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Post by laaztec on May 12, 2023 9:43:31 GMT -8
Warren Washington to Texas Tech. Chasing that dollar.
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Post by Ambivalent_Fan on May 12, 2023 9:49:24 GMT -8
This guy is usually mostly right, about 85% of the time. KJ to Kentucky It's an interesting dilemma for KJ...join Kentucky (or a school like Kentucky with a STACKED 5-star roster)...get paid (a lot of $$) and mostly ride the pine and not really developing (which effectively eliminating his NBA aspirations)... ...or play at a school with more of a need (allowing him to "be the man")...but with a lot less NIL $$s If I was in his shoes...I'm not certain which way I would turn
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Post by rockshow on May 12, 2023 9:53:38 GMT -8
Keshad isn't going to ride the pine at Kentucky. He was a starter on a team that just went to the national championship game. He's a super athletic, 5th year defensive stalwart who is only going to be better than he was last season with another offseason of working on his game. Our own fans undervalue our own players so much, it's super weird.
Literally every single team in the country would give Keshad significant minutes. Every single team.
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Post by laaztec on May 12, 2023 9:56:05 GMT -8
Keshad isn't going to ride the pine at Kentucky. He was a starter on a team that just went to the national championship game. He's a super athletic, 5th year defensive stalwart who is only going to be better than he was last season with another offseason of working on his game. Our own fans undervalue our own players so much, it's super weird. He will come off the bench. He doesn’t have an offensive game. He’s athletic and is a good defender but is below average on offense.
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Post by rockshow on May 12, 2023 10:02:24 GMT -8
I actually think Kentucky is a great fit for him and there is definitely a world in which he starts on that team, especially if Chris Livingston leaves for the NBA. (He declared for the draft while maintaining his eligibility) If Livingston comes back, then that secures the stretch 4 spot that Keshad would occupy. But he is leaves, Calipari would love to sub in Keshad and not miss as much of a beat.
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Post by laaztec on May 12, 2023 10:07:08 GMT -8
I actually think Kentucky is a great fit for him and there is definitely a world in which he starts on that team, especially if Chris Livingston leaves for the NBA. (He declared for the draft while maintaining his eligibility) If Livingston comes back, then that secures the stretch 4 spot that Keshad would occupy. But he is leaves, Calipari would love to sub in Keshad and not miss as much of a beat. Keshad isn’t a stretch 4. He can’t shoot. He makes his living near the basket with put backs and dunks.
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Post by rockshow on May 12, 2023 10:25:01 GMT -8
I actually think Kentucky is a great fit for him and there is definitely a world in which he starts on that team, especially if Chris Livingston leaves for the NBA. (He declared for the draft while maintaining his eligibility) If Livingston comes back, then that secures the stretch 4 spot that Keshad would occupy. But he is leaves, Calipari would love to sub in Keshad and not miss as much of a beat. Keshad isn’t a stretch 4. He can’t shoot. He makes his living near the basket with put backs and dunks. He actually did play as a stretch 4 for us at times. We basically ran two different offensive sets depending on opposing personnel and game situation. Obviously towards the end of the season we played more with 2 dudes in the post ducking in. But we still had offensive sets where Keshad was out on the wing to space the floor. Keshad made both his three point attempts in the semifinals and final while running these sets. Keshad wants to play as a stretch 4. He's literally on record saying that he doesn't want to play as a 4 who posts. Every offseason he has added something to his game. His handles are way better than they were a couple years ago. And he has a smooth stroke. His shooting percentage was pretty abysmal (26.2%), but his form looks good and it's not like his shots were clanking and missing badly. More reps and getting to focus on his role primarily as a stretch 4 should improve his offensive game. And with all due respect to our guards, the best part of their games is not setting up their teammates for great looks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Keshad shoot in the 33-35% range next season from deep. Combine that with being a guy who has made more than 62% of his looks from 2, with his defense and ability to guard 1-4, and he's a big asset on any team.
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Post by laaztec on May 12, 2023 11:01:56 GMT -8
Keshad is looking for cash not playing time. He’s going to so cash out of a school and then head to Europe.
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Post by Boise Aztec on May 12, 2023 11:08:28 GMT -8
Keshad isn't going to ride the pine at Kentucky. He was a starter on a team that just went to the national championship game. He's a super athletic, 5th year defensive stalwart who is only going to be better than he was last season with another offseason of working on his game. Our own fans undervalue our own players so much, it's super weird. Literally every single team in the country would give Keshad significant minutes. Every single team. This!
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aztecm
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Post by aztecm on May 12, 2023 12:15:19 GMT -8
Going for money absolutely, but UK traditionally relies on young offensive talent, makes sense to bring in an older player that focuses on defense and rebounding. He'll get minutes if he focuses on those two things. In the meantime he gets paid, develops against a roster with a large amount of NBA potential, and gets opened up to the UK pipeline for professional development. The risk he ends up on the bench is there and real - grass isn't always greener, but there are positives (aside from the money in his pocket). Hope the best for him...
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Post by azteccc on May 12, 2023 12:45:11 GMT -8
I poke at the couple guys on here that think KJ has been an NBA lotto pick since freshman year, but love KJ and wish nothing but the best for him. I hope he finds a great spot to land that gives him everything he values at this stage of his career.
That being said - he averaged 22.2mpg and started every game (39/39) for us last year. He will be under both those #s at every school on his list.
