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Question, which players leave after season?

  • Just curious, which UK players do you expect to head to the NBA after this season? How many players need to leave in order to make space for next years recruiting class?

    GiantMovngSlorg

  • IMO...

    NBA: Noel and Alex

    50/50 NBA: Goodwin

    Likely to return: Big Willy

    100% Return: Harrow and Kyle

    Graduate: Mays

    This post was edited by Big Sarge on 12/31/2012 at 11:44 AM

    signature image

    Big Sarge

  • GiantMovngSlorg said...

    Just curious, which UK players do you expect to head to the NBA after this season? How many players need to leave in order to make space for next years recruiting class?

    To answer the final question 1st it is zero players have to leave. There are plenty of scholarships available since Mayes will be gone through graduation. Now the part as to who will leave for the NBA, 1st Noel, then WCS, then Goodwin(he wont stick around with Aaron Harrison coming), then Poythress(he will find his game and will go in the teens to mid 20s), and finally Harrow, yes Harrow b/c he has improved steadily over the past 3 weeks and with continued improvement and Andrew Harrison coming in he will bolt to the NBA. So thats who I think will go but 3 or 4 could stay and Cal still have plenty of scholarships to go around next year. Just IMO though Wiltjer will be a certain returnee with WCS a possible return but I still think with the lean draft coming up he may want to take advantage of that and remember they draft a lot on potential not just the stats they had in their college careers.

    This post was edited by sleepydog on 12/31/2012 at 12:40 PM

    sleepydog

  • sleepydog said...

    To answer the final question 1st it is zero players have to leave. There are plenty of scholarships available since Mayes will be gone through graduation. Now the part as to who will leave for the NBA, 1st Noel, then WCS, then Goodwin(he wont stick around with Aaron Harrison coming), then Poythress(he will find his game and will go in the teens to mid 20s), and finally Harrow, yes Harrow b/c he has improved steadily over the past 3 weeks and with continued improvement and Andrew Harrison coming in he will bolt to the NBA. So thats who I think will go but 3 or 4 could stay and Cal still have plenty of scholarships to go around next year. Just IMO though Wiltjer will be a certain returnee with WCS a possible return but I still think with the lean draft coming up he may want to take advantage of that and remember they draft a lot on potential not just the stats they had in their college careers.

    That says it all.

    poliglotcat

  • Based on what I've seen so far, I would say only Noel. Possibly WCS, but, probably just Nerlins. Just my opinion. We've got a lot of time for things to change, though.

    ukblueforever

  • Noel, Poythress and Goodwin will opt for the draft. I suspect at least one of Harrow/Cauley-Stein will as well. I really have no idea what Wiltjer will decide to do.

    signature image

    Follow me on Twitter: '@TCPMattMay'

    Matt May

  • Would be an upset of epic proportions if ANY of the freshmen returned. According to experts, this is the weakest draft in the last 15 years. All of UK's frosh have the potential to end up in the lottery. WCS's stock is going to do nothing but rise over the next 3 months.

    MinterWonderlnd ●

  • The players choosing to leave better think long and hard about it. Several that have left early aren't setting the NBA world on fire and these guys so far aren't even setting the NCAA on fire. I just hope they realize it is OK to stay and get better!!! I just find it assanine that people have Poythress as a top pick and he can't even go coast to coast with the ball without turning it over, but hey what do I know.

    jefferc

  • jmo, Poythress stays. education

    We arent Louisville. We dont need to make space for next years recruiting class.

    Big Tymer

  • Matt May said...

    Noel, Poythress and Goodwin will opt for the draft. I suspect at least one of Harrow/Cauley-Stein will as well. I really have no idea what Wiltjer will decide to do.

    Matt you hit the nail on the head. Noel for sure, and even with Alex and Archie not playing like Lamb or MKG, potentially they both are very talented and still have time to show it. If I am Willie I take the bird in the hand if the NBA calls me in the first round because honestly after a couple of years if it doesn't pan out, he could probably get a chance with the NFL. Harrow, will be interesting to see, he knows WHO is coming next year so if there is ANY chance that he could get a shot, he should do it because NOT playing very much next year could kill his draft chances.

    UKlaw82

  • Noel and Goodwin.

    shepp2700

  • jefferc said...

