J. J. Hickson [Archive] - Wildcat Nation Forums - Kentucky Wildcat Discussion and News

hoosierhateruklover

08-21-2006, 03:07 AM

Unreal....I was soo glad to see Nash not commit to UK because I felt we would need all 5 scholarships for an amazing 07 class... Well first long time recruit Gary Johnson gets away along with Zane Johnson....then Southern leans towards BC.....and theres rumors of Randolph going to Memphis...and now Hickson looks next to bail.... All thats left is Patterson and Lucas and they are in no way gaurantees....This is starting to remind me of that United Way Matt Hasselbeck commercial where he snaps the ball backs up and throws to NO ONE...... This 07 ship is sinking fast!

wyldkatzky

08-21-2006, 06:27 AM

lol the ship is sinking?

Don't be worried unless we lose patterson. Hickson going to another school wont affect our recruiting 1 bit, unless patterson doesn't commit to kentucky.

Put the brakes on panic for now.

Chunks06

08-21-2006, 09:01 AM

wyldkatzky wrote: lol the ship is sinking?

Don't be worried unless we lose patterson. Hickson going to another school wont affect our recruiting 1 bit, unless patterson doesn't commit to kentucky.

Put the brakes on panic for now.

IF we get Patterson, we now have 2 forwards for next year. Dont you think we need more than that? I dont think Patterson is make or break. I would rather have 4 solid players than one stud like Patterson. We need depth at this point. We have 1 forward returning next year, ONE>

trublue4life

08-21-2006, 09:35 AM

Chunks06 wrote: wyldkatzky wrote: lol the ship is sinking?

Don't be worried unless we lose patterson. Hickson going to another school wont affect our recruiting 1 bit, unless patterson doesn't commit to kentucky.

Put the brakes on panic for now.

IF we get Patterson, we now have 2 forwards for next year. Dont you think we need more than that? I dont think Patterson is make or break. I would rather have 4 solid players than one stud like Patterson. We need depth at this point. We have 1 forward returning next year, ONE>
So I assume Morris has already told you he's leaving? He and Stevenson make two.

Buddah

08-21-2006, 10:19 AM

I think that Tn is still a major player for Hickson, with Florida being in the lead of course.. i could see hickson going to tn as i could florida.. Duke, Florida and UNC are the teams to beat for Patterson. Midnight Maddness are make or break for patterson, if we encourage him to take other visits we are screwed... get lucas to committ which will have a snow ball effect for patterson... does anyone know patterson's schedule of visit is mid night maddness his first offical, does he visit duke and florida before or after.

Chunks06

08-21-2006, 11:44 AM

Buddah wrote: I think that Tn is still a major player for Hickson, with Florida being in the lead of course.. i could see hickson going to tn as i could florida.. Duke, Florida and UNC are the teams to beat for Patterson. Midnight Maddness are make or break for patterson, if we encourage him to take other visits we are screwed... get lucas to committ which will have a snow ball effect for patterson... does anyone know patterson's schedule of visit is mid night maddness his first offical, does he visit duke and florida before or after.
People are taking the MM visit as concrete. It was mentioned, thats all. I hope he does come, but thats only because that means he hasnt committed to Duke or Florida yet. He is visiting both of them long before MM. He is going to Florida's football game on September 9th, the day their basketball team gets their rings. I think the Duke visit might be the week before that.

Chunks06

08-21-2006, 11:45 AM

trublue4life wrote: Chunks06 wrote: wyldkatzky wrote: lol the ship is sinking?

Don't be worried unless we lose patterson. Hickson going to another school wont affect our recruiting 1 bit, unless patterson doesn't commit to kentucky.

Put the brakes on panic for now.

IF we get Patterson, we now have 2 forwards for next year. Dont you think we need more than that? I dont think Patterson is make or break. I would rather have 4 solid players than one stud like Patterson. We need depth at this point. We have 1 forward returning next year, ONE>
So I assume Morris has already told you he's leaving? He and Stevenson make two.
I dont consider Morris a forward. He needs to be a center IMO, the only reason he is being considered a 4 is because of our lack of anythign at that position. Even then. We would have 2 forwards and one center. Thats as thin as possible.

