Official Player Declarations Thread
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BeddieKU23 said:
Jalen Lecque will try and go to the NBA from High School. Looks like he’ll have a good chance of getting approved to do so.
As my friend told me who worked with him this season, he has some bad influences in his corner. Huge gamble for this kid. Needs a lot of work.
This is my fear with the OAD rule disappearing. After LeBron, there was a significant increase in the number of HS kids entering the draft and that was 15 years ago before YouTube and social media existed. Now, I fear that so many HS kids will have a false sense of how good they are and will ruin their lives by declaring for the draft, hiring an agent, taking impermissible benefits, being told they aren’t good enough for the NBA, not able to go to school, and not able to play pro ball anywhere.
The NBA and NCAA really need to work together on this so that kids don’t ruin their lives because I can already see 20+ HS kids entering the draft and doing everything to ruin their potential college careers when they aren’t drafted or invited to a Summer League team.
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@HighEliteMajor Carson Edwards is an interesting case. Kind of streaky.
Watch Carson and the rest of the purdue team lose their minds on the famous buzzer beater. 3-4 guys start chasing the ball down court instead of staying home and forcing a half court prayer. No way should that guy have been wide open. Heartbreaking loss for sure, but they can shoulder some of the blame for just losing their heads. And while I understand the strategy, the foul when winning by 3 in the last 10 seconds strategy took a major hit in that game.
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This is sort of one of those Mitchell Robinson type cases. A talented player with a lot of ears telling him one thing and reality being another. Lecque could have technically tried to enroll in College this past year but he wouldn’t have qualified at most schools. He went to Brewster for a reason (academics being the biggest). I’m not sure he would get qualified at NC St if he did go. Tennessee backed off at the end with those same concerns.
I agree that the OAD rule ending might cause an initial wave of players wanting to try and get to the league ASAP. I think it will take some time to know the year to year expectations of what kids these days may do. I think NBA GM’s have gotten smarter as well. I can’t imagine the College game will allow the HS ranks too many combine invites (they may have to extend the total) to meet the demand.
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If the NCAA will allow the undrafted HS kids to maintain their eligibility it may not be so bad. Especially with Bill being good at pulling kids late.
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dylans said:
If the NCAA will allow the undrafted HS kids to maintain their eligibility it may not be so bad. Especially with Bill being good at pulling kids late.
I think that’s where we’ll eventually wind up. Kids just have to maintain the NCAA’s version of amateur status.
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Simi Shittu going pro.
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OK , so as I’ve heard and the way I’m understanding it - -right now at this present time - -we have 1 Scholi available right? - -that’s after Braun & McBride right? - -Charlie’s Scholi right ?
With that being said when all is said and done - - what do we end with? - - I think we got some decent shots at some players - -I think we get ONE of these grad transfers maybe I think pretty decent shot at Stanley and Hurt - -and maybe one other of some type - I think we will still get 4 more to in some form or another – -WHAT YOU THINK GUYS? - - rock chalk all day long baby
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We have 2. Only had 12 players this yr
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@BeddieKU23 Unless I’ve missed something the only roster movement I know of is -Charlie -Vick +McBride +Braun. So back to 12 scholarship players (of 13) currently. 2-5 more guys will likely leave though.
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BeddieKU23 said:
We have 2. Only had 12 players this yr
just Curious cause I have no idea - - just read off other sites saying we just had Charlie’s
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You guys are right. I can’t COUNT
We had Vick, Dotson, Moore, Garrett, Agbaji, Lawson & Grimes at Guard/Wing. (7)
Dedric, Azubuike, De Sousa, McCormack & Lightfoot, in the post. (5)
Vick leaves the team. Moore transfers. (-2)
Signed recruits- McBride & Braun (+2)
Technically KU has 12 scholarship players at the moment. We all know that’s unlikely to stick.
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Lindell Wiggington has declared with plans to hire a agent and stay in the draft.
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@Woodrow Surprising figured he’d stay and be one of their man guys next year. Don’t believe I’ve seen him on many draft boards.
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He Almost left last yr. It is a bit surprising he is leaving when he had a good chance to lead them next yr
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@BeddieKU23 to Port over your news from another thread. KJ gone (-1) = 11
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Ok so , Charlie -now KJ so that now gives us two available right?
KJ come as no surprise for sure - -which just also just validate the point even that much more that Dedric is gone - -which we all knew anyways - -So that’s for sure 3 scholi’s available. - -I had been saying KJ was gone anyways - -getting married and his brother leaving - pretty close to Dedric - -had heard this quite some time ago - -If Dedric left which we know he is - -then chances were KJ was leaving - -no surprises here . – ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Things not looking so hot in Ames. And yeah glass houses and whatnot but I’m still laughing.
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approxinfinity said:
@BeddieKU23 to Port over your news from another thread. KJ gone (-1) = 11
Ha I was just coming to say I got the math right, just a few hours off.
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@jayballer73 Yep Dedric is gone.
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Is KJ gone for sure? I haven’t seen that reported anywhere…
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Woodrow said:
Is KJ gone for sure? I haven’t seen that reported anywhere…
Never mind. Just saw it. No surprise to me. I expected him to leave with Dedric. I doubt Self was surprised either.
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Is it just me or is the cupboard is getting pretty bare if Dok is not back? We have 5 open scholarships unless I’m missing something.
PG: Dotson SG: Grimes (assumption) SF: Ochai PF: ? C: Big Dave
G: Garrett G: McBride G: Braun F: Mitch
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Grimes will leave. Gonna need to add a lot of guys. Ideally 3 HS guys and a couple grad transfers.
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Blackshear at VT will seek a modest fortune in Europe, like his dad did, [instead of transfering]. Not official, but he will is my guess.
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I don’t know why guys are just point blank proclaiming so and so will leave like it’s a fact? Grimes will leave, Doke will leave, Dedric will leave, I keep hearing people say this as fact. I understand speculation. But good grief, are you texting these guys? Are you Self’s bff’s so he tells you everything?
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BShark said:
Grimes will leave. Gonna need to add a lot of guys. Ideally 3 HS guys and a couple grad transfers.
They was talking About this on the recruiting today - -saying Grimes leaving will play a major factor in Stanley rather he comes or not.
Grimes comes back - -chances are really slim - -if Grimes leaves - -a lot better chance of him coming here. - -also said if Dixon takes the UCLA job - -that would be the best thing that could happen for anybody/everybody else that is recruiting Stanley - -more or less insinuating Dixon goes to UCLA - -Stanley won’t be going there. lol
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wissox said:
I don’t know why guys are just point blank proclaiming so and so will leave like it’s a fact? Grimes will leave, Doke will leave, Dedric will leave, I keep hearing people say this as fact. I understand speculation. But good grief, are you texting these guys? Are you Self’s bff’s so he tells you everything?
Let me put it to you this way - - if you think that Dedric is coming back next year? - - - - - - -let me ask you if your interested in some swamp land in Florida reasonably cheap? lmao - -he has nothing to gain here - -another year will not improve his NBA stock status very much by returning next year. - - Now with KJ transferring out - -is also a pretty good sign Dedric is gone. - -those two pretty tight , Dedric I’m sure has already informed KJ what his decision was - thus the KJ transfer - in the end run with KJ getting married he might not even end up anywhere - -just start his social life the ol grind of life - -Don’t worry he won’t be back.
The only reason Doke would come back would be for his degree. He for sure is not going to improve his NBA stock , and like they were talking on the show today - -he is ready to start making money - whether somebody gives him a shot just off being 7 ft and 280 lbs - - -the way he has been injury prone - -hell he isn’t going to come back and risk getting hurt again - -maybe an injury that could keep him from playing NBA - -OR oversea’s either one an make nothing. - -99% - -to 1% he won’t be back.
Grimes of those 3 would be the most iffy. - he would be THE one with the most possibility of coming back. - -yet that happening - -with his parents in his ear - -talking to NBA personel getting feed back - in the off season getting input - -parents saying this was just an off year - - an no matter what type of season - we all should know and most do know they still draft on Potential and ceiling and the NBA still loves his potential - -good size I -have no reason to be texting any of these guys – seems pretty simple for the reasons I mentioned. - but it’s ok - -everyone can hold on to their opinions - - and eternal hope - - - - - -na he not coming back -IF he does I’d be mildly surprised , but not holding my breath. – ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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wissox said:
I don’t know why guys are just point blank proclaiming so and so will leave like it’s a fact? Grimes will leave, Doke will leave, Dedric will leave, I keep hearing people say this as fact. I understand speculation. But good grief, are you texting these guys? Are you Self’s bff’s so he tells you everything?
KJ announcing that he’s transferring is pretty much the writing on the wall that Dedric is leaving. It’s pretty much always been assumed they were a package deal and with KJ going, it’s probably just a matter of time until Dedric declares.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 did you think dedric would declare first?
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@Crimsonorblue22 I did!
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Updated the Opening Post to reflect the KJ transfer. Waiting until something official comes out regarding Dedric to update him but we all can see the writing on the wall there.
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Come on grimes… do it. Leave… listen to all your people and parents… ones who’ve been telling you how great you are, your POTENTIAL… you are N.B.A. … materiel dammit!!! Self was and is making you play in ways that are NOT conducive to your development, all that emphasis on defense and switching and setting picks and passing… these really are not needed in the NDA (the NoDefenseAssociation) that is your goal. You are wasting your time here.
