April 10, 200719 yr Me too, Nelter didn't make the sweet 16 as a senior. What did Neltner do until his senior year? I mean he wasn't even able to cut it at LSU while there! It wasn't until his senior year when he started to do pretty decent. I mean yeah if we were going to get a sheray thomas, we should have just got Neltner instead. But in reality we shouldn't have got none of those guys, because none of them would have made much of a difference. If we got people like Neltner in that recruiting class we still probably would be where we are at today. That class needed to have two big time big men, and then maybe two role guys like Perry, and then maybe a Doelman or Neltner...But just switching those guys for Ky boys would have done nothing to really change anything...
April 10, 200719 yr I agree that noone knows the future. But Lofton led his team to back to back state championship games and was always a stand out shooter. His junior year he couldnt be stopped and nothing changed his senior year. I agree looking back Bradley and Crawford had the better potential but Lofton did stand out in High School basketball no matter the competition. And that shot was a great one even though I agree that should have nothing to do with recruiting except maybe a "clutch factor" added onto the list. Well Crawford also was winning state championships, and I think Bradley may have won one but I am not sure on that one. So the guys we brought in was also winners, and as you said probably had better potential and was ranked higher. It just made sense to take them over Lofton, who NO COACH in America except for Mid Majors really wanted. The only reason UT got him is because they had a kid leave on them and at the last minute they had to find someone to fill that spot....
April 10, 200719 yr are you serious? No St. Henry did. And had Lofton and Mason Co on the ropes in the 1st Rd.
April 10, 200719 yr are you serious? Yes Highlands lost to Simon Kenton who lost to St. Henry in the regional finals.
April 10, 200719 yr Author Well Crawford also was winning state championships, and I think Bradley may have won one but I am not sure on that one. So the guys we brought in was also winners, and as you said probably had better potential and was ranked higher. It just made sense to take them over Lofton, who NO COACH in America except for Mid Majors really wanted. The only reason UT got him is because they had a kid leave on them and at the last minute they had to find someone to fill that spot.... That turned out to be a great move for them didn't it.
April 10, 200719 yr Author It just made sense to take them over Lofton, who NO COACH in America except for Mid Majors really wanted. The only reason UT got him is because they had a kid leave on them and at the last minute they had to find someone to fill that spot.... That turned out to be a great move for them didn't it.
April 10, 200719 yr That turned out to be a great move for them didn't it. Hummm you quoted two things of mine in two different post that were the same thing? So first of all I see that you are new, so you might want to work on that... Also yeah unless you are someone who can tell the future, you didn't know it would have worked out this way either. If your a coach you need to do what looks to be best for your team, and what UK did in choosing them over Lofton was the right move at the time. Yeah seeing how Lofton turned out, it is VERY EASY for people like you, to say it was the wrong move. And Im sure you like some others would say well I knew he would be good. But No top coach in America thought he would do anything, they thought he was a nobody. So everybody missed on him, and that just happens sometimes...
April 11, 200719 yr Minus Lofton no KY kids in the last 4-5 years would have done anything for the UK program to make things better. Bottom line is the talent in KY isn't as good as some of you think and when a player that is good enough (Miller) to come to UK he will be offered a Scholly.
