Harrison twins returning to Kentucky

[Terry Webster]

We just need to be sure we do not play them until the last game.

Hey, whatever game we play them in the tourney will be their last game.

[ClickClack]

No one said that Kentucky did not have a talented team. No doubt they are loaded with talent every year. Next year is no different. Every year their Freshmen are expected to be the best of the best, loaded with one and done talent. Every year a couple of misguided Freshman or Sophomores decide to leave Kentucky early for the NBA. See last year Archie Goodwin, Nerlens Noel. Two years ago Doron Lamb, Marques Teague, Darius Miller.

Darius Miller went to the NBA after playing 4 years at Kentucky. Noel was a lottery pick, how was he misguided?

[StandUp]

Point was that the Kentucky hype machine does not always produce NBA ready talent. Expectations tremendous every year and a number of underclassmen think that they are ready for the NBA. More than half of the Kentucky underclassmen who declare early for the NBA are not ready.

Can anyone say "Ron Mercer"? I believe he was drafted by the Boston Celtics. How about Derrick Anderson? Archie Goodwin, Doron Lamb, Marques Teaque. Something tells me that the Harrison Twins and the 2 centers who decided to return to Kentucky realized that they were not ready. Good for them for accepting reality.

So I was wrong about Darius Miller, my mistake. I guess he wasn't an underclassman when he went to the NBA. He still isn't exactly an NBA household name. Regarding Norlens Noel, yes he was lottery pick. Doesn't mean much until he gets on the floor and proves his worth. Hasn't he been hurt or rehabing since he was drafted. Maybe he played a few games for the 76ers, but I wouldn't call that living up to expectations.

[whitwiki]

The sixers shut him down before the season started because they wanted to tank the season.

[Terry Webster]

Yahoo has an article that says that Uk has 9 McDonalds AA on the roster next year which the average NBA team has 5. That team has the potential to really scary good.

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumo ... n-kentucky

[ClickClack]

Point was that the Kentucky hype machine does not always produce NBA ready talent. Expectations tremendous every year and a number of underclassmen think that they are ready for the NBA. More than half of the Kentucky underclassmen who declare early for the NBA are not ready.

Can anyone say "Ron Mercer"? I believe he was drafted by the Boston Celtics. How about Derrick Anderson? Archie Goodwin, Doron Lamb, Marques Teaque. Something tells me that the Harrison Twins and the 2 centers who decided to return to Kentucky realized that they were not ready. Good for them for accepting reality.

So I was wrong about Darius Miller, my mistake. I guess he wasn't an underclassman when he went to the NBA. He still isn't exactly an NBA household name. Regarding Norlens Noel, yes he was lottery pick. Doesn't mean much until he gets on the floor and proves his worth. Hasn't he been hurt or rehabing since he was drafted. Maybe he played a few games for the 76ers, but I wouldn't call that living up to expectations.

Ron Mercer and Derek Anderson both won national championships at Kentucky and both stayed for3 years. Ron Mercer averaged 14 points for his NBA career and Derek Anderson averaged 12ppp for his NBA career. What are you talking about? How are these two players from the late 90's relevant to this conversation.

Yes, Kentucky has players with immense talent leave for the draft too early, Archie Goodwin, Daniel Orton, Doron Lamb. But the NBA draft has become all about potential not actual performance. I don't agree with guys like that leaving early, because in the NBA you make your money on your second contract, not the first. Look how many kentucky players have left early and off to good/great NBA careers...

[StandUp]

We are both saying the same thing, "Kentucky has players with immense talent leave for the draft too early. "the NBA draft has become all about potential not actual performance."

Your point about "Look how many kentucky players have left early and off to good/great NBA careers..."
Like I originally said it is about 50%, 50% when it comes to Kentucky players who are actually productive players in the NBA, players that reached their potential. Off the top of my head...

Reached their potential and expectations...
Jamal Mashburn, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans, Eric Bledsoe, Norlens Noel (jury is still out on him)

All the hype, but did not reach their potential...
Archie Goodwin, Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb, Terrance Jones, Enes Kanter, Brandon Knight, DeAndre Liggins, Patrick Patterson, Daniel Orton, Jodie Meeks, Ron Mercer, Derrick Anderson

[Harry0569]

Point was that the Kentucky hype machine does not always produce NBA ready talent. Expectations tremendous every year and a number of underclassmen think that they are ready for the NBA. More than half of the Kentucky underclassmen who declare early for the NBA are not ready.

Can anyone say "Ron Mercer"? I believe he was drafted by the Boston Celtics. How about Derrick Anderson? Archie Goodwin, Doron Lamb, Marques Teaque. Something tells me that the Harrison Twins and the 2 centers who decided to return to Kentucky realized that they were not ready. Good for them for accepting reality.

So I was wrong about Darius Miller, my mistake. I guess he wasn't an underclassman when he went to the NBA. He still isn't exactly an NBA household name. Regarding Norlens Noel, yes he was lottery pick. Doesn't mean much until he gets on the floor and proves his worth. Hasn't he been hurt or rehabing since he was drafted. Maybe he played a few games for the 76ers, but I wouldn't call that living up to expectations.

But please feel free to gloss over John Wall, Anthony Davis, Eric Bledsoe, Boogie Cousins who are all (borderline) All-Stars.

His name is Nerlens. He was dominant defensively until he got hurt - a Tyson Chandler 2.0.

It's all about potential production for NBA scouts/GMs. I agree that some guys aren't ready, but if you're a potential lottery pick, you should go pro. Guaranteed contract.

[LA_Mustang]

Your points are so ridiculous, not sure why I bother to respond. If 50% of your players drafted have productive NBA careers that is outrageously impressive. Name another school that has players drafted on a yearly bases with a better percentage.

[Harry0569]

We are both saying the same thing, "Kentucky has players with immense talent leave for the draft too early. "the NBA draft has become all about potential not actual performance."

Your point about "Look how many kentucky players have left early and off to good/great NBA careers..."
Like I originally said it is about 50%, 50% when it comes to Kentucky players who are actually productive players in the NBA, players that reached their potential. Off the top of my head...

Reached their potential and expectations...
Jamal Mashburn, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans, Eric Bledsoe, Norlens Noel (jury is still out on him)

All the hype, but did not reach their potential...
Archie Goodwin, Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb, Terrance Jones, Enes Kanter, Brandon Knight, DeAndre Liggins, Patrick Patterson, Daniel Orton, Jodie Meeks, Ron Mercer, Derrick Anderson

- Tyreke Evans went to Memphis.
- Noel has been hurt (the jury has not even go to deliberations)
- Archie Goodwin played well in limited minutes (youngest player in NBA)
- Marquis (should've stayed)
- TerrEEEEEnce Jones (useful rotation player for HOU)
- Kanter (lottery pick who never saw the floor at UK)
- RIP Brandon Knight
- Liggins was an upperclassmen
- Patterson was an upperclassmen
- Orton didn't play and was a first rounder. He saw the talent coming the following year and got out at his peak
- Meeks never played for Cal my friend. And he has had an extremely productive career.

[Harry0569]

Your points are ridiculous, not sure why I bother to respond. If 50% of your players drafted have productive NBA careers that outrageously impressive. Name another school that has players drafted on a yearly bases with a better percentage.

StandUp's response - http://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/confe ... BA_Players

[StandUp]

LA Mustang - I do not know why you even bother to respond either. Not much value added. You belittle people without actually taking the time to state your educated opinion. Go figure. Same old story. Don't expect much more from you. Your post "Your points are so ridiculous, not sure why I bother to respond."

Harry - Sorry to misspell Norlens, Nerlens... be sure to call the message board police on me, I am on my way into the station. I will turn myself in I did not gloss over any players who actually reached their potential, please reread my post. Your list of Kentucky players Jodie Meeks, Terrance Jones, Marquis Teague, Archie Goodwin, etc. proves my point. Jodie Meeks is a bench player for the Lakers, not exactly production. Terrance Jones has barely cracked the rotation with the Rockets. I could go on and on. The underlying point is yes Kentucky has lots of talent on their current roster, everyone agrees, lots and lots of hype, but my guess is that most if not all of their players will do little to nothing in the NBA. Good high school players, over hyped, not coached well (at Kentucky), won't deliver in the pros.

