[Stop_basketball_nonsenseParticipant]

 So Kentucky gets monk over Arkansas, and have solidified their retooling of their backcourt for the 2016-2017 season, and I wrote this post quicker than my mchale post, which was posted as I was writing mine. 

[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

This might be Coach Calipari most athletic recruiting class ever and is the best backcourt he ever had (including John Wall and Eric Bledsoe). I was very shocked they got Bam Adebayo because I thought he was a North Carolina State lock and him and Dennis Smith are so close. 

I like this class more than the Julius Randle and James Young class because I never really liked the Harrison Twins. They weren’t quick enough to get over PnR and Aaron Harrison was a shooter that couldn’t shoot. I had that opinion on them since high school when I watched  both of them play. In this class I can say that I love all the players from Malik Monk to Wenyen Gabriel. 

In my opinion Kentucky just picked up the top 2 point guards in the country with Malik Monk(1) and De’Aaron Fox(2), a very athletic big in Bam Adebayo, a very skilled big in Sacha Killeya-Jones, and a versitle wing with tons of potential in Wenyen Gabriel. This might also be the most complete class Cal put together at Kentucky. 

Next year team can be great because they should be returning some talent. I believe Marcus Lee, Skal Labbissiere, Jamal Murray, Isaiah Briscoe, and Tyler Ulis all go. So that still leaves Charles Matthews, Isaac Humphris, and Tai Wynyard. That team will be elite.

I won’t call this team the best in the country because I really like this UCLA team that will have lots of shooter, creaters, and a big time freshman point guard that might be the best college point guard in the 2016 recruiting class in Lonzo Ball. You have this Michigan State team with most of their players coming back and to back it up with a balance/great recruiting class with the potential to get Josh Jackson. And you still have teams like Duke, Gonzaga, North Carolina, Florida State, and Maryland.

The 2016-17 college basketball season should be great 

 

 

 

 

[trelos6Participant]

I also can’t wait for this season.

A key factor will be the power of upperclassmen.  As we saw from the Duke v Kentucky game, and also Wisconsin last season, upperclassmen are big, strong, and are usually a little more refined.

It will be interesting to see where Josh Jackson ends up.  

 

 

  

[trelos6Participant]

I also can’t wait for this season.

A key factor will be the power of upperclassmen.  As we saw from the Duke v Kentucky game, and also Wisconsin last season, upperclassmen are big, strong, and are usually a little more refined.

It will be interesting to see where Josh Jackson ends up.  

 

 

  

[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

This might be Coach Calipari most athletic recruiting class ever and is the best backcourt he ever had (including John Wall and Eric Bledsoe). I was very shocked they got Bam Adebayo because I thought he was a North Carolina State lock and him and Dennis Smith are so close. 

I like this class more than the Julius Randle and James Young class because I never really liked the Harrison Twins. They weren’t quick enough to get over PnR and Aaron Harrison was a shooter that couldn’t shoot. I had that opinion on them since high school when I watched  both of them play. In this class I can say that I love all the players from Malik Monk to Wenyen Gabriel. 

In my opinion Kentucky just picked up the top 2 point guards in the country with Malik Monk(1) and De’Aaron Fox(2), a very athletic big in Bam Adebayo, a very skilled big in Sacha Killeya-Jones, and a versitle wing with tons of potential in Wenyen Gabriel. This might also be the most complete class Cal put together at Kentucky. 

Next year team can be great because they should be returning some talent. I believe Marcus Lee, Skal Labbissiere, Jamal Murray, Isaiah Briscoe, and Tyler Ulis all go. So that still leaves Charles Matthews, Isaac Humphris, and Tai Wynyard. That team will be elite.

I won’t call this team the best in the country because I really like this UCLA team that will have lots of shooter, creaters, and a big time freshman point guard that might be the best college point guard in the 2016 recruiting class in Lonzo Ball. You have this Michigan State team with most of their players coming back and to back it up with a balance/great recruiting class with the potential to get Josh Jackson. And you still have teams like Duke, Gonzaga, North Carolina, Florida State, and Maryland.