April 11, 200719 yr One of the many problems with tubby was he didn't recruit players from Kentucky. Chris Lofton, Ross Neltner, Preston Knowles, the list goes on and on. Actually, the list doesn't go on and on. There's isn't more than five players from the state in the last five years that could have seen any considerable time for UK. Lofton, Neltner, and maybe Doleman (sp.) are three but you really have to struggle to round out the list. The state just isn't producing the caliber of players year in and year out like it has in the past. Look at the Mr. Basketball winners from 1983-93 and look at where they played college. Then do the same thing from 1994 to present. Kentucky fans can't have it both ways. You can't crucify Tubby Smith for recruiting Kentucky players like Josh Carrier, Brandon Stockton (both were Mr. Basketballs), Adam Chiles, Todd Tackett, Cory Sears, and Preston LeMaster and then get on here and say he didn't recruit enough Kentucky players. Let's face it. Most of the Kentucky players he recruited to UK just didn't pan out for one reason or the other. Some couldn't hack it at the college level, some sealed their own fate with poor academics, and others got kicked off. I'm sure it got to the point where Tubby felt recruiting players in-state carried with it some sort of curse. Again, look at the Mr. Basketball winners from 1983-93 and then from 1994 to present. And when UK fans get in a tizzy and make their list of Kentucky players that got away, there is a huge drop-off in talent from Lofton and the rest of the list. Lofton was the victim of bad timing. UK got Rondo, who was rated well ahead of Lofton by every recruiting service. When UK signed Rondo, the only people I remember throwing a fit about that choice were the vocal people from Maysville, and probably rightfully so. People were making posts saying how Lofton was too short, couldn't create his own shot, etc. People were saying Rondo would take UK to the Final Four. It just didn't happen. I don't think Tubby deserves the bad rap for not recruiting in-state. He recruited in-state and it produced way more duds than studs. But like I said, it's not like he lost a Lofton-type player every year. When Lofton was named Mr. Basketball, here is the KY/IN roster for that same year. Parfait Bitee Louisville Western Terence Farley Pleasure Ridge Park Demetrius Green Lexington Catholic Tyrone Green Wayne County Demetrius Guions North Hardin Bo Harris Clark County Jarrod Litzinger Mason County Matt Maresca Warren Central Harrison Morton Lexington Catholic Ty Rogers Lyon County Boris Siakam Caverna See anyone on that list that should have went to UK? This was the KY/IN roster the following year. Domonic Tilford Jeffersontown Curtis Pulley Hopkinsville Kyle Saxton Trinity Bret Saxton Trinity Zach Berry Trinity Will Reeves Ballard Keaton Belcher Pendleton County Eric Fields South Laurel Bryant Furman Rowan County Saihou Jassey Rose Hill Troy McFarland Warren Central Steve Sexton Wayne County Brennan Votel Covington Catholic See anyone on this list that could have helped UK? Started a game for them? The in-state talent just isn't there year after year like it was 20 years ago -- even for current UK standards. I think it's ridiculous to think otherwise.
April 11, 200719 yr Guys please no more Lofton Talk...To be honest he wouldnt be the player he is today if he went to UK...Tubby recruited that 04 class to please his critics and look where that got him...Great class does not equal success!!! Chris wasnt a Tubby kind of player, thats why he's at UT...Now the future is if that Billie G can get Stephon Pettigrew and Miller locked up, then those 2 could play a big role...But hammertime ur right, nobody in the last 4-5 yrs could help UK from this state (unless it was me) LOL
April 11, 200719 yr Actually, the list doesn't go on and on. There's isn't more than five players from the state in the last five years that could have seen any considerable time for UK. Lofton, Neltner, and maybe Doleman (sp.) are three but you really have to struggle to round out the list. The state just isn't producing the caliber of players year in and year out like it has in the past. Look at the Mr. Basketball winners from 1983-93 and look at where they played college. Then do the same thing from 1994 to present. Kentucky fans can't have it both ways. You can't crucify Tubby Smith for recruiting Kentucky players like Josh Carrier, Brandon Stockton (both were Mr. Basketballs), Adam Chiles, Todd Tackett, Cory Sears, and Preston LeMaster and then get on here and say he didn't recruit enough Kentucky players. Let's face it. Most of the Kentucky players he recruited to UK just didn't pan out for one reason or the other. Some couldn't hack it at the college level, some sealed their own fate with poor academics, and others got kicked off. I'm sure it got to the point where Tubby felt recruiting players in-state carried with it some sort of curse. Again, look at the Mr. Basketball winners from 1983-93 and then