Buddah

08-21-2006, 11:58 AM

Chunks06 wrote:
Buddah wrote: I think that Tn is still a major player for Hickson, with Florida being in the lead of course.. i could see hickson going to tn as i could florida.. Duke, Florida and UNC are the teams to beat for Patterson. Midnight Maddness are make or break for patterson, if we encourage him to take other visits we are screwed... get lucas to committ which will have a snow ball effect for patterson... does anyone know patterson's schedule of visit is mid night maddness his first offical, does he visit duke and florida before or after.
People are taking the MM visit as concrete. It was mentioned, thats all. I hope he does come, but thats only because that means he hasnt committed to Duke or Florida yet. He is visiting both of them long before MM. He is going to Florida's football game on September 9th, the day their basketball team gets their rings. I think the Duke visit might be the week before that.

if we are his last visit or whatever, then i feel good.. if he has other visits scheduled, then it will just be a replay of brandon wright redux in my opinion... if he is here and if this is his last visit, then we need to get him then... i will say this, billy is a genius at recruiting, sending a piece of the national championship net, making him and hickson visit the day as the basketball team gets there rings.. that is an indelible image for a young man..interesting that he and hickson will be visiting fla on the same day or so i have heard ?

KennesawCat

08-21-2006, 12:00 PM

Next year's starting front court: Stephenson, Morris, Carter (assuming all return). No other depth returning after this year. We need a C, PF, and SF (all 4-star or better) from the 2007 recruiting class. Plain and simple.

Returning five guards for next year (assuming all return), but we should betrying to geta 4-star shooting guard.

So we need Lucas, Patterson, either Stewart or Hickson, and Coker (assuming we are out of the running for Southern). That's my Christmas wish list.

Buddah

08-21-2006, 12:02 PM

KennesawCat wrote:
Next year's starting front court:Â* Stephenson, Morris, Carter (assuming all return).Â* No other depth returning after this year.Â* We need a C, PF, and SF (all 4-star or better) from the 2007 recruiting class.Â* Plain and simple.

Returning five guards for next year (assuming all return), but we should beÂ*trying to getÂ*a 4-star shooting guard.Â*

So we need Lucas, Patterson, either Stewart or Hickson, and Coker (assuming we are out of the running for Southern).Â* That's my Christmas wish list.Â*

if morris has even a replay of this past season, then he is gone. patterson's visit to florida and duke will make or break that deal. hickson took us off his list. coker i haven't even heard of ? is he even ranked ?

Chunks06

08-21-2006, 12:11 PM

Buddah wrote: KennesawCat wrote:
Next year's starting front court: Stephenson, Morris, Carter (assuming all return). No other depth returning after this year. We need a C, PF, and SF (all 4-star or better) from the 2007 recruiting class. Plain and simple.

Returning five guards for next year (assuming all return), but we should betrying to geta 4-star shooting guard.

So we need Lucas, Patterson, either Stewart or Hickson, and Coker (assuming we are out of the running for Southern). That's my Christmas wish list.

if morris has even a replay of this past season, then he is gone. patterson's visit to florida and duke will make or break that deal. hickson took us off his list. coker i haven't even heard of ? is he even ranked ?
Not sure if Coker is ranked or not but he would be a good one to get at Center. I agree, we are out with Hickson. IMo we need Stewart and Patterson bad along with 2 other bigs.

Grub

08-21-2006, 12:14 PM

Buddah wrote: if morris has even a replay of this past season, then he is gone. patterson's visit to florida and duke will make or break that deal. hickson took us off his list. coker i haven't even heard of ? is he even ranked ?
From another thread:

KennesawCat wrote:
Supposedly his stock has really risen over the summer (4-star according to scout, and I know that is a recent 4-star rating). Tubby offered him last month, I think it was one of the first offers he got. He lists UK as one of 4 schools he is considering.

Based on what I've read, he should have a complete set of tools by the time he completes high school, both offensive and defensive. I take it he's a real banger inside.

The problem with these 6'10" - 7'0" guys, they can look really overpowering at the high-school level, but have to make a real adjustment at the college level. So "you never know what your going to get" --Forrest Gump.

AugustaDan

08-21-2006, 12:17 PM

Buddah wrote: Chunks06 wrote:
Buddah wrote: I think that Tn is still a major player for Hickson, with Florida being in the lead of course.. i could see hickson going to tn as i could florida.. Duke, Florida and UNC are the teams to beat for Patterson. Midnight Maddness are make or break for patterson, if we encourage him to take other visits we are screwed... get lucas to committ which will have a snow ball effect for patterson... does anyone know patterson's schedule of visit is mid night maddness his first offical, does he visit duke and florida before or after.
People are taking the MM visit as concrete. It was mentioned, thats all. I hope he does come, but thats only because that means he hasnt committed to Duke or Florida yet. He is visiting both of them long before MM. He is going to Florida's football game on September 9th, the day their basketball team gets their rings. I think the Duke visit might be the week before that.

if we are his last visit or whatever, then i feel good.. if he has other visits scheduled, then it will just be a replay of brandon wright redux in my opinion... if he is here and if this is his last visit, then we need to get him then... i will say this, billy is a genius at recruiting, sending a piece of the national championship net, making him and hickson visit the day as the basketball team gets there rings.. that is an indelible image for a young man..interesting that he and hickson will be visiting fla on the same day or so i have heard ?I've heard the net story before, but it seems hard to believe that he could, under NCAA guidelines, send Patterson a piece of the net simply because that piece of net would have monetary value. We all know that all recruiting bribes must be laundered through the AAU coach so that he can take his 20% cut.

