Jones, Knight, and Liggins All Declare

I did not expect Liggins to declare. Should be a mid 2nd rounder, behind Lighty.

Ya im shocked abot Liggins too. I thought if he stayed he could be a first rounder next year. Oh well Kentucky loses one of their weapons.

This is good for the incoming freshmen next year…

pg – marquis teague

sg – doron lamb

sf – michael gilchrist

pf – anthony davis

c – ???

I think Davis will play C for KU. He would be a slight C but oculd probally pull it off on the College level.

This clears up the concern about who starts at Kentucky. I think Knight and Jones made the right decision, the Calipari system would break if blue-chip recruits stuck around.

Where do we think Knight and Jones will be taken? Knight could be top 5 in this draft depending on workouts, if Jones does well in workouts he’ll be top 10 again in my opinion.

Also, I assume Wiltjer will start at the C or PF position.

Kentucky new starting 5?

PG Teague

SG Lamb

SF Gilchrist

PF Miller

C Davis

Bench: Wiltjer, Vargas

 I see more this being the starting lineup:

1. Marquis Teague
2. Doron Lamb
3. Michael Gilchrist
4. Kyle Wiltjer
5. Anthony Davis

Vargas and Miller come off the bench

Gilchrist won’t want to play PF in college, it would hurt his stock if he wasn’t able to play the position he’ll be at in the NBA.

According to ESPN Trevor Lacy and Deandre Daniels are still considering Kentucky. Where would they fit in to the apparent rotation and what is the likely hood of them going to UK?

I think Kentucky is going to get Lacy, but I think Daniels is going to Duke.

I’m not all that shocked Liggins went pro. I think he could be a mid second round pick to someone like the Lakers and be developed in the NBDL. Lamb and Jones both have top 5 pick potential, mainly because this draft is weak.

Lakers won’t take Liggins, they got a stopper to replace Artest in Devin Ebanks they’ll develop for a while, but I see the point you’re making. Possibly a team like Boston, who don’t really have that defensive stopper off the bench since Tony Allen left.

Liggins is a shooting guard, Ebanks is a small forward. I think they can take Liggins and develop him as a bench role player who can shoot the 3, as well as defend. I think down the line, Ebanks could start, so you could use defensive off the bench.

 Daniels will come to UK now.  He is not going to Duke now that Murphy is 2011 eligible.  As for Liggins, word is he is now a Dad and that is why he is leaving.

I think all three players made the right decision.

Knight will be the second PG off the board behind Irving and has a chance to be a top 5 pick. If he stays around another year at UK then he would be stuck playing SG because Teague will play PG. That will only hurt his stock if he stayed.

Jones has the tools and athleticism to be a top 10 pick. Hes borderline lottery right now with the chance to move up with good workouts. I think Jones projects more as a SF in the NBA and if he were to go back to Kentucky, he would be stuck playing out of position just like Knight would be. Gilchrist is going to be the man at SF for them and Davis is going to be the man at PF (although he could play C since UK doesnt have anyone else for that). It seems like it would be a bit of a log jam if he came back and he would only hurt his stock.

As for Liggins, he would also be overshadowed by the incoming recruits. Liggins would get solid PT and could possibly better his stock by coming back but he could also hurt his stock by coming back. I think Liggins is a definite draft pick and that is too much to pass on in his position. He could be a shut down defender in the NBA. I have also heard that he is a father now but I dont know how much that affected his decision to go pro.

I hope Jones falls out of the top 10 and the Warriors pick him at 11.

He would be the perfect complement for the Warriors a 3/4 forward.

Liggins has a couple of reasons as to why he entered the draft.

1) He has a kid now and wants to provide for his family

2) There are a 2-3 NBA teams that are highly considering Liggins with their first round pick.

Obviously, there is no gaurantee here, but if Liggins can impress at this NJ group workout, then maybe he can get a promise.  His game reminds me of Tony Allen and in a weak draft like this one, that could be enough to slide into the late first round.

Also hearing Liggins has children to support. Most people projecting that he was the most likely to leave.

Knight should be gone with everyone who would have been drafted above him leaving. He’ll go real high.

I never really thought Jones would return. 3/4 in the NBA? Is he a tweener (Thornton), a guy who looks like a SF but is actually a PF (Green), or a guy versatile enough to play both (Odom)?

Anyone that has watched Gilchrist play knows he will play PF if he has too. He’s a guy who does whatever it takes to win. Also none of them have signed with a agent so its not for sure that they are gone(although i doubt Knight and Jones come back. Coach K told Liggins to test the waters, same with Jones and knight and its likely he will come back.

Knight and or Jones might come back as well if they don’t play that well in the workouts or the fact that there being a lockout could change there mind if they aren’t guaranteed to go top of the lotto

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to go do some "hood rat stuff" with my precious little grandchilren.

By all means, I know Gilchrist is capable of playing PF at the college level, and that he was used in that capacity in HS a lot, but with Wiltjer, Davis around Gilchrist would be wise to take the opportunity to work on his perimeter skills while he’s in college.

You’re right though, he would do it if coach asked him too and he thought it would help the team, he’s that sort of player.

In UK’s offense while playing PF he could still show off SF skills. If he was at say Duke or UNC then it would be different because there PF play alot down low. But in UK system you can play a different position and still show off you’re NBA position skill ( bledsoe knew he wasn’t gonna be a shooting guard in the NBA but he played it in college and went from a non draft pick to a first rounder)

 Liggins is a quality defender and possible spot up shooter. He can handle the ball a bit and has decent athleticism. Private workouts and measurements could see him sneak into the late first similar to Orton last year, but teams in the second would gladly take a gritty in your face defender like Liggins. Actually, size and versatility are the Lakers calling card, with his ability to potentially guard 1-3 would be sugar on top for an LA team lacking size at the guard positions aside from Bryant.