Tennessee Vols Basketball Recruiting

#4,426
#4,426
If we could just put Plavsic up on a lift and install a Doug Roth in him, we'd have no worries.
 
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#4,427
#4,427
cncchris33 said:
Agree with the first part. Based on his flaky reception to us in the original recruiting process, I find it hard to get my hopes up in any potential second go-round.

The second part, though, is a little premature, I think. UNC has just been a bad situation for him because of their depth in the post. He is playing behind Bacot, Brooks, and Sharpe, currently. No real shame in that as all 3 are likely pros. He moves really well for a big man, has some nice bend to him, and is 2nd on the team in rebounding and scoring per 40 minutes among the UNC regulars. I think the talent is there, but he just walked into a crowded situation along with another freshman at his position.

I'm really a little surprised he is considering a transfer since Brooks is a SR (doubtful he'd return) and you have to think one of Sharpe/Bacot turns pro. They also aren't currently bringing anyone in at the post position in a rather bleak looking (by UNC standards) 2021 class. Unless all three of the aforementioned players return to school, things seem to be set up nicely for a solid year for Kessler, next season.
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He may very well be great. I’m the last person to produce a definitive statement about a young player. Thus the “I’m not even sure” preface to that. I hope he enjoys success, unless he goes up against UT directly.
 
#4,428
#4,428
i2amavol said:
Just like my comments in another thread about Fulky, Ticket is going nowhere until he bulks up some. Then, and only then, will he be anything but a liability on the court. I don't know if Fulky and Ticket were both greatly affected by COVID-19, but they just did not get it done in the offseason like they needed to.

I hate to say it, but there is just no way around the weight issue. Either bulk up, or go play at a much lower level. It's really that simple.

I have no idea if his offense will ever come around to the point that he can contribute anyway. He still has a long way to go.
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Not sure why you view ticket as such a liability. He ‘s a wing which is by far our deepest and most talented position and he’s not as good right now as the 5 guys playing ahead of him. When he does get minutes he tends to make positive contributions. IMO, he’s talented enough to play in the right system at the D1 level but he’s going to have to get PT in order to reach his potential. If he can’t get a consistent 15+ minutes a game here then he should transfer or he will end up similar to Jalen Johnson who is contributing at Wake Forrest. Again, JMO
 
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#4,429
#4,429
bleedingTNorange said:
I know we recruited him a bit out of high school, definitely a good looking player, being inter-SEC he may have to sit a year.

On a side note, with Cooper almost certainly going to the NBA and Powell transferring Auburn is looking a little suspect for next year.
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I wonder how Jabari Smith is feeling knowing he could have come here, and instead he is going to have his single year in CBB on a decimated Auburn team that will struggle to make the NCAAT.
 
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#4,430
#4,430
TheMookieMonster said:
I wonder how Jabari Smith is feeling knowing he could have come here, and instead he is going to have his single year in CBB on a decimated Auburn team that will struggle to make the NCAAT.
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Everything pointed to UT as a better option except AU was a shorter drive for his family. One would think that the extra 2.5 hour drive for a single season wouldn’t have been enough to be his deciding factor which makes me think he got the cabin benefits
 
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#4,436
#4,436
johnfnkelly said:
Won't be surprised if Jabari has a change of heart and flips to the GLeague.
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It would not surprise me either. Auburn is not a blue blood, so he won't get the attention that some top recruits get even during down years for their team. If he remains in college basketball, he won't be able to build a brand like he could elsewhere, so I think the G-League is probably the natural next step since he'll at least make money and get coached by NBA developmental staff.
 
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#4,437
#4,437
bleedingTNorange said:
Besides Bramah I have also heard that Tennessee has serious interest in a MM player who is not in the portal yet. He is a 2/3 and will likely be conference POY this season, some ties to Kim English...far from a sure thing but it’s someone on the radar.
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Out of curiosity, did our mystery man suffer an injury towards the end of the season that will cause him to miss the rest of the year?
 