RCS

08-21-2006, 12:25 PM

dxwils3 wrote: Buddah wrote: Chunks06 wrote:
Buddah wrote: I think that Tn is still a major player for Hickson, with Florida being in the lead of course.. i could see hickson going to tn as i could florida.. Duke, Florida and UNC are the teams to beat for Patterson. Midnight Maddness are make or break for patterson, if we encourage him to take other visits we are screwed... get lucas to committ which will have a snow ball effect for patterson... does anyone know patterson's schedule of visit is mid night maddness his first offical, does he visit duke and florida before or after.
People are taking the MM visit as concrete. It was mentioned, thats all. I hope he does come, but thats only because that means he hasnt committed to Duke or Florida yet. He is visiting both of them long before MM. He is going to Florida's football game on September 9th, the day their basketball team gets their rings. I think the Duke visit might be the week before that.

if we are his last visit or whatever, then i feel good.. if he has other visits scheduled, then it will just be a replay of brandon wright redux in my opinion... if he is here and if this is his last visit, then we need to get him then... i will say this, billy is a genius at recruiting, sending a piece of the national championship net, making him and hickson visit the day as the basketball team gets there rings.. that is an indelible image for a young man..interesting that he and hickson will be visiting fla on the same day or so i have heard ?I've heard the net story before, but it seems hard to believe that he could, under NCAA guidelines, send Patterson a piece of the net simply because that piece of net would have monetary value. We all know that all recruiting bribes must be laundered through the AAU coach so that he can take his 20% cut.

99% sure it is just internet fodder. As you say, it would be a violation, plus not that big of a deal, at least to me. It is not like the kid doesn't know they won a championship. I do think the ring ceremony is a good idea though since they will get a big applause, etc. Should be a nice atmosphere.

Chunks06

08-21-2006, 12:55 PM

Buddah wrote: Chunks06 wrote:
Buddah wrote: I think that Tn is still a major player for Hickson, with Florida being in the lead of course.. i could see hickson going to tn as i could florida.. Duke, Florida and UNC are the teams to beat for Patterson. Midnight Maddness are make or break for patterson, if we encourage him to take other visits we are screwed... get lucas to committ which will have a snow ball effect for patterson... does anyone know patterson's schedule of visit is mid night maddness his first offical, does he visit duke and florida before or after.
People are taking the MM visit as concrete. It was mentioned, thats all. I hope he does come, but thats only because that means he hasnt committed to Duke or Florida yet. He is visiting both of them long before MM. He is going to Florida's football game on September 9th, the day their basketball team gets their rings. I think the Duke visit might be the week before that.

if we are his last visit or whatever, then i feel good.. if he has other visits scheduled, then it will just be a replay of brandon wright redux in my opinion... if he is here and if this is his last visit, then we need to get him then... i will say this, billy is a genius at recruiting, sending a piece of the national championship net, making him and hickson visit the day as the basketball team gets there rings.. that is an indelible image for a young man..interesting that he and hickson will be visiting fla on the same day or so i have heard ?
The problem is MM isnt set. It was only mentioned and now people have him as being here when this is not the case yet. A month is a long time between visits especially going against Duke and Florida. Not, Tubby is doing good by scheduling an in home visit with him the Monday after his Florida visit, so thats a start. Problem is that he may tell Tubby thanks, but no thanks at that time which many think he will.

Buddah

08-21-2006, 02:35 PM

yea, seems like this fan base more than most take something and think of it as gospel. we better hope and pray that MM visit is set and that it is the last thing in his mind.... cause even though i love UK, it isn't something i would bet alot in, when tubby goes up against either Billy, Roy or Coach K, after a player whom the other schools are pushing for hard.. i know billy wants patterson as much as we do, though i don't know the level of interest of roy or coach k

Chunks06

08-21-2006, 02:48 PM

Buddah wrote: yea, seems like this fan base more than most take something and think of it as gospel. we better hope and pray that MM visit is set and that it is the last thing in his mind.... cause even though i love UK, it isn't something i would bet alot in, when tubby goes up against either Billy, Roy or Coach K, after a player whom the other schools are pushing for hard.. i know billy wants patterson as much as we do, though i don't know the level of interest of roy or coach k
Roy's interest isnt very much. He is a backup plan for K. I think Billy D has Hickson locked up and really just wants Patterson as a rub it in your face, hold you down recruit to Tubby.