    The players choosing to leave better think long and hard about it. Several that have left early aren't setting the NBA world on fire and these guys so far aren't even setting the NCAA on fire. I just hope they realize it is OK to stay and get better!!! I just find it assanine that people have Poythress as a top pick and he can't even go coast to coast with the ball without turning it over, but hey what do I know.

    Here's what a coach, who was later a scout for a pro team told me years ago about early entrants to the NBA. He said people forget that one, the money is overwhelming to these kids and their families, and second, practicing against the BEST players in the nation everyday can not be compared to a kid staying in college and playing against college type athletes, its day and night on how they improve with the pros. I would like to see them stay too, but its not hard to understand the reasons that they leave.

    This post was edited by UKlaw82 on 12/31/2012 at 3:30 PM

    UKlaw82

  • jefferc said...

    The players choosing to leave better think long and hard about it. Several that have left early aren't setting the NBA world on fire and these guys so far aren't even setting the NCAA on fire. I just hope they realize it is OK to stay and get better!!! I just find it assanine that people have Poythress as a top pick and he can't even go coast to coast with the ball without turning it over, but hey what do I know.

    I agree that these guys need to think it over carefully even if this years draft is going to be lean. Like you said some of the guys arent doing much yet that left last year but that could change for them and hope that it does. I just cant see Harrow, if he keeps on improving, sticking around and coming off the bench b/c that PG spot is all Andrew Harrisons'. To me it would make some of this years freshmen so much better if they choose to come back but again if they do who would get the minutes the great players of 2013 or the returning starters of 2012? I know it depends on who earns the minutes but with that many talented players there are just so many minutes to go around and keep people happy. Poyhress to me is the biggest question mark. If he does listen to Cal and gets that mental stuff worked out he will be a lottery pick no doubt, if he doesnt he will be a 2nd rounder.

    sleepydog

  • sleepydog said...

    I agree that these guys need to think it over carefully even if this years draft is going to be lean. Like you said some of the guys arent doing much yet that left last year but that could change for them and hope that it does. I just cant see Harrow, if he keeps on improving, sticking around and coming off the bench b/c that PG spot is all Andrew Harrisons'. To me it would make some of this years freshmen so much better if they choose to come back but again if they do who would get the minutes the great players of 2013 or the returning starters of 2012? I know it depends on who earns the minutes but with that many talented players there are just so many minutes to go around and keep people happy. Poyhress to me is the biggest question mark. If he does listen to Cal and gets that mental stuff worked out he will be a lottery pick no doubt, if he doesnt he will be a 2nd rounder.

    If WCS returns (and/or AP) and we add a couple of bigs like Johnson or Randle, I could see Wiltjer considering a transfer. Not trying to run off Kyle by any means, just saying that he's not able to defend at the level Cal demands and if the inside talent increases, he might consider another system. Following the Soph season is an ideal time if someone is to transfer.

    bluedynasty

  • bluedynasty said...

    If WCS returns (and/or AP) and we add a couple of bigs like Johnson or Randle, I could see Wiltjer considering a transfer. Not trying to run off Kyle by any means, just saying that he's not able to defend at the level Cal demands and if the inside talent increases, he might consider another system. Following the Soph season is an ideal time if someone is to transfer.

    That could happen but Kyle has a gift that is wanted by the pros, so if Kyle believes that CAL can improve him more, I think he stays. Besides if he stays four years, just playing for Kentucky and hitting 3's will keep his name out there as a possible high draft choice, especially if we can get back to the Final Four again before he leaves. I can see him being like Miller coming off the bench.

    This post was edited by UKlaw82 on 12/31/2012 at 3:54 PM

    UKlaw82

  • About Kyle transferring it is a possibility considering the perimeter talent coming in next year and if you add Wiggins and any of the other 3 that Cal is still after where will Kyle get his minutes. There will be 4 quality freshman that can drain the 3 if Wiggins commits so that takes a huge chunk out of Wiltjers minutes he is getting this year. I want him to stay b/c I like the kid and he can shoot the 3 but is a big defensive liability. So I can see both sides of the coin of whether he will transfer or not.

    sleepydog

  • Kyle will get some mins regardless of what happens with who comes in next season. Obviously it might not be as many as he would like, but Kyle has a skill set on offense that has to be utilized. And like someone said earlier could be a leader like Darius was during his jr and sr years. Kyle will not transfer and should not even have to consider it.