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Post by jp92grad on May 12, 2023 14:14:34 GMT -8
Going for money absolutely, but UK traditionally relies on young offensive talent, makes sense to bring in an older player that focuses on defense and rebounding. He'll get minutes if he focuses on those two things. In the meantime he gets paid, develops against a roster with a large amount of NBA potential, and gets opened up to the UK pipeline for professional development. The risk he ends up on the bench is there and real - grass isn't always greener, but there are positives (aside from the money in his pocket). Hope the best for him... Get in the system as soon as possible and take full advantage of UK system and facilities for as long as possible, top notch coaching, strength training and development, rehab, training table, Pro league connections and network, ..................................... He could almost get a full year of NBA caliber training while getting paid to train in college, basically play against NBA type guys every day in practice and be able to work on his shooting and could add a few more pounds of muscle.
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Post by lovemyaztecs on May 12, 2023 15:09:19 GMT -8
I totally agree with Rockshow. Keshad has a smooth stroke, and his 3 point shooting will be mid 30s this coming year. I arrive at the home games 1 hour early, and go sit in the first few rows by the right corner. Watch everyone shoot the 3 from there. Keshad makes almost as many as anyone on the whole team. I think this will translate to games this coming year . Good luck young man.
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Post by aztecron on May 12, 2023 16:16:17 GMT -8
This guy is usually mostly right, about 85% of the time. KJ to Kentucky It's an interesting dilemma for KJ...join Kentucky (or a school like Kentucky with a STACKED 5-star roster)...get paid (a lot of $$) and mostly ride the pine and not really developing (which effectively eliminating his NBA aspirations)... ...or play at a school with more of a need (allowing him to "be the man")...but with a lot less NIL $$s If I was in his shoes...I'm not certain which way I would turn Grab the money and then go overseas after graduating next year. Smart play, unfortunately for us, in todays NCAA basketball game.
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Post by aztecron on May 12, 2023 16:18:01 GMT -8
Keshad is looking for cash not playing time. He’s going to so cash out of a school and then head to Europe. Nothing wrong with this scenario at all. I don't blame him in the least, get everything you can, now.
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Post by standiego on May 12, 2023 16:24:58 GMT -8
think there is an individual post talking about Keshad in the regular section
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Post by standiego on May 12, 2023 16:46:02 GMT -8
some other names in the Portal that play close to the basket - not sue if they are still available or if the coaches have reached out and or player has responded
Olivier Nkamhoua - Julian Phillips - Moussa Cisse - Ashton Smith - Mohamed Keita - Carte' Are Gordon - Supreme Cook - Isiah Miranda
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Post by azteccc on May 12, 2023 16:47:06 GMT -8
I totally agree with Rockshow. Keshad has a smooth stroke, and his 3 point shooting will be mid 30s this coming year. I arrive at the home games 1 hour early, and go sit in the first few rows by the right corner. Watch everyone shoot the 3 from there. Keshad makes almost as many as anyone on the whole team. I think this will translate to games this coming year . Good luck young man. If it translates the year he leaves, we should fire someone on staff. Kidding, but we have four years of data. 4/18 (22.2%) 7/21 (33.3%) 6/33 (18.2%) 11/42 (26.2%) — (22.5% before going 2/2 in the Final Four) He works incredibly hard and can nail 18/20 in practice, day in and day out. Has never clicked in an entire college career’s worth of gameplay.
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Post by standiego on May 12, 2023 17:08:37 GMT -8
there have been numerous players that can shoot incredibly well in practice but when it comes to playing against opponents in real game time things change .
He was originally was noted for his incredible athletic dunks - he did realize after a year or so that defense was his way to gain more PT as his outside shooting needed honing same with FT shooting an area that he did improve at .
I greatly appreciate all he did on the court and even off the court with fellow team mates or recruits - he has put in his time developed incredibly well in the classroom something Chad Baker could not and GPA wise it is important for the Basketball team - as a team does need to get to the set standards or be put on probation
But he is almost gone and time to focus on other possible players the Aztecs can get
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Post by docmm on May 13, 2023 10:06:46 GMT -8
I totally agree with Rockshow. Keshad has a smooth stroke, and his 3 point shooting will be mid 30s this coming year. I arrive at the home games 1 hour early, and go sit in the first few rows by the right corner. Watch everyone shoot the 3 from there. Keshad makes almost as many as anyone on the whole team. I think this will translate to games this coming year . Good luck young man. If it translates the year he leaves, we should fire someone on staff. Kidding, but we have four years of data. 4/18 (22.2%) 7/21 (33.3%) 6/33 (18.2%) 11/42 (26.2%) — (22.5% before going 2/2 in the Final Four) He works incredibly hard and can nail 18/20 in practice, day in and day out. Has never clicked in an entire college career’s worth of gameplay. Actually he did click, at least once anyway. in the 2020-21 season (the team that went 23-5 but got blown out by Syracuse), The Aztecs played UC Irvine in their 2nd game of the year. KJ was a Sophomore and played 16 minutes. He had 14 points on 4-8 from the field but 3-5 from 3!!! I thought he had turned the corner and we had an offensive stud on our hands. He ended up shooting 33% at the end of the year. Still, that was 5th on the team in 3-pt%. Unfortunately, the next year he was 10th (!!!) on the team with a horrible 18.2%. I always wondered whether Kj shot so much better that year was because there were no fans in the stands because of Co-Vid. I wish him well but it wouldn't surprise me if he shot 41% or if he shot 19% next season.
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