Would be nice to have Jordan, Holmes and Walkup for sure.

 

UK currently has 3 scholarships to hand out, with two obviously earmarked for Patterson and Lucas. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

By looking at Texas A&M's roster, it looks promising that he will recruit within Kentucky. On last years roster, A&M had 21 of 23 players from Texas. The other 2 players were from outside the US.

The logic is not flawed if you listen to many people on the street, in the bars, and in the churches. Formerly avid UK fans are now lukewarm UK fans, if that. Often, they mention, sometimes in less than repeatable terms, the fact that Kentucky lacks much of what gave them a reason for "hometown pride" in the past. Haven't you heard the statement that, if we must lose or achieve only moderately, at least let's do so with some of our homegrown boys?

 

There are two choices: 1. Have the coach get the right players in here (regardless of geography) and get the team playing at a very high level or 2. Bring in KY kids (regardless of their ability to compete at the high D1 level) and be just "okay." You're advocating #2. I'll go with letting the coach fail or succeed with his "own" players.

 

 

As for fans "destroying" a Mr. Basketball, can the sentiment be any worse than what is the case now toward those on the team now taking a jersey away from Chris Lofton?

 

No comparison. In one case, young men are getting destroyed for not being able to play at the high D1 level. In the other, UK fans are not in anyway saying , in this case, Crawford/Bradley/et al cannot play. They're simply POd that Lofton has become the success that he has.

 

Ask Stockton and Carrier if they'd trade places with Crawford and Bradley.

 

If scholarships were unlimited, fine. However, in today's world you cannot take kids on simply to make a small portion of fans in the Commonwealth feel like they are being represented. Its a doomed policy.

I sincerely believe that UK should always offer a scholarship to Kentucky's Mr. Basketball. Most fans within the Commonwealth want to have some of our own wearing blue and white. It would play well with those fans, of which I am certainly one, to always make the offer. Whether it is accepted or not is up to the boy. Sometimes UK will get a fine player and sometimes it will get a lesser player. The level of talent on the team wouldn't suffer since UK often has a few "lesser" talents.

 

Nonetheless, it would be a good way for Gillispie to gain the support of many fans who long for players who have real ties to the Bluegrass State.

I can agree with you on this in most situations and years up to a point. If a Ky. Mr. Basketball does not fit a certain need for the team then I could understand not going after him. I do 100% agree with signing in state kids when possible though. Imo these are the kids that grow up dreaming of playing at U.K. and if they have the talent even close to and equal to some others Imo these in state kids will play with more of a passion than others. JMO.

The logic is not flawed if you listen to many people on the street, in the bars, and in the churches. Formerly avid UK fans are now lukewarm UK fans, if that. Often, they mention, sometimes in less than repeatable terms, the fact that Kentucky lacks much of what gave them a reason for "hometown pride" in the past. Haven't you heard the statement that, if we must lose or achieve only moderately, at least let's do so with some of our homegrown boys?

 

I still say an outsider like Gillispie can score some real points with the fans who will make or break him if he adopts this idea. As I said, sometimes it will be a good choice and sometimes it won't be a good choice. However, it will make a statement that needs to be made. This team is the Kentucky Wildcats and to Kentuckians that means more than just a name.

 

As for fans "destroying" a Mr. Basketball, can the sentiment be any worse than what is the case now toward those on the team now taking a jersey away from Chris Lofton?

That's what is wrong, with many UK fans, they want to dictate, whom to recruit, get local talent and this one, that one....then lambaste and criticize, when those players can't help at times. They believe they know more than the coach.

 

If a Mr. Basketball can play at UK, then go sign him. If he can't, let him go....I'm all about loyalty, but not at the expense of signing a player, just for the sake of doing so.

 

Just because he may be extremely proud to wear that UK on his chest, doesn't mean he's earned the right.

UK currently has 3 scholarships to hand out, with two obviously earmarked for Patterson and Lucas. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Is UK going to lose one of those due to Morris leaving early? If not I say they lock up Pettigrew.

Is UK going to lose one of those due to Morris leaving early? If not I say they lock up Pettigrew.

 

 

I'm not the guy to ask. :lol:

Anyone?