The 2016-17 college basketball season should be great 

 

 

 

 

[ChrispyParticipant]

 I have said it before, but I will say it again. Malik Monk is the best pro prospect in this class. He is an elite athlete, an awesome shooter, a breakdown 1 on 1 player and he locks down on D. He can play either position in the pros and has a really high ceiling… Possibly a better shooting Westbrook (as a comp, not necessarily that he’ll get there). I love this kid and before I moved to Guatemala had several opportunities to see him live. Nice kid, too, and very intelligent. That can ony hep.

[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

 Agree w/ everything. He have it all, he can shoot the ball, finish, improve handle and passing, and might be the most athletic player in the class

[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

 Agree w/ everything. He have it all, he can shoot the ball, finish, improve handle and passing, and might be the most athletic player in the class

[whiteflashParticipant]

 He’s nowhere near the athlete Westbrook is. I actually see a lot of Gilbert Arenas in his game. Don’t think he’ll ever be a pg, doesn’t have the natural feel for the position. Do think he pans out as a hell of a combo though. Kid’s a natural born scorer.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 He’s nowhere near the athlete Westbrook is. I actually see a lot of Gilbert Arenas in his game. Don’t think he’ll ever be a pg, doesn’t have the natural feel for the position. Do think he pans out as a hell of a combo though. Kid’s a natural born scorer.

[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

 You didn’t watch him play this summer if you don’t believe he can’t be a point guard. And I would bank on it that he’s a better athlete than Westbrook at this age and stage of their development. 

[whiteflashParticipant]

 Actually, I watched him quite a bit. I coach at a school here in Houston and work with some AAU teams during the summers. Have seen him play up close a few times, and he’s no pg. Not saying he can’t pass, just saying he’s not a natural distributor. Honestly, I don’t care if they’re comparable in high school. Athleticism isn’t linear. Monk almost never gets dunks in traffic,  it’s all on the break. In high school. Westbrook is arguably the most explosive dude in the league, getting monster dunks in the halfcourt set against NBA defenses and the best athletes in the world. Let’s calm down on the over the top comparisons for now.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 Actually, I watched him quite a bit. I coach at a school here in Houston and work with some AAU teams during the summers. Have seen him play up close a few times, and he’s no pg. Not saying he can’t pass, just saying he’s not a natural distributor. Honestly, I don’t care if they’re comparable in high school. Athleticism isn’t linear. Monk almost never gets dunks in traffic,  it’s all on the break. In high school. Westbrook is arguably the most explosive dude in the league, getting monster dunks in the halfcourt set against NBA defenses and the best athletes in the world. Let’s calm down on the over the top comparisons for now.

[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

 You didn’t watch him play this summer if you don’t believe he can’t be a point guard. And I would bank on it that he’s a better athlete than Westbrook at this age and stage of their development. 

[ChrispyParticipant]

 I have said it before, but I will say it again. Malik Monk is the best pro prospect in this class. He is an elite athlete, an awesome shooter, a breakdown 1 on 1 player and he locks down on D. He can play either position in the pros and has a really high ceiling… Possibly a better shooting Westbrook (as a comp, not necessarily that he’ll get there). I love this kid and before I moved to Guatemala had several opportunities to see him live. Nice kid, too, and very intelligent. That can ony hep.

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

 And just when people were ready to crown Coach K… Cal with the W, and another win in recruiting. Fox and Monk backcourt is going to be fun to watch.

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

 And just when people were ready to crown Coach K… Cal with the W, and another win in recruiting. Fox and Monk backcourt is going to be fun to watch.

[ncballer]

 It’s been one hell of a week for Kentucky.  

[ncballer]

 It’s been one hell of a week for Kentucky.  

[natevalParticipant]

 What’s Gabriel’s role? Will he start? Is he a one and done guy? Next year’s team is going to be loaded

[natevalParticipant]

 What’s Gabriel’s role? Will he start? Is he a one and done guy? Next year’s team is going to be loaded

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

Well, it’ll depend if Ulis stays or not. As long as Ulis is there, they’ll just replicate the three guard lineups like they’re doing this season with Ulis, Briscoe and Murray and it’ll probably work better with Fox and Monk since Monk can be a better strong-guard against forwards than Murray or Briscoe can.

