[akhan786Participant]

NBA scout says Kentucky system hides flaws in players

Published June 11, 2012

By LARRY VAUGHT

While Kentucky coach John Calipari has had great success putting players into the NBA draft — and should have six more picked later this month — at least one NBA scout says perception is not always reality.

“The interesting thing, and its not a knock, but there is this Kentucky mystique that Calipari has done a great job creating and perpetuating.  The best part about Kentucky’s system is that can hide so many flaws at first glance,” the scout, who asked not to be identified because his team could draft a UK player, said.

Like what?

” MKG (Michael Kidd-Gilchrist)is a good defensive player, but he isn’t as good as people believe.  Having (Anthony) Davis camped around the rim allowed players to play defense in a way which minimized their weaknesses,” the scout said.

More?

“The threat of the lob made  (Marquis) Teague out to be a better point guard than he really is,” the scout said.

But wait. There’s more.

“In reality, the Kentucky system is smoke and mirrors.  I remember being out in Vegas  for a Summer League and I was sitting and watching games with a long-time Director of Scouting in the league.  He said he was stunned at how unprepared Kentucky players were for the NBA, and he had drafted one of them,” the scout said.

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What do you guys think is the better way for the development of the player?

I thought the last paragraph was particularly interesting. Thoughts?

[surveParticipant]

 This is what we are talking about with the Davis hype.  Not that these players arent good, but other players are just as prepared if not more than they are.  Some of these guys at UK wont pan out.  You are just stockpiling a team with top 30 players and dominating lesser competition…..then after a year or two they are gone.  Dont base everything off of college play.  Look at John Wall.  Great player, but not nearly as prepared for the NBA as he looked at UK.  I am not knocking them, I love these players, and Wall is a personal favorite….but the hype is overblown comparing Davis to KG and saying Wall will be better than Rose his first year in the league.  Let them get in the league first and learn the ropes.

[ReactionParticipant]

 I mean it just proves that Calipari is a good coach. If he is able to disguise his team that well and win a championship then it just proves that. I still think the players are quality players.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 So far Kentucky players of the Calipari era have looked good in the league.  John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Eric Bledsoe have all looked good.  Josh Harrelson has exceeded expectations, and Brandon Knight and Patrick Patterson have shown flashes.  Other Calipari products, such as Marcus Camby, Derrick Rose, and Tyreke Evans have looked good also. 

Kentucky’s system may help hide players’ weaknesses, but it also helps them by giving them complementary roles that they are more likely to play in the NBA.  Players are asked to play within the offense in a manner that is relatively easy to project to the NBA.

[TomShoeParticipant]

 Players that come from Kentucky may inevitably have weaknesses, but they successfully hide them behind a wall of pure, unadulterated, raw talent. More talent that a mid-major could scrounge up in 10 years. One player’s strength covers another’s weaknesses.

Example: 2012 Kentucky Wildcats. When a fast opponent, say, Tyshawn Taylor, beats a slow-footed PG off the dribble, this happens.

Lol. Looks pretty frustrating to be Kansas right now, doesn’t it?

[akhan786Participant]

^^^That’s just unfair lol

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Cousins, Wall, Bledsoe, Patterson, Knight, Rose, and Tyreke Evans counter that article.

[SubZeroParticipant]

Kentucky System? Sounds more like the Anthony Davis system to me lol

[dolla130Participant]

in all honesty the only players that counter that article is rose and camby, everyone else is either avg or underachieving

[akhan786Participant]

I think maybe the scout was trying to say that Calipari pretty much never really made those top 10 players better…he just made sure not to mess them up.

Those players you listed are essentially the same players they were in highschool…except for maybe D Rose because of his self instilled work ethic.

He doesn’t try to challenge them to work on their short comings while in college. I mean that might make them get drafted higher…but it might retard their growth as players.

[Doug25Participant]

 Doesnt that just make the "Kentucky System" a good one though?  A good system should be able to hide the flaws of its players in order to succeed.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

 Good system for their sucess, but definitely not an ideal scenario for scouting. Some of this players might be taken higher than they should because of this.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 Not all top prospects succeed.  The high school top recruits who have gone to Kentucky have done better than expected.  They obviously do a great job recruiting and it is certainly an advantage to basically pick from the top high school talent, but give them some credit for turning high school recruits into NBA prospects who generally succeed in the NBA.  I really doubt that Kentucky’s players are truly less prepared for the NBA than players from other schools who often played outsized roles in college with inferior teammates and less national attention and pressure.

[Author]

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