by the hottest college in the world!
Other schools i would consider: Baylor, University of Miami, USC,Florida,Uconn,Providence,St Johns,FIU,Umass
UK would be on my list but it wouldn't be a given. Maybe I want to be the guy, at UK you aren't going to be the guy you are going to be part of a system and most nights you won't put up great stats. In the end I would probably pick UK because you are either go as high as you are projected coming out of H.S or higher, plus you will learn how to play in the NBA since you will be surrounded by talented teammates who can score just like you which will be e case when you get to the NBA
UNC would be pretty tempting for me. UK, and Florida would be pretty close too. Beautiful weather, beautiful girls, great programs that consistantly win, excellent coaching and elite conferences for me to hone my game, can't ask for much more.
I would go to howard im guranteed to be the best player to ever play there if i lead them to the tournament my stock willshoot through the roof. also thats one of the top hbcus and they are historically bad so all the credit for winning would go to me. It would be like Stephen Curry at davidson. As we all know nba scouts travel and if your the number one prospect your guranteed a first round slot. Also your gonna play the whole game and their is no question who the man on the team is.
Kentucky eaaasy, because the showcase a player's talent correctly. If you go to a place like UNC Roy would hold you back and make you play in the concept of the team. Imagine had McAdoo went to UK instead of UNC we would be talking UK having the top 3 picks
But only other school I'd consider is Arizona State because they have the baddest women in the country...don't believe me? Go visit. I didn't wanna leave!
Here's the scenario: You are the consensus best HS player in the nation and can play wherever you want to. All the starters from last year's team arge graduating and/or going pro, so, if you go to UK, you start from Day One and become The Guy.
There are obviously benefits in going to play for John Calipari. Would you choose to go to UK and be a part of that one-and-done culture or would you go somehwere else? If not UK, then where? And would you choose to be one-and-done?