    DRPfor3

  • He's not gonna transfer. Under Cal its been proven that you don't have to play huge minutes to get noticed by the NBA which is all these kids ultimately want. Kyle is a specialty player. He'll be playing the exact role at UK next year that he'll be playing in the NBA for year to come. Off the bench shooter/skilled big man. He just needs to work hard on his post game and strength which will help his rebounding and defense.

    tWhit ●

  • Don't we have this argument every year about this time where everyone comes up with excuses for certain players to stay?

    Here's what we thought at the beginning of the year:

    -Noel, AP, Goodwin gone for sure
    -WCS, Harrow and Wiltjer possibly

    I'll be dumbfounded if any of that changes throughout the year. We've been through this three years so far and how many surprises have stayed an extra year?

    None.

    How many have we tried to convince ourselves were coming back?

    -Cousins loved being in college
    -Bledsoe may not be ready
    -Orton didn't even start
    -Knight was going to finish school
    -MKG loved college
    -Lamb wouldn't go first round
    -Teague could shoot up draft board with an extra year of PG under Cal

    All left. Prepare to say good bye. It's how it works now. Enjoy the Final Fours and Championship. They are much better than the alternative.

    kaocats

  • DRPfor3 said...

    Kyle will get some mins regardless of what happens with who comes in next season. Obviously it might not be as many as he would like, but Kyle has a skill set on offense that has to be utilized. And like someone said earlier could be a leader like Darius was during his jr and sr years. Kyle will not transfer and should not even have to consider it.

    Your right of course Kyle could be a Darius Miller kind of bench player and would prove valuable. I know I didnt say he would leave or stay just that I could see both sides of the coin and there are reasons to make for whether he stays or goes. Personally I hope he stays b/c he could help a team with a bunch of freshmen like Patterson and Miller did.Depending on how many players Cal gets in the spring its going to be the largest freshman class so far for Cal and he could use Kyle a great deal.

    sleepydog

  • kaocats said...

    Don't we have this argument every year about this time where everyone comes up with excuses for certain players to stay?

    Here's what we thought at the beginning of the year:

    -Noel, AP, Goodwin gone for sure -WCS, Harrow and Wiltjer possibly

    I'll be dumbfounded if any of that changes throughout the year. We've been through this three years so far and how many surprises have stayed an extra year?

    None.

    How many have we tried to convince ourselves were coming back?

    -Cousins loved being in college -Bledsoe may not be ready -Orton didn't even start -Knight was going to finish school -MKG loved college -Lamb wouldn't go first round -Teague could shoot up draft board with an extra year of PG under Cal

    All left. Prepare to say good bye. It's how it works now. Enjoy the Final Fours and Championship. They are much better than the alternative.

    HA HA. So true. I'm still trying to convince myself that WCS will be back although he probably won't now that he's starting to really come into into his own. I'm really not sure if Wiltjer will be good enough after this year however.

    This post has been edited 2 times, most recently by tWhit on 1/1/2013 at 9:34 PM

    tWhit ●

  • Here's how it goes: Noel's already out the door, Poythress extremely likely, Goodwin extremely likely, Harrow is on the border of very likely, but not quite there, and Cauley-Stein I'd say will probably leave. Wiltjer has no choice but to come back however to be honest. But I just find it hard to believe Harrow would come back and take the risk of playing behind Andrew Harrison. It's just not going to happen.

    UKDUDE2

  • kaocats said...

    Don't we have this argument every year about this time where everyone comes up with excuses for certain players to stay?

    Here's what we thought at the beginning of the year:

    -Noel, AP, Goodwin gone for sure -WCS, Harrow and Wiltjer possibly

    I'll be dumbfounded if any of that changes throughout the year. We've been through this three years so far and how many surprises have stayed an extra year?

    None.

    How many have we tried to convince ourselves were coming back?

    -Cousins loved being in college -Bledsoe may not be ready -Orton didn't even start -Knight was going to finish school -MKG loved college -Lamb wouldn't go first round -Teague could shoot up draft board with an extra year of PG under Cal

    All left. Prepare to say good bye. It's how it works now. Enjoy the Final Fours and Championship. They are much better than the alternative.

    Hmmm, sorry but Jones and Lamb come to mind.

    UKlaw82

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