from 1994 to present. And when UK fans get in a tizzy and make their list of Kentucky players that got away, there is a huge drop-off in talent from Lofton and the rest of the list. Lofton was the victim of bad timing. UK got Rondo, who was rated well ahead of Lofton by every recruiting service. When UK signed Rondo, the only people I remember throwing a fit about that choice were the vocal people from Maysville, and probably rightfully so. People were making posts saying how Lofton was too short, couldn't create his own shot, etc. People were saying Rondo would take UK to the Final Four. It just didn't happen. I don't think Tubby deserves the bad rap for not recruiting in-state. He recruited in-state and it produced way more duds than studs. But like I said, it's not like he lost a Lofton-type player every year. When Lofton was named Mr. Basketball, here is the KY/IN roster for that same year. Parfait Bitee Louisville Western Terence Farley Pleasure Ridge Park Demetrius Green Lexington Catholic Tyrone Green Wayne County Demetrius Guions North Hardin Bo Harris Clark County Jarrod Litzinger Mason County Matt Maresca Warren Central Harrison Morton Lexington Catholic Ty Rogers Lyon County Boris Siakam Caverna See anyone on that list that should have went to UK? This was the KY/IN roster the following year. Domonic Tilford Jeffersontown Curtis Pulley Hopkinsville Kyle Saxton Trinity Bret Saxton Trinity Zach Berry Trinity Will Reeves Ballard Keaton Belcher Pendleton County Eric Fields South Laurel Bryant Furman Rowan County Saihou Jassey Rose Hill Troy McFarland Warren Central Steve Sexton Wayne County Brennan Votel Covington Catholic See anyone on this list that could have helped UK? Started a game for them? The in-state talent just isn't there year after year like it was 20 years ago -- even for current UK standards. I think it's ridiculous to think otherwise. Great Point!!! I think it has been a dropoff in talent in this state for awhile...at least 10 yrs
April 11, 200719 yr Has Walls signed with anyone yet? Someone told me today a player from Scott Co. Signed with Louisville!
April 11, 200719 yr Author Actually, the list doesn't go on and on. There's isn't more than five players from the state in the last five years that could have seen any considerable time for UK. Lofton, Neltner, and maybe Doleman (sp.) are three but you really have to struggle to round out the list. The state just isn't producing the caliber of players year in and year out like it has in the past. Look at the Mr. Basketball winners from 1983-93 and look at where they played college. Then do the same thing from 1994 to present. Kentucky fans can't have it both ways. You can't crucify Tubby Smith for recruiting Kentucky players like Josh Carrier, Brandon Stockton (both were Mr. Basketballs), Adam Chiles, Todd Tackett, Cory Sears, and Preston LeMaster and then get on here and say he didn't recruit enough Kentucky players. Let's face it. Most of the Kentucky players he recruited to UK just didn't pan out for one reason or the other. Some couldn't hack it at the college level, some sealed their own fate with poor academics, and others got kicked off. I'm sure it got to the point where Tubby felt recruiting players in-state carried with it some sort of curse. Again, look at the Mr. Basketball winners from 1983-93 and then from 1994 to present. And when UK fans get in a tizzy and make their list of Kentucky players that got away, there is a huge drop-off in talent from Lofton and the rest of the list. Lofton was the victim of bad timing. UK got Rondo, who was rated well ahead of Lofton by every recruiting service. When UK signed Rondo, the only people I remember throwing a fit about that choice were the vocal people from Maysville, and probably rightfully so. People were making posts saying how Lofton was too short, couldn't create his own shot, etc. People were saying Rondo would take UK to the Final Four. It just didn't happen. I don't think Tubby deserves the bad rap for not recruiting in-state. He recruited in-state and it produced way more duds than studs. But like I said, it's not like he lost a Lofton-type player every year. Alright, first of all, I am not criticizing Tubby for that 04 class, he did a great job that year in recruiting. And, I wanted Lofton to go to UK, but I was a Lofton fan at the same time of being a UK fan, but I still knew that he would not get hardly any playing time if he did go to UK. Also, I started this because I wanted people's opinions on the subject, and too see if people has the same view as I do in that UK should recruit more players like Carrier and Stockton and LeMaster instead of guys like Coury who is from Michigan and Ramon Harris who is from Alaska. Those guys are not nearly as good as the good Kentucky players.
April 11, 200719 yr Has Walls signed with anyone yet? Someone told me today a player from Scott Co. Signed with Louisville! No, Walls has not made a decision yet.
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