KennesawCat

08-21-2006, 02:57 PM

It really sticks me when we think we are to the point that we can't have recruit A as long as Roy is after him, or recruit B as long as Coach K wants him, or recruit C because Billy is really interested in him.

How I long for the days when Roy, K, and Billy can't have them because they are coming to UK.

Chunks06

08-21-2006, 03:07 PM

Stonewall

08-21-2006, 07:41 PM

Chunks06 wrote: KennesawCat wrote: It really sticks me when we think we are to the point that we can't have recruit A as long as Roy is after him, or recruit B as long as Coach K wants him, or recruit C because Billy is really interested in him.

How I long for the days when Roy, K, and Billy can't have them because they are coming to UK.

The strange part is Tubby seems to have finally figured out how hard he has to work to bring in recruits and its probably to late to real in a big class this year, therefore probably making it to late for him to keep his job much longer.

I have heard this same opinon expressed by others. If Tubby does not reel in a big class he is gone. I am not sure it is that simple. I think UK would have to bottom out with several 15 plus losses a year seasons before Tubby will be shown his pink slip. Getting rid of Tubby Smith is not going to be easy. Wait and see. (if it comes to that and I don't know if it will come to that) That remains to be seen.

RCS

08-22-2006, 10:30 AM

KennesawCat wrote: It really sticks me when we think we are to the point that we can't have recruit A as long as Roy is after him, or recruit B as long as Coach K wants him, or recruit C because Billy is really interested in him.

How I long for the days when Roy, K, and Billy can't have them because they are coming to UK.

Frankly, we have always lost recruits to UNC. That school recruits like no other for whatever reason. They have twice as many McAA as UK has and that stated in the 70's, so this has been going on for a long time. Roy is a great recruiter anyway, so combined with UNC he has become a recruiting machine.

Way too early to panic about this class. If we get Patterson, Coker, Lucas and Pettigrew that is a very solid class. Maybe Tubby get nothing but leftovers, but until that happens I am not going to panic.

As for Tubby, recruiting will never, ever do him in. Losing will. You can argue they go hand in hand, but Tubby got blasted for the Fitch, etc. class and then proceeded to win a whole lot of games with those guys. If he continues to recruit relatively poorly, but wins a lot of games, he will not be going anywhere.Estill was nowhere on the recruiting radar and turned into a very good center. Daniels was recruited as a guard and made a pretty good c/pf. You just never know. If Carter and Stevenson come around we may not be as desperate for big men as we think.

I am not downplaying this class. I think it is of vital importance, I am just pointing out that recruit alone will never get Tubby fired, only losing can do that and it is going to take a couple of years of losing to do that.

poodoo

08-22-2006, 12:41 PM

RCS wrote: KennesawCat wrote: It really sticks me when we think we are to the point that we can't have recruit A as long as Roy is after him, or recruit B as long as Coach K wants him, or recruit C because Billy is really interested in him.

How I long for the days when Roy, K, and Billy can't have them because they are coming to UK.

Frankly, we have always lost recruits to UNC. That school recruits like no other for whatever reason. They have twice as many McAA as UK has and that stated in the 70's, so this has been going on for a long time. Roy is a great recruiter anyway, so combined with UNC he has become a recruiting machine.

Way too early to panic about this class. If we get Patterson, Coker, Lucas and Pettigrew that is a very solid class. Maybe Tubby get nothing but leftovers, but until that happens I am not going to panic.

As for Tubby, recruiting will never, ever do him in. Losing will. You can argue they go hand in hand, but Tubby got blasted for the Fitch, etc. class and then proceeded to win a whole lot of games with those guys. If he continues to recruit relatively poorly, but wins a lot of games, he will not be going anywhere.Estill was nowhere on the recruiting radar and turned into a very good center. Daniels was recruited as a guard and made a pretty good c/pf. You just never know. If Carter and Stevenson come around we may not be as desperate for big men as we think.

I am not downplaying this class. I think it is of vital importance, I am just pointing out that recruit alone will never get Tubby fired, only losing can do that and it is going to take a couple of years of losing to do that.

Excellent, balancedpost, RCS, as usual.

RCS

08-23-2006, 03:14 PM

Thanks poodoo.

