D. Johnson commits to UK.

Simply UNBELIEVEABLE recruiting class. Hard to believe it could get even better. Are you listening Mr. Randle? Mr. Wiggins? Mr. Gordon? 

Wow this will be a long off seasons to wait for these guy to get on the court for UK, this season is not even half over and can't remember a time when I was looking forward to next year as much, when season has not even ended!!!

Great pick up, I called him a young Andrew Bynum when he was a freshman at St Patrick. Great rebounder and very very good defender in the Kendrick Perkins mold. He moves Lee to the bench unless Kyle has a horrible year next year.

Moving him to the bench really do you have a clue how coach Cal play all the great players together,  or is it just sour grapes again for you...

quinceyh wrote: Great pick up, I called him a young Andrew Bynum when he was a freshman at St Patrick. Great rebounder and very very good defender in the Kendrick Perkins mold. He moves Lee to the bench unless Kyle has a horrible year next year.

You could say that you are putting the cart in front of the horse with that assessment.  Lee is having a great season and KYLE has an opportunity to improve a great deal more with his game.  Actually its a great problem to have because Willie is going to improve himself into being a Draft pick,  I believe.  His upside continues with every game he does better,  and when he begins to have touch on his shot inside and his free throws,  his upsides begins to go out the roof.

When has there ever been sour grapes first of all, can I have one example? Second I said Kyle would come off the bench if he had a bad year, third yes Lee is having a good year but what ranked player is not having a good year? And what kind of year would you say Dakari is having considering he was the MVP of their last tournament on the number one team in the nation?


So where is the sour grapes in saying Kyle and Dakari will start and Lee will come off the bench? Where's the sour grapes in saying lee wold start if Kyle didn't have a good year next season? Isn't that exactly ow this year has played out, Kyle starting and Will coming off the bench and now Will starting and Kyle coming off the bench

Three cheers for UK!

quinceyh wrote: When has there ever been sour grapes first of all, can I have one example? Second I said Kyle would come off the bench if he had a bad year, third yes Lee is having a good year but what ranked player is not having a good year? And what kind of year would you say Dakari is having considering he was the MVP of their last tournament on the number one team in the nation?


So where is the sour grapes in saying Kyle and Dakari will start and Lee will come off the bench? Where's the sour grapes in saying lee wold start if Kyle didn't have a good year next season? Isn't that exactly ow this year has played out, Kyle starting and Will coming off the bench and now Will starting and Kyle coming off the bench

I didn't say sour grapes but it seems you put both posts together and started with your rant.  I actually agreed with you, if Kyle doesn't put a complete game together this year,  I can see him coming off the bench again next year and with Lee, we will just have to say wait and see what he brings to the team.

Bleed said sour grapes, there's never been any sour grapes. Wen UK beat Maryland for the twins I congratulated, same with when UK beat Maryland. I think Mike must have done something. Lol


As far as Cal playing good players together, I think I've always said Cal is one of the few who has proven that he can get good young talent to play well together. Also have to add that I watched two of Willis games recently and I advice people do not sleep on this kid. He is skilled and has a nice jumper with range. You might not notice by looking at him but he will put it on someone's head as well. He doesn't jump out of the gym but when he is close to the basket he tries to bang it.

I dont know about anyone else , but I would rather see Kyle come off the bench . I am not sold on a 7 footer hucking up 3's all night . He doesn't seem to have enough athleticism to do much in the paint .

Gish13 wrote: I dont know about anyone else , but I would rather see Kyle come off the bench . I am not sold on a 7 footer hucking up 3's all night . He doesn't seem to have enough athleticism to do much in the paint .

The good part about Kyle is,  he has seen what CAL does with his bench and like Miller,  he knows he will get minutes because his true talent is shooting 3's.  Kyle may never be quick enough to guard a truly talented forward but he can get smarter.  Sometimes Kyle's problems aren't his quickness, its his placement on the floor or this is something that he can work on and really make an improvement in.

I don't think Larry Bird was any quicker that Wiltjer, but he understood where to be on the floor to make up for his lack of speed and quickness. I know for sure that Larry wasn't a better leaper than Kyle, but it didn't keep him from being a good rebounder. Kyle needs to eat Larry Bird tapes three times a day and you would see a different player next fall.

DanISSELisdaman2 wrote: I don't think Larry Bird was any quicker that Wiltjer, but he understood where to be on the floor to make up for his lack of speed and quickness. I know for sure that Larry wasn't a better leaper than Kyle, but it didn't keep him from being a good rebounder. Kyle needs to eat Larry Bird tapes three times a day and you would see a different player next fall.

Dan,  I don't often disagree with you,  but comparing Larry Bird with Kyle right now,  is not fair to Kyle. First of all,  when I said he needed to be smarter,  we agree,  but he is not there now by a long shot but its not out of his realm of expectation in his next couple of years.

I think that Wiltjer will be fine.  He has a great attitude.  He's smart.  He'll continue to improve.  I'll be very surprised if he isn't a solid contributor until he graduates.  As mentioned, keep Miller in your mind.  I love guys like this.  Now, if only Hood would hit the switch...

Larry Bird was a helluva lot stronger and his confidence and on the court instincs were like no other.

  Wiltjer will be fine, just needs to get stronger

IH8BlueDevils wrote: Larry Bird was a helluva lot stronger and his confidence and on the court instincs were like no other.

  Wiltjer will be fine, just needs to get stronger

Yeah,  like I told Dan,  its alittle unfair to compare the two.  Bird,  Hall of Fame,  Won 3 NCs, was a 3 time NBA MVP, 9 time first team ALL NBA player, was Rookie of the YEAR, and is listed as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history. Plus he helped win a GOLD medal.

DanISSELisdaman2 wrote: I don't think Larry Bird was any quicker that Wiltjer, but he understood where to be on the floor to make up for his lack of speed and quickness. I know for sure that Larry wasn't a better leaper than Kyle, but it didn't keep him from being a good rebounder. Kyle needs to eat Larry Bird tapes three times a day and you would see a different player next fall.

EXACTLY! LETS NOT forget Kyle also has the best post up game of anyone besides Poy on our team that sky hook with either hand is lethal wish he would use it more also he can drive pretty well but when you are one of the top 5 shooters in CB why do much else???

Nothing exciting going on in the Stanford/Maryland basketball boards??  Why do you come to our boards to talk about our recruits and commits and try to play it off like you know where and how our coach is going to play his players.  Your not even a fan of the team so how can you claim to know?

quinceyh wrote: Bleed said sour grapes, there's never been any sour grapes. Wen UK beat Maryland for the twins I congratulated, same with when UK beat Maryland. I think Mike must have done something. Lol


As far as Cal playing good players together, I think I've always said Cal is one of the few who has proven that he can get good young talent to play well together. Also have to add that I watched two of Willis games recently and I advice people do not sleep on this kid. He is skilled and has a nice jumper with range. You might not notice by looking at him but he will put it on someone's head as well. He doesn't jump out of the gym but when he is close to the basket he tries to bang it.

UKlaw82 wrote:

DanISSELisdaman2 wrote: I don't think Larry Bird was any quicker that Wiltjer, but he understood where to be on the floor to make up for his lack of speed and quickness. I know for sure that Larry wasn't a better leaper than Kyle, but it didn't keep him from being a good rebounder. Kyle needs to eat Larry Bird tapes three times a day and you would see a different player next fall.

Dan,  I don't often disagree with you,  but comparing Larry Bird with Kyle right now,  is not fair to Kyle. First of all,  when I said he needed to be smarter,  we agree,  but he is not there now by a long shot but its not out of his realm of expectation in his next couple of years.

