by Paul Jordan
Remember just a few short weeks ago when the BBN was almost in a state of panic when the buzz started that UK may be down to just four scholarship players? “How will Calipari fill the roster?” egghead pundits cried. Well, after a flurry of recruits, Kentucky is just a few pieces away from fielding a legitimate top ten team. So let’s take a look at how all this has happened.
When the season ended, Kentucky had 13 scholarship players. Of those, Perry Stevenson, Mark Krebs, and Ramon Harris have graduated leaving 10 scholarships. And then the NBA exodus began and we know for sure that Patrick Patterson, DeMarcus Cousins, and John Wall are not walking back through that door again. For the sake or argument, let’s assume that Daniel Orton and Eric Bledsoe depart for the pros. Now without getting into a debate on Darnell Dodson’s status (as of now, he is still a Wildcat), here is a look at your 2010-2011 Wildcats after the 2010 recruiting bonanza thus (with their Rivals ranking and position when they committed):
PG – Brandon Knight – #1
PG – DeAndre Liggins – #28
SG – Doron Lamb – # 21
SG – Jon Hood – #40
SF – Stacey Poole – #27
SF – Darius Miller – #42
SF – Darnell Dodson – NR
C – Enes Kanter – NR – but eventually #25 or so
C- Josh Harrellson – NR
So as now, Kentucky has nine players on their roster. I do think that Kentucky will add either C.J. Leslie or Terrence Jones, which would fill the PF position. Let’s also say that Calipari works his magic and gets a commitment from Marcus Thornton as well. As we noted earlier, Kentucky made a preferred walk-on offer to Jarrod Polson. Let’s take a look at where the roster sits then:
PG – Brandon Knight – #1
PG – DeAndre Liggins – #28
PG – Jarrod Polson – NR
SG – Doron Lamb – # 21
SG – Jon Hood – #40
SF – Stacey Poole – #27
SF – Darius Miller – #42
SF – Darnell Dodson – NR
PF – Jones or Leslie – #13 or #14
PF – Marcus Thornton
C – Enes Kanter – NR – but eventually #25 or so
C- Josh Harrellson – NR
That will give Kentucky 11 scholarship spots and a 12 man roster with Polson as a walk on. This leaves two scholarship spots available (3 depending on Dodson), but here is where the numbers game comes into play. I know that this roster really needs a back up PG (depending on how effective Liggins can play the point now) but to be honest, this is the roster I see Kentucky going into battle with next year. Hopefully , Calipari can land both Jones and Leslie but if not, they still have a pretty impressive frontcourt with this roster. If Dodson does indeed leave, that will leave Kentucky with three open scholarships headed into the 2011 recruiting period. For the sake of argument, let’s say that Cal adds a JUCO PG or a player like Eloy Vargas.
Now it may sound insane to go into battle with two open spots, but this is keeping in line with what Cal has said in the past about carrying a ten to eleven man roster man roster in which everyone plays. And this is leaving two scholarships open for the what can be epic 2011 recruiting class. So far, Kentucky has added two players for that 2011 roster, Marquis Teague and Michael Gilchrist. Now Josh Harrellson graduates after the next season and let’s assume that Enes Kanter will be a one and done. To keep things interesting, let’s assume that Terrence Jones/C.J. Leslie also go the one and done route but that everyone else stays. Here is what the Kentucky roster will look like then assuming everyone else stays for another year:
PG – Brandon Knight – #1
PG – Marques Teague – #2
PG – DeAndre Liggins – #28
PG – Jarrod Polson – NR
SG – Doron Lamb – # 21
SG – Jon Hood – #40
SF – Stacey Poole – #27
SF – Michael Gilchrist – #1
SF – Darius Miller – #42
SF – Darnell Dodson – NR
PF – Marcus Thornton – NR
What you have there is a very star studded lineup, but one desperately in need of size. Currently we have 10 scholarships spoken for, with Polson still a walkon. Now before you get too concerned about Kentucky’s lack of frontcourt presence … let’s just speculate wildly and say that Kentucky can land Quincy Miller, Michael Chandler and Adonis Thomas to boost that frontcourt:
PG – Brandon Knight – #1
PG – Marques Teague – #2
PG – DeAndre Liggins – #28
PG – Jarrod Polson – NR
SG – Doron Lamb – # 21
SG – Jon Hood – #40
SF – Stacey Poole – #27
SF – Michael Gilchrist – #1
SF – Darius Miller – #42
SF – Darnell Dodson – NR
SF – Adonis Thomas – #11
PF – Quincy Miller – #3
PF – Marcus Thornton – NR
C – Michael Chandler – #10
Now that is the stuff of legends and this is the potential dynasty that Marquis Teague has been talking about. And if there is no Darnell Dodson, or say that Darius Miller or Liggins blowup this year and decide to test the NBA waters, that opens the door for a PG Anthony Wroten (#9) or a Quinn Cook (#20). I still think this team needs another big man or two and I doubt all the SF’s on this proposed roster will really be there and that can open up a roster spot or two as well.
I know it’s a lot of rampant speculation, but looking ahead like this does provide an answer as to why Cal is not really recruiting people like Wroten right now. And hopefully this gives you something to speculate about wildly on your own
while working on a Monday morning
while designing your own roster dynasty.
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ucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans