Galloway's Visit

[cosmonaut]

According to Rivals, Galloway was pretty much blown away by his visit last weekend. He said he is extremely excited about signing and I love getting players that want to come to UK that badly. His teammate Patillo really enjoyed the visit too. It sounded like after that visit, Galloway might have a good chance of convincing Pattillo to come to UK with him.:thumbup:

[champ1023]

Awesome, thanks for the info!:thumbup:

[wildcatsundance]

Nice news post!!!

[DCWildcat]

I'm sort of confused why folks on the message boards aren't excited about Patillo.

He's ranked much higher than Galloway and blows him away statisically, and is being recruited by a strong group of schools. And we've been harping on our need for a scorer for some time now.

[ibleedblue2]

DC, do you have anything on this kid?

[DCWildcat]

Patillo? No more than what's in the thread on him. Note the ppg vs. minutes played...crazy.

http://www.wildcatnation.net/forum/showthread.php?t=40192

[ibleedblue2]

yaeh, awesome. 506 pts in 642 minutes. Galloway also had 274(? I can't remember exactly) assists for the season, also impressive.2Pat will love this guy.

[needmore44]

Galloway said that Patillo is "leaning hard right now, and i'm trying to push him over the edge." Sounds like he could be ours for the taking.

[mcranfill]

I'm sort of confused why folks on the message boards aren't excited about Patillo.

He's ranked much higher than Galloway and blows him away statisically, and is being recruited by a strong group of schools. And we've been harping on our need for a scorer for some time now.

I am definitely one who is excited about Pattillo! I think he would be a great get and the more I read about him the more excited I get. He already has a chemistry with Galloway which could be great and he is supposedly very athletic! All signs point up to me.

[leroybyrd]

Does he have an offer????

[Tom Blevins]

I'm sort of confused why folks on the message boards aren't excited about Patillo.

He's ranked much higher than Galloway and blows him away statisically, and is being recruited by a strong group of schools. And we've been harping on our need for a scorer for some time now.

Fans in general just don't get as excited about junior college players. We've had some jucos that haven't worked out. That's the main reason. But I'd like to point out that (1) we/ve had some high school players, even some high profile ones that haven't worked out either and, (2) we've had some very good juco players. Bob Burrow, Dale Brown, and Rodney Dent (before he was injured) come to mind.
While, Patillo did score a lot more points than Galloway, Galloway led the team in assists, (8.6 apg) and steals. (77)
BTW, their team had some awesome team stats, averaging 110.8 ppg while out scoring their opponents by an average margin of 34.6 ppg.

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

Fans in general just don't get as excited about junior college players. We've had some jucos that haven't worked out. That's the main reason. But I'd like to point out that (1) we/ve had some high school players, even some high profile ones that haven't worked out either and, (2) we've had some very good juco players. Bob Burrow, Dale Brown, and Rodney Dent (before he was injured) come to mind.
While, Patillo did score a lot more points than Galloway, Galloway led the team in assists, (8.6 apg) and steals. (77)
BTW, their team had some awesome team stats, averaging 110.8 ppg while out scoring their opponents by an average margin of 34.6 ppg. One thing that always impressed me about Pitino was that he never was caught "with his pants down". He made transfers and Juco players work to perfection - remember guys like Rodney Dent, Dale Brown, Travis Ford, Derrick Anderson,Heshimu and Mark Pope, all these guys were key contributors. I always felt Tubby was better with guys he brought in as freshmen, Juco's in his tenure were Rekalim Sims and Barbour. Heshimu never played for Rick and Tubby did a good job with him in 1998 also, Sparks had a good 2 years here - so you never know.

[chworld22]

One thing that always impressed me about Pitino was that he never was caught "with his pants down". He made transfers and Juco players work to perfection - remember guys like Rodney Dent, Dale Brown, Travis Ford, Derrick Anderson,Heshimu and Mark Pope, all these guys were key contributors. I always felt Tubby was better with guys he brought in as freshmen, Juco's in his tenure were Rekalim Sims and Barbour. Heshimu never played for Rick and Tubby did a good job with him in 1998 also, Sparks had a good 2 years here - so you never know.

The problem also is that lots of people remember Sims and Barbour as not panning out. But they also have to remember both players had some pretty bad injuries while at UK. Sims with the bulging discs or something like that with the back and Barbour broke his hand. Had those things not have happened to those two guys who knows what they would have been able to produce. Sims came in those first couple games he was here and just torched it and was throwing his body around getting charges and rebounds. That sort of this doesn't happen when you have back pain because you just can't do it. Barbour had two or three really good games where he showed the talent he had then he got injured and it was downhill.

Not saying you are one of those guys that do what I mentioned above. Just using your post as an example.

[crazzedcats22]

I think they would both be great gets at this point. They have played together and hopefully would mesh well with our current roster

[sardiscat]

"Fans in general just don't get as excited about junior college players."

Yeah, the ones whose memories don't go back past Rekalin Sims and Nate Knight. Indiana won the NCAA in 1987 with two JC transfers starting for them, and NC State had two JC transfers starting for them in 1974 when it knocked off Bill Walton's UCLA team and won the NCAA. UNLV had two JC transfers starting for it when it won in 1990.

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

The problem also is that lots of people remember Sims and Barbour as not panning out. But they also have to remember both players had some pretty bad injuries while at UK. Sims with the bulging discs or something like that with the back and Barbour broke his hand. Had those things not have happened to those two guys who knows what they would have been able to produce. Sims came in those first couple games he was here and just torched it and was throwing his body around getting charges and rebounds. That sort of this doesn't happen when you have back pain because you just can't do it. Barbour had two or three really good games where he showed the talent he had then he got injured and it was downhill.

Not saying you are one of those guys that do what I mentioned above. Just using your post as an example. They didn't work out, for whatever reason but I thought Sparks worked out real well.

[boomdaddy]

They didn't work out, for whatever reason but I thought Sparks worked out real well.

Sparks, imho, had is best year as a junior, for Kentucky. As a senior, he was mired in a shooting slump, was streaky throughout the season, and was average on D. I really felt sorry for Rondo, who didn't have any great shooters to dish to.

I am definately "OK" with jucos. With the way kids go pro and transfer, jucos are a very viable option for teams with holes in their roster.

[chworld22]

They didn't work out, for whatever reason but I thought Sparks worked out real well.

They might not have but is that really their fault or the fault of their talent or an injury that prevented them from living up to their potiential was all I was pointing out.

[Blue_N_White]

I am definately "OK" with jucos. With the way kids go pro and transfer, jucos are a very viable option for teams with holes in their roster.


A JUCO here and there....I'm fine with. Absolutely no problem. But the emphasis on this year's recruiting class seems to be NOTHING BUT JUCOs!!! Galloway, Harrellson, Flemings....and now Pattilo, etc. I truly hope that's not a sign of things to come. There are simply too many blue chip 4 and 5 star high school prospects to be had to be focusing so much on guys who either didn't have the grades to qualify, or had some character issues and concerns, or weren't offered scholarships by any major D-1 schools, etc.

Kentucky should NOT have any problem landing some of the top high schoolers each and every year. I was having a conversation with someone just yesterday who was talking about how far the Kentucky basketball team has fallen....and this was HIS comment: "Yeah, we used to get the McDonald's All-American types...now we're getting a bunch of no-names and JUNIOR COLLEGE type players". I couldn't really argue the point much either....not a single McDonald's All-American in this year's recruiting class (neither Liggins nor Miller were a part of the McDonald's game), yet we already have one JUCO (Galloway) and apparently could be landing more. If Harrellson signs, that's fine...we need size and an inside presence. But Patillo? ANOTHER 6'6" wing player? I'm not so sure. This isn't a sign that Gillispie doesn't think that he can land the top high schoolers, so he's going the JUCO route....is it? Personally, I sincerely hope that isn't the case.....

[DCWildcat]

The problem also is that lots of people remember Sims and Barbour as not panning out. But they also have to remember both players had some pretty bad injuries while at UK. Sims with the bulging discs or something like that with the back and Barbour broke his hand. Had those things not have happened to those two guys who knows what they would have been able to produce. Sims came in those first couple games he was here and just torched it and was throwing his body around getting charges and rebounds. That sort of this doesn't happen when you have back pain because you just can't do it. Barbour had two or three really good games where he showed the talent he had then he got injured and it was downhill.

Not saying you are one of those guys that do what I mentioned above. Just using your post as an example.

Good point.

[chworld22]

A JUCO here and there....I'm fine with. Absolutely no problem. But the emphasis on this year's recruiting class seems to be NOTHING BUT JUCOs!!! Galloway, Harrellson, Flemings....and now Pattilo, etc. I truly hope that's not a sign of things to come. There are simply too many blue chip 4 and 5 star high school prospects to be had to be focusing so much on guys who either didn't have the grades to qualify, or had some character issues and concerns, or weren't offered scholarships by any major D-1 schools, etc.

Kentucky should NOT have any problem landing some of the top high schoolers each and every year. I was having a conversation with someone just yesterday who was talking about how far the Kentucky basketball team has fallen....and this was HIS comment: "Yeah, we used to get the McDonald's All-American types...now we're getting a bunch of no-names and JUNIOR COLLEGE type players". I couldn't really argue the point much either....not a single McDonald's All-American in this year's recruiting class (neither Liggins nor Miller were a part of the McDonald's game), yet we already have one JUCO (Galloway) and apparently could be landing more. If Harrellson signs, that's fine...we need size and an inside presence. But Patillo? ANOTHER 6'6" wing player? I'm not so sure. This isn't a sign that Gillispie doesn't think that he can land the top high schoolers, so he's going the JUCO route....is it? Personally, I sincerely hope that isn't the case.....

The reason CBG might be focusing on the JUCO this year is that he hasn't had a full year of recruiting here so he is getting the best players out there that he can. He missed out on some guys early so he has come down to getting players to fill holes.

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

Sparks, imho, had is best year as a junior, for Kentucky. As a senior, he was mired in a shooting slump, was streaky throughout the season, and was average on D. I really felt sorry for Rondo, who didn't have any great shooters to dish to.

I am definately "OK" with jucos. With the way kids go pro and transfer, jucos are a very viable option for teams with holes in their roster.
I agree 100%, a national sportswriter (can't remember if it was Forde or Parrish) said that Sparks was lean and mean at WKU and regressed to become a fat player who had to wear a t-shirt when he was a senior. He did hit some big shots for us.

[poodoo]

I'm sort of confused why folks on the message boards aren't excited about Patillo.

He's ranked much higher than Galloway and blows him away statisically, and is being recruited by a strong group of schools. And we've been harping on our need for a scorer for some time now.

FWIW, that Patillo is rated much higher had certainly caught my attention when I had read it. Too, what you say about our needing a scorer makes getting Patillo make a lot of sense to me. Further, I love athleticism and what I read about him as a rebounder.

In regard to which recruits we go after the hardest, I'll trust Coach. The next few weeks should be exciting ones. :)

[Blue_N_White]

The reason CBG might be focusing on the JUCO this year is that he hasn't had a full year of recruiting here so he is getting the best players out there that he can. He missed out on some guys early so he has come down to getting players to fill holes.

Yeah, I hear ya...and that makes sense. But still, I'm beginning to become a little worried that perhaps this IS Coach Gillispie's Modus Operandi. Hopefully you're right...and this is more the aberration than the norm for this year only ...but I don't want UK to become a JUCO transfer school that misses out on the elite high school talent entering college......

[chworld22]

Yeah, I hear ya...and that makes sense. But still, I'm beginning to become a little worried that perhaps this IS Coach Gillispie's Modus Operandi. Hopefully you're right...and this is more the aberration than the norm for this year only ...but I don't want UK to become a JUCO transfer school that misses out on the elite high school talent entering college......

I understand your worry. But you have to look at his past places he has coached. CBG has gotten programs back from a bad spot using mainly juco's because if you get the right jucos they can get you quick bursts of talent with a little experience to boot. To be fair CBG has gotten his share of freshman as well but he has definatly leaned on the JUCO route to get those players that can step in and play immediately.

[dwarfdorin]

JUCO's are a quick fix and have experience to boot. If you can get the very good JUCO guys take them because the 5 star freshman are only going to be around 1 or 2 years too. I think a guy with experience is going to be a little more polished than the frosh. Now, saying that, I would like to see the good freshmen too but I don't have a problem with the JUCO guys if we are winning. I think that this is just to get the program back to where it needs to be and there are only a couple of very high (4 or 5 star) guys left in the high school ranks anyway.

:widcat::widcat: Go CATS!!!

[countrycat]

Yeah, I hear ya...and that makes sense. But still, I'm beginning to become a little worried that perhaps this IS Coach Gillispie's Modus Operandi. Hopefully you're right...and this is more the aberration than the norm for this year only ...but I don't want UK to become a JUCO transfer school that misses out on the elite high school talent entering college......
But if the objective is to win championships, what does it matter? I believe, at least with what I saw last year he just might win with JUCO players. It really does nor matter with me as long as we win,

[Blue_N_White]

But if the objective is to win championships, what does it matter? I believe, at least with what I saw last year he just might win with JUCO players. It really does nor matter with me as long as we win,

I hear what you're saying, and I definitely agree with the "winning" part....BUT....

Derrick Rose led Memphis to the NCAA championship game this year....as a freshman.

Greg Oden led Ohio State to the NCAA championship game last year...as a freshman.

Carmello Anthony won a national championship a few years ago with Syracuse.....as a freshman.

Now....try to name the last JUCO player that had that kind of an impact for his school/team?

It's nearly impossible. And the reason? Because if they are good enough to have that kind of an impact...they aren't JUCO players. The Walter Berry (mid 80's - St. John's) types around the country are few and far between.

And as for people arguing that the "4 and 5 star recruits never stay until their senior year and leave after a year or two".....that is NOT the case in most instances. Emeka Okafor led Connecticut to a national title a few years back....as a senior, while Ben Gordon was a junior that year. Sean May led North Carolina to a national title as a junior.....and then left for the NBA afterward. Same with all of the Florida Gators. Remember how they all came back (even though they could have turned pro), to see about repeating?

But the notion that JUCO players will lead a school to a national title is a bit flawed. It may help a little NOW...but in the long term isn't the answer. And the idea that the 4 and 5 star recruits won't stick around for more than a year or two is a flawed premise as well. We simply have to hope that Kentucky does a good job of attracting the type players that will have an impact, and who are also smart enough to know when they're ready for the NBA.

Besides, that was one of the major knocks on Tubby Smith....that he wasn't recruiting and bringing in the high school All-American blue chippers. That he was recruiting and bring in the "4 year type players". And for the most part, with a JUCO...that's essentially what you're getting. They just aren't "straight out of high school".

Also, let's be brutally honest for just a moment here. These kids pretty much all know each other (their peer group). They're well aware of all the hype surrounding one another, and they know the members of their peer group (i.e. - their competition) who attend these Nike camps, Blue-Chip camps, etc., and who are ranked highly by these scouting services, and where they are going to school. The decisions of where the McDonald's All-American types go DOES play a role in possibly influencing where other upcoming hot shot high schoolers will go to school in the future. But the JUCO players? The high school blue-chippers don't really know or care who they are, and so where they transfer to doesn't really amount to a hill of beans or have much of (or any) influence. Sorry if that seems a little harsh...but it's the truth.

Anyway, I just hope that in the future Gillispie does a good job of signing these kids in the fall (early signing period)....so that UK fans like myself can follow their progress and see their development with a rooting interest....and also have an idea of what to expect from the incoming class and upcoming team. It's always nice to know what to expect, rather than have a kid show up on campus that nobody really knows squat about other than some web site SAYS after the fact that he was a really good JUCO player....

[keycat41]

Now....try to name the last JUCO player that had that kind of an impact for his school/team?

How about Dale Brown?

[Ukosumu]

Some notable JUCO transfers....
Steve Francis (Maryland), Mitch Richmond (Kansas State), Larry Johnson (UNLV), Latrell Sprewell (Alabama), Keith Smart (Indiana), Dean Garrett (Indiana), Nick Van Exel (Cincinnati), and Ruben Patterson (Cincinnati).

[UKBOO]

I think Jucos can be very usefull when filling in a small class. A juco or two a year ago would have filled in next year's Sr class.