Coleman chooses Syracuse, a look at who is left

Tough but not that surprising choice for Coleman to stay home with Syracuse.  Never the less some Cat fans are starting to wonder what next season has in store.   Other UK fans want to just focus on how good we will have it this year and not focus on next year.  Although this is a nice sentiment, we at UK under Cal expect to reload not rebuild and have quite frankly become use to the #1 recruiting classes.  Is this streak over?  Lets take a look at where we stand and the different scenarios.

All I have to say is Cal has a really tough, complex job to do and unless he is a psychic, what looks like the right decision may end up hurting him.

We currently have one commit in five star #12 SG 6'2 Archie Goodwin. 

The biggest question remains is if the two year rule for the NBA takes place.  According to what I'm hearing, it is possible this rule gets thrown in there to make an agreement to occur between the players and owners.  Neither side really cares about this but it may end up being a bargaining chip or it may not come into play at all. It's not at all a major factor in the disagreement but the most interesting from UK's side of things.

This of course is a huge difference and is completely unknown. We are talking about getting commitments from sophomores Teague, Davis and Gilchrist.  This is better than taking the top 3 freshman in the country with their added experience.

If this happens, needless to say we are in good shape next year.  We would still add some guys to replace Vargas, Miller, Jones and Lamb but reloading would be a much smaller task.

Without the two year rule taking place, we are currently looking at a much different situation.  We would be losing: Jones, Miller, Vargas, Davis, and potentially Lamb, Gilchrist, and Teague.   Lamb is less likely to go in this scenario because of how much more loaded the draft will be with the freshman allowed to leave and all the hold outs from last year like Sullinger, Perry Jones, Barnes etc.

Lets say worse case scenario and all seven deck.

This our current roster:
Jon Hood-Senior
Beckham-Senior (preferred walk on)
Polson-Junior (preferred walk on)
Poole-Junior
Harrow-third year sophomore
Wiltjer-sophomore
Goodwin-freshman
Malone-sophomore (walk on)
Long-sophomore (walk on)

Currently that is only five legit scholarship players.  Meaning seven additional openings on top of Goodwin's commitment. 

With that many potential spots, we are in need of some major commitments.  Of course this is a tough task for Cal and company because they don't know which scenario will play out.  Scenario 1 we need four more guys to load the roster, scenario 2 we need seven more on top of Goodwin.  Of course with scenario 1 we can afford Beckham and Polson to have a scholarship spot if that is what Cal wants to do.

So who is still on the radar in the recruiting world?  Chances of players coming changes with commitments of other players...so comments on each player is isolated on their current status. 

#1 Muhammed 6'6 SF- likely between UK and UCLA, could go either way. I don't see UNLV to be a legit player. 

#3 McGary 6'10 PF-I believe I would take him over Muhammed just because we need the size.  If he had to decide today I would guess he would go to Michigan.  Never count out Cal though.

#7 Bennett 6'7 230 PF-everybody wants this guy and he could go to a slew of different schools.  Maybe its wishful thinking but I like UK's chances over any other program.

#9 Pollard 6'7 SF-I believe he would have already committed to UK if UK would have let him.  He is a CAT in scenario 2's situation unless he becomes impatient and commits to Texas or turned off by not being allowed to commit when he wanted.

#11 Stokes 6'7 230 PF-not seeing his name a lot with UK openly but I know UK is still keeping in touch.  If he is willing to hold out to commit, I believe he could be a late pick up in scenario 2.  He doesn't currently have an offer.  Will he wait it out? Who knows.

#19 Poythress 6'8 PF-he loves UK and unless another recruit takes his spot or he becomes impatient to be able to commit to UK, he is a Cat. 

#23 Warren 6'7 SF- this is a guy who we need to stay uncommitted.  UK isn't his top choice right now but he isn't receiving a lot of love from UK either.  Would love for Cal to have a better look at him if we have seven holes to fill.  More options for Cal at this point the better.  UK would look more enticing to him if the minutes look to be there.

#25 Harris-6'6 SG- some see him as a Muhammed back up plan. Of course being repetitive, if we have seven more holes to fill...I believe there is room for him along with Muhammed.  Would be a great pick up and a guy like Lamb who would be around for a few years at least.

#28 Carter-6'8 245 PF- this is a tough one.  He seemed really high on UK but never received a go ahead to commit from UK.  Just speculating but if Cal knows he has seven more holes to fill, he would take a commitment from him today.  The problem is what if the two and done rule happens and UK loses out on Bennett because he was concerned about battling Davis and Carter for minutes.  Then we lose Bennett not just for one year but two with the new rule.  What if UK shows him too much love early on and he gets mad for not being able to commit now?  Tough call for Cal.

#36 Jefferson 6'7 SF-He just took a visit to UK.  He like many others do not have the go ahead to commit. No idea if he would commit if offered or not, I'm hearing very little on this guy.  Another one who UK needs to hold out to see what the situation is going to be for UK.

#39 Cauley 7'0 225 C- This guy could be our next commit.  I don't see him scaring away guys like Bennett.  He is not likely going to be much of a factor until at least his sophomore year, unless he just blows up.  Could be a good player for us as a junior if he continues to develop.  A nice player to provide some stability.  Does Cal hold out on offering in hopes of the two year rule? I would take him either way.  Hard to see four more super star freshman coming to UK on top of Goodwin if Davis and company are back.  That is a lot of top guys to keep happy.

Then of course you have some out of nowhere recruit.  A guy who no one saw on UK's radar or a guy that decommits. 

As you can see Cal has a really tough job on what exactly to do with so many guys potentially decking or so many guys coming back thanks to the two and done rule.  Also recruits have a tough time deciding right now because they do not know what available minutes will be at UK either. 

From the outside it looks like a complex mess right now.  What we really need right now (outside of some nice commitments) is the NBA to make an agreement one way or the other.  We definitely have a shot at another #1 recruiting class if we are loading up on seven to eight 4/5 star recruits but personally would prefer to see the return of Davis and company. 

Be interested to hear your thoughts on all of this.  Comment below.