The track meet called the Derby Classic

[Caveman Catfan]

Well, hard to get a real feel for how players will play in a system. Stewart and Pettigrew got very few touches. It was a game for point guards and big men who could run the floor and get put backs.

Jordan is the real deal. He is quick on his feet and is constantly maneuvering for rebounds. The kid knows where the basket is and can get off the floor fast. Very impressed with his attitude and his game. If he should leave A&M, UK would be lucky to get him.

Beasley was basically messing around. He will be one and done. He has a pro game, a nice handle for his size, sees the floor very well and can put the ball in the hole from all over the floor. He gets off the floor very fast. Whether he plays harder for K-State, I don't know, but he is the real deal from a skill perspective. He did not do well in the 3-point shooting competition (which Pettigrew won), but he shot his threes with both hands. Many fans missed that fact. He also shot his freethrows with one foot raised and really did not put forth much effort on the slam dunk contest (which Stewart won).

Daye was a very impressive player from inside and out. Nolan Smith is the real deal going to Duke.

The game was a track meet with very little defense. Not the best environment to discovery how a player can help your team.

Preston Knowles has a very nice shot. Proffitt played hard (got a lot of steals playing center field). Pettigrew had one nice spin move (I guess one of his patented moves) that he scored near the rim over two other players with, but was silent most of the game, getting very few touches.

Stewart can soar. He missed a couple of dunks in the game that would have been spectacular, but showed great athleticism just to get to the rim. His points were basically off dunks. Runs the floor well and has speed. Not the best handle, however, tonight, as he lost a few balls in traffic. I don't see him getting a ton of minutes early, but will be good once he fills out and gets a bit older.

Williams is a big boy. He works hard and seems to have a soft touch. He really struggled, however, with all the speed he was up against. He is a project. Jordan was getting all sorts of rebounds around Williams in the second half just because he was much quicker on his feet. Williams reminded me of a poor man's Sean May. He needs to work on his foot work and needs to drop a few pounds. Over all, he looked much better than Nazr M. did in the same game. I think he could be a solid player in a couple of years.

Goode is a find for UL. He has a perimeter game and can leap and run. He reminds me of Clark, but not quite as tall. I liked his game.

[wildcat74]

Caveman Catfan wrote: Well, hard to get a real feel for how players will play in a system. Stewart and Pettigrew got very few touches. It was a game for point guards and big men who could run the floor and get put backs.

Jordan is the real deal. He is quick on his feet and is constantly maneuvering for rebounds. The kid knows where the basket is and can get off the floor fast. Very impressed with his attitude and his game. If he should leave A&M, UK would be lucky to get him.

Beasley was basically messing around. He will be one and done. He has a pro game, a nice handle for his size, sees the floor very well and can put the ball in the hole from all over the floor. He gets off the floor very fast. Whether he plays harder for K-State, I don't know, but he is the real deal from a skill perspective. He did not do well in the 3-point shooting competition (which Pettigrew won), but he shot his threes with both hands. Many fans missed that fact. He also shot his freethrows with one foot raised and really did not put forth much effort on the slam dunk contest (which Stewart won).

Daye was a very impressive player from inside and out. Nolan Smith is the real deal going to Duke.

The game was a track meet with very little defense. Not the best environment to discovery how a player can help your team.

Preston Knowles has a very nice shot. Proffitt played hard (got a lot of steals playing center field). Pettigrew had one nice spin move (I guess one of his patented moves) that he scored near the rim over two other players with, but was silent most of the game, getting very few touches.

Stewart can soar. He missed a couple of dunks in the game that would have been spectacular, but showed great athleticism just to get to the rim. His points were basically off dunks. Runs the floor well and has speed. Not the best handle, however, tonight, as he lost a few balls in traffic. I don't see him getting a ton of minutes early, but will be good once he fills out and gets a bit older.

Williams is a big boy. He works hard and seems to have a soft touch. He really struggled, however, with all the speed he was up against. He is a project. Jordan was getting all sorts of rebounds around Williams in the second half just because he was much quicker on his feet. Williams reminded me of a poor man's Sean May. He needs to work on his foot work and needs to drop a few pounds. Over all, he looked much better than Nazr M. did in the same game. I think he could be a solid player in a couple of years.