Selby is by far my least fav player ever to don a KU Jersey, and grimes, you will be very close second. Do it!! I will follow your career thru whatever league you end up in… and however long you can manage to play for whatever $ you can make. Just leave KU so we can get someone who actually WANTS to play ball for KU, wants to invest their selves in college and the program.
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I don’t share your disdain for the players but I do share your disgust for what college basketball has become. I almost wish the roster was nothing but 3/4 stars that we can actually watch develop. It’s becoming more like a pro game with massive free agency.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 See you have enough sense to say it’s “pretty much handwriting on the wall”. You didn’t say Lawson is gone for sure. I agree, he probably is, Doke, I’m not sure. Grimes? @BShark wrote it like it’s a fact. It’s not a fact. I want Grimes back. I have hope that he’ll improve, be more experienced. We enjoyed the junior year Wayne Selden, but were all pretty frustrated with the freshman version.
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@wissox Remember the Wayne dunk on Baylor when his Uncle went berserk? Remember when Paul Pierce went nuts against OU. Junior Year Great Memories. He absolutely needs to come back or Q will wind up on the “Might Have Beens Basketball Scrap Heap”
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@wissox Come on man, if it’s on the internet somewhere - it HAS to be true…
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Question for the board- what your take on the Lawson’s now that their one-year stint at KU is over… how will they rank for you as the years pass… how would you assess their impact on the current program.
For me, Dedrick was pretty essential in winning games, because of the weird year we had with no doke, no desousa, the second disappearance of Vick (will we ever find out the full story in that?) but… he always just seemed like he was doing his thing, forcing as many shots as he was scoring them, and he never felt like a team leader type. I never sensed that playing for KU for him was a big deal vs any other decent program. I never got the Love-for-KU vibe very much from him (and does that really matter?) He behaved exactly like a guy who knew all along he was here for one year, showcasing his skills in a marquee program before going pro. That is the new reality. He certainly won games for us for sure. kJ? I wanted to like him… he seemed a bit lost at times, but got better as the season wore on. He must have known all along it he was here just a year as well. Mercenaries comes to mind.
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@Bosthawk I liked Dedric. I just didn’t like him for our team. He’s a piece that is good enough to win you some games but not good enough as a centerpiece. I’ve always wondered what he would have looked like with a full cast around him.
I think for those who point at Doke going down as the moment our dreams of title contention were dashed gloss over the fact that Doke and Dedric did not play well together. On paper, we always assumed that they would, but in reality, the lack of athleticism while still both clogging the lane, and inability to pass from both of those guys made me doubt that it would ever really gel.
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Bosthawk said:
“I never got the Love-for-KU vibe very much from him (and does that really matter?)”
For me, that’s one of the most important things. I LOVE the guys that come here because they’ve always respected KU, or the ones that get recruited who have maybe very little knowledge of KU, but quickly learn the history and grow to love it.
There’s literally too many to name, but even this year, Mitch LIghtfoot is that guy. He was the Arizona player of the year and, while he’s no Zion, you don’t get to be the player of the year in any state without being very good. He probably could have played at a lot of schools and done very well, but he loved KU and chose to play at KU knowing his PT would probably be limited.
I want a whole dang team full of MItch Lightfoots - guys that bring the energy, have a great attitude and put the team first.
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Dedric not dedrick was here 2 yrs. While he was here he won several awards. His D drove me nuts, but I believe he loved being a Jayhawk, cried like a baby after our final loss.
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@nuleafjhawk NIT?
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@Crimsonorblue22 HUH? Not following you …
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@Fightsongwriter That dunk was great, but his dunk against Kentucky in AFH that same season was just as great! It was against a 7 footer forget the name right now, but whoa, he threw it down!
Speaking of Selden, the Bulls pitiful roster has given him the chance to be starting right now, been holding his own.
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@dylans yes, I love Mitch too, but…
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@dylans What I meant was Mitch Lightfoot attitudes.
But, NIT might not have been so bad this year…beats our one and done.
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@wissox I have connections to the Grimes family (know people who know the family), don’t hold your breath on Grimes coming back is my opinion on Grimes. He should come back because he needs a solid full season instead of a few games at the end of the year to show his worth, but it sounds like Grimes is dead set on being a OAD like Josh Selby was.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 And we will hear his name in the news the same amount as we heard Josh’s
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Josh was better.
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At the very least Grimes should test the waters. Like the rest of you I don’t think he is ready but perhaps there is someone in the NBA that does. With the current rules not taking the chance to get honest feedback is a bit silly.
