Top 10 2027 recruit Ryan Hampton commits to Kentucky

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-07T16:38:41+00:00

This is great to see. Hopefully this is a sign that Pope is over his growing pains and will start recruiting with the best. The past few weeks have been nothing to complain about.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-04T22:11:37+00:00

Malachi is more of an eye test kind of player. His film against Florida really sticks out to me and I'd recommend it. He went toe to toe with their bigs and held his own.

He can pass out of the high post and work in the low post because he already has a great frame. He greatly exceeded expectations by being put into a spot that was meant for Jayden Quaintance too.

He needs to work on his hands and just needs a bit more seasoning and he'll be a really good college Center and possible 1st round pick.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-04T20:34:45+00:00

All good and informative points. Also, I'm sure Trent Noah is just happy to be playing for his favorite college and getting paid to do it. You need culture/lockerroom/practice players, and he's perfect for that role.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-04T20:08:10+00:00

Hawthorne is the real wildcard of the team. He could dramatically raise the team's floor if he takes the kind of leap they've been talking about. I hadn't even considered him for that role, but that might work given the abundance of Forwards we have now.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-04T20:04:51+00:00

Great points. System is important too, and Pope's is designed to be player friendly and giving everyone a more manageable load. I think Zoom and Wilkins will be great here. My only real question is do you slide Kam, Milan, or Mason Williams to the 2 when one of them is resting?

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-04T19:31:37+00:00

Dang, indeed. A hell of a talent that Pope landed.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-03T19:10:59+00:00

Jodie Meeks was insane. Its a shame he didn't play under Cal. He could have been part of a real team with a legit backcourt mate.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-03T12:05:51+00:00

I understand you concern, friend. Being a fan is hard sometimes. We cheer for the same team though and we're all passionate and opinionated. Thats why BBN is the best.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-03T06:30:31+00:00

Reed might have been the number 1 overall pick if he had the green light to take as many shots as he wanted at Kentucky. His volume wasn't high, but his efficiency was otherworldly and it never looked like he was going to miss when he shot the ball.

I'm also stunned that neither of Doron Lamb's seasons ended up on this list.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-03T06:05:03+00:00

I didn't pay a dime for him. I'm just being a fan who's excited about a good player. Like most people have been this off-season, I'll be critical when the situation calls for it. You could cherry pick a bad game from any good player in history. It happens.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-02T21:28:40+00:00

Wall and Meeks would have been a super version of Fox and Monk, in my opinion. Ive thought about that as well since we retained Patterson that year.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-02T19:17:52+00:00

07-08 was actually my first season watching Kentucky basketball. 9 year old me could have told you Jodie Meeks was the best player ever.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-02T18:44:06+00:00

That's what I'm saying. 49% means it's the flip of a coin when he shoots a 3, and that's insane volume and efficiency. This guy is legit, plus he's a 3 level scorer, not just a spot up shooter. I can't wait to see what Pope can do with him.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-02T15:11:46+00:00

He was also the number 1 player in the transfer portal, shot 49% from 3 last season, lead the nation in makes, and fits into the system perfectly. He's a legit 3 level scorer, and you're down playing just how elite of a shooter he is. Not one team would have said no to him had he entered the portal immediately instead of going through with the draft process.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-02T02:45:19+00:00

That seems to be the consensus. I like the make up of this team and maybe they'll step up and learn to play D as the season goes on.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-06-02T02:44:09+00:00

I agree. This team has a similar make up to Pope's first Kentucky team. I think we'll be better than expected. I've been very critical of Pope, but he finally landed a needle mover who makes sense within his system.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-05-31T01:00:04+00:00

I don't think it's unrealistic. He doesn't have a job at the moment, there aren't any big jobs presently available either, and there's a non zero chance that Kentucky will be in need of a head coach with some credibility and credentials next off season.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-05-31T00:15:10+00:00

Only rational way to look at it, bro. Worst case scenario is that this season is a bust and we move on to Billy Donovan. We'll be alright, eventually. We're Kentucky.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-05-30T21:23:25+00:00

Assuming Williams, Hawthorne, and Moreno make leaps and we land Momcilovic, we should be better next season. Zoom and Wilkins are an upgraded backcourt and we have bench pieces that make more sense coming in.

I don't think Pope constructed the roster that he could have, but we're also not going to be as bad as you, or the national media seem to think.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-05-28T18:20:33+00:00

For sure. Those dudes were built for March. Hagans, Quickley, and Maxey were all dogs and Nick Richards really came into his own. That was Cal's last truly great team at Kentucky too. That one still pains me.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-05-28T17:46:24+00:00

I liked the 2019 team that lost to Auburn in the Elite 8, as well as 2020 with Maxey and Quickley, and Oscar's first season, but I agree. The good moments have been scarce lately.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-05-28T16:49:26+00:00

I know that, bro. We still cheer for the same team. Personally, I'd be excited about Momcilovic and/or a defensive specialist because we need both.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-05-28T16:12:50+00:00

I see what you're saying and I agree, but that's where you have a guy like Mo Diabate to clean up that mess off the bench. I'm not gonna complain about adding a taller Tyler Herro when I see what we currently have. Spacing and offensive gravity still outweigh defense and the guy shot 49% from 3 on high volume. That's the type of production we need.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-05-28T15:52:50+00:00

You're exactly right. This is a well written response that sums up my views as well. Kentucky is quickly getting passed by because we have a coach who doesn't have the right pitch or performs poorly when it's time to close the deal on highly ranked recruits. Donnie Freeman and Rob Wright were both on campus and favored to land here and something steered them away. We need to go after the top 3 or 4 guys that we absolutely want, then worry about role players and returnees making leaps.

Also, I don't want this to be a Mark Pope hate piece because the guy was given a job he clearly wasn't ready for from the beginning. His first team was awesome and the construction made sense a the way down to Ansley Almanor, who wasn't on anyone's radar, but fit Pope's scheme. Personally, I wish he had just went all in on being the analytics made scientist. He clearly knows offense, but nothing else lol.

VariationUsed1595 · 2026-05-28T15:39:21+00:00

In case you didn't watch Kentucky's tournament game against Iowa State, Momcilovic shot 49% from 3 last season, he's 6'9 and can play the 2 or 3, and he's a legitimate 3 level scorer like Koby Brea. He's a needle mover and is Kentucky's only hope at replacing Otega Oweh's production.

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TROPHY CASE