Possible new big man target?

[ImForKy]

Could be another "project" though according to Demling. FWIW.

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/blog.html

[crazzedcats22]

I am tired of the big man projects. I don't want to see anymore Shagaris, Woo (I loved him-he just couldn't play basketball), Carters, Williams, etc....I want a decently proven big guy to come in here and contribute his first year!

[ibleedblue2]

I agree . We are U.K.--we should not have to settle for a project player . We should get first picks. Does anyone know if we are currently recruiting a true center for 2008 ? Don't see where we have offered a scholly to one.

[countrycat]

I am with you and we should not have to take them. I realy have no clue why we can't get a quality center.

[jkeller]

I believe we should be recruiting a big man that can make an impact, not another person to keep Dusty Mills company during games.

[KYISSUPREME]

The answer to our recruiting may be in the JUCO ranks. I know BCG has went that route at his other schools in the beginning.

[chworld22]

This kid has only been playing for a year and is already scoring 16 points a game and grabbing 7 rebounds a game I would say that looks like a pretty huge upside.

[Doug Hardin]

Gillispie might be forced to take a chance on a project or just hold onto the scholarship.

It's easy to say "We need a big man to help now," but the problem is that there aren't many that haven't already signed. Aziz N'Diaye (http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=72377) is the only unsigned 4- or 5-star center or power forward on either Rivals or Scout that has UK on his list. I suppose there's always a chance that someone will back out of a commitment or LOI in the spring if his school has a new coach, but that's not something you can bank on.

But regarding Roberto Mafra, based on what's in this blog I wouldn't be too excited about getting him. He's not just a project, he's a junior college project so his timetable for development is even shorter than most project big men.

[crazzedcats22]

This kid has only been playing for a year and is already scoring 16 points a game and grabbing 7 rebounds a game I would say that looks like a pretty huge upside.

...in friggin junior college!!! If he's already a Junior college project that doesn't leave much time for him to develop into a quality D1 player. This guy would be another waste of a scholly and would just take up a seat on the bench.

[chworld22]

...in friggin junior college!!! If he's already a Junior college project that doesn't leave much time for him to develop into a quality D1 player. This guy would be another waste of a scholly and would just take up a seat on the bench.

"in friggin junior college" it doesn't matter a kid that has been playing for one year scoring 16 ppg and 7 reb is a great line. If he comes in and develops then he does if he doesn't he will only be here for two years and then we have Euton coming in so it is really a no lose situation.

[JayB]

Gillispie might be forced to take a chance on a project or just hold onto the scholarship.

It's easy to say "We need a big man to help now," but the problem is that there aren't many that haven't already signed. Aziz N'Diaye (http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=72377) is the only unsigned 4- or 5-star center or power forward on either Rivals or Scout that has UK on his list. I suppose there's always a chance that someone will back out of a commitment or LOI in the spring if his school has a new coach, but that's not something you can bank on.

But regarding Roberto Mafra, based on what's in this blog I wouldn't be too excited about getting him. He's not just a project, he's a junior college project so his timetable for development is even shorter than most project big men.


I would offer Aziz over the Juco any day. I'm sure everyone agrees, I hope anyways :) remember what happened with the last Juco.....

Hes 7 feet of fun and looks very athletic, skinny yes but you never know he could be pretty good. I don't see us getting a quality big man any time soon. So if we wants a progect thats my choice. But if we want to gamble theres still a few big man that are alot better than the Juco rout available -Steve Goins ,John"still better than a juco"Riek , Bawa Manuri "Hes fresh".

I notice we are on a bunch of 09 BIG MENS lists tho. So hes trying, we give him time he will get us what we need. I would have already offered DeMarcus Cousins :)

[DHOLMAN1]

i watched a game that riek played in YES ONE GAME and can tell you he is far from what we need, he is a project at best and i have no idea how he is even ranked as high as he is, and if rivals is correct de marcus cousins lowered us on his list, maybe thats why we havent offered him. jmo:shrug1:

[RP_McMurphy]

The only way to truly fix our problems is with high seniors and not get quick fixes.

[average joe]

We have had too many projects. We are listed highly on a few highly touted big men for 2009. Give them a scholly and wait for them to graduate seems like the only option.

[caliparifan]

No more projects at center, please. We're not on probation, are we? I remember the centers we had back then and our current guys remind me of those projects of the past. We need another Morris, with less of a "god complex".

[crazzedcats22]

"in friggin junior college" it doesn't matter a kid that has been playing for one year scoring 16 ppg and 7 reb is a great line. If he comes in and develops then he does if he doesn't he will only be here for two years and then we have Euton coming in so it is really a no lose situation.