Goode is a find for UL. He has a perimeter game and can leap and run. He reminds me of Clark, but not quite as tall. I liked his game.





Thanks for the scoop!

[Caveman Catfan]

BTW, Beasley might have been the best talent. But the real steal for a program is Jordan. The kids seems to have a great attitude, great hands, knows his role and will be a team player. Beasley is one and done and might be all about number one, while Jordan showed me a love for the game and a desire to play his role. UK fans should want this kid. BAD.

[bluecat406]

Caveman Catfan wrote: BTW, Beasley might have been the best talent. But the real steal for a program is Jordan. The kids seems to have a great attitude, great hands, knows his role and will be a team player. Beasley is one and done and might be all about number one, while Jordan showed me a love for the game and a desire to play his role. UK fans should want this kid. BAD.
We do.

[DCWildcat]

Thanks for the report

[Will Lavender]

Good report, Caveman. I was there and agree with everything you say.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

DCWildcat wrote: Thanks for the report

:cool::thumbup

[Will Lavender]

Going further with Caveman's report.

The five best players in the game:

1. Michael Beasley, Kansas State
Unbelievably impressive. Best high school talent I've ever seen live. Kid is all of 6'9" and was possibly the best ball-handler on the court.

2. Nolan Smith, Duke
Tremendous athlete. Took one outside shot that I saw and missed it, but the kid can absolutely fly.

3. Anthony Randolph, LSU
Long and smooth. Will make an immediate impact with the Bayou Bengals.

4. Senario Hillman, Alabama
Another tremendous athlete. Hillman may have been, pound for pound, the most explosive athlete in this game.

5. Antonio Jordine, Syracuse
Threw 8 or 10 ungodly passes. He'll be a difference for the Orange next year.

[Will Lavender]

A couple more things:

We have no impact players in that bunch unless it's Deandre Jordan. AJ Smith will play, and he is definitely the kind of athlete that we've been sorely lacking the last two years, but this was the kind of game that athletes thrive in and he had 4 points.

UK should not offer Stepphon Pettigrew a scholarship.

[Wildcatcrazy11]

Will Lavender wrote: A couple more things:

We have no impact players in that bunch unless it's Deandre Jordan. AJ Smith will play, and he is definitely the kind of athlete that we've been sorely lacking the last two years, but this was the kind of game that athletes thrive in and he had 4 points.

UK should not offer Stepphon Pettigrew a scholarship.

Sounds like we are living or dying (in terms of next season) by the PP/Jai decision. I pumped to hear Stewart is a dunker... i miss KAZ just thinking about it.

[Will Lavender]

Wildcatcrazy11 wrote: Will Lavender wrote: A couple more things:

We have no impact players in that bunch unless it's Deandre Jordan. AJ Smith will play, and he is definitely the kind of athlete that we've been sorely lacking the last two years, but this was the kind of game that athletes thrive in and he had 4 points.

UK should not offer Stepphon Pettigrew a scholarship.

Sounds like we are living or dying (in terms of next season) by the PP/Jai decision. I pumped to hear Stewart is a dunker... i miss KAZ just thinking about it.
When AJ put his mind to it, he could make a move to get open. And he can definitely jump over people.

But he's WAY too passive.

Yes, that definitely had something to do with Michael Beasley dominating the basketball, but I heard that AJ was the same kind of player on his high school team.

I bet he touched the ball 7 times all night, and he got a lot of minutes.

Mike Williams, really, had a much better game and he's a Project with a capital p.

[ridgecat78]

Will Lavender wrote: Wildcatcrazy11 wrote: Will Lavender wrote: A couple more things:

We have no impact players in that bunch unless it's Deandre Jordan. AJ Smith will play, and he is definitely the kind of athlete that we've been sorely lacking the last two years, but this was the kind of game that athletes thrive in and he had 4 points.

UK should not offer Stepphon Pettigrew a scholarship.

Sounds like we are living or dying (in terms of next season) by the PP/Jai decision. I pumped to hear Stewart is a dunker... i miss KAZ just thinking about it.
When AJ put his mind to it, he could make a move to get open. And he can definitely jump over people.

But he's WAY too passive.