I didn't mean he was as good as Larry Bird, I was just saying he needs to watch some Bird film and learn from it. Bird was not quick or a great leaper, but he was a great BB player, because he understood the game and covered his weaknesses by knowing where to be at all times. He also had a determination to be the best player on the floor and that is something that has to come from within the player himself. It can't be coached.

Kyle will not be at UK next year quincey.  Please dont try to play it off like you know what is going on.

quinceyh wrote: Great pick up, I called him a young Andrew Bynum when he was a freshman at St Patrick. Great rebounder and very very good defender in the Kendrick Perkins mold. He moves Lee to the bench unless Kyle has a horrible year next year.

Mike, Maybe you can enlighten me in regards to kyle. Ill be shocked if kyle isnt here for 4 years. I like kyle as a college player but i have a hard time seeing him as an NBA prospect.

^^^^ Please

I've watched several highlight tapes of DJ and I'm not that impressed.  It must be a down year for centers or something.  I hope he proves me wrong.

bleedblue711 wrote: I've watched several highlight tapes of DJ and I'm not that impressed.  It must be a down year for centers or something.  I hope he proves me wrong.

He looked pretty good in that game a couple of nights ago (the night he committed to UK).

Kyle must be leaving for Europe because he would go undrafted in the NBA.

As far as DJ, there are some games where you may come away not so impressed but that is due to him not getting the ball much due to being double teammed or Hill being on fire. The kid steps up when he needs to, he played Okafor to a draw when they played a couple weeks ago and he got the the MVP in the last tournament they played on. Its not a great year for centers but he is a very very good one.  He doesn't need to put up great stats because he is on the best team in the country. The kid does exactly what UK will need, he plays great defense and rebounds better than anyone in his class and you can throw the ball too him on the block and he will score.  Think Andrew Bynum.


edit-I just reread what you said and you said highlight tapes. DJ isn't a highlight tape guy, he doesnt jump out of the gym and isn't super fast so highlight tapes. you have to watch a game of him to appreciate his skills

DanISSELisdaman2 wrote:

UKlaw82 wrote:

DanISSELisdaman2 wrote: I don't think Larry Bird was any quicker that Wiltjer, but he understood where to be on the floor to make up for his lack of speed and quickness. I know for sure that Larry wasn't a better leaper than Kyle, but it didn't keep him from being a good rebounder. Kyle needs to eat Larry Bird tapes three times a day and you would see a different player next fall.

Dan,  I don't often disagree with you,  but comparing Larry Bird with Kyle right now,  is not fair to Kyle. First of all,  when I said he needed to be smarter,  we agree,  but he is not there now by a long shot but its not out of his realm of expectation in his next couple of years.

I didn't mean he was as good as Larry Bird, I was just saying he needs to watch some Bird film and learn from it. Bird was not quick or a great leaper, but he was a great BB player, because he understood the game and covered his weaknesses by knowing where to be at all times. He also had a determination to be the best player on the floor and that is something that has to come from within the player himself. It can't be coached.

I see where you are coming from.  Last year Kyle knew his role being surrounded by so many good players but I think this year he has wanted to be the leader in his own right but with these guys,  even though they are all very talented,  were not easily lead especially when after the MD game he was the guy who was shooting bricks and was benched.  Kyle again needs to remember his role,  its a very valuable role,  I can't mention MILLER enough, because without him do we really win the NC?  Kyle gets smarter,  and becomes a great 4 year player, off the bench for us,  he will get a chance in the NBA no matter what anyone thinks because the team success will dictate it for him.

---------------------------------------------
--- bleedblue711 wrote:

^^^^ Please

---------------------------------------------

Please???

What?

I want Mike to explain how Kyle will not be here next year.  I think he's here for four years just like you and probably the rest of the board.  Mike is very confident that Kyle will leave after this year but I just don't see it.

I see bleed^^
Yeah, kyles a 4 year player and imo he is just the type of player we need to recruit(similar to willis) to mix some experience in with the awesome one-and-done talent we have coming every year. We need these type players just as much as the lottery picks.