In that line-up with that perimeter though, they’ll need to have a consistant floor-spacer at the four since Fox can’t really do it, Monk is solid but needs to be just a tad bit more consistant and we’ll see if Ulis is a hands down legit +40% shooter in his second season. At this point, Killeya-Jones might be more consistant as a floor spacer but he’s more in the mid-range area than the three-point line, which Gabriel has more upside with his range, just isn’t polished yet.

Nevertheless, Gabriel might be a better starting four than Killeya-Jones if he has that range down because he’s also a brillant rebounder, which you can’t say for with Killeya-Jones at all. Kentucky’s best offense might just be let the three guards drive and if they miss, Gabriel and Adebayo will be there for the putback. That’s why they call it the dribble-drive offense. Then, on defense, they’ll just murder everyone since Gabriel is again better than Killeya-Jones at that end.

To me, he’s a like a crazy motor version of Chris Walker. He’s not a three, nor do I think he’ll ever develop into one but just a skinny frame too and he’s a year old for his class. He could be a one-and-done guy but probably just not at the top of the draft.

For a time, I was worried that Calipari might have his first class without a one-and-done lottery big man. Cousins in 2010, Kanter in 2011, Davis in 2012, Noel in 2013, Randle in 2014, Towns and Lyles in 2015 and presumably Labissiere in 2016 and maybe Adebayo in 2017. Adebayo isn’t a for sure top lottery pick but the lack of athletic bigs in 2017 will probably keep him on mocks and big boards.

My dream scenerio was that Calipari whiffed on the top-tier bigs this recruiting year and tapped DeAndre Ayton to reclassify but that isn’t going to happen. That would’ve the 2017 NBA Draft a god-level draft class!

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

Well, it’ll depend if Ulis stays or not. As long as Ulis is there, they’ll just replicate the three guard lineups like they’re doing this season with Ulis, Briscoe and Murray and it’ll probably work better with Fox and Monk since Monk can be a better strong-guard against forwards than Murray or Briscoe can.

In that line-up with that perimeter though, they’ll need to have a consistant floor-spacer at the four since Fox can’t really do it, Monk is solid but needs to be just a tad bit more consistant and we’ll see if Ulis is a hands down legit +40% shooter in his second season. At this point, Killeya-Jones might be more consistant as a floor spacer but he’s more in the mid-range area than the three-point line, which Gabriel has more upside with his range, just isn’t polished yet.

Nevertheless, Gabriel might be a better starting four than Killeya-Jones if he has that range down because he’s also a brillant rebounder, which you can’t say for with Killeya-Jones at all. Kentucky’s best offense might just be let the three guards drive and if they miss, Gabriel and Adebayo will be there for the putback. That’s why they call it the dribble-drive offense. Then, on defense, they’ll just murder everyone since Gabriel is again better than Killeya-Jones at that end.

To me, he’s a like a crazy motor version of Chris Walker. He’s not a three, nor do I think he’ll ever develop into one but just a skinny frame too and he’s a year old for his class. He could be a one-and-done guy but probably just not at the top of the draft.

For a time, I was worried that Calipari might have his first class without a one-and-done lottery big man. Cousins in 2010, Kanter in 2011, Davis in 2012, Noel in 2013, Randle in 2014, Towns and Lyles in 2015 and presumably Labissiere in 2016 and maybe Adebayo in 2017. Adebayo isn’t a for sure top lottery pick but the lack of athletic bigs in 2017 will probably keep him on mocks and big boards.

My dream scenerio was that Calipari whiffed on the top-tier bigs this recruiting year and tapped DeAndre Ayton to reclassify but that isn’t going to happen. That would’ve the 2017 NBA Draft a god-level draft class!