Yes, that definitely had something to do with Michael Beasley dominating the basketball, but I heard that AJ was the same kind of player on his high school team.

I bet he touched the ball 7 times all night, and he got a lot of minutes.

Mike Williams, really, had a much better game and he's a Project with a capital p.

I go to the classic every year... This was probably the worst game and dunk contect I have seen in 15 years..... Williams cam probably contribute in two years... Maybe Coach G will re-institute the JV squad...

As far as AJ Stewart, I think he can play and contribute next year. But as far as saying that this is a game for athletes and he only got 4 points is a bit misleading.... He hardly touched the ball and twice went to the bench mad as a hornet because of the guards not passing the ball... The guards/Beasley/Randolph dominated this game.... The way that guards and the elite players always do.... (Although hisjump shot is a little "funny" looking/flat...)

The most impressive moment of the night was Mike Williams "30 row" punt of the Cardinal bird.... Call coach Brooks! That was halarious... All in good fun playing to the Cats in the crowd.....

[TrueblueCATfan]

Wildcatcrazy11 wrote: Will Lavender wrote: A couple more things:

We have no impact players in that bunch unless it's Deandre Jordan. AJ Smith will play, and he is definitely the kind of athlete that we've been sorely lacking the last two years, but this was the kind of game that athletes thrive in and he had 4 points.

UK should not offer Stepphon Pettigrew a scholarship.

Sounds like we are living or dying (in terms of next season) by the PP/Jai decision. I pumped to hear Stewart is a dunker... i miss KAZ just thinking about it.
Iread this morning thta AJ won the dunk contest with a perfect score of 30..wow that is great

[teamchemistry09]

I was at the game and I thought the best part was when everyone was booing Beasley for not passing and as we were he threw a half court lob to Stewart for the dunk

[Will Lavender]

teamchemistry07 wrote: I was at the game and I thought the best part was when everyone was booing Beasley for not passing and as we were he threw a half court lob to Stewart for the dunk
Not sure why Beasley needed to pass. Nobody could stop him.

And I bet the kid had 50 deflections. He was, unlike the Gold Team, getting back on defense and causing all kinds of problems with his length.

[teamchemistry09]

The game is meant to be entertaining and a kid taking everybody one on one and pulling up for a 10 footer takes away from that. People paid to see dunks and transition game not pull up jumpers by the same kid everytime

[TrueblueCATfan]

ridgecat78 wrote: Will Lavender wrote: Wildcatcrazy11 wrote: Will Lavender wrote: A couple more things:

We have no impact players in that bunch unless it's Deandre Jordan. AJ Smith will play, and he is definitely the kind of athlete that we've been sorely lacking the last two years, but this was the kind of game that athletes thrive in and he had 4 points.

UK should not offer Stepphon Pettigrew a scholarship.

Sounds like we are living or dying (in terms of next season) by the PP/Jai decision. I pumped to hear Stewart is a dunker... i miss KAZ just thinking about it.
When AJ put his mind to it, he could make a move to get open. And he can definitely jump over people.

But he's WAY too passive.

Yes, that definitely had something to do with Michael Beasley dominating the basketball, but I heard that AJ was the same kind of player on his high school team.

I bet he touched the ball 7 times all night, and he got a lot of minutes.

Mike Williams, really, had a much better game and he's a Project with a capital p.

I go to the classic every year... This was probably the worst game and dunk contect I have seen in 15 years..... Williams cam probably contribute in two years... Maybe Coach G will re-institute the JV squad...

As far as AJ Stewart, I think he can play and contribute next year. But as far as saying that this is a game for athletes and he only got 4 points is a bit misleading.... He hardly touched the ball and twice went to the bench mad as a hornet because of the guards not passing the ball... The guards/Beasley/Randolph dominated this game.... The way that guards and the elite players always do.... (Although hisjump shot is a little "funny" looking/flat...)

The most impressive moment of the night was Mike Williams "30 row" punt of the Cardinal bird.... Call coach Brooks! That was halarious... All in good fun playing to the Cats in the crowd.....




yeah the UL bird fans are already calling our recruits classless for doing that....Did he really kick the bird up in the stands?

[teamchemistry09]

Maybe the 3rd row at the most. It didnt go very far. I did like the wildcat that AJ put on the cardinals eye though