Not getting much support on here for the JUCO!! :big_grin: I think it would be a complete waste of a scholly even if it was for one year to give this guy a chance. This is the quote from his coach, ""If you can take him and redshirt him and work for a year, then by the time the next year rolls around he could be pretty good," Carroll said. "I can't predict he'll be that good next year because I don't know that yet. But he's made huge strides just since Oct. 1."

He doesn't even sound confident that he thinks this guy could turn into anything!

[chworld22]

Not getting much support on here for the JUCO!! :big_grin: I think it would be a complete waste of a scholly even if it was for one year to give this guy a chance. This is the quote from his coach, ""If you can take him and redshirt him and work for a year, then by the time the next year rolls around he could be pretty good," Carroll said. "I can't predict he'll be that good next year because I don't know that yet. But he's made huge strides just since Oct. 1."

He doesn't even sound confident that he thinks this guy could turn into anything!

I wouldn't expect to get much support from anyone on here unless he has 5 stars next to his name. That is the only any player gets respect because you have a lot of fans on here that like to jump straight to a conclusion on a player regardless of his skills unless they see the stars.

[KYISSUPREME]

JUCO's aren't necessarily all bad. Remember Dale Brown and Rodney Dent? How about Steve Francis and Larry Johnson? You just have to be careful with who you get. Unfortunately for UK, Tubby wasn't all that choosy, and the JUCO guys he took left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. I wouldn't be so hasty to condemn the JUCO scene as whole. Nate Knight and Rekalin Sims were just not good choices. Anybody remember Nemanja Calasan from last spring? He's working out pretty good for Purdue. Isn't he thier leading scorer? Wish we would have gotten him. But don't be confused, I'm not meaning that we should take a chance on the Mafra kid mentioned above. He sounds a little raw. And with Carter and Williams already here, we can't waste another scholarship. My comments on JUCO's are general. With the weak Senior class in high school this year, JUCO MIGHT be something to think about. JMO.

[jkeller]

I wouldn't expect to get much support from anyone on here unless he has 5 stars next to his name. That is the only any player gets respect because you have a lot of fans on here that like to jump straight to a conclusion on a player regardless of his skills unless they see the stars.

His own coach says that he will probably need to be redshirted. We need a big man, like, yesterday, and I don't think that we have the time that he needs to develop as a player and learn BCG's offense and defense. I'm not against unsung recruits (I think that the ratings system is based more on politics and raw potential than actual skill anyway. Mostly the only thing that separates the 5 stars from the 3 stars is how many sneaker camps they've been to.) but we need a guy that can come in and contribute right away. If we had more frontcourt depth I would be all for taking a chance on him.

[westtncat]

I wouldn't expect to get much support from anyone on here unless he has 5 stars next to his name. That is the only any player gets respect because you have a lot of fans on here that like to jump straight to a conclusion on a player regardless of his skills unless they see the stars.
I tend to agree with you myself. I would bet carter, williams, woo or shag could not put those numbers up in jr. college after 4 years in D1 ball. Still a risk but the line is pretty good,IMO

[chworld22]

I tend to agree with you myself. I would bet carter, williams, woo or shag could not put those numbers up in jr. college after 4 years in D1 ball. Still a risk but the line is pretty good,IMO

Williams might have been able to just because he has such a big body and we still don't know what he could develop into. He might come out next year and start tearing stuff up. Lord knows he has the frame to make some noise. He reminds me of Estill without the 3 pt range.

But as far as the other three you mentioned they would have had anywhere close to those number in JR college.

No doubt there is a risk involved and I am not saying pick him up now or our season is down the tubes. But it can't hurt when you don't have a bog man at all. This kid seems to be pretty athletic and that is one thing we have lacked in the previous big men. Athletic ability can compensate for a lot even more so when you are 6'10 and athletic.

[JayB]

If we need athletic centers then we should offer Aziz N'Diayehe used to play soccer I think. You have to be pretty athletic for that lol I just dont want to see another Juco. :icon_sad:


:icon_biggrin:

[chworld22]

If we need athletic centers then we should offer Aziz N'Diayehe used to play soccer I think. You have to be pretty athletic for that lol I just dont want to see another Juco. :icon_sad:


:icon_biggrin:

I agree. But guess what I haven't seen either of them play and Billy has so I will take his opinion on who is a better fit for UK. I don't know about you but I think he probably knows a little more than we do.
:icon_rolleyes: