RaceToTheTop

This is interesting. Does seem to be a guy very connected with Kentucky hoops.

Jaden Bradley, 6'3" point guard from the class of 2022 and ranked 26th in the class, has committed to Arizona. Transferred from Alabama where he averaged 6.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 20 minutes per game.

Cuffe is a 6'2" guard that played 6 minutes in two years at Kansas. Kansas is going to have space for who they want if they can get them to commit. Cuffe was likely just hanging around. Even without him gone they likely had two spots to fill. The question isn't really about if what scholarship is available but rather how a potential fills they suit what they are interested in doing. What I would say is guys like Cuffe should never commit to Kansas. Maybe IU will get to a point where there is so much talent that a guy ranked 117th in their class shouldn't bother committing, but we're not there. Kansas is.

I think HD committing would not be a selling point for MM. Just my opinion, nothing else. He could go to Duke and deferred to others offensively if he wanted to.

FWIW.....Jalen Wilson played two minutes in Kansas' opener as a freshman and then broke his ankle in the second game. Regardless of his injury, he was set to only get a handful of minutes that year. If they are going to show him tape of how they Wilson became an NBA player, they are going to be showing highlights from his senior year. If they are wanting to show how he could quickly make it to the NBA, I'm not sure Jalen Wilson highlights are the way to go. And my feeling is that he wants to be a one and done, which is part of the reason that he chose not to stay committed to Duke where his role would be lesser as a freshman. Kansas may be the team to beat -- I have no idea, could very well be it's Indiana, Louisville, or St. John's -- but I'm not really sold that the four year development of Jalen Wilson is something that sells MM.

They do have money, but so far it has not been transferring to big gets in recruiting. From what we had heard about Ledlum, St. John's was a pretty distant third despite him being from Brooklyn. At this point they've brought in: Glenn Taylor, Oregon State. Averaged 11.6 points. Quinn Slazinski, Iona. Average a shad over 11 points but only played 7 games due to injury. Naheim Alleyne, U Conn. Averaged 5 points. Cruz Davis, Iona. Averaged 6.5 points at Iona. Daniss Jenkins, Iona. Averaged 15.6 points, 4.4 reb, 4.9 assists. All the previous staff's commits decommitted. The only high school commit so far is Brady Dunlap, who's a 150ish type of player and the other commit is a JUCO player. Everyone except Soriano left, so they are completely started from scratch. Has to be a little discouraging that that haven't brought in any big names and three of the five transfers were guys that played under Pitino previously. Daniss Jenkins is a nice player but really wasn't even the most sought after Iona player -- he chose Florida over St. John's. The other player of value he could have picked up plays pretty much the same position as Soriano and he chose to go to New Mexico. The money will be there at St. John's, but right now the brand isn't and the facilities definitely aren't. Playing more in MSG helps, but they'll still be playing half their home games at Carneseca Arena, which is simply horrible.

I think Dickinson makes a decent amount of money from his shirt line (Big Dickinson Energy) -- enough that where he ends probably becomes a small factor. A team that translates nationally = greater shirt sales. Kentucky and Kansas would fit that bill, not sure Maryland does.

Recruiting high school players will start to balance out a little more once players don't have the extra covid year anymore.

Josiah Allick (New Mexico) transfers to New Mexico. 6’8” interior player averaged a shade over 8 points and 7 rebounds. edit: transferred to Nebraska.

I don’t think it’s that straightforward in terms of Mgbanko’s decision. I don’t know exactly what he wants, only that it involves something that Duke couldn’t offer.

FWIW, If Mgbako were two sign with Louisville, Torvik has them jumping 17 spots.....to #133. He may end up there, but that team is simply not built to win yet. Can't expect to have the number of freshman they are set to have and win much. And in today's climate, you aren't going to keep them together as a group all that long.

If you think NIL is ruining the game, reminder Florida Atlantic and San Diego State were in the final four.

I’m one of a running from my hometown who had scholarship offers to both IU and Ohio State in the mid ‘70s that went to IU because his parents had a lot of medical bills run up and the doctor said he would wipe them out if he went to IU. This is a crummy football program 50 years ago…..this has always been going on in different firms, just less money.

