16 and life ...

[Coldstream]

16 and life ... (../modules/news/article.php?storyid=1590)
By JL Blue Section: Basketball
Posted on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 10:51:50 AM EST

Much has been made here and elsewhere on Tubby Smith and his assistants' troubles on the recruiting front. The unfortunate side effect of this griping has been the overlooking of this season's incoming class, which is extremely promising, and depending on how the players pan out, could reap huge dividends.

Player evaluation at the high school level is a notoriously vague science. Rewarded are those kids who perform well at certain stages -- big AAU events, shoe company-sponsored summer camps -- while players who perform consistently well in their high school season can often go undervalued. As with all recruiting, much importance is put on potential, on build and size and on 'length.'

--more-- (http://aseaofblue.com/story/2006/9/20/115150/949)

[Will Lavender]

There's normally not much difference between #6 and #16 in the team rankings. If you're always in the top 20, you should logically compete in the top 20 once the season begins. Teams that are in the top 20 incollege basketball are Final Four contenders. All of them.

[SunBaller]

Will Lavender wrote: There's normally not much difference between #6 and #16 in the team rankings. If you're always in the top 20, you should logically compete in the top 20 once the season begins. Teams that are in the top 20 incollege basketball are Final Four contenders. All of them.
Edited: Attack the post not the poster!

[AugustaDan]

Will Lavender wrote: There's normally not much difference between #6 and #16 in the team rankings. If you're always in the top 20, you should logically compete in the top 20 once the season begins. Teams that are in the top 20 incollege basketball are Final Four contenders. All of them. I see a big difference between the #6 class and the #16 class. I know that the folks in Mason County are probably cheering for that #6 class right now.

I think it's also enlightening to read this article on top classes of 2003:

http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1146&CID=143122

As you are reading that, think about the impact on their college teams those guys have had.

[Will Lavender]

dxwils3 wrote: Will Lavender wrote: There's normally not much difference between #6 and #16 in the team rankings. If you're always in the top 20, you should logically compete in the top 20 once the season begins. Teams that are in the top 20 incollege basketball are Final Four contenders. All of them. I see a big difference between the #6 class and the #16 class. I know that the folks in Mason County are probably cheering for that #6 class right now.

I think it's also enlightening to read this article on top classes of 2003:

http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1146&CID=143122

As you are reading that, think about the impact on their college teams those guys have had.

The difference is probably in an individual player. Duke Crews alone impacts that ranking. If UK had gotten Brandan Wright, then we'd have a top 5 class.

I'm confident, though, that Jodie Meeks is going to be as good as any 5-star recruit.

[Will Lavender]

And also, I think it's fair to say that if Tubby recruited every year like he did last off-season, then very few people would complain about his recruiting methods.

Any time you get 3 top 75 players, you've done well.

Tubby's glaring mistakes are in the 2003 and 2005 classes, and I think they were the biggest reasons we performed so poorly last year. Yeah, we can say that Rajon had an up and down year; we can say that we were undersized at certain positions. But I believe the lack of game-ready players in those two classes hurt us tremendously night in and night out.

[poodoo]

I had posted about "16 and life" on the recruiting forum. To me, it's a good read about our incoming freshmen.

I also posted that I liked Mr. Blue's statement that "news of the Kentucky's program's demise has been greatly EXAGGERATED." I love that statement, for I so agree. Yes, there are some concerns, BUT if we follow up last year's recruiting class with another strong one this year (and it will be ranked higher if we get those guys we are hoping to get), the UK basketball program is VERY MUCH ALIVE. Surely we ALL hope that Mr. Blue's statement is RIGHT! :)