If you really want to turn this thread into a Kentucky vs Duke thread, we all know who would win. No need to do that. Take the top 5 Duke players drafted vs the top Kentucky players drafted. Kyrie Irving, Austin Rivers, Carlos Boozer, Elton Brand, Shane Battier, Luol Deng, Mike Dunleavy, Grant Hill... Kentucky: Jamal Mashburn, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins.

Duke produces more NBA ready talent than Kentucky when it comes to highest drafted players.

[Harry0569]

Harry - Sorry to misspell Norlens, Nerlens... be sure to call the message board police on me, I am on my way into the station. I will turn myself in I did not gloss over any players who actually reached their potential, please reread my post. Your list of Kentucky players Jodie Meeks, Terrance Jones, Marquis Teague, Archie Goodwin, etc. proves my point. Jodie Meeks is a bench player for the Lakers, not exactly production. Terrance Jones has barely cracked the rotation with the Rockets. I could go on and on. The underlying point is yes Kentucky has lots of talent on their current roster, everyone agrees, lots and lots of hype, but my guess is that most if not all of their players will do little to nothing in the NBA. Good high school players, over hyped, not coached well (at Kentucky), won't deliver in the pros.

If you really want to turn this thread into a Kentucky vs Duke thread, we all know who would win. No need to do that. Take the top 5 Duke players drafted vs the top Kentucky players drafted. Kyrie Irving, Austin Rivers, Carlos Boozer, Elton Brand, Shane Battier, Luol Deng, Mike Dunleavy, Grant Hill... Kentucky: Jamal Mashburn, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins.

Duke produces more NBA ready talent than Kentucky when it comes to highest drafted players.

I'm not trying to be the police, just saying you lose (don't gain) credibility when you mispell player's names. All it takes is a simple google search. Attention to detail (or lack thereof) bothers me immensely.

Full Disclosure - I rooted for Duke growing up as my best friend's dad went there and I watched all of the games with him. Three of my best friends (I have no idea how) went to UK, and for the past three years I have watched the majority of their games with them. Thus, I'm not trying to make it a Duke vs. UK thing as I have friends who attended/root for both teams.

Not every player is expected to be the next coming of Jesus Shuttlesworth. Hell if you hit on a player in the draft and he becomes a functional rotational player/bench guy, you are doing well Jodie Meeks, who started 70 games this year. Archie Goodwin was a 19 year old rookie (youngest player in NBA), so it would be asinine to make declare him a bust.

I would argue that Cal is one of the best coaches in the land. He is a hell of a recruiter and his ability to build chemistry and mold a successful roster with a ton of turnover every year is incredible.

Duke has had its share of flame outs/guys who didn't play/sucked as well, namely Christian Laettner (Shavlik, Shelden Williams, Duhon, Roshown McLeod, etc.), so couldn't I make the same point about Duke?

I could go go on and on with every school, so making sweeping generalizations like you have done is absurd.

I started reading your response then got to Austin Rivers / point about Terrence Jones. Do you even watch the NBA?

-LOL talk about not being ready. The only reason Rivers played the last half of this season was so that the Pellies could lose games/tank/keep their top 8 protected pick. On a PER basis, he was one of the WORST players in the NBA this season (and last season).

- Terrence Jones plays almost 28 mpg and avged 13 and 7 (19 PER). Don't think that's just cracking the lineup.


*** We have all forgotten to include Rondo in the UK discussion btw.

[Zman89]

Yahoo has an article that says that Uk has 9 McDonalds AA on the roster next year which the average NBA team has 5. That team has the potential to really scary good.

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumo ... n-kentucky

Only 1 basketball on the court during games.

[Harry0569]

Kentucky is early NCAA fave for 2015 at 5/1 via @BovadaLV

BREAK OUT THE 40-0 SHIRTS BBN. lol