Have to say this will keep players in college longer….just not in one place.

If I'm Julian Reese, I'm following this very closely and looking at when the portal deadline is.

In terms of St. John's and Pitino: I think Pitino's shelf life of 'getting players to the NBA' isn't something that registers with players he's recruiting. Its been 6 years since he was at Louisville and it's not like Iona players weren't going pro. So the kids he's trying to bring in certainly haven't seen with their own eyes guys that developed under his watch and got there. Pitino made a calculated risk and drove every player on the team out except for Joel Soriano. The roster has finally started to fill out but IMO it's mostly been just guys that are okay or are roster fillers.....most of the better recruits he brought in were players he had Iona with him. With Dunlap added, Torvik puts their roster for 2023 at 80th. They still can pick up players, but so far the top dogs are biting for Pitino. He certainly can offer a high caliber player the ability to have offensive freedom, but so far that hasn't worked either. In terms of Louisville and Payne: Louisville was horrible last year. But I'm also seeing a team whose transfers out are finding good places. Their best transfer in is Skyy Clark and no one seems to know what the heck is going on with him. Can offer money and immediate offensive impact, but recruits seem to pretty turned off to the program now. Kansas is Kansas. So I think if Mgbako goes to St. John's or Louisville it's mostly about touches and offensive focus. Kansas, again, all depends on playing time. All four spots have NIL money to offer.

Shemarri Allen, 6’4” guard from Kansas City (used to be Missouri Kansas City) in the portal. 1 year eligibility. Averaged 17 points, 5 rebounds and 2.7 assists. 34% three point shooter.

One of my favorite.....pretty subtle song that builds slowly. Best version I've seen is when they performed it live on Conan. "Lights" by Interpol.

Yeah, but didn't learn how to rebound either.

Conner Vanover in the portal. Oral Roberts 7'5" center, started his college career at California before moving on to Arkansas and then Oral Roberts. One year of eligibility left. Last year averaged 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds. Has some perimeter shooting skills, 32% for his career and is an excellent free throw shooter. 3.2 blocks/game last year. Was an okay player the three years he was in power conferences. D.J. Rodman -- Dennis Rodman's son -- enters the portal. 6'6" forward at Washington State. Averaged 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds in 31 minutes/game. Shot 41% from the field including 38% from three (51 of 134).

The one I disagree with is Arterio Morris being a 'gamble for Bill Self and Morris should be all-defensive Big 12'. The gamble IMO is by Morris who firmly planted himself behind both Dajuan Harris and Nicolas Timberlake in Kansas' backcourt and even potentially behind a couple of freshman guards they have coming in. At best, Morris is an interesting third guard in a talented backcourt. Think Morris had so many better options to transfer to and be a potential star.

Even if Dickinson goes to UK, there is still a question if Jaylon Tyson is going to commit to Kansas. He's pretty good -- 6'6" small forward, played at Texas the year before, averaged 10.7 points and 6.1 rebounds, 40% three point shooter and was ranked 36th out of high school. And they already have a couple of talented small forwards and power forwards -- Kevin McCullar is a small forward testing the NBA draft but he's listed as a late second round in most mocks. Put up 11 points and 7 rebounds for Kansas last year. And at power forward, K.J. Adams averaged 10+ and will be returning as well. Their biggest need really is at center. They could move Adams to center, but that's not ideal as he's undersized. Ultimately, if I were building Kansas's team I would want to get either Tyson or Mackenzie but not both. If I were to make room for both, I'd prefer that last spot be taken up by a post player.

Redshirt candidate, hoping he grows one more inch.

Willing to bet if Oscar T stays in the draft, Dickinson goes to Kentucky. If he doesn’t, it’s Kansas EDIT: reserving the right to be wrong.

Pitino‘s caliber of ‘ladies’ at St. John’s don’t match up with what he had at Louisville. St.John’s NIL money can only afford women willing to briefly show a bra strap.