#4,441
#4,441
bleedingTNorange said:
Oh, no not him.
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A shame...of the 4 guys I had it narrowed down to, he was my favorite player. The English tie-in I was looking at was that he was from Bishop O’Connell HS in Woodbridge, VA (just outside of DC). English is from Baltimore and has several ties in that metro area. Same high school as Pitt transfer, Xavier Johnson, which I hinted at being an “interesting high school” a couple weeks ago in this thread thinking the possible mystery transfer might be Matt Lewis.

FWIW, Basilio mentioned this situation on his program, again, today.
 
#4,442
#4,442
cncchris33 said:
A shame...of the 4 guys I had it narrowed down to, he was my favorite player. The English tie-in I was looking at was that he was from Bishop O’Connell HS in Woodbridge, VA (just outside of DC). English is from Baltimore and has several ties in that metro area. Same high school as Pitt transfer, Xavier Johnson, which I hinted at being an “interesting high school” a couple weeks ago in this thread thinking the possible mystery transfer might be Matt Lewis.

FWIW, Basilio mentioned this situation on his program, again, today.
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Could be something there, but wasn’t the player I was referencing, who isn’t a guarantee to transfer either...fwiw I think the mystery player is slightly better than Lewis, similar measurable and numbers though, but younger...mystery guy also plays in a better conference than Lewis.
 
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#4,443
#4,443
bleedingTNorange said:
Could be something there, but wasn’t the player I was referencing, who isn’t a guarantee to transfer either...fwiw I think the mystery player is slightly better than Lewis, similar measurable and numbers though, but younger...mystery guy also plays in a better conference than Lewis.
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Yeah, I had it narrowed down to four but primarily focused on Lewis and the guy I believe you are referring to. Lewis appealed because he would be a grad x-fer whereas the other guy won’t, I wouldn’t imagine, so no guarantee he’s immediately eligible. And you are right, he plays in a better conference but did not win conference POY, as it turns out.
 
#4,445
#4,445
cncchris33 said:
Yeah, I had it narrowed down to four but primarily focused on Lewis and the guy I believe you are referring to. Lewis appealed because he would be a grad x-fer whereas the other guy won’t, I wouldn’t imagine, so no guarantee he’s immediately eligible. And you are right, he plays in a better conference but did not win conference POY, as it turns out.
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I didn’t view a player of that caliber having multiple years as a negative at all, wouldn’t be surprised to see him explore NBA options as well though. Everyone is going off the assumption that transfer waiver will be passed so staffs aren’t factoring that in, but I suppose anything could happen there.
 
#4,449
#4,449
walkenvol said:
Not sure why you view ticket as such a liability. He ‘s a wing which is by far our deepest and most talented position and he’s not as good right now as the 5 guys playing ahead of him. When he does get minutes he tends to make positive contributions. IMO, he’s talented enough to play in the right system at the D1 level but he’s going to have to get PT in order to reach his potential. If he can’t get a consistent 15+ minutes a game here then he should transfer or he will end up similar to Jalen Johnson who is contributing at Wake Forrest. Again, JMO
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I have stated in the past that he had as much potential as anyone on the team (prior to our new freshmen arrivals), but number one, he hasn't developed his offensive game, and number two, he hasn't gained the necessary weight to compete. I'm not saying he is a lost cause, but he just has a long way to go. Generally speaking, you have to be able to contribute on both ends of the floor, if you want to stay on the floor. He needs to be able to score some points, and I just haven't seen that from him yet.

Maybe another offseason is all he needs, but that's what I was thinking this time last year, and the extra time in the system didn't make much difference, at least offensively.
 
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#4,450
#4,450
bleedingTNorange said:
I didn’t view a player of that caliber having multiple years as a negative at all, wouldn’t be surprised to see him explore NBA options as well though. Everyone is going off the assumption that transfer waiver will be passed so staffs aren’t factoring that in, but I suppose anything could happen there.
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Definitely don't believe him having multiple years is a negative. Just the fact that he potentially may not be available immediately. As for the NBA aspect, not the greatest year to try and break out (deep draft class). He also wasn't listed in ESPN's updated top 100 prospect list. Just as a side-note, Johnson, Springer, JJJ, and Pons all were.
 
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