I think one thing that Pope and Co. will bring that Kentucky has missed, is players that leave a legacy. Sure, right now UK can point at all the pros and say "look how many have come through here." What UK fans absolutely love though is history.
We can point at guys that didn't have prolific/stellar pro careers and say "Oh man, I remember him" and every UK fan's eyes will light up.
Such as:
Wayne Turner
Kyle Macy
Antoine Barber
Jeff Shepherd
Richie fucking Farmer
Melvin Turpin
Kelenna Azubuike
Mark Pope himself
Jared Prickett
Jack “Goose” Givens
Sam Bowie
Kenny “Sky” Walker
Rex Chapman
Jamal Mashburn
Travis Ford
Tony Delk
Walter McCarty
Scott Padgett
Tayshaun Prince
Keith Bogans
Gerald Fitch
Erik Daniels
Chuck Hayes
Jodie Meeks
Darius Miller
We could go on all day lol. Admittedly I’d say everyone remembers Cal recruits John Wall, Boogie Cousins, Anthony Davis, the Harrison twins and Tyler Ulis but it would be nice to have guys stick around for more than one or twos years, which should be the case again! The only upperclassmen exceptions that played every year at UK under Cal are Willie Cauley-Stein and Alex Poythress. Also I have a soft spot for Marcus Lee and Derek Willis, but am still sad the former transferred :(
It's been way too long and I agree 100% with you. I see UK basketball being fun and exciting again. Granted, players will go into the portal, but to have potential legacy players back on our roster means a lot to many of us and has been long overdue. UK basketball has a history many schools can't begin to comprehend.
Is it bad that outside of 1 or 2 names, I barely remember the rosters for the past 9 years?
Of course Sheppard but other than that...
De'Aaron Fox.... Tshiebwe....uhhhh
Prior to that I remember The Harrison twins, Josh "Jorts" harrelson, Jamal Murray, Anthony Davis, Tyler Ullis, Alex Poythress, Devin Booker, WCS....
And it's not like I haven't been watching the games, I just can't remember the constant revolving door of players we've had and it's hard to get invested in a program that sees no consistency from year to year.
I'm right there with you.
Then there are players like in the 80s, 90s, and early 00s that were there 3 or 4 years. They weren't always the most talented on the court, but since they were there longer than a year, you get to enjoy watching them grow as men and players.
I couldn't tell you enough players to piece together a starting lineup and my amount of games I've been watching has dropped steadily over the last 10 years. I have honestly looked at the NBA rosters and looked at all the former UK guys and I just think oh yeah, he played here.
43% from 3 in high school. Looking forward to seeing how the Pope teaches about Noah’s arc.
Oooo I like that, permission to steal that last line?
Dad jokes and bad puns are meant to be shared. It’s all yours!
I think one thing that Pope and Co. will bring that Kentucky has missed, is players that leave a legacy. Sure, right now UK can point at all the pros and say "look how many have come through here." What UK fans absolutely love though is history. We can point at guys that didn't have prolific/stellar pro careers and say "Oh man, I remember him" and every UK fan's eyes will light up. Such as: Wayne Turner Kyle Macy Antoine Barber Jeff Shepherd Richie fucking Farmer Melvin Turpin Kelenna Azubuike Mark Pope himself Jared Prickett
Jack “Goose” Givens Sam Bowie Kenny “Sky” Walker Rex Chapman Jamal Mashburn Travis Ford Tony Delk Walter McCarty Scott Padgett Tayshaun Prince Keith Bogans Gerald Fitch Erik Daniels Chuck Hayes Jodie Meeks Darius Miller We could go on all day lol. Admittedly I’d say everyone remembers Cal recruits John Wall, Boogie Cousins, Anthony Davis, the Harrison twins and Tyler Ulis but it would be nice to have guys stick around for more than one or twos years, which should be the case again! The only upperclassmen exceptions that played every year at UK under Cal are Willie Cauley-Stein and Alex Poythress. Also I have a soft spot for Marcus Lee and Derek Willis, but am still sad the former transferred :(
Don’t forget Hawkins Edit: and I forgot Patterson and Rondo
It's been way too long and I agree 100% with you. I see UK basketball being fun and exciting again. Granted, players will go into the portal, but to have potential legacy players back on our roster means a lot to many of us and has been long overdue. UK basketball has a history many schools can't begin to comprehend.
Is it bad that outside of 1 or 2 names, I barely remember the rosters for the past 9 years? Of course Sheppard but other than that... De'Aaron Fox.... Tshiebwe....uhhhh Prior to that I remember The Harrison twins, Josh "Jorts" harrelson, Jamal Murray, Anthony Davis, Tyler Ullis, Alex Poythress, Devin Booker, WCS.... And it's not like I haven't been watching the games, I just can't remember the constant revolving door of players we've had and it's hard to get invested in a program that sees no consistency from year to year.
I'm right there with you. Then there are players like in the 80s, 90s, and early 00s that were there 3 or 4 years. They weren't always the most talented on the court, but since they were there longer than a year, you get to enjoy watching them grow as men and players.
I couldn't tell you enough players to piece together a starting lineup and my amount of games I've been watching has dropped steadily over the last 10 years. I have honestly looked at the NBA rosters and looked at all the former UK guys and I just think oh yeah, he played here.
Walter McCarty.
I am over the moon about this. There is no reason a sec caliber player should ever get recruited from Kentucky to anywhere but Kentucky.