One more thing to add, Hickson stated that part of the reason for his list was those schools were recruiting him the hardest. If that means UK has not been on him like white on rice I will be very disappointed. I hope we are not, once again, going all in on a recruit only to see them go elsewhere. I like our chances for Patterson, but I sure hope Tubby has a plan B, and that it is a good one, should Patterson not choose UK.

JohnJ

08-23-2006, 09:09 PM

RCS wrote: KennesawCat wrote: It really sticks me when we think we are to the point that we can't have recruit A as long as Roy is after him, or recruit B as long as Coach K wants him, or recruit C because Billy is really interested in him.

How I long for the days when Roy, K, and Billy can't have them because they are coming to UK.

Frankly, we have always lost recruits to UNC. That school recruits like no other for whatever reason. They have twice as many McAA as UK has and that stated in the 70's, so this has been going on for a long time. Roy is a great recruiter anyway, so combined with UNC he has become a recruiting machine.

Frankly, your recollection is incorrect. UK led UNC (and Duke too) for many years (up through most of the Eddie Sutton years) as the school who had recruited the most McDonalds All Americans. For example, here is a list through 1988.Ifone wants to actually look at what happened in recruiting in the 1970s it is UK 6 - UNC 4 for that decade.

UK (20)
Dwight Anderson - 1978
Clarence Tillman - 1978
Chuck Verderber - 1978
Sam Bowie - 1979
Derrick Hord - 1979
Dirk Minniefield - 1979
Bret Bearup- 1980
James Master - 1980
Roger Harden - 1982
Kenneth Walker - 1982
Winston Bennett - 1983
James Blackmon - 1983
Edward Davender - 1984
Cedric Jenkins - 1984
Richard Madison - 1984
Irving Thomas - 1985
Rex Chapman - 1986
Eric Manuel - 1987
Chris Mills - 1988
Shawn Kemp - 1988

UNC (20)
Pete Budko - 1977
Al Wood - 1977
Jim Braddock - 1979
James Worthy - 1979
Matt Doherty - 1980
Sam Perkins - 1980
Michael Jordan - 1981
Buzz Peterson - 1981
Brad Daugherty - 1982
Curtis Hunter - 1982
Dave Popson - 1983
Kenny Smith - 1983
Joe Wolf - 1983
Steve Bucknall - 1985
Jeff Lebo - 1985
Kevin Madden - 1985
Peter Chilcutt - 1986
J.R. Reid - 1986
Scott Williams - 1986
King Rice - 1987

Duke (12)
Gene Banks - 1977
Vince Taylor - 1978
Johnny Dawkins - 1982
Tommy Amaker - 1983
Martin Nessley - 1983
Danny Ferry - 1985
Quin Snyder - 1985
Alaa Abdelnaby - 1986
Phil Henderson - 1986
Greg Koubek - 1987
Christian Laettner - 1988
Crawford Palmer - 1988

Hmmm, that is kind of interesting, I just noticed that Leron Ellis, who was a 1st team Parade HS All American and later a 1st round NBA pick, was not a McDonalds HS All American. He gotsnubbed by McDonalds likeJamal Mashburn and Jason Parker.

Stonewall

08-24-2006, 05:50 AM

KennesawCat wrote: UK dropped to "Low Interest" according to Scout. Anyone know why?

The more I think about your question the more convinced I become that Hickson realizes he would be a better fit in a Gator or Tennessee Vol uniform.

The young man runs the floor like a deer. For a big man he gets up and down as well as anyone in this class. I am not sure Coach Smith would improve his game, in fact I think he would hold him back and J.J. probably realizes this.

His best fit would be with Coach Pearl at Tennessee. He just has too much quickness to play for Kentucky.

audacious1

08-24-2006, 08:52 AM

Stonewall wrote: KennesawCat wrote: UK dropped to "Low Interest" according to Scout. Anyone know why?

The more I think about your question the more convinced I become that Hickson realizes he would be a better fit in a Gator or Tennessee Vol uniform.

The young man runs the floor like a deer. For a big man he gets up and down as well as anyone in this class. I am not sure Coach Smith would improve his game, in fact I think he would hold him back and J.J. probably realizes this.

His best fit would be with Coach Pearl at Tennessee. He just has too much quickness to play for Kentucky.

I don't believe that's true. It may be the perception of some, but given the right talent, Tubby's Kentucky teams have moved the ball up-and-down the court. He's just not into the Helter Skelter, frantic mode of some programs.

Getting kids ready for the next level is something Tubby is good at, especially on the defensive end and NBA GMs understand that.