Kentucky losing 5 to the NBA draft

[jps1983]

As expected, UK is losing most of its underclassmen to the draft. With the amount of pure talent the team had, they really underachieved. It just shows the value of experience over pure talent IMHO.

Five UK players, including John Wall, declare for NBA draft - ESPN

 

[BEATtutorsee]

Underachieved? Can't say I really agree with that even though I understand the point you're trying to get across. 35-3 with a regular season & conference tourney title, along with an Elite 8 run in the NCAA tourney constitutes a very good season IMHO. They practically beat themselves in their match-up with WVU otherwise who knows how far they may have actually gone. Even the best players and teams have off nights.

 

[RTR91]

I'm kind of surprised to see Bledsoe leave. I had heard that some thought he should stay another year or so.

 

[jangalang]

How shady can you get? Recruit 5 star guys just to tell them they can leave after a year. :rolleye2: Now, if it's just one player, so be it. But, 4 freshmen going is absurd. Calipari is definitely not promoting the "student" in "student-athlete".

 

[Ldlane]

How shady can you get? PAY 5 star guys just to tell them they can leave after a year. :rolleye2: Now, if it's just one player, so be it. But, 4 freshmen going is absurd. Calipari is definitely not promoting the "student" in "student-athlete".

Fixed that for you!

 

[DzynKingRTR]

LDlane, it is not very nice to be so truthful.

 

[Harmost]

Orton too? All he did was prove he knows how to goaltend.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

i'd still bet a quarter Bledsoe and Orton come back, especially Bledsoe. Unless he's already hired an agent, he could sure use another year to show what he can do without Wall on the court.

With Orton, well you can't reach height so maybe a pro team would pick him up. Still, his minutes should jump dramatically without the Big Tantrum on the court.

 

[bamahippie]

Did they fix the APR to where losing that many underclassmen doesn't hurt you? If not, after a few more years of that style of recruiting, daaaaang.

 

[jangalang]

Fixed that for you!

It's hard to imagine why these 5 would want to take a pay cut in this economy. :biggrin:

 

[mdb-tpet]

A couple of more years of freshmen not graduating, and Kentucky won't have scholarships to give out.

 

[peteswell4]

I know the NBA often drafts solely based on potential, but Orton is a giant stretch. He looked lost everytime he was on the court and is not even the player that Randolph Morris was (who was somewhat of a disappointment). Orton will probably get picked, but he will not develop for 4 or 5 years. To me, he seems like a player that will need development even after 3 or 4 years of college.

 

[BEATtutorsee]

Orton could definitely use another year (at the least) IMO, but I'm not overly surprised by Bledsoe's decision. He still has plenty of things to work on and another year in college would do him a world of good, but he's got first round talent right now IMHO. He's not quite as dynamic as Wall but he's a better shooter and a better defender than Wall is IMHO. If he continues to improve his shooting he'll be a very good pro.

 

[mark4tide]

Most of the mock drafts I have looked at have all 5 going in the first round. It really hurts college basketball letting guys leave after 1 year. Either make them stay 3 like football or go straight out of high school. Most of the freshmen will end up in Europe for a couple of years with nothing to show for it.

 

[CajunCrimson]

Most of the mock drafts I have looked at have all 5 going in the first round. It really hurts college basketball letting guys leave after 1 year. Either make them stay 3 like football or go straight out of high school. Most of the freshmen will end up in Europe for a couple of years with nothing to show for it.

I'm not sure I agree. They go after their NBA dream....

1) if they make it great.
2) If not, they go play in Europe and make 6 figures.....some even make 7.....
3) They go back to College and get a degree
4) If they aren't college material, they get a job working with someone because of their contribution (even for a year) to the University
5) If they can't make it there....then they are no worse off then when they started.......

If they end up with nothing to show for it, perhaps they weren't mean to have anything to show for it. Not everyone is entitled to success..... BUT, if they work hard enough, they should at least be able to stay at Stage 4 or better.

If they are a loser, then they'll get lost.....otherwise, they are getting breaks that 99.9% of us never got.....