[YungmUNyParticipant]

It looks like next year will be another year with a Kentucky roster that only has one rotation player from the state of Kentucky (just like Duke only has one rotation player from the state of North Carolina).

I really wanted to see him go to Arkansas and Bam go to NC St., simply for the sake of parity in college basketball.
 

 

 

[YungmUNyParticipant]

It looks like next year will be another year with a Kentucky roster that only has one rotation player from the state of Kentucky (just like Duke only has one rotation player from the state of North Carolina).

I really wanted to see him go to Arkansas and Bam go to NC St., simply for the sake of parity in college basketball.
 

 

 

[WrecklessParticipant]

Think it’ll be something like:
PG: Fox/Hawkins
SG: Monk/Mulder/
SF: Gabriel/Matthews/
PF: Willis/Killeya-Jones/Wynyard
C: Adebayo/Humphries/

Thats if Briscoe,Ulis, and Murray leave which I think is possible. Lee could also stay and they also have the shooter in Mulder. Stacked team.

[WrecklessParticipant]

Think it’ll be something like:
PG: Fox/Hawkins
SG: Monk/Mulder/
SF: Gabriel/Matthews/
PF: Willis/Killeya-Jones/Wynyard
C: Adebayo/Humphries/

Thats if Briscoe,Ulis, and Murray leave which I think is possible. Lee could also stay and they also have the shooter in Mulder. Stacked team.

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Why would Tyler Ullis leave?? haha, hes a 4 year college player

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Why would Tyler Ullis leave?? haha, hes a 4 year college player

[WrecklessParticipant]

Are you saying he’s a 4 year college player? That’s your opinion? Just saying its possible. The kid is going to be looked at by scouts and probably get a chance in the second round. DX has him #38 in 2016 and a couple of guys from ESPN said they wouldn’t be surprised if he left early.

[WrecklessParticipant]

Are you saying he’s a 4 year college player? That’s your opinion? Just saying its possible. The kid is going to be looked at by scouts and probably get a chance in the second round. DX has him #38 in 2016 and a couple of guys from ESPN said they wouldn’t be surprised if he left early.

[Ballboy HypeParticipant]

Ulis will be around for another year because physically he is just not ready for the NBA. He needs to add a fex extra pounds and have to solidify himself as a pickpocket defender. Offensively Ulis has a solid jumpshot but would have a difficult time shooting over defenders in the NBA and he is not the most athletic guard.

Visit Ballboyhype.com

Twitter: @ballboyhype 

[Ballboy HypeParticipant]

Ulis will be around for another year because physically he is just not ready for the NBA. He needs to add a fex extra pounds and have to solidify himself as a pickpocket defender. Offensively Ulis has a solid jumpshot but would have a difficult time shooting over defenders in the NBA and he is not the most athletic guard.

Visit Ballboyhype.com

Twitter: @ballboyhype 

[ncballer]

 Just because he has weaknesses does not mean he won’t enter.  If he continues his play, I doubt his stock rises anymore than this season.  We have seen this plenty with other prospects who aren’t ready for the jump yet make it due to themselves reaching their respective draft stock ceilings.

[ncballer]

 Just because he has weaknesses does not mean he won’t enter.  If he continues his play, I doubt his stock rises anymore than this season.  We have seen this plenty with other prospects who aren’t ready for the jump yet make it due to themselves reaching their respective draft stock ceilings.

[JordanC20Participant]

Every guy I wanted UK to get they got I am way over excited for next year. Being a UK fan could never be better it is a blessing honestly.

[JordanC20Participant]

Every guy I wanted UK to get they got I am way over excited for next year. Being a UK fan could never be better it is a blessing honestly.

[losnopesosParticipant]

Cal has been on an absolute roll lately.  He’s got next 2017 team locked up, a super fun athletic team this year and, outside of not benching the Harrisons in the 15 title game, nearly flawless.  

[losnopesosParticipant]

Cal has been on an absolute roll lately.  He’s got next 2017 team locked up, a super fun athletic team this year and, outside of not benching the Harrisons in the 15 title game, nearly flawless.  

[Author]

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