That's what is wrong, with many UK fans, they want to dictate, whom to recruit, get local talent and this one, that one....then lambaste and criticize, when those players can't help at times. They believe they know more than the coach.

 

If a Mr. Basketball can play at UK, then go sign him. If he can't, let him go....I'm all about loyalty, but not at the expense of signing a player, just for the sake of doing so.

 

Just because he may be extremely proud to wear that UK on his chest, doesn't mean he's earned the right.

 

Kentucky citizens are paying dearly to keep UK open. While it may be argued that basketball scholarships do not directly come from the taxpayers's pocket, most everything else at UK experienced by these basketball players does come from that pot.

 

We are all well aware that tuition, room, and board are only the tip of the iceberg in regard to what it costs for each student. Taxpayers foot the rest of the bill. I am merely stating the opinion of many taxpayers who would prefer to pay taxes to support a few more with whom they can identify.

 

On the other hand, cshs81, when the result is #1, fans tend to accept the situation. However, when it is clearly #2, they would like to moderately achieve with a few neighbors on the team.

 

One scholarship will neither make or break the team. However, it would bring support from many of those who are really paying the bills. And, if Mr. Basketball is a Chris Lofton, it is all gravy.

 

Are you saying that, in most years, the talent of our in-staters is inferior?

Are you saying that, in most years, the talent of our in-staters is inferior?

 

I'm saying that Mr. Basketball is not always the best player (see 1980 Stepp vs. Dicky Beal) so to make a blanket statement that Mr. B-ball gets a scholly is a failed policy.

 

You are also discounting how many scholarships are available each season. If its one or two and the coach is somehow locked into taking an inferior talent simply because some sportswriters who haven't seen the statewide talent have deemed one young man to be the best then , again, failure looms.

 

Is Walt Allen good enough to play at UK? Dom Tilford?Stockton? Carrier? Scott Hundley?

I'm saying that Mr. Basketball is not always the best player (see 1980 Stepp vs. Dicky Beal) so to make a blanket statement that Mr. B-ball gets a scholly is a failed policy.

 

You are also discounting how many scholarships are available each season. If its one or two and the coach is somehow locked into taking an inferior talent simply because some sportswriters who haven't seen the statewide talent have deemed one young man to be the best then , again, failure looms.

 

Is Walt Allen good enough to play at UK? Dom Tilford?Stockton? Carrier? Scott Hundley?

 

 

:thumb: Right on the money.

On last years roster, A&M had 21 of 23 players from Texas.

 

 

23 players.

 

Hahahahaha...

UK had 14 players on our roster.

Heck, If Billy G can just field players in each class, he's ahead of Tubby!

A big time Texas pipeline to UK is not a good thing for the rest of college basketball. I'll be very interested in who he has join the staff, and what ties they have to the east coast and midwest...

I'm saying that Mr. Basketball is not always the best player .

 

QUOTE]

 

That is very true. :banana:

It doesn't have to be THE Mr. Basketball.

 

HOWEVER, there are plenty of players in our state that leave and play well or very well at other schools.

 

It happens quite regularly.

 

Sometimes, the player was:

*Overlooked. (surprising)

*Wanted to play at another school.

*Blossomed from a certain system.

*Developed a better game.

 

 

BUT, IMO, I think there are plenty of players who could/should have been on our team that weren't thepast few years.

That's what is wrong, with many UK fans, they want to dictate, whom to recruit, get local talent and this one, that one....then lambaste and criticize, when those players can't help at times. They believe they know more than the coach.

 

If a Mr. Basketball can play at UK, then go sign him. If he can't, let him go....I'm all about loyalty, but not at the expense of signing a player, just for the sake of doing so.

 

Just because he may be extremely proud to wear that UK on his chest, doesn't mean he's earned the right.

:thumb: Great post. Every player should earn the right to wear a name across his chest. Nothing is gained if something is given. I always believed in working for what you get and it has not failed me yet.

A big time Texas pipeline to UK is not a good thing for the rest of college basketball. I'll be very interested in who he has join the staff, and what ties they have to the east coast and midwest...

 

You hearing